Limited Transmission of Novel Flu A (H3N2) Virus
US - In November the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed three cases of swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A (H3N2) (S-OtrH3N2) virus infection in children in two counties in I...

2012 Farm Bill: Concerns Over Legality of US M-Cool
US - A US-based Agricultural Economist expects Congress to address concerns over the legality of Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling next year when it writes a new US farm bill, writes Bruce Cochran...

Evidence: Ban on Growth Promotion Use of Antibiotics
US - In a review study, researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine zero in on the controversial, non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in food animals and fish farming as a cause of antibiotic ...

COOL Compliance with WTO Rules Pleases NFU
US - National Farmers Union (NFU) was generally pleased with Friday's (18 November) ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which found that Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) is allowable under WTO...

EPA’s Regulatory Burdens Threaten Family Farms
US - In just the last three years, the Environmental Protection Agency has set in motion a significant number of new regulations that will significantly change the face of agriculture. The coming changes...

Ag Appropriations Bill Disappoints Family Farmers
US - H.R. 2112, the "minibus" legislation that includes the agricultural appropriations bill, along with two other appropriations bills and the continuing resolution to keep the federal government running...

Fight Following Ag Appropriations Conference Report
US - National Farmers Union (NFU) sent a letter yesterday to all members of Congress expressing concerns with the Fiscal Year 2012 (FY 2012) agriculture appropriations language in the conference committee...

FDA Denies Pleas to Ban Antibiotic Use
US - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has denied a pair of long-pending petitions from consumer and other groups to limit the use of several antibiotics in farm animals, saying a voluntary approach...

NPPC Wants Japan in TPP Trade Talks
US - The National Pork Producers Council on Friday (11 November) welcomed Japan’s announcement that it would like to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) multi-lateral trade talks.

Hog Processor Buys Land for N Indiana Expansion
INDIANA, US - A hog processing facility in northern Indiana plans to expand after buying a 30-acre site from the county government.

National Pork Board to Mark 25th Anniversary
US - Meeting 25 years and a few days after the first National Pork Board convened, members of the National Pork Board will gather 15-16 November in Des Moines, Iowa, to celebrate the board's silver anniversary...

Market Preview: Pork-Related GIPSA Rules in Limbo
US - In this week's "Market Preview" from National Hog Farmer magazine, Steve Meyer comments on the latest news regarding the status of the USDA's GIPSA rule.

Smithfield Rebuffs HSUS Complaint
US - US pig meat processing giant, Smithfield Foods has hit back at allegations made by the Humane Society of the United States regarding the company's animal welfare practices contained in a complaint...

NFU: GIPSA Rule Still Missing Critical Elements
US - National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued a statement after US Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials sent portions of the 22 June, 2010, proposed Grain Inspection, Packers...

Salmonella Control Programmes for Meat & Poultry
US - The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued Notice 57-11: Reviewing Establishment Salmonella Control Programmes for Raw Classes of Meat or Poultry Product.

Ag Appropriations Bill a Step in the Right Direction
US - The National Farmers Union (NFU) has expressed positive feelings regarding the agricultural appropriations bill passed by the Senate.

Supreme Court to Consider Pig Welfare at Slaughter
CALIFORNIA, US - The National Meat Assocation is challenging a law in the state that requires slaughterhouses to remove and euthanise animals unable to walk.

President Signs Free Trade Agreements
US - President Obama signed the Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia on Friday (21 October).

Tariff on US Pork Lifted by Mexico
US - The National Pork Producers Council has praised the US and Mexican governments for following through on resolving a trade dispute over trucking.

NPPC Questions Need for EPA Reporting Rule
US - While questioning the need for the US Environmental Protection Agency's latest proposed Clean Water Act (CWA) reporting rule for large livestock operations, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)...

Checkoff Dollars Should Be Distributed More Fairly
US - National Farmers Union (NFU) and a coalition of organisations sent a letter to US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging him to take steps to make funding for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB)...

EPA Does Not Plan to Regulate Farm Dust
US - National Farmers Union (NFU) has called for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clarification to settle concerns about its plans to regulate farm dust.

Passage of FTAs a Great Victory for US Pork Industry
US - Calling it one of the "greatest victories ever for the US pork industry," the National Pork Producers Council lauded yesterday's congressional approval of the free trade agreements with Colombia,...

Passage of Currency Reform to Make FTAs Fairer
US - National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson has welcomed moves by the Senate to help correct harmful economic trading conditions for farmers.

FTAs Have Potential to Impact Pork Exports
US - Last week, the President finally sent the free trade agreements (FTA) with Panama, Colombia and South Korea to Congress for approval, writes Ron Plain.

NFU: Imposing Moratorium on Regulatory Actions
US - The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and a coalition of organizations sent a letter to the US House Committee on Agriculture and Senate Agriculture Committee, asking them to recommend a two-year...

Views on Ratification of FTAs; USDA Statement
US - President Obama yesterday sent three long-stalled free trade agreements (FTAs), with South Korea, Panama and Colombia, to Congress for final ratification.

NFU: Senate Must Pass Bill to Make FTAs More Fair
US - National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson sent a letter to US Senate Leadership today urging them to pass S. 1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011. The bill would...

FDA Announces Retail Food Safety Action Plan
US - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced its Retail Food Safety Action Plan. The plan specifically calls for new state and local food safety requirements for retail food establishments...

NPPC: GAO Report on Antibiotic Resistance
US - A new report from the US Government Accountability Office has called for government and food industry bodies to track the effectiveness of policies to curb antibiotic resistance, including FDA's voluntary...