food supply chain

According to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, a priority for the USDA is creating local and regional food systems. "So those small and medium sized producers get a market that's local. Small medium size producers get price discovery that allows them to accurately understand and appreciate the value of whatever it is they're growing a raising," Vilsack recently made those comments during the Wal

The USDA announced recently plant to invest $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains.  "Historically we've had a very efficient system, but efficiency comes at a price. And that price is a lack of resilience when you have a major disruption," said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. "W ...

On Tuesday, the White House announced a task force focused on short-term supply chain disruptions. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was named co-chair of the task force, along with the Secretaries of Commerce and Transportation. The Department of Agriculture said the task force will convene stakeholders to diagnose problems and find solutions that could help alleviate bottlenecks and supply con

The FBI is investigating, and the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee wants to know if Russia was behind the recent ransomware attack on JBS USA. Chairman David Scott said the “cowardly hacking” of critical U.S. “food, energy, and financial systems must be stopped,” and Russia must be held “accountable” if it’s somehow involved. While the House Ag Committee Chairman h ...

Over the weekend, one of the world’s largest meatpackers announced it had been hit by a cyber-attack. JBS announced Sunday some of the servers supporting its North American and Australian IT systems were targeted. Scott Bennett, director of congressional relations with the American Farm Bureau Federation said the company responded immediately. ...

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow urges the Department of Agriculture to implement American Rescue Plan provisions to protect food and farm workers. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Stabenow states the American Rescue Plan "included resources so that the people who power our food and ag supply chain are protected and have the resources they need to stay safe

As restaurants and other parts of the food service sector begin to operate somewhat normally again. And that goes for all products to some extent, noted USDA Outlook Board Chairman, Mark Jekanowski, not just beef. Rewind the clock to just before the pandemic, restaurants, schools, and hotels open for normal business and then "The supply chain's got this big hiccup with COVID when everyone st

The United Fresh Produce Association says pallet shortages are disrupting the produce supply chain. The organization says the lack of pallets is adding stress to a supply chain that is already facing significant challenges. Other supply chain issues include a lack of available trucks and shipping containers, labor challenges and a pending shortage of resin used to make reusable containers and pa

USDA is seeking public comment about a process of building resilience in to the food system to help avoid shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic. "We know our food system broke down and we are in the process of  rebuilding it," noted Deputy Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Mae Wu. "B ...

After the challenges 2020 presented the farming community, many sectors are looking forward to better days ahead. Count the Idaho dairy industry as one of those encouraged about the future. Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairyman’s Association said 2020 was a turbulent year with tremendous volatility. ...