Washington DC - March 9 - The fifth edition of the Power of Meat, a joint study by the American Meat Institute and the Food Marketing Institute, finds that the recession is continuing to impact food purchasing and consumption behavior, including the meat department.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - March 8 - The United States and Russia have reached an agreement to reopen the Russian market to U.S. pork and pork products, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - March 2 - Pointing out that exports generate 8,000 U.S. jobs for every $1 billion of agricultural goods exported, an ad hoc coalition of food, feed and agricultural entities today urged Congress to promptly pass several pending free trade agreements.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - March 2 - A bipartisan group of nineteen Senators sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging the Administration to press China to live up to its commitments and allow the importation of American pork.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - January 15 - National Farmers Union and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association submitted a joint letter to United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk, urging a vigorous defense of the country of origin labeling (COOL) law at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - January 11 - The American Meat Institute (AMI) told the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) violates the United States’ international trade obligations for many reasons and that the U.S. must honor these obligations.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - January 11 - In 2009, weak profit margins for producers of beef, pork and poultry led to reductions in supply as 2010 begins which means a more favorable supply situation. However, questions still remain on the demand side of the equation, reports livestock economist John Anderson of Mississippi State University.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - January 8 - In comments submitted to the Department of Justice, The American Meat Institute (AMI) said that existing anti-trust and competition statutes are equally applicable and effective for the meat industry and all industries, and that efforts to regulate the meat industry in a unique way are ill-conceived.

To read their statement, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - December 21 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that it will solicit further public comments on the proposed rule, “Nutrition Labeling of Single-Ingredient Products and Ground or Chopped Meat and Poultry Products.”

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Washington DC - December 14 - U.S. beef exports hit their highest monthly volume for the entire year in October, while pork exports achieved their second-best month of 2009, according to the latest statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - November 17 - September pork exports reached nearly 154,000 metric tons, the highest volume since April 2009.September beef  exports were down slightly from August, with the January-September cumulative total falling further behind last year’s pace.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - November 12 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA’s intention to purchase $82.6 million worth of pork, cherry, plum and apple products for federal food nutrition assistance programs.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - November 2 - An international team of scientists, funded with a $10 million grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), has completed the first draft of the genome of a domesticated pig. This first draft sequence will spur advancements in swine production and human medicine.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - October 30 - China agreed to reopen its market to U.S. pork and live swine, remove barriers for American firms to China’s growing clean energy market, and clamp down on Internet piracy at the 20th session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE

Washington DC - October 29 - U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that China intends to re-open the Chinese market to United States pork and live swine, consistent with science-based international standards.

To read the entire report, CLICK HERE