April poultry production 7% above last year
According to USDA, April 2013 poultry production was 3.752 billion pounds, up 7% from April 2012. The preliminary live weight of all poultry was 4.970 billion pounds, a 7% year […]
Foster Farms debuts American Humane Certified™ Oven Ready Chicken Entrées
As more Americans rely on fresh, distinctive flavors and a "foodie" experience at home, Foster Farms introduces a new fresh chicken experience with Oven Ready Entrées, allowing consumers to quickly […]
FSIS to start sampling comminuted poultry products
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has instructed inspectors at plants that produce not ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products that, beginning June 1, they are to sample these products. The […]
Meat and poultry trends in the U.S.
Meat consumption in the U.S. has been on the decline for nearly a decade. Several factors account for this change, but two in particular stand out. The first is consumer […]
Brown’s revised budget gives CDFA slight increase
The $96.4 billion revised budget proposal that Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled May 14 increases spending for the California Department of Food and Agriculture after several years of cuts. The governor’s proposed $61.9 million general fund allocation to CDFA is unchanged from the rosy fiscal outlook he presented in January, and the ledger sets aside $2.5 million for research to combat the Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening.
Congressional ag committees to work on farm bills
It’s spring. Farmers have taken to fields to plant their 2013 fall crops, and congressional agriculture committees are taking another stab at enacting a new farm bill. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on May 14, by a vote of 15 to 5, approved the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013. The bill was written by Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, chairwoman of the agriculture committee, and ranking member Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi.
Farm Bill gets House hearing after Senate panel approval
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee debated legislation today to reauthorize farm programs, a day after the Senate panel approved a version that will cost $955 billion over 10 years.The House […]
Mexico slaughters 55,000 birds to contain outbreak
Mexico has slaughtered 55,000 birds in Puebla due to a reported H7N3 avian flu outbreak in the state, said the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture in a press release. The National […]
FDA releases new tool to help prevent intentional food contamination
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released a new tool to help bolster the food industry’s defense measures against an act of intentional food contamination. The Food Defense Plan Builder is a comprehensive, easy-to-use software program designed to help owners and operators of food facilities-ranging from primary production and manufacturing to retail and transportation-develop customized plans to minimize the risk of intentional contamination at their individual food facilities.
Committee releases white paper examining environmental impacts of Renewable Fuel Standard
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is continuing its bipartisan review of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), releasing today the third in a series of white papers examining a number of issues emerging with the current system. Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) are leading this effort to review the law and its implementation and are soliciting input from interested stakeholders.