Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the White House have caused quite a stir in food and agriculture circles by warning that budget sequestration could lead to a two-week furlough of federal meat inspectors, which would effectively halt American meat and poultry processing. The meat industry has responded by arguing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture… Continue Reading
In 1993, 623 people in the western U.S. fell ill with a little-known bacteria called E. coli O157:H7. Ultimately, four children would die from their infections; many others suffered long-term medical complications. The bug was later traced to undercooked hamburger served at Jack in the Box restaurants. This outbreak thrust foodborne illness onto the national stage… Continue Reading
An independent cattlemen’s group is charging its larger competitor with using federal “Beef Checkoff” marketing dollars to illegally influence government actions and policies. The Billings, MT-based R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America made the charge earlier this month against the Denver-based National Cattleman’s Beef Association in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Attorney General… Continue Reading
The “Meatless Monday” campaign that urges Americans to cut their beef consumption by 15 percent suggests grilled avocado with salsa as the meat substitute of the week. Pays Café in Billings, MT, where the leadership of the Ranchers Cattlemen Acton Legal Fund (R-CALF), is said to hang out, probably is not going to rustle… Continue Reading
FORT COLLINS, CO–The joint Department of Justice/USDA workshop that was held here was a day-long demonstration of how rural America’s views are widely differing when it comes to whether there is too much private contracting going on in the marketing and production of livestock and poultry. The idea of government getting between producers and packers… Continue Reading
President Obama has directed the U.S. Trade Representative to launch new talks with the South Korean government to resolve issues holding up a bilateral free trade agreement. Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative, said in a news release that he has been directed to initiate discussions with the Korean Minister of Trade Kim Jong-hoon, and have… Continue Reading
The federal government may be a step closer toward banning–or severely limiting–the subtherapeutic use of antibiotics in animal agriculture in the interest of public health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance Monday “intended to help reduce the development of resistance to medically important antimicrobial drugs” that are widely used in food… Continue Reading
Top meat industry groups held briefings on Capitol Hill Tuesday defending the use of antibiotics as a critical tool for animal health. The briefings come two weeks after CBS Evening News with Katie Couric broadcast a two-part series criticizing the widespread use of antibiotics in food animal production. Those in the meat business have been… Continue Reading