The American Farm Bureau Federation, in cooperation with American Farm Bureau Insurance Services, has developed a new risk-management insurance product for dairy farmers. Approved by the Agriculture Department’s Federal Crop …
Perdue To Allow Modified FMD Virus Onto US Mainland
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has authorized the movement of a modified, non-infectious version of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center to …
Administrative Changes Made to the Livestock Indemnity Program
Agricultural producers who have lost livestock to disease, resulting from a weather disaster, have an additional way to become eligible for a key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance …
Cage-Free Housing of Hens Comes with Safety Concerns
Animal welfare experts at the University of California, Davis are researching ways to increase the safety of cage-free housing for hens. While the lack of a cage provides more space …
Thune Seeks Livestock Indemnity Program Changes
South Dakota Senator John Thune has asked the Department of Agriculture to make urgent changes to the Livestock Indemnity Program to assist farmers and ranchers. In a letter to Agriculture …
Rabobank: Domestic Dairy Demand to Climb in 2018
Domestic demand for dairy products like natural cheese and butter, along with premium dairy products, should rise in the second half of 2018. That prediction comes from Rabobank in its …
Peterson Introduces MPP Replacement Program
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson this week introduced the Dairy Risk Management Act. Peterson says the legislation would provide dairy farmers with a strong safety net to address …
NAFTA Talks Progressing
Trade officials from the U.S., Mexico and Canada are hopeful to reach a consensus on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by early May. A trade negotiator from Mexico …
California Dairies Becoming Increasingly Energy Efficient
As California continues to implement regulations aimed at lowering emissions and conserving energy, the state’s dairy industry is becoming increasingly energy efficient. Proactive approaches from dairy farm families in their …
New Trap Better at Snaring Stable Flies
A new stable fly trap, now on the market, catches more flies than the standard trap, according to a recent Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study. The Knight Stick trap is …
Loss Of Foreign Workers Would Hurt Agriculture
Given a tight labor market, particularly in rural areas, the loss of foreign-born workers would lead to a drop in agricultural jobs, according to a study commissioned by the National …
GAO Gives USDA Approval to Ditch Organic Livestock Rule
The Government Accountability Office says the Department of Agriculture complied with rulemaking procedures during its withdrawal of The Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule. The office reviewed the USDA …
USDA Highlights Feedback from Stakeholders in Review of Livestock Mandatory Reporting Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) submitted a Report to Congress that reviews the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) Program and includes feedback from a broad range …
USDA Reopens Enrollment for Improved Dairy Safety Net Tool
Bipartisan Budget Act Makes Substantial Program Changes U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is encouraging dairy producers to consider enrolling in the new and improved Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), which …