Friday December 18 Cattle on Feed Report + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 2%

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.53 million cattle on feed on December 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 2% from last year.  Placements during November totaled 460,000 head, down 12% from 2019.  Fed cattle marketings for the month of November totaled 415,000 head, down 13% from last year. Other disappearance during November totaled 15,000 head, unchanged from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 610,000 head on December 1, 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was down 2% from November and down 12% from December 1, 2019. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 540,000 head on feed, up 8% from last month but down 7% from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,150,000 head, up 3% from last month but down 9% from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during November totaled 83,000 head, down 21% from October and down 25% from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 92,000 head, up 35% from October but down 23% from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 175,000 head, up 1% from October but down 24% from last year.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during November totaled 91,000 head, down 1% from October but up 20% from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 50,000 head, down 7% from October and down 24% from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 141,000 head, down 3% from October and down 1% from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 4,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Up Slightly
    
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on December 1, 2020. The inventory was slightly above December 1, 2019, and the same as pre-report expectations.

Cattle on Feed - by State (1,000 hd - % Dec 1 '19)
Colorado ..........:                  1,130             103              
Iowa ................:                      610              88                
Kansas .............:                  2,500             103              
Nebraska .........:                  2,530             102               
Texas ...............:                  2,900              99                

Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.91 million head, 9 percent below 2019 and equal to pre-report estimates. Net placements were 1.85 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 520,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 460,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 400,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 306,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head.

Placements by State  (1,000 hd - % Nov '19)
Colorado ..........:                165             89              
Iowa ................:                   83             75              
Kansas .............:                  415           100              
Nebraska .........:                  460            88              
Texas ...............:                  405            87                

Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.78 million head, 2 percent below 2019 and also in-line with pre-report expectations. Other disappearance totaled 61,000 head during November, 6 percent below 2019.

Marketings by State  (1,000 hd - % Nov '19)
Colorado ..........:                 150           100              
Iowa ................:                   91           120              
Kansas .............:                  425           108              
Nebraska .........:                  415            87              
Texas ...............:                  400           103              



NE Extension Crop Production Clinics Going Virtual in January

The 2021 Nebraska Crop Production Clinics will feature research updates and information tailored to regional crop issues and grower interests in a new online format this year. The sessions, which will be hosted via Zoom, will cover a wide range of topics, including cropping system management, soil nutrition, irrigation, pest management, ag technology and agribusiness management.

Clinic dates:
Western Nebraska focused clinics
    Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021
    Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021
    Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021

Central Nebraska focused clinics
    Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021
    Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021
    Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021

Eastern Nebraska focused clinics
    Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021
    Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021
    Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021

There will be a limited opportunity to view the presentations in person at various county locations, depending on local COVID-19 directed health measures. All in-person attendees must follow University of Nebraska-Lincoln guidelines for face masks and social distancing. More information on in-person viewing will be available at the Crop Production Clinics 2021 website https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc.

"Individual clinics will be customized to address topics specific to that area of the state, allowing growers to get research-based information on the issues they face locally," said Chris Proctor, weed management extension educator and clinic coordinator. For example, the eastern Nebraska programs will include information on "Industrial Hemp Tolerance to 3 Early-Post and Late-Post Herbicides”, and in western Nebraska, topics include "Managing Palmer Amaranth in Dry Edible Beans Without Reflex”.

Sponsored by Nebraska Extension, the clinics will enable commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators to renew licenses for Ag Plant and Demonstration/Research, and private pesticide applicators will also be able to renew their licenses.

Certified Crop Advisor credits will be available in the areas of crop production, nutrient management, integrated pest management, water management and professional development.

Pre-registration for the clinics is required and costs $80. Program agendas and online registration for each site will be available on the CPC website https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc.



2021 Nutrient Management Record Keeping Calendars Now Available

The 2021 Nutrient Management Record Keeping Calendars are now available from Nebraska Extension. Tracking manure application rates, part of the calendar’s recordkeeping tools, is important for getting the maximum crop nutrient value from manure and documenting one’s environmental stewardship.

This easy-to-use recordkeeping calendar tracks manure-related records for livestock and cropping operations. Designed to be used by all sizes of livestock operations, it includes all records required for operations permitted for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). It has been approved by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a valuable resource for livestock producers.

The calendar is free and can be ordered online at the UNL Water page https://water.unl.edu/article/animal-manure-management/request-nutrient-management-record-keeping-calendar. If you have a previous calendar, you may also mail in the postcard found inside the calendar to get your 2021 calendar. An electronic sample of the calendar is available here https://unl.box.com/s/2mmcbymplziwihykf35za8jpo8wj4j0i. If you have questions about the calendar or suggestions for future calendars, contact Leslie Johnson, animal manure management coordinator, at  402-584-3818 or email leslie.johnson@unl.edu.



I-29 Moo University Winter Virtual Workshop Will Focus on Dairy Sustainability

NET Zero: If it’s Not Your Profitability, What Is It? Dairy Producers and Industry are invited to the I-29 MOO University Virtual Winter Workshop in partnership with Midwest Dairy & State Trade Associations being held on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

This workshop will focus on the Net Zero Initiative and what the impact will be for dairy producers. Attendees will gain knowledge through a hands-on virtual experience of how sustainability practices are being implemented on dairy farms and within dairy processing plants.

The agenda includes:
    10:00 a.m. CST – Keynote: “Why Net Zero? Why Should Producers Care? Why Consumers Care about it? What it means to Producers & Industry”; Jim Wallace, Senior Vice President – Environmental Research at Dairy Management Inc. and invited speaker: Krysta Harden, Executive Vice President of Global Environmental Strategy at Dairy Management, Inc. and Chief Operating Officer at U.S. Dairy Export Council.
    10:45 – 3 Virtual Sustainability Sessions – Interact with these presenters and learn how sustainability practices have been implemented on farm and in the industry.
        Cover Crops: Cinnamon Ridge Farms - Donahue, IA. This 5th generation farm was awarded the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management for Dairy Farms. They work to assure their customers that the milk and beef produced meets very high standards for sustainability and animal care. They milk Jersey cows using robots, raise beef cattle, pigs and chickens. They also produce corn, soybeans and winter wheat, while incorporating cover crops. Milk produced on the farm is processed into cheese on the farm.
        Dairy Production Technology: Rosy-Lane Holsteins –Watertown, Wis. U.S. Dairy Sustainability 2020 Award Winner. Healthy cows and a healthy planet go hand-in-hand at Wisconsin’s Rosy-Lane Holsteins dairy. The emphasis on cow health started with incorporating cattle genetic technologies, breeding cows that live longer and are less susceptible to disease and illness. Genetics has helped the farm produce 1.7 pounds of milk for every 1 pound of feed for the milking herd. The average U.S. dairy attains 1.5. Their higher average which equates to 70 more semi-tankers of milk/year utilizing the same inputs.
        Dairy Processing Technology: Leprino Foods, Greely, Colo. is also a U.S. Dairy Sustainability 2020 Award Winner., This dairy plant exemplifies environmental sustainability with a replicable process that ensures no precious resource isn’t maximized. Built on an abandoned sugar-processing factory’s site, it relies on a combined heat and power system with electricity from two natural gas turbines—meeting about 75% of the plant’s power needs. The plant also employed technology that uses water from milk during the cheesemaking process to clean the facility, reducing the need for fresh water. Further, that recycled water goes through treatment that results in feedstock for the plant’s anaerobic digester—which in turn creates renewable biogas. This and more adds up to $4.5 million in estimated annual energy cost savings from onsite natural gas turbines after a five-year payback.  

This portion of the program will conclude at 12:20 p.m., followed by a Virtual Lunch starting at 12:30 p.m. Midwest Dairy and State Dairy Association will provide updates within their individual state breakout rooms (Minn., S.D., Iowa, Neb., N.D.), concluding by 1:30 p.m.

There is no registration fee, but pre-registration is required by Jan. 11. To register or view full agenda, visit https://extension.sdstate.edu/event/i-29-moo-university-virtual-winter-workshop or visit the I-29 Moo University website at https://dairy.unl.edu/i-29-moo-university. A registration link can also be requested from Clark at kimclark@unl.edu.

I-29 Moo University is a consortium of Extension dairy specialists from the land-grant universities in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The I-29 Moo University Collaboration is a multi-state learning community and connects extension dairy staff and dairy producers to share research, information and management practices through workshops, webinars, monthly e-newsletters and on-farm tours.  For more information about the I-29 Moo University Collaboration and programs visit https://dairy.unl.edu/i-29-moo-university.



Free Farm and Ag Law Clinics Set for January

Free legal and financial clinics are being offered for farmers and ranchers across the state in January 2021. The clinics are one-on-one meetings with an agricultural law attorney and an agricultural financial counselor. These are not group sessions, and they are confidential.

The attorney and financial advisor specialize in legal and financial issues related to farming and ranching, including financial and business planning, transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, debt structure and cash flow, agricultural disaster programs, and other relevant matters. Here is an opportunity to obtain an independent, outside perspective on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.

Clinic Dates
    Wednesday, January 6
    Wednesday, January 13
    Wednesday, January 20
    Wednesday, January 27

To sign up for a free clinic or to get more information, call the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.

COVID-19: For the time being the clinics are being conducted as conference calls or as Zoom meetings.  It is therefore possible to attend a clinic from any location in the state. In-person clinics are expected to resume in the near future, at which time locations will be announced.

Funding for this work is provided by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, and Legal Aid of Nebraska.




Registration open for 2021 Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit Webinar Series

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) opened registration today for the  2021 Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit Webinar Series and unveiled participation by nationally-renowned experts, such as USDA Chief Economist Dr. Rob Johansson and the incoming USDA Chief Economist Dr. Seth Meyer who will respectively be current in their roles at USDA when they speak during their scheduled sessions.  These experts, along with several others, will share valuable insights into economic drivers impacting markets, including opportunities to lock in profits and manage risks, which is welcomed news as farmers navigate a volatile ag economy.

“We are excited to welcome a robust line-up of experts, including both the outgoing and incoming USDA Chief Economists to our program in 2021. Farmers will receive an Iowa, national, and international perspective during several sessions that will help them shape on-farm decisions impacting their bottom line,” says Dr. Sam Funk, IFBF director of ag analytics and research.

The free six-part webinar series kicks off Thursday, Jan. 14, at 1:00 p.m. and will take place each Thursday through February 25, apart from Thursday, Feb. 18, due to UDSA’s 2021 Agricultural Outlook Forum.

In addition to receiving the latest information and insights on factors impacting ag markets and farmers’ bottom line, webinar participants will be able to submit questions to the panelists during the webinar through Zoom chat.

Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit Webinar Series Schedule:

“The Mix:  Positive and Negative Signals in Agriculture’s Financial Picture” -- January 14, 2021 1:00 p.m. CST
There are two sides to the balance of drivers impacting farmers in 2021 and moving forward.
Speaker:  Dr. Rob Johansson, Chief Economist, USDA

“Challenging Brazil:  The Push and Pull that is Brazilian Agriculture” -- January 21, 2021 1:00 p.m. CST
Brazil holds several advantages for production agriculture systems – and quite a few drawbacks at the same time.
Speaker:  Cláudio Serafini, Brazilian Agricultural Guide

“Insights Iowa:  Informing the financial picture for Iowa’s primary crops and the decisions made” -- January 28, 2021 1:00 p.m. CST
Using the annual projection for the costs of production in corn and soybean crops, we will draw a financial picture from historical market conditions in Iowa and choices that are available to Iowa producers.
Speaker:  Dr. Alejandro Plastina, Economist, Iowa State University

“Make the Best Better:  Improving Iowa's Market Dynamics Through Transportation” -- February 4, 2021 1:00 p.m. CST
Investments toward improving the marketing capacity of U.S. crops with water transportation are front-and-center.  Let us explore the economic drivers that have led to the U.S. strength of transportation logistics in export markets and the reasons for investments being required as we go forward.
Speaker:  Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director, Soy Transportation Coalition

“Advantage Iowa:  Where are we at in Iowa Crops and Livestock after a Pandemic Year and where are we looking moving forward?” February 11, 2021 1:00 p.m. CST
What changes have occurred in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?  Let us explore the prospects for Iowa crops and livestock and highlight key items to watch moving forward.
Speakers:  Dr. Chad Hart and Dr. Lee Schulz, Economists, Iowa State University

“Read the Signs:  Federal Data and Factors for Keen Awareness” -- February 25, 2021 1:00 p.m. CST
Information flows are powerful, but none as much on the aggregate as WASDE – and we have the former Chair of USDA’s World Outlook Board who produced that authoritative document.
Data shifts in the WASDE impact Iowa (and the world’s) farmers.  We will examine where we are and what drivers should we be examining closely from the one who helmed what is arguably one of the world’s most important regular publications.
Speaker:  Dr. Seth Meyer, Incoming Chief Economist, USDA

Registration is free for both members and non-members at www.iowafarmbureau.com/EconomicSummitWebinarSeries.



IFBF concludes virtual 102nd Annual Meeting  

Due to COVID-19 proclamations and necessary safety precautions, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) held a virtual 2020 business session electing leaders for the organization on Dec. 18, with only county voting delegates invited to participate in person from designated locations in their region.

In lieu of IFBF’s traditional in-person breakout sessions and program during the annual meeting, IFBF’s Annual Meeting Webinar Series provided members a closer look at some of the lessons learned through COVID-19, from supply chain disruptions and the future of economics surrounding agriculture. Members who missed the opportunity to view the series via livestream can view the recordings at www.iowafarmbureau.com/annualmeeting.

“Our goal was ensuring the safety of members while still providing the valuable information they’ve come to expect from our Annual Meeting educational sessions,” says IFBF President Craig Hill. “Despite not being able to meet in-person in Des Moines this year, we were able to share the expertise of a fantastic line-up of speakers through our webinar series and recognize and acknowledge our outstanding county leaders and award winners virtually.”

IFBF Elections
Joe Heinrich of Maquoketa was re-elected IFBF Vice President, a position he has held since 2011. Heinrich, a Jackson County farmer, farms with his family, including his wife Shelley and a nephew, and together, they have a diversified farming operation including corn, soybeans, oats, and hay. They also have a beef cow-calf herd and a dairy operation. Heinrich was first elected to the IFBF board in 2004, representing District 6, prior to his service as vice president. Before his election to the state board, Heinrich served as Jackson County president, vice president, voting delegate, young farmer chair, and served on the state internal study committee.

Andy Hill of Manly was re-elected to the IFBF board in District 2, representing 11 counties in north central Iowa: Kossuth, Humboldt, Winnebago, Hancock, Wright, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Mitchell, Floyd, and Butler. Hill raises corn and soybeans, and he and his wife, Michelle, have two daughters. Hill has held several offices in the Worth County Farm Bureau including president and voting delegate. He’s been an AFBF voting delegate and is a past chair of the AFBF Budget and Economy Issue Advisory Committee.

Rick Plowman of Douds was re-elected to the IFBF board in District 7, representing 11 counties in southeast Iowa: Muscatine, Keokuk, Washington, Louisa, Wapello, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Davis, Van Buren, and Lee. Plowman has held several offices in the Van Buren County Farm Bureau, including president and voting delegate. He has served on the Hay and Forage Advisory Committee for both IFBF and AFBF. Plowman and his wife, Lisa, raise corn and cattle near Douds. They have two children, and their son, Cale, is active in the family farm.

Will Frazee of Emerson was re-elected to the IFBF board in District 9, representing 12 counties in southwest Iowa: East and West Pottawattamie, Cass, Adair, Mills, Montgomery, Adams, Union, Fremont, Page, Taylor, and Ringgold. Frazee previously served as president and vice president of the Montgomery County Farm Bureau and on the State Resolutions Committee. In addition to his leadership in Farm Bureau, Frazee previously served as the Chair of the Iowa Beef Industry Council and was a member of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. Frazee, a fifth-generation farmer, feeds cattle and grows corn and beans with his wife, Deb, and son, Curt, on their family farm. He’s also very involved in conservation, installing three miles of terraces and buffer strips along waterways on their farm as part of the Walnut Creek Watershed program.

Nine delegates were elected to represent Iowa at the 2021 American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) virtual Annual Convention, January 10-13. They include: IFBF President Craig Hill of Warren County; IFBF Vice President Joe Heinrich of Jackson County; Brian Feldpausch of Grundy County; Tim Kaldenberg of Monroe County; Dave Bolin of Butler County; Ben Albright of Calhoun County; Jeff Pape of Dubuque County; Chris Prizler of Iowa County; and Eric Nelson of Woodbury County.

Darrick Hall of Jones County was elected to a three-year term on the IFBF internal study committee. The internal study committee serves as a liaison between the county Farm Bureau voting delegates and the state board of directors.

For a look at presentations from the webinar series, videos featuring the DSA and Young Farmer Leadership Award winners and other award winners from the 102nd virtual annual Iowa Farm Bureau meeting, visit www.iowafarmbureau.com/annualmeeting.



Iowa Specialty Producers Conference Is Jan. 19-20 Online

The Iowa Specialty Producers Conference is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 19-20, 2021. This second joint gathering of the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Iowa Wine Growers Association will take place entirely online.

Keynote speaker Hugh McPherson will share best practices for incorporating “agri-tainment” into a farming operation. He owns Maize Quest Fun Park near York, Pennsylvania, and advises a network of 80 more agritourism farms in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

Five breakout sessions will focus on fruits, vegetables, viticulture (wine-grape growing), enology (wine-making) and other specialty crops. Speakers include producers, industry experts and specialists from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

The lineup from ISU Extension and Outreach includes Lina Rodriguez-Salamanca, plant pathology diagnostician; Joe Hannan, commercial horticulture specialist; and Ajay Nair, associate professor in horticulture and extension vegetable production specialist.

The event also will feature virtual exhibitors offering products and services of interest to Iowa’s specialty producers.

“We are excited for the opportunity to offer this year's conference virtually to our members and specialty producers in our state and beyond. We have a great lineup of speakers giving talks on a wide variety of specialty crop management, business, and marketing,” said Kendra Meyer, an education extension specialist with Farm, Food and Enterprise Development in ISU Extension and Outreach.

For information on sponsoring, contact Christie Jensen at christie@iowawinegrowers.org.

This event is supported by grant funding from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). Learn more and register at the conference website, www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com.



Livestock Producers Stand Ready To Work With Rep. Haaland

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) today released the following statement in response to the news of Representative Deb Haaland's (NM-01) future nomination to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior:
 
"In her representation of New Mexico, Rep. Deb Haaland has had a front-row seat to the complex land management issues that affect ranchers and rural communities every day," said NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover. "In this new role she will have the opportunity to work with partners, like ranchers, to ensure the Department is a good land steward and collaborator in rural communities, in a way that also reaffirms grazing rights for thousands of producers across the West. We look forward to working with her on policy that recognizes and supports livestock producers’ role as environmental stewards and protectors of natural resources."



NPPC Applauds Regan Nomination to Head EPA

President-Elect Joe Biden Thursday nominated Michael Regan as the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Regan most recently led the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The following statement may be attributed to National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Howard “AV” Roth, a hog farmer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin.

“NPPC congratulates Michael Regan on his nomination. As DEQ secretary in North Carolina, a leading pork-producing state, he always had an open door, valued diverse points of view, and worked to find solutions that ensured science and data were guiding decisions. We hope those same qualities will be carried over to his leadership at EPA. We look forward to working with him on issues of importance to U.S. pork producers, as we continue to produce the highest-quality, most affordable and nutritious protein in the world.”
 
Regan’s nomination will be considered by the U.S. Senate when the chamber convenes in January.



NCBA Recognizes Michael Regan's Selection To Lead EPA

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association's (NCBA) Vice President Of Government Affairs Ethan Lane today issued this statement in recognition of Michael Regan's nomination to become the next Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
 
"With the selection of Michael Regan to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NCBA stands ready to engage with Mr. Regan on environmental issues important to the beef cattle industry. Cattle producers across the country rely on clean water, air, and soil for the health of their livestock and families, and they take great pride in the myriad investments made in those resources through responsible stewardship. We look forward to building on the U.S. cattle industry’s environmental success with Mr. Regan."



ASA Welcomes Nomination of Michael Regan for EPA Administrator

The American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomes President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Michael Regan to serve as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator. ASA farmer-leaders appreciate his record of being a fair and effective regulator in North Carolina.

“ASA shares Director Regan’s passion for protecting the environment and we look forward to working with him to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of agriculture,” ASA President Kevin Scott said. “ASA has a strong working relationship with EPA on soy policy priorities including the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), biotechnology and maintaining science and risk-based processes for consideration of crop protectants. We welcome future collaborations between Director Regan and the EPA on these issues.”



NCGA Statement: Regan nominated to Lead EPA

National Corn Growers Association President John Linder today made the below statement following the news that President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Michael Regan to serve as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator.

“The National Corn Growers Association looks forward to working with Regan on issues of importance to corn farmers overseen by the EPA, most notably the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RFS was a game-changer for corn farmers nearly 20 years ago but previous administrations have failed to uphold the law and implement it as Congress intended. NCGA hopes to have an open dialogue with the new Administrator upon his confirmation and work together to uphold the RFS, reduce emissions through greater use of biofuels, ensure farmers’ access to crop protection products based on sound science and seek practical solutions to issues important to agriculture.”



USDA RECEIVES DELIVERY OF FIRST SIGNIFICANT FMD VACCINE BANK PURCHASE

Earlier this year, USDA announced the first significant purchase for its Foot-and-Mouth (FMD) vaccine bank. Last week, the purchase worth $27 million was delivered to the bank.

The establishment of a robust FMD vaccine bank has been a top, long-term priority for the National Pork Producers Council, which was instrumental in advocating for its establishment as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. Currently, the USDA, which has prescribed vaccination for dealing with an FMD outbreak, does not have access to enough vaccine should an outbreak occur.

FMD is an infectious viral disease that affects cloven-hooved animals, including cattle, pigs and sheep; it is not a food safety or human health threat. The disease is endemic in many parts of the world and would have widespread, long-term fallout for livestock and crop agriculture, including the immediate loss of export markets.

NPPC looks forward to continuing to work with the agency to ensure the FMD vaccine bank is adequately stocked