Author Archives: Rusty Halvorson
USDA Extends Beef Checkoff Petition Drive Deadline
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week granted an extension to organizers of the National Beef Checkoff Petition Drive until October 3, 2021. The extension grants extra time for organizers to col...
Aug 05, 2021 grassrootsgroundswell / CC
American Bakers Association Seeks RFS Rollback
U.S. bread and donut makers want the Biden administration to roll back biofuels targets, claiming the Renewable Fuel Standard could raise the cost of their products. The American Bakers Association co...
Aug 05, 2021 Logo: americanbakers.org
Grassley, Smith Introduce Healthy Dog Importation Act
Senators Chuck Grassley and Tina Smith Wednesday introduced the Healthy Dog Importation Act. The Iowa Republican and Minnesota Democrat say the bill would expand USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspect...
Aug 05, 2021 Austin Kirk / CC
Union Raises Concerns Over Tyson Vaccine Mandate
A meatpacking union representing 24,000 Tyson Foods workers is concerned over the new Tyson vaccine mandate. United Food and Commercial Workers International President Marc Perrone says, "While we sup...
Aug 05, 2021 edkohler / CC
Study: U.S. Pork Industry Needs More Access to Foreign-Born Workforce
A new study says the U.S. pork industry needs access to more foreign-born labor to remain sustainable. The study, authored by Iowa State University economists, was recently updated to reflect the curr...
Aug 05, 2021 KFGO file photo
USTR Tai Meeting with Western Farmers
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai meets today with farmers and ranchers in the Pacific Northwest. Tai and U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene, a Washington state Democrat, will tour the Washington...
Aug 05, 2021 Katherine Tai testifies during her confirmation hearing in the Senate.
Study Shows How Corn and Soybean Producers Benefit from U.S. Red Meat Exports
U.S. beef and pork exports brought critical returns to the corn and soybean industries in 2020, according to an independent study conducted by World Perspectives, Inc. and released by the U.S. Meat Ex...
Aug 04, 2021 News Release: U.S. Meat Export Federation
Minnesota FFA and 4-H Members Encouraged to Design Specialized Ag License Plate
Minnesota FFA and 4-H members are invited to help design the upcoming specialized agricultural license plate. As the legislative session came to completion, the specialized agriculture plate passed as...
Aug 04, 2021 Contest announced – FFA and 4-H Members encouraged to submit designs. (Minnesota FFA Foundation)
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY22 Ag Spending with Disaster Assistance
Senator John Hoeven, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement after the full Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Senate's Fiscal...
Aug 04, 2021
Competitive Meat Market Bill Introduced in House, Senate
Legislation to create tax incentives supporting small and mid-sized meat processing plants was introduced by Republicans in the House and Senate, with a goal of helping cattle producers compete for be...
Aug 04, 2021 Matt Brown / CC
