Articles by Annie Deckey

USDA is providing a fresh update on its plans for issuing some widely anticipated new regulations.

The bipartisan infrastructure agreement that the Senate is preparing to debate includes $8.3 billion in western water infrastructure funding sought by farm groups in the region that is suffering through an extended drought. 

On July 22, the U.S. Soybean Export Council, the United Soybean Board and the American Soybean Association announced that over 100 million metric tons of U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol verified soy had been exported internationally in the seven years since the protocol’s conception, according to the two groups.

A dozen organizations representing the producers of the vast majority of America’s meat, poultry, dairy, animal feed, and ingredients have announced a joint sustainability initiative to work toward development goals in animal feed and welfare and improved environmental outcomes.

Restaurant sales were up in June, 6.6% above the pre-pandemic figures from February 2020, the National Restaurant Association said in a recent report.

Germany confirmed three cases of African swine fever in farm pigs last week, according to Reuters.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow says she’s “very optimistic” that substantial new funding for farm bill conservation programs will be included in the $3.5 trillion spending agreement that Democrats have announced. Stabenow has been seeking $50 billion in new conservation funding to promote climate-friendly farming practices.

Higher prices for meat and other foods are helping fuel the inflation that is pinching consumers.  Supermarket prices rose 0.8% in June, driven by a 2.5% increase for meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. Beef prices rose 4.5% last month.

China will no longer require small hog farmers to seek environmental approval before breeding pigs in an effort to rebuild its hog herd following widespread outbreaks of African Swine Fever, according to Reuters.