The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service (ERS) has published the State Policies for Farm Animal Welfare in Production Practices of U.S. Livestock and Poultry Industries: An Overview report. The ERS report describes the current state of farm animal policies, the extent of their implementation and geographic coverage, and the legal environment and challenges these policies have faced.

A recent survey-based report out of Purdue University's Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability found that in December 2022, household food expenditures have increased by 15% from January 2022. The report assessed food spending, consumer satisfaction, values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information sources.

The Philippine government has extended the lower tariff rates on pork and other food items through 2023, to address supply chain issues and rising inflation. EO No. 171 temporarily reduces the Most Favored Nation tariff rates on pork (fresh, chilled, or frozen), corn, rice, and coal until December 31, 2023, and aims to stabilize the impact of inflationary pressures as a result of the Ukraine-Russia crisis, expand supply sources and reduce the prices of key commodities.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will invest $9.5 million in the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA’s) bioproduct pilot program, which will fund three bioproduct manufacturing projects. The program was authorized under the Infrastructure Invest and Jobs Act in November 2021 to give the United States a competitive advantage in the global economy.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will invest over $9.5 million to help diversify the nation’s meat supply. The funding comes with the goal of expanding market capacities and market opportunities, particularly in the meat and poultry sectors.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to reaffirm the relationship between USDA and the National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization. The USDA and National Urban League will work collaboratively to promote nutrition and food security, increase access to healthy foods, and ensure equitable service delivery of USDA programs in underserved communities across the country.

During the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF’s) annual convention, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced four new programs at USDA to benefit farmers and ranchers. Vilsack also discussed the next phases of the Emergency Relief Program and Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program, and the importance of the 2023 farm bill.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) has announced funding to more than 60 United States (U.S.) agriculture organizations to help expand export markets for U.S. farm and food products through the Market Access Program (MAP), and the Foreign Market Development (FMD). The total investment is $202.7 million.

For the first time, The AgFood Future Center of Excellence (AGF) and the Agriculture Food Partnership (AFP) co-organized a virtual event where, regulatory experts from two of the largest potential markets for meat innovation, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), met to discuss the regulatory approval process and prospects for cultivated meat in these two major markets.

At the beginning of the year, Jose Emilio Esteban, Ph.D. was sworn in to serve as the United States Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Food Safety. Esteban was previously confirmed by the Senate on the last day of the 177th congress.

The United States Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow announced that she will not seek reelection in 2024 in Michigan. The agriculture panel’s top Democrat since 2011, Stabenow has a reputation as a tenacious negotiator willing to spend hours sounding out colleagues on their priorities. She holds the legacy as the first woman elected to the Senate in the state of Michigan.

The 2023 SERA (Southern Extension /Research Multi-state Activity) 41 convened on the second day of the Southern Sectional Meeting to address the challenges that cow-calf producers face in today’s industry and the methods to improve adoption of existing technologies. Speakers, Drs. Matthew Poore, Vitor Mercadante, and Justin Rhinehart, spoke on topics related to pasture management, breeding and genetics, and herd management.

Over the past 115 years, the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) has evolved into a multi-faceted organization, including establishing the ASAS Foundation 25 years ago as the philanthropic branch of ASAS. The Foundation enhances, advances, and supports ASAS’ mission and initiatives.

Over the past 115 years, the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) has evolved into a multi-faceted organization, including establishing the ASAS Foundation 25 years ago as the philanthropic branch of ASAS. The Foundation enhances, advances, and supports ASAS’ mission and initiatives.

Poultry are sensitive to red objects, such as comb and blood on the body surface, likely inducing injurious pecking in flocks. We built a wooden box to investigate the effects of light color (reddish and bluish) and intensity (5 and 50 lux) of background light on the discrimination of red objects in broilers.

Feathers are an important external feature of poultry, and feather follicles are important appendages to the skin. Especially for geese, feather follicle development largely determines feather length and quality, which in turn affects feather-related economic traits.

This study investigated factors affecting the variability of somatic cell traits in bovine milk. Animal had greater influence on somatic cell score (SCS) and differential somatic cell count (DSCC) compared to herd factors. Herds producing high average of daily milk energy were characterized by lower SCS and DSCC compared to the low average daily milk energy herds.

Weaning and transit represent the primary stressors for beef calves in the United States and are responsible for increasing inflammation, suppressing the immune system, and decreasing antioxidant status. These adverse physiological responses to stressors may decrease growth and increase morbidity in beef calves. Vitamin C is the primary water-soluble antioxidant in plasma and when provided intramuscularly prior to the stress event, may be able to attenuate aspects of a stress response on growth and immune function.

Two experiments tested how processing of corn grain for finishing cattle influences growth performance and nutrient digestion. Producers can use corn in dry or high-moisture form but normally use either a hammer mill or roller mill.

Antibiotics are a very effective method to control liver abscesses for finishing cattle, which are thought to be due to high starch concentration and acidosis. Dietary roughage (forage) is used to control acidosis. As grain prices increase, feeding greater amounts of corn silage may be advantageous and silage can be an economical forage compared to other traditional forages like alfalfa.