Meat packers

Is the national beef herd expanding? That question has been before the livestock industry for several months at this point, as the herd reports some of the smallest numbers in a generation.

The EPA’s longstanding Meat and Poultry Effluent Guidelines and Standards will stand. Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that proposed changes to the regulation are unnecessary.

For much of 2025, the livestock sector has been one of the few areas of agriculture enjoying strong commodity prices and strong returns.

Bipartisan legislation has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate to address anticompetitive markets and vertical consolidation in the meatpacking industry.  The “Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025 would create the “Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters” within the Packers & Stockyards Division at USDA.  The Office of the Special Inv...

On Tuesday, Oregon senator Ron Wyden joined fellow Democrat Peter Welch of Vermont, as well as Republicans Mike Rounds  of South Dakota and Iowa's Chuck Grassley introducing legislation aimed at lowering skyrocketing grocery bills by cracking down on America’s “Big Four” meatpackers.  Tuesday’s announcement no...

Cattle producers across the northwest, and across the country have enjoyed good returns over the past couple of years, and it looks like that trend may continue for the foreseeable future.  Phil Bass, University of Idaho Associate Professor said between low cost of feed, high prices for fat cows, and weather that’s been cooperative in the Northwest, things have gone well for producers.  Bass added

The nation's largest meatpacking company, JBS USA Food Company, will pay $4 million as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor, in connection with the company's use of child labor at meatpacking plants across the country.  DOL said last week the funds would be used to "prevent illegal child labor" and support victims of child labor nationwide while prioritizing those effor

Local meat processing plants across the county will work to expand capacity, and improve efficiencies thanks to recent investments via the USDA.   “USDA's local meat capacity grant program, or we call it local MCap," said Department of Ag’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Moffitt.  "It provides targeted pr...

With so many commodities struggling right now, it’s nice to hear about sectors of the farming industry that are doing well.  University of Idaho Associate Professor of Meat Science Phill Bass said beef demand is very strong domestically and internationally, which means many producers are making money.  However, whil...

Washington State University Extension and the state Department of Agriculture will hold workshops targeted to small to medium sized meat producers or processors who sell to local consumers.  WSU Extension Meat Science experts and WSDA Regional Markets Program staff will hold a trio of interactive butchery sessions in the WA Meat up mobile butchery classroom.  In addi...