Livestock and Dairy

The USDA’s latest effort to get an idea of how far spread Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is in the nation’s dairy herd is about a month old.  That is the second federal order involving milk testing for the H5N1 strain.  Alex Turner of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health inspection Service said the department’s effort includes 28 states enrolled since the start of the month, consisting of nearly 65%

A land option agreement has been brokered between Rockview Family Farms and Balanced Rock Power to convert the 2,000-acre dairy farm, Ponderosa Dairy, into a solar energy facility.  BRP will have the option to acquire the land, with the option period estimated to be between two and five years.  The dai...

A recent decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold an EPA’s preliminary injunction against a group of Yakima Valley dairies means those dairies must continue to test for nitrate contamination.  That recent ruling follows an appeal by the dairy farms against a previous court order mandating the expanded tests.   Larry ...

The North American beef cattle herd size is at a 40-year low, after several years of drought and feed shortages in primary cattle regions have taken a heavy toll on cow and heifer numbers.  While cattle producers are seeing record-high prices, the beef processing sector is struggling.  ...

The January Cattle on Feed Report will be released on Friday, January 24th.  Dr. Lee Schulz, chief economist with Ever.ag, said it’s an important report for the cattle industry.   “That'll give us that next estimate. That's an important repor...

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management announced plans to “enhance” greater sage-grouse conservation on public lands in Oregon and Colorado.  The agency said the approved habitat conservation measures will support western communities and benefit more than 350 other wildlife species.  Opponents of the pr...

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced a final rule amending the uniform pricing formulas applicable in all 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders.  The final rule will be published in the Federal Register on Friday, January 17th.  The amendment...

According to World Agricultural Outlook Board chair Mark Jakanowski, beef supplies continue to tighten.   “Year over year beef production is forecast to be down about 1.2 billion pounds.  Part of that reflects as of now, we're still forecasting continued restrictions on cattle imports from Mexico.”   Jakan...

Compassion in World Farming U.S. has released its latest Egg Track Report, which highlights the evolving landscape of higher-welfare egg production in North America.  While the U.S. continues to lead at about 40% of egg-laying hens now in cage-free systems, Canada trails behind, with less than 19% cage-free.  Co...

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced this week that a yearling female as well as an adult male wolf have been removed from the Columbia wolf pack.  Earlier this month, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind authorized the lethal removal of up to two wolves from the pack territory in response to repeated depredations of cattle in Columbia County.  The let...