National Pork Board to Meet in North Carolina
US - The National Pork Board will be in Raleigh, North Carolina, 3-5 February to meet with local producers and to develop a better understanding of the nation's second-largest pork producing state.

Pork Board Prioritises Humane Euthanasia of Pigs
US - With regards to animal welfare, the pork industry has taken several steps to improve production methods in recent years.

NFU Commends USDA Action
US - National Farmers Union President Tom Buis commended US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack following the Secretary’s press conference yesterday morning outlining several changes to programs currently...

Calls for Obama to Stop US Animal Identification Rule
US - The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund called on the new administration to permanently halt a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed rule that would effectively mandate the implementation...

Will US Consumers Eat Up GM Meat Rule?
US - On January 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided how it will regulate genetically engineered animals, for the first time paving the way for such animals or their products to be sold as...

NFU: Priorities for Secretary Vilsack Outlined
US - The National Farmers Union board of directors on 20 January sent a letter to US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlining four challenges the organization believes require immediate...

NPPC: Lawsuit Against EPA for Emissions Rule
US - The National Pork Producers Council yesterday filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the US Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to require livestock farms to file reports under the Environmental...

USDA: Naturally Raised Marketing Claim Standard
US - The US Department of Agriculture on Friday (16 January) issued a voluntary standard for naturally raised livestock and meat marketing claims.

Market Preview: Top of Mind Trade Issues
US - Weekly US Market Preview provided by Steve R. Meyer, Ph.D., Paragon Economics, Inc.

The Future of US Livestock is Genetically Modified
US - The US Food and Drug Administration today issued a final guidance for industry on the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) animals, which advises the use of GE animals for food.

NPPC Attempts Resolution of Shipment Issue
US - The National Pork Producers Council continues to press the Mexican government to put off implementing a policy that would prohibit the United States from shipping pork to Mexico via large combo containers...

CAFO Rule Changes Could Impact Indiana Farms
US - Changes to federal concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) rules have experts waiting to see how Indiana farms will be affected when the state updates its own rules this year.

Final Rule On Meat Labelling Law Issued
US - A final rule implementing the Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labelling (M-COOL) law provides flexibility for the US pork industry but remains a costly and potentially cumbersome statute, said the National...

Amendments Made to Enhance Disease Traceability
US - The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to amend its domestic livestock regulations in order to enhance the traceability of animals in the United States.

Postponement of Combo Bans Allows Negotiations
US - Mexican officials agreed late last week to push back to 30 January from 16 January the effective date of a rule that would force US meat exporters to significantly change their shipping methods and...

Presence of US Pork Growing in Russia
US - The United States and Russia recently agreed to changes in the protocol governing trade of poultry, beef and pork.

Hog Farmers Unfazed by Hog Rules
US - A ban on hog waste lagoons became permanent with the start of 2009, but the long-awaited environmental measure may go largely unnoticed.

USTR Signs Protocol to Russian Trade Agreement
US - The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) yesterday (30 December 2008) signed the protocol to the US-Russia Agreement on Trade in Certain Types of Poultry, Beef, and Pork.

CME: Exports to Mexico to Continue This Week
US - CME's Daily Livestock Report for 29 December 2008.

CME: Mexico's 'Christmas Gift' to USDA
US - CME's Daily Livestock Report for 26 December 2008.

USDA Amends Regulation on Imports
US - The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat and other animal products into the United States by restoring...

AVMA Comments on Regulation of GM Animals
US - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has commented on the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) animals.

Comment Period on Animal Welfare Act Extended
US - The USDA is extending the comment period for its proposed rule that would amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations to add requirements for contingency planning and training of personnel by research...

USDA Releases NAIS Veterinarian's Toolkit
US - The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) yesterday released A Veterinarian’s Toolkit for use with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

Unions Welcome Nomination of Gov. Vilsack
US - President-elect Barack Obama plans to appoint former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary.