Weekly livestock news: June 1, 2020

CFAP farmer aid program open for applications

Farmers can now sign up for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, the direct payments for producers funded by Congress and administered by USDA. Signup is open through August 28, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency launched a CFAP payment calculator to help producers estimate their payments from the program. David Schemm, executive director of the Kansas FSA state office, said that since USDA is retaining 20% of the total $16.5 billion in CFAP funds, he doesn’t believe funding will run out. But the sooner producers sign up, the sooner they’ll get their checks—as early as a week after filling out their application, Feedstuffs reports.

Poultry slaughter declines, but less than beef and pork

Red meat production fell almost a fourth in April, but poultry slaughter only dropped 8%, according to USDA’s monthly Poultry Slaughter report. Production of chicken, turkey, duck and other poultry meat totaled 4.09 billion pounds in April, down from 4.43 billion pounds in March, Successful Farming reports. USDA said 11.2 million head of cattle were being fattened for slaughter during May, down 5% from a year ago. Cattle sold for slaughter in April fell 24% from a year earlier.

Small meat processors backlogged as large plants reduce capacity

Business is booming for small slaughter operations as major processing plants reduce capacity during the pandemic. Stanhope Locker and Market, in Iowa, is one of 1,500 independent American slaughterhouses. Since opening in 1946, it’s processed a few farm animals from local farms each week and sold cuts of beef and pork to the public. But now the facility is overwhelmed, and managers have had to turn customers away, Reuters reports. “I’m so sorry, but we’re booked through March of next year,” owner Shaunna Zanker recently told a farmer calling about having his pigs slaughtered. “How about next June?” One small Ohio facility reported slaughtering 104 cattle in March, twice the rate from a year earlier.

Iowa launches disposal assistance program for pork producers

Iowa is launching a disposal assistance program to help pork producers who are unable to harvest pigs during the pandemic, Feedstuffs reports. “COVID-19 has caused unprecedented, ongoing disruptions to the food supply chain,” said the state’s secretary of agriculture, Mike Naig. The Iowa Disposal Assistance Program will provide financial resources to help producers cover the cost of disposing of animals in an environmentally responsible way. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is offering producers $40 per approved animal to help cover some of the disposal costs for market-ready hogs, weighing at least 225 pounds.

Senators introduce bill to protect food supply

Senators have introduced legislation meant to protect the food supply that’s been disrupted during the pandemic, The Hill reports. The Food Supply Protection Act would provide infrastructure grants for food banks and nonprofits to be able to increase their capacity through additional cold storage, transportation, personal protective equipment and rental costs. It would also provide grants and reimbursements so excess food can be purchased to increase donations to food banks, schools and nonprofits. Loans and loan guarantees would be implemented to protect workers and retool small and medium food processors. Several industry groups support the bill.

U.K. urges EU to break impasse over trade deal

British officials urged the European Union to break an impasse so the two entities can work out a trade deal by the end of the year. Failure to reach a deal would negatively affect global trade just as the world aims to exit the coronavirus lockdown, Reuters reports. So far talks haven’t been successful. But according to Michael Gove, the British Cabinet Office Minister, “it’s perfectly possible” to reach an agreement in the time remaining.