Friday January 29 Cattle Inventory, Sheep & Goats, + Ag News

 NEBRASKA JANUARY 1 CATTLE INVENTORY

All cattle and calves in Nebraska as of January 1, 2021 totaled 6.85 million head, up 1% from January 1, 2020, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

All cows and heifers that had calved totaled 1.96 million head, down 1% from last year.

Beef cows totaled 1.90 million head, down 1% from last year.

Milk cows totaled 60,000 head, up 3% from January 1, 2020.

All heifers 500 pounds and over totaled 1.96 million head, up 3% from last year.

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 2.47 million head, up 4% from last year.

Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over totaled 110,000 head, down 8% from last year.

Calves under 500 pounds totaled 350,000 head, down 5% from January 1, 2020.

All cattle on feed fed for slaughter in Nebraska feedlots totaled 2.72 million head, up 5% from the previous year.

The 2020 calf crop totaled 1.75 million head, down 2% from 2019.



IOWA CATTLE INVENTORY REPORT

All cattle and calves in Iowa as of January 1, 2021, totaled 3.65 million head, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle report. This was down 200,000 head from January 1, 2020. Beef cows, at 890,000 head, were down 15,000 head from last year. Milk cow inventory was up 5,000 head to 220,000 head.

All heifers 500 pounds and over were down 7% to 800,000 head. Heifers for beef cow replacement were up 7% from 2020 to 155,000 head; heifers for milk cow replacement, at 125,000 head, were up 9% from the previous year; and all other heifers were down 13% to 520,000 head.

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over were down 7% from last year at 1.21 million head. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over remained the same at 60,000 head. Calves under 500 pounds on January 1, 2021, totaled 470,000 head, down 8% from last year.

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 January 1, 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was unchanged from December 1, 2020, but down 9% from January 1, 2020. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 560,000 head on feed, up 4% from December 1, 2020, but down 10% from January 1, 2020. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,170,000 head, up 2% from December 1, 2020, but down 9% from January 1, 2020.

The 2020 calf crop was estimated at 1.03 million head, down 5% from the 2019 calf crop. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in all feedlots on January 1, 2021 totaled 1.17 million head, down 9% from one year ago.



January 1 Cattle Inventory Down Slightly

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2021 totaled 93.6 million head, slightly below the 93.8 million head on January 1, 2020.

All cows and heifers that have calved, at 40.6 million head, were slightly below the 40.7 million head on January 1, 2020. Beef cows, at 31.2 million head, were down 1 percent from a year ago. Milk cows, at 9.44 million head, were up 1 percent from the previous year.

All heifers 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2021 totaled 20.0 million head, slightly below the 20.0 million head on January 1, 2020. Beef replacement heifers, at 5.81 million head, were up slightly from a year ago. Milk replacement heifers, at 4.60 million head, were down 2 percent from the previous year. Other heifers, at 9.58 million head, were 1 percent above a year earlier.

Steers weighing 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2021 totaled 16.6 million head, up slightly from January 1, 2020. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over as of January 1, 2021 totaled 2.21 million head, down 1 percent from January 1, 2020.

Calves under 500 pounds as of January 1, 2021 totaled 14.2 million head, down 1 percent from January 1, 2020.

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 14.7 million head on January 1, 2021. The inventory is up slightly from the January 1, 2020 total of 14.7 million head. Cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted for 81.4 percent of the total cattle on feed on January 1, 2021, down slightly from the previous year. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots) at 25.7 million head, was slightly below January 1, 2020.  

Calf Crop Down 1 Percent
The 2020 calf crop in the United States was estimated at 35.1 million head, down 1 percent from the previous year's calf crop. Calves born during the first half of 2020 were estimated at 25.8 million head, down 1 percent from the first half of 2019. Calves born during the second half of 2020 were estimated at 9.39 million head, 27 percent of the total 2020 calf crop.

Revisions
All inventory and calf crop estimates for July 1, 2019, January 1, 2020, and July 1, 2020 were reviewed using calf crop, official slaughter, import and export data, and the relationship of new survey information to the prior surveys. Based on the findings of this review, July 1, 2019 all cattle and calves decreased by 0.3 percent. January 1, 2020 all cattle and calves decreased by 0.7 percent and 2019 calf crop decreased by 1.3 percent. July 1, 2020 all cattle and calves decreased by 0.8 percent and 2020 calf
crop decreased by 1.9 percent.  State level estimates were reviewed and changes were made to reallocate inventory estimates to the United States total.



NEBRASKA JANUARY 1 SHEEP AND GOATS

All sheep and lamb inventory in Nebraska on January 1, 2021 totaled 74,000 head, down 4,000 from last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Breeding sheep inventory totaled 61,000 head, down 6,000 from last year. Ewes one year and older totaled 50,000 head, down 5,000 from the previous year. Rams one year and older totaled 3,000, unchanged from last year. Total replacement lambs totaled 8,000 head, down 1,000 from last year.

Market sheep and lambs totaled 13,000 head, up 2,000 from last year. A total of 3,000 head were mature sheep (one year and older) while the remaining 10,000 were under one year. Market lamb weight groups were estimated as follows: 3,000 lambs were under 65 pounds; 1,800 were 65-84 pounds; 2,000 were 85-105 pounds; 3,200 were over 105 pounds.

The 2020 lamb crop totaled 65,000 head, down 6,000 from 2019. The 2020 lambing rate was 118 per 100 ewes one year and older, compared with 134 in 2019.

Sheep deaths totaled 3,000 head, down 400 from last year. Lamb deaths totaled 8,000 head, down 1,000 from last year.

Sheep and lambs slaughtered on farm totaled 1,000 head, unchanged from last year.

Shorn wool production during 2020 was 415,000 pounds, down 25,000 from 2019. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 56,000 head, down 5,000 from 2019. Weight per fleece was 7.4 pounds, up 0.2 from 2019. The average price paid for wool sold in 2020 was $0.77 per pound, compared with $0.88 in 2019. The total value of wool produced in Nebraska was 320,000 dollars in 2020.

Milk goats and kids inventory in Nebraska totaled 3,500 head, unchanged from last year.



IOWA SHEEP & GOAT INVENTORY REPORT

All sheep and lambs inventory in Iowa as of January 1, 2021, totaled 160,000 head according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Sheep and Goats report. The sheep and lambs inventory is up 9,000 head from last year. Total breeding stock, at 114,000 head, was 6% above one year ago. Market sheep and lambs increased 7% from a year ago and totaled 46,000 head. The lamb crop for 2020 increased 4% to 120,000 head. Wool production for the State was 795,000 pounds, with fleece weights averaging 5.9 pounds.

Milk goat inventory in Iowa as of January 1, 2021, was 27,000 head, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Sheep and Goats report. Iowa ranked third in total milk goats, behind only Wisconsin and California. The inventory was down 7% from January 2020. Total meat and other goat inventory was 38,000 head, an increase of 9% from the previous year.



January 1 Sheep and Lambs Inventory Down 1 Percent

All sheep and lambs inventory in the United States on January 1, 2021 totaled 5.17 million head, down 1 percent from 2020. Breeding sheep inventory at 3.78 million head on January 1, 2021, decreased 1 percent from 3.81 million head on January 1, 2020. Ewes one year old and older, at 2.96 million head, were 1 percent below last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2021 totaled 1.39 million head, unchanged from January 1, 2020. Market lambs comprised 94 percent of the total market inventory. Market sheep comprised the remaining 6 percent of total market inventory.

The 2020 lamb crop of 3.21 million head was down 1 percent from 2019. The 2020 lambing rate was 108 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2020, unchanged from 2019.

Shorn wool production in the United States during 2020 was 23.1 million pounds, down 4 percent from 2019. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 3.28 million head, down 1 percent from 2019. The average price paid for wool sold in 2020 was $1.66 per pound for a total value of 38.4 million dollars, down 15 percent from 45.4 million dollars in 2019.

Sheep death loss during 2020 totaled 210 thousand head, down 4 percent from 2019. Lamb death loss was down 5 percent from 388 thousand head to 370 thousand head in 2020.

January 1 All Goats and Kids Inventory Down 3 Percent
All goats and kids inventory in the United States on January 1, 2021 totaled 2.58 million head, down 3 percent from 2020. Breeding goat inventory totaled 2.12 million head, down 3 percent from 2020. Does one year old and older, at 1.57 million head, were down 3 percent from last year's number. Market goats and kids totaled 465 thousand head, down 3 percent from a year ago.

Kid crop for 2020 totaled 1.66 million head for all goats, up 1 percent from 2019.

Meat and all other goats totaled 2.05 million head on January 1, 2021, down 2 percent from 2020. Milk goat inventory was 420 thousand head, down 3 percent from January 1, 2020, while Angora goats were down 10 percent, totaling  117 thousand head.

Mohair production in the United States during 2020 was 589 thousand pounds. Goats and kids clipped totaled 113 thousand head. Average weight per clip was 5.2 pounds. Mohair price was $5.07 per pound with a value of 2.99 million dollars.

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Maskenthine Lake and Maple Creek campgrounds to move to online reservations this spring

No matter where you live in Nebraska, you’re never far from a public outdoor recreation area.  Many of these recreational opportunities, such as trails, lakes, parks, and wildlife areas, are built and maintained by Natural Resources Districts (NRDs).  One of the 12 responsibilities of the NRDs is the development and management of recreational park facilities.

Many NRD projects are developed for multiple purposes.  Recreational trails are built atop flood-control levees or along abandoned railroad lines.  Habitat areas and wetlands may be available to hunters and are often preserved for interpretive nature study.  Dams built for flood-control (another responsibility of the NRDs) often develop into recreational areas.  The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has built three dams across their 15-counties for flood protection:  the Willow Creek State Recreation Area, southwest of Pierce; Maskenthine Lake, north of Stanton; and the Maple Creek Recreation Area, northwest of Leigh.

At their January meeting, the LENRD board of directors voted to approve a contract with Reserve America to begin accepting online reservations for a portion of the camping sites at Maskenthine Lake and the Maple Creek recreation areas.  LENRD Recreation Area Superintendent, Leonard Boryca, said, “By implementing the online service, we can establish a fair playing field and give everyone an opportunity to either reserve a spot or take advantage of the first-come, first-served option.  We’ve had a number of requests for this service, and we’re excited to give it a try.”  The board also approved the updated rules and regulations for the recreation areas, including the new reservation and cancellation policy.  The new reservation website will be available later this spring.

In other action, the board instructed staff to send non-compliance notification letters to well owners who have not submitted their annual groundwater use reports for all active high-capacity wells.  Flow meters are tools that provide accurate water use data for inclusion into required annual basin reports.  For producers located in a water quality management area, the meters also provide a better understanding of the nitrogen credit received from the irrigation water.  The installation of flow meters and submittal of water-use readings are requirements for the LENRD’s Groundwater Management Area which promotes the development, utilization, and conservation of groundwater, which is another responsibility of Nebraska’s NRDs.

The LENRD board & staff meet each month to develop and implement management plans to protect our natural resources for the future.  The next LENRD board meeting will be Thursday, February 25th at 7:30 p.m.  Watch for further updates and stay connected with the LENRD by subscribing to their monthly emails.



Webinar on livestock traceability to look at impact, costs for producers

A Nebraska Extension webinar, at noon on Feb. 4, will look at the amount that livestock producers are willing to pay for traceability programs.

The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has recently closed its comment period on a potential new policy on animal identification and traceability. The webinar will review this policy, how it impacts producers, how much buyers are willing to pay and how much sellers require to be compensated for a voluntary traceability program

Presenters will include Elliott Dennis, assistant professor of livestock marketing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; James Mitchell, assistant professor of livestock marketing and management, University of Arkansas; and Brian Vander Ley, assistant professor and veterinary epidemiologist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Extension Farm and Ranch Management team is based in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Economics. Webinars in the series are hosted every Thursday at noon and aim to assist producers and other agricultural professionals in their decision-making.

Registration is free at farm.unl.edu/webinars.



Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Results Update Meetings 2021
February 25 and 26, 2021

The annual on-farm research results update meetings will be offered in-person and online in 2021! In order to comply with COVID-19 directed health measures, pre-registration will be REQUIRED for everyone attending. We encourage you to register early as each site has an attendee cap to ensure we are complying with dedensifying guidelines.

Nebraska On-Farm Research Network 2021 Annual Results Update
8:30-9:00 Attendee check-in at local facilities
9:00-9:10 Welcome!
9:10-9:30 Leveraging Precision Ag Technologies to ConductReliable On-Farm Research Studies – Dr. Joe Luck, Precision Ag Specialist
9:30-9:40  Introduction to the Nebraska On-Farm Research Results Update Book – Nathan Mueller & Laura Thompson, Extension Educators
9:40-10:45  Local on-farm research results discussions
10:45-10:55   Break
10:55-11:10  Presentation 1: Option A: Update of NRCS Soil Health Demo Farm Projects - Fernanda Krupek OR Option B: Manure and Mulch applications for Crop Production and Soil Properties - Karla Melgar Velis
11:10-11:25   Presentation 2: Option A: Sensor Based Nitrogen Management for Dryland Corn -  Samantha Teten OR Option B: Sensor Based Fertigation - Jackson Stansell
11:25-11:35   Presentation 3: Precision Nitrogen Management Project -Crop Model Based Nitrogen Management - Laura Thompson and Laila Puntel
11:35-11:45   Upcoming research opportunities
11:45-12:15   Group discussion of research topics for their area
12:15-12:25   New On-Farm Research Products
12:25-12:30   Thank you to participating farmers and recognition
12:30   Evaluation and dismissal

2021 Locations
For information about local COVID related protocols and mask requirements, please contact the host of the site you are interested in.

February 25
Beatrice | Gage County Extension Office | 1115 West Scott, Beatrice NE  
York | Cornerstone Event Center | 2400 N. Nebraska Ave., York, NE  
David City | David City Library | 399 N 5th St., David City, NE | *Masks will be required at this site  
Clay Center | Clay County Fair Grounds | 701 N Martin Ave., Clay Center, NE  
Auburn | 4-H Building at the Nemaha County Fair Grounds | 816 I St., Auburn, NE  
Wahoo | Lake Wanahoo Education Building | 655 Co Rd 16, East side of Lake Wanahoo, Wahoo, NE  
Online Only via Zoom

February 26
Norfolk | Madison County Extension Office | 1305 S. 13th Street, Norfolk, NE  
West Point | Nielsen Center | 200 Anna Stalp Ave., West Point, NE  
Wilber | Saline County Extension Office | 306 W 3rd Street, Wilber, NE  
Kearney | Buffalo County Extension Office | 1400 E. 34th (Fair Grounds), Kearney, NE  
Alliance | Knight Museum and Sandhills Center | 908 Yellowstone, Alliance, NE  
Osceola | Polk Co Fair Grounds, Ag Hall | 12931 N Blvd | *Masks will be required at this site  
Clay Center | Clay County Fair Grounds | 701 N Martin Ave., Clay Center, NE  
Seward | Harvest Hall Seward | 1625 Fairgrounds Circle, Seward, NE  
Nebraska City | Kimmel Orchard Education Building | 5995 G Rd., Nebraska City, NE  
North Platte | West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center (WCREEC) | 402 W. State Farm Road, North Platte, NE  
Online Only via Zoom

Click here for more information:  https://cropwatch.unl.edu/nebraska-farm-research-network-results-update-meetings-2021.  



Nebraska Cattlemen Select Priority Bills for the 2021 Legislative Session

Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) Board of Directors met this week in Kearney for their annual legislative meeting. NC’s six policy committees researched, discussed and prioritized bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments recently introduced in the Nebraska Legislature that are of interest to Nebraska beef producers.

Under close review and in accordance with NC Policy, the Board of Directors considered and took positions on 113 pieces of legislation and choose five bills and one concept as priorities for this legislative session.

Nebraska Cattlemen Animal Health and Nutrition committee prioritized LB 252 by Senator Williams. Nebraska Cattlemen considers this their Dr. Fox Bill. This bill allows producers a 30-day window to refill prescriptions while finding a veterinarian to provide a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR) in the event their prescribing veterinarian is deceased.

The Brand and Properties Rights committee took a supportive stance and priority on LB 572 and LB 571 brought forth by Senator Halloran. LB 572 changes provision to the Livestock Brand Act and LB 571 provides for a backgrounder lot under the Livestock Brand Act. NC also took a position in opposition to LB 641 by Senator Erdman that eliminates registered feedlot provisions under the Livestock Brand Act.

Marketing and Commerce committee supports with the prioritization of efforts aimed at expanding broadband infrastructure and access to underserved areas throughout Nebraska.

Lastly, NC Education and Research Committee passed interim policy to support the development and implementation of Farm-to-table, Beef in school and similar programs that make local producer’s foods available in local schools. With the interim policy, LB 396 by Senator Brandt was prioritized. LB 396 Adopts the Nebraska Farm-to-School Program Act.

“The legislative committee had lots of good, in-depth conversation in regards to over 100 legislative measures. We were able to accomplish all that was needed to take a position on bills that were in-line with Nebraska Cattlemen policy” said Brenda Masek, Chairman of NC Legislative Committee.

For more information about a specific priority for Nebraska Cattlemen, please call the Nebraska Cattlemen office at 402.475.2333.



NeCGA Elects Officers, At-Large Directors

Members of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association gathered at the Holthus Convention Center on Thursday, January 21, for their Annual Meeting. Following the Annual Meeting, NeCGA held a regular board meeting and elected officers.

Andy Jobman of Gothenburg was elected as president. Other officers elected include Chris Grams of Upland, vice president and Dave Merrell of St. Edward, secretary. Re-elected to treasurer was Michael Dibbern of Cairo. Dan Nerud of Dorchester moved to chairman. The board is thankful to Dan Nerud for his service as president of the association and to Dan Wesely for his years of service on the executive team.

During the Annual Meeting, NeCGA delegates elected two at-large members to the board. Ethan Zoerb of Litchfield and Dan Wesely of Morse Bluff were elected to serve three-year terms.
    
“We are very grateful for the volunteer efforts that our grower leadership and officers give on an annual basis,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of NeCGA. “I look forward to working alongside our leadership team and board of directors in increasing opportunities for our membership in the coming year.”



Former Iowa State Extension Swine Specialist Recognized as Honorary Master Pork Producer

Tom Miller said yes to a temporary parttime position with Iowa State University Extension in December 1999, and finally said goodbye on May 8, 2020. Through his 20-plus year career as a swine extension specialist in southeast Iowa, he became a source of sound science and real-life experience to producers and others in the pork industry. His clientele ranged from farmers interested in manure management to 4-H’ers with swine projects, and every one of them benefited from their interactions with Miller.

This is a big reason why the Iowa Pork Producers Association honored him with the Honorary Master Pork Producer Award during the 2021 Iowa Pork Congress Recognition Banquet Tuesday evening.

Colin Johnson, colleague and swine specialist in southern Iowa, said Miller was a true team player in extension as he supported efforts across program disciplines of swine, farm management, agronomy, ag engineering and 4-H. Prior to becoming a swine specialist, Miller was a pork producer and well-respected for supplying SPF replacement gilts to fellow producers. He volunteered countless hours and days helping with 4-H swine shows at the county and state level, and enjoyed interactions and working relationships with the southeast Iowa extension ag team, a group of ag and natural resources specialists, county and regional extension staff.

Although Miller often joked that his extension swine specialist job helped support his farming habit, he readily admitted that helping people make a positive difference in their lives was the best part of his job.

Former Iowa Pork Industry Center director John Mabry recognized the value of Miller’s positive attitude and ability to work with almost anyone. He said Miller didn’t look for or expect personal gain; he just wanted pork producers to survive and prosper.

Current IPIC director Jason Ross worked with Miller the past few years and said this about Tom, “He was great friend and a wise counsel to many of Iowa’s pork producers and his ISU colleagues. Tom had the ability to anticipate what producers needed to know to help manage their businesses and thrive, and we were fortunate to have him as a part of our team.”

“Congratulations to Tom for a great career with extension and for choosing to work with IPIC and extension to help Iowa swine producers,” he said. “He’s been a great role model for new extension specialists.”



Risk Management Series Planned for Specialty Crop Growers

Specialty crop growers experienced a wild year in 2020, with complications from the drought, derecho and the COVID-19 pandemic.

This trio of events served as a reminder for many growers about the importance of risk management and being prepared for rapid change.

While many specialty crop growers saw increased demand in 2020, they also faced significant changes to their marketing plans and customer base. To help growers prepare for the year ahead, the Small Farm Sustainability program with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering a webinar series that runs through March 10.

The Specialty Crops Risk Management Webinar Series will cover a new topic each Wednesday, at noon. Topics are listed in the January edition of the “Acreage Living Newsletter” and include risk management for perennial crops and vegetable crops, food safety on the farm, Ag Decision Maker Resources, weather patterns and management tools, farm finance and more.

The goal is to help growers mitigate risk, so they can prevent loss and prepare for changes in the marketplace, according to Ajay Nair, associate professor in horticulture and extension vegetable production specialist with Iowa State.

Nair said the challenges of 2020 underscore the need to think creatively and find solutions that lessen an operation’s exposure to risk.

“Oftentimes the grower knows the risk after it hits, and we want to help them get ahead of the risk, so that if something happens, they know how to handle it,” he said.

Nair will lead the Feb. 3 session on risk management in vegetable crops. He will talk about the ways to manage weed, disease and insect pressure, and how producers can diversify their marketing and financial approach.

He said specialty crop growers should be paying attention to the type and condition of their soil, the crops they choose for the soil, the integration of crops to help manage pests, and the option of using climate-controlled structures such as high tunnels.

Other speakers will cover the types of insurance policies and options available for specialty crops, whole farm revenue protection, and the weather patterns and management tools available.

Kathleen Delate, extension organic specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will lead the final talk, March 10, on risk management for organic production.

Sessions are presented live, with time for question and answer. Register in advance at: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4orMZUc5RKCocj_6CLn5vQ.

All webinars are free of charge. Sessions will also be recorded and the archive will be available on the Ag and Natural Resources Extension YouTube channel.



ASA Eyes Senate Confirmation Hearings

With Senate confirmation hearings ongoing to solidify the new administration, the American Soybean Association and other industry partners are urging swift confirmation of President Biden’s USDA secretary, EPA administrator and USTR nominees.

Up Next:
USDA secretary nominee Tom Vilsack’s hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2. ASA welcomes Vilsack, a former two-term Iowa governor who served as Secretary of Agriculture for eight years during the Obama Administration, who has a history of supporting biodiesel and biotechnology, among other soybean farmer priorities.

EPA administrator nominee Michael Regan’s hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 3. ASA farmer-leaders appreciate Regan’s record of being a fair and effective regulator in North Carolina and welcome his nomination.

On Deck:
ASA and other ag groups this week endorsed Katharine Tai, Biden’s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, in a letter this week urging Senate confirmation. In the letter, groups stated Tai is “eminently qualified” and specifically pointed to her track record in building bipartisan support for trade policies.



 US, EU Groups Urge Swift Tariff Removals

The American Soybean Association and several other groups are calling on the Biden Administration and European Commission to immediately remove, or at least suspend, all additional and retaliatory tariffs implemented since 2018 due to disputes over aircraft subsidies and steel and aluminum trade.

In a letter this week to President Biden and President Ursula von der Leyen, the groups underscored the economic hardships faced by their industries—from ongoing tariff uncertainty to COVID-19 impacts—and urged swiftly reestablishing a cooperative trading relationship.

“The ongoing EU-U.S. trade disputes and additional tariffs which continue to plague Trans-Atlantic trade have made a bad situation worse. With the damages we have suffered last year and are still suffering, the current situation cannot be allowed to go on any longer,” groups stated in the letter. “We believe immediate suspension of these tariffs is a necessary and fundamental action, which will provide an economic stimulus at a time when it is needed most.”



OSHA RELEASES GUIDANCE ON COVID MITIGATION, PREVENTION IN THE WORKPLACE

On Friday morning, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace setting. Among specifics, it recommends employers implement COVID-19 prevention programs in the workplace, including wearing personal protective gear, maintaining at least six feet of distance where possible and installing barriers where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

The National Pork Proudcers Council and the U.S. pork industry are committed to worker safety in plants and on farms. Thanks to numerous prevention efforts, pork packing plants are no longer experiencing widespread COVID outbreaks. Pork processing plants are an essential part of the U.S. food supply chain, and will continue to work to ensure the most affordable, high-quality protein is delivered to consumers here at home and around the globe.

Last month, NPPC, the North American Meat Institute and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association sent letters to all 50 state governors, urging them to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for meat and poultry industry workers, directly after healthcare workers and other high-risk individuals.



Lawsuit Challenging FDA Approval of Novel Genetically Engineered Color Additive That Makes Impossible Burger “Bleed” Moves Forward

Yesterday, Center for Food Safety (CFS) filed a legal brief in its challenge to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 2019 approval of soy leghemoglobin (“heme”), a color additive used to make Impossible Foods’ eponymous plant-based burger, the Impossible Burger, appear to "bleed" like real meat.

The novel heme colorant is produced in genetically engineered (GE) yeast, and is modeled on a protein found in the roots of soybean. The GE heme is actually a color additive preparation that also contains over a dozen yeast proteins. Because GE heme is new to the human diet, and substantial quantities are added to the Impossible Burger, FDA should have required extensive safety testing before approving its use as a color additive, as required by law.

"FDA approved soy leghemoglobin even though it conducted none of the long-term animal studies that are needed to determine whether or not it harms human health,” said Bill Freese, science policy analyst at Center for Food Safety. “This includes studies for cancer, reproductive impairment, and other adverse effects called for by FDA’s Redbook, the Bible of food and color additive testing,” he added. “We find this to be all the more troubling because a number of potential adverse effects were detected in a short-term rat trial: disruption of reproductive cycles and reduced uterine weights in females, and biomarkers of anemia, reduced clotting ability, and kidney problems.”

The law on color additives is clear: Because they offer no substantive benefits, and add only aesthetic appeal, Congress and FDA established an extremely high bar for approval. The agency’s “convincing evidence” standard means that a color additive cannot be approved without the strongest possible evidence of safety, a higher bar than for other food additives. Despite the lack of needed safety tests, Impossible Foods’ products containing GE heme are now widely available in supermarkets across the country due to FDA’s unlawful approval of GE heme as a color additive.

“FDA’s failure to require Impossible Foods to conduct long-term tests called for in the agency’s own authoritative guidelines means it does not have ‘convincing evidence’ that this color additive, consumed by millions, is safe,” said Ryan Talbott, staff attorney at Center for Food Safety. “The approval of soy leghemoglobin must be revoked, unless and until truly convincing evidence proves it to be safe.”

While CFS like many others avidly supports plant-based eating, enthusiasm for meatless products cannot be used as an excuse to skirt food safety laws. FDA’s dereliction of duty has resulted in the premature introduction of Impossible Foods’ products containing GE heme to restaurants and supermarkets throughout the country, and highlights a troubling deregulatory trend which prioritizes corporate profit over public health and safety.