As of March 1, there were 74.6 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, up 1 percent from March 2023 but down 2 percent from Dec. 1, 2023, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is announcing the return of the …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, are investigating an illness among primarily older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms. As of Monday, March 25, unpasteurized, clinical …

Cattle raisers impacted by wildfires in the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma can apply for financial aid through the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Disaster Relief Fund. The TSCRA Disaster Relief Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting ranchers and landowners impacted by natural disasters, will distribute financial assistance to reduce the financial burdens incurred by cattle raisers from recent …

Researchers at the Agricultural Research Service’s (USDA-ARS) Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pa., used a novel thermal technology that pasteurizes eggs and inactivates Salmonella cells with a short processing time. On March 20, Miranda Meehan from North Dakota State University will present on livestock water quality concerns in the Great Plains, part of the Spring Seminar Series at Nebraska …

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated 2024 World Pork Expo, set to take place on June 5-6 at the iconic Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for again extending the New Swine Inspection System …

USDA announced that the 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) sign-up will open Feb. 28 and run through April 29. For more NMPF resources related to the DMC program and other federally backed risk management programs, visit here. The Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin’s leading dairy advocacy group, held its sixth annual Dairy Day at the Capitol event in Madison. Over 30 …

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has opened registration for its Feed Industry Institute, happening June 17-20 in Minneapolis, Minn. This biennial event brings together emerging professionals in the animal feed industry to learn more about the ingredients, processes and regulations used within the industry to manufacture and sell animal feed. The deadline for FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative scholarships for 2024 …

A sharp decline in the number of dairy heifers available to replace older cows exiting the U.S. dairy herd could limit any meaningful growth in domestic milk production over the next few years. The number of dairy replacement heifers has fallen almost 15 percent over the last six years to reach a 20-year low, according to data from the USDA’s …

There were 87.2 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, 2024, according to the Cattle report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for the bipartisan Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels Act of 2024 (FAIR Labels Act) introduced by …

The Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis has collected and assessed almost 450 new-crop samples from across the U.S., and the results show regional variation in mycotoxin risk. Samples showed lower risk in the upper Midwest and higher risk in the East. A combination of drought and untimely rains led to much of the risk. International Dairy Foods Association released the …