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News, Insights & Interviews Archive


Tyson Plant Closure Signals New Phase in Tightening Cattle Cycle
Tyson Foods’ decision last month to shut down one of its largest beef-processing plants in Lexington, Nebraska, has organizations scrambling to support the thousands of employees who will soon be out of work and cattle ranchers wondering what is ahead. The company is the nation’s largest meat supplier. It plans to close the 3,000-employee facility—which can process nearly 5,000 head of cattle per day—in January. The shutdown comes as an historic cattle shortage continues to s
Brooke Bouma Kohlsdorf
Dec 53 min read


By the Numbers: Profitable Farming and Bird Flu’s Spread
Cattle farmers are doing better since prices have improved. Although, they must also be cautious about what impact the Trump administration’s increased imports of foreign beef could have on those prices. Fortunately for those American ranchers, consumers are focused on protein. That could also help pork and poultry producers, too, with the increased American appetite for protein. Inflation is not the albatross for farmers and ranchers that it was a few years ago after COVID s
Dave Price
Nov 283 min read


R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard: Time to Bring Back Country of Origin Labeling for Beef
Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts Consumers could be critical on two fronts for American cattle ranchers, Bill Bullard believes: they can choose American beef over the imports, and they can insist that beef packaging includes on the label the country where the beef originated. Bullard is the CEO of R-CALF USA, cattle producers’ national lobbying association. He told American Farmland Owner from his office in Billings, Montana, that the Trump administration idea to increase
Dave Price
Nov 144 min read


Many U.S. Cattle Ranchers Oppose New Beef Imports from Argentina
President Donald Trump’s plan to quadruple beef imports from Argentina has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. cattle ranchers who warn the move could devastate domestic producers. Ranchers, already strained by drought, wildfires, and high input costs, say cheaper Argentine beef could undercut a recovering U.S. market. While the administration argues that increased imports may lower prices for consumers, industry leaders like Justin Tupper of the U.S.
Dave Price
Oct 242 min read


Pork Plant Expansion in Pennsylvania Offers Opportunity for Hog Farmers
Clemens Food Group is investing $130 million to expand its Hatfield, PA pork processing facility by nearly 70%, boosting production of bacon, sausage, and value-added pork. The Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council calls the expansion a major win for the state’s 2,700 hog farmers, strengthening the supply chain and aligning with growing consumer demand. The project is expected to enhance food safety, improve product flow, and create broader economic benefits across rural commun
Dave Price
Aug 82 min read


“Save Our Bacon Act” Aims to Stop California’s Prop 12
Pork producers will watch what happens with new legislation proposed by a Midwest congresswoman that will try to stop laws like...
Dave Price
Jul 252 min read


New Pork Sausage Plant Underway for Iowa Town That Lost Pork Processing Facility
One of the world’s largest food companies is working on a new priority for an Iowa town. JBS USA -- based in Greeley, Colorado – plans to...
Dave Price
May 302 min read


Decision Time for Some American Cattle Ranchers
“Most American burgers are, in fact, not entirely American,” began a New York Times article , an article that dished out what many...
Dave Price
May 163 min read


New Trade Deal Could Bring Help for Beef and Ethanol Industries
The promise of new trade deals fuels both optimism and pessimism from farmers and producers as they wait for developments from the Trump...
Dave Price
May 162 min read


Recession Predictions and a Change in Demand for Meat
The week brought a series of announcements that may have varying effects on farmland owners and investors. First, the overall economy. It...
Dave Price
May 22 min read


U.S. Senators Want USDA More Focused on Dairy and Turkey for HPAI
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators wants the USDA to remember that highly pathogenic avian influenza is not just a threat to millions of...
Dave Price
Apr 181 min read


Check Kiting Allegation Against Hog Farmers
A lawsuit alleges a billion-dollar check kiting scheme that has left 110,000 pigs in “imminent danger,” and could cost lenders millions...
Dave Price
Apr 112 min read


Young Girl Died from Bird Flu; USDA Reducing Bird Flu Response Workers
There has now been a documented case of a child dying from highly pathogenic avian influenza. Health officials in Mexico said Tuesday...
Dave Price
Apr 113 min read


New Avian Influenza Vaccines for Chickens and Humans Show Promise
There are new developments for a highly pathogenic avian influenza vaccine for both chickens and humans. Both vaccines could be...
Dave Price
Feb 272 min read


Chaos and Confusion about HPAI Fight
Agriculture finds itself in the middle of one of the biggest federal government transformations in recent memory. Programs have been...
Dave Price
Feb 213 min read


Finances and the Flu
An Iowa lawmaker has joined others from across the country in calling for additional research on the bird flu, while new cases of the...
Dave Price
Dec 13, 20242 min read


Poultry Plant Failure
What happened after a Minnesota company received tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer support to reopen an Iowa poultry processing...
Dave Price
Oct 11, 20243 min read


Animal Cruelty Concerns vs Producer Hardship
Most voters wanted it. A U.S. District Court judge upheld it. And now producers wait to see whether an appeal will stop its...
Dave Price
Jul 26, 20243 min read


Do We Really Know How Widespread Bird Flu Is on Dairy Farms?
If you live in a rural area, can’t afford to miss work to go to a doctor, and may not speak English as your primary language, how likely...
Dave Price
Jul 12, 20243 min read


Bird Flu Vaccine in Development
With avian influenza spreading beyond birds, so are the efforts to protect Americans against it. Moderna -- a pharmaceutical and...
Dave Price
Jul 5, 20243 min read
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