Hurricane Helene and Poultry Recall

This week, we learned about the impact on soybean farmers after Hurricane Helene, that McDonald's is suing top meat packers, how Bailey won supreme champion of the World Dairy Expo, and so much more.

Read on to learn what else the week had to offer.

Soybean Farmers Grapple with Hurricane Helene's Aftermath

Hurricane Helene left a complex footprint across soybean-growing regions, bringing both devastation and relief. Extension specialists from Science for Success, a national team of soybean agronomists, have been tracking the storm’s effects, highlighting the challenges soybean farmers now face in the aftermath. Read more about it in our Soybean Farmers Grapple With Hurricane Helene's Aftermath article.

McDonald's Sues Top Meat Packers for Allegedly Colluding to Inflate the Price of Beef

McDonald’s has some beef with today’s largest meat packers.

The fast food giant is suing the U.S. meat industry’s “Big Four” — Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef Packing Company — and their subsidiaries, alleging a price-fixing scheme for beef specifically. In a federal complaint, filed Friday in New York, McDonald’s accused the companies of anticompetitive measures such as collectively limiting supply to boost prices and charge “illegally inflated” amounts. Read more about it in our McDonald’s Sues Top Meat Packers for Allegedly Colluding to Inflate the Price of Beef article.

Sustainable Agriculture

In recent years, NRCS has taken bold steps toward equity, justice, and opportunity for all producers, including tribal producers. These efforts are driven by wise council from tribes and intertribal organizations. Recognizing the federal government’s trust responsibilities to tribes, NRCS has moved forward on several technical and programmatic efforts in recent years to ensure our products and services offered through voluntary conservation programs are meeting the needs of Tribal Nations. Read more about it in our The Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Climate-Smart Solutions article.

Crop and Food World

Greenfield Robotics, a leader in farming robotics innovation, is excited to announce a new development partnership with Rock River Laboratory, a cutting-edge, international agricultural laboratory network based in Wisconsin. This collaboration seeks to transform how farmers direct crop nutrition in the field by combining Rock River Laboratory’s advanced sensor technology with Greenfield Robotics farming robots. Read more about it in our Greenfield Robotics Partners With Rock River Lab article.

In other news, a company is recalling nearly 10 million pounds of meat and poultry products made at an Oklahoma plant because they may be contaminated with listeria bacteria that can cause illness and death. BrucePac of Woodburn, Oregon, recalled roughly 5,000 tons of ready-to-eat foods this week after U.S. Agriculture Department officials detected listeria in samples of poultry during routine testing. Further tests identified BrucePac chicken as the source. The recall includes?75 meat and chicken products. Read more about it in our Company Recalls Nearly 10 Million Pounds of Meat and Poultry for Contamination article.

Also, on October 2, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule to restore the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS). The AEZ is an area surrounding outdoor pesticide application equipment where people are prohibited while pesticides are applied. This rule finalizes the agency’s 2023 proposed rule without change and advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to environmental justice, protecting farmworkers, pesticide handlers, their families, and agricultural communities. It reinstates AEZ protections, extends protections for neighboring communities, makes requirements easier to understand, and provides flexibilities for family farms without compromising protections. Read more about it in our EPA Finalizes Rule to Protect Farmworkers, Families, and Communities from Pesticide Exposures article.

Livestock World

Stoney Point Joel Bailey, owned by Vierra Dairy Farms of Hilmar, Calif., rose to the top at World Dairy Expo 2024, claiming the prestigious title of Supreme Champion on Friday, October 4. In addition to Bailey’s success, Premium Apple Crisp Lilly-Red, the Grand Champion of the International Red & White Show, was named Reserve Supreme Champion. Lilly is owned by Butlerview Farm of Chebanse, Ill. Read more about it in our Bailey Beats All as Supreme Champion of World Dairy Expo article.

In other news, the University of Georgia is partnering with the Food and Drug Administration to test U.S. dairy supplies for avian influenza. UGA is one of five institutions nationwide helping to ensure the safety of dairy products during the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) outbreak to reduce the threat of avian influenza to human and animal health. Read more about it in our Testing US Dairy Supplies for Avian Influenza article.

Also, over the centuries, pig farming has transformed from small family operations to large-scale commercial enterprises, contributing to the nation’s economic growth and food security. Today, pig farming is a diverse and dynamic industry that balances tradition with technological advancements, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of agriculture in the United States. Read on to explore the rich history of pig farming in America, tracing its development from colonial times to its modern role in feeding the country, while also spotlighting the unique traditions of showing pigs in our article Sow What? The History of Pig Farming in America.

Farming Economy/Policy

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Kenneth Hartman Jr. today [Oct. 8, 2024] told Biden administration officials that farmers are living through difficult economic times, but the administration and Congress can help by removing barriers so growers can access expanding markets for U.S. corn. Hartman’s comments came during an event, called “Farmers and Ranchers in Action,” hosted this morning at the White House. Read more about it in our NCGA President Calls for Action During Meeting at White House article.

In other news, around two-thirds of consumers have used a food-ordering app at least once for takeout, delivery, or both, according to the September 2024 Consumer Food Insights Report?(CFI). Over half have used an app for a delivery order. Of those who say they have used an app to order food, nearly half report using one for either delivery or takeout at least once a week. Read more about it in our Consumer Food Insights Report Highlights Increasing Use of Food-Ordering Apps article.

USDA Update

This week, the USDA announced $250M in Financial Assistance for Distressed Farm Loan Borrowers, $46M in Supports Underserved, Veteran, and Beginning Farmers Nationwide warned Produce Sellers to know Your Buyer, Aim to Lower Food Prices, announced Funding to Support Rural Communities to Lower Energy Costs, Create Jobs, and the Forest Service Christmas Tree Permits Available Through Recreation.gov.

Other Top Stories

CDC has confirmed?two human cases of H5 bird flu from specimens submitted by California. The cases occurred in people with occupational exposure to infected dairy cows. An investigation led by California is ongoing. The identification of H5 in people with exposure to infected animals is not unexpected and does not change CDC’s risk assessment for the general public, which continues to be low. At this time, there is no known link or contact between the first and second confirmed cases in California, suggesting these are separate instances of animal-to-human spread of the virus. Read more about it in our CDC Confirms New Human Cases of H5 Bird Flu in California article.

In other news, about 23 million U.S. households?depend on private wells as their primary drinking water source. These homeowners are entirely responsible for ensuring that the water from their wells is safe for human consumption. Multiple studies show that,?at best, half of private well owners are?testing with any frequency, and very few households test once or more yearly, as?public health officials recommend. Even in Iowa, which has some of the strongest state-level policies for?protecting private well users, state funds for free private water quality testing?regularly go unspent. Read more about it in our Millions Use Well Water, but Very Few Test It Often Enough to Make Sure It’s Safe article.

Come Back Next Week!

Be sure to check in next week for our?weekly?national news roundup, and?don't?forget to follow us on all our socials! We?can't?wait to see what next week holds for agricultural news.