Livestock News for July 30

Trade aid funds awarded for market development

Feedstuffs reported the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded $100 million to 48 organizations through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program to help U.S. farmers and ranchers identify and access new export markets. In May, President Donald Trump authorized USDA to provide up to $16 billion in programs to support farmers, which is in line with the estimated impacts of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods and other trade disruptions. The Agricultural Trade Promotion Program is one of three programs that will assist agricultural producers while the administration works to address market access barriers.

Global meat production to see largest ever decline in 2019

WattAgNet reported that U.S. poultry producers face unprecedented uncertainty with the African swine fever outbreak in China and Southeast Asia, trade deals up in the air, a still pending Brexit, and late planting for much of the U.S. corn and soybean crops, a Rabobank analyst said at the 2019 Chicken Marketing Summit. The banking firm predicts pork production in China will decline by 25% this year, followed by another 15% decrease in 2020. The predicted 13 million ton decline in pork protein in China this year should create an opportunity for exporters of all meat, but that depends on decisions by China’s government, the analyst said.

Canada practices ASF response

According to Meat + Poultry, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and provincial government partners participated in a series of exercises developed as a test of the country’s emergency response to African swine fever. Officials in Quebec participated in a simulated outbreak scenario in which the swine disease was suspected on a Quebec hog farm. During the exercise, participants practiced implementing initial disease control measures, exchanged information between agencies and the local pork industry, discussed the possibility of voluntary movement stoppages by industry, and practiced resource planning for establishing quarantines and reporting infected premises.

New pig inspection rules announced for Iowa State Fair

The Associated Press reported officials have announced new inspection rules for pigs that will be shown at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. An Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship news release said that the additional exhibition requirements are designed to promote biosecurity and animal health as African swine fever continues to spread across China and other parts of Asia and Europe. All pigs must be individually inspected and identified on a certificate of veterinary inspection completed within seven days of the fair, which runs August 8-18. A veterinarian will inspect all pigs as they arrive at the Des Moines fairgrounds before they’re unloaded or mixed with other livestock.