Livestock

USDA has spent $1.5 billion on bird flu response, 300 personnel involved 17 January 2025 3 minute read People hospitalised for flu should be tested for bird flu within 24 hours, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday, in an expansion of the agency's efforts to tackle increasing infections in humans, reported Reuters. The advisory is intended to prevent delays in identifying human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses amid high levels of seasonal influenza. The risk to the general public from bird flu is low, and there has been no further evidence of person to person spread, the agency said. Still, influenza A-positive patients, particularly those in an intensive care unit, should be tested ideally within 24 hours of hospitalization to identify the viral subtype and determine whether they have bird flu, the agency said. Prior to Thursday's guidance, hospitals generally sent batches of…
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About half of US farmworkers are undocumented 17 January 2025 4 minute read Immigrant farmworkers are preparing for incoming US president Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations, including by assigning guardians for their children if they are detained, according to groups providing them legal support, reported Reuters. Rising demand for such legal services reflects anxiety that Trump will follow through on a campaign vow to deport millions of undocumented immigrants once he is sworn in to office Jan. 20, something that could have an outsized impact on the country's agricultural sector, which heavily relies on their labor. About half of hired farmworkers nationwide lack legal immigration status, according to the US Department of Agriculture, and farm trade groups have warned deporting them could bring the country's food production to a halt. "The administration is not yet sworn in, but people are already afraid," said Sarait Martinez, executive director of the…
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Trade of pork, dairy and chicken could be boosted 17 January 2025 2 minute read The European Union and Mexico reignited a stalled upgrade to their free trade deal on Friday, just days before the return to office of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened both sides with tariffs, reported Reuters.  The two parties are seeking to update their trade accord from 2000, which only covers industrial goods, by adding services, government procurement, investment and farm produce. EU and Mexican negotiators reached an initial deal in 2018, and agreed in 2020 to grant reciprocal market access to each other's tenders for public contracts. Under the terms agreed in 2020, practically all trade in goods will be duty-free, including for farm products such as Mexican chicken and asparagus and European dairy produce. The deal would, for example, also cut Mexican tariffs of up to 20% on cheeses such as gorgonzola…
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Biden administration has targeted anti-competitive practices in ag 16 January 2025 2 minute read The US Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday sued farm equipment maker Deere, alleging it illegally drives up repair costs by forcing farmers to rely on its authorised dealer network, reported Reuters. The lawsuit argues Deere has unlawfully boosted profits by requiring farmers to use its network of authorized dealers for repairs, making it difficult for farmers to use independent mechanics or do repairs themselves, the FTC said in a press release. The outgoing Biden administration has targeted what it sees as anti-competitive practices in agriculture, ranging from improving the treatment of chicken farmers by meat processing companies to increasing competition in the seed sector. It has also targeted the right-to-repair issue, which cuts across various industries, including smartphones and computers. "Illegal repair restrictions can be devastating for farmers, who rely on affordable and timely repairs to…
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Farmers fear reduced crop selling options and prices 16 January 2025 2 minute read Farmers warn Canada's approval of US grain trader Bunge's $34-billion takeover of Glencore-backed Viterra will reduce their options to sell crops at competitive prices, and say the government did not require enough concessions. Canada's approval with conditions on Tuesday was one of the final steps needed to close the largest-ever global agriculture merger by dollar value. Experts had expected asset sales would be required in a country where the companies' businesses overlap. Farmers in Canada, the world's top canola producer and No. 3 wheat grower, are struggling with years of drought and low commodity prices. Consolidation among grain traders may reduce farmers' leverage to receive reasonable prices. "Farmers will be the ones suffering," said Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Bill Prybylski. Farmers have worried combining Bunge's oilseed-crushing plants with Viterra's grain storage, shipping and processing…
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16 January 2025 1 minute read Brazilian exports of duck meat – a high value-added meat segment – ended 2024 with distinct movements in the flow of shipments, according to surveys by the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA). Duck meat exports closed last year with 3,551 thousand tons, a volume 1.3% higher compared to 2023, with 3,507. Last year's sales revenue reached US$ 11.9 million, a balance 12.7% lower compared to the US$ 13.7 million obtained in 2023. The United Arab Emirates were the main importers, with 1,524 tonnes imported in 2024 (66% higher than the number shipped in the previous year), followed by Saudi Arabia, with 893 tonnes (-9%), Qatar, with 257 tonnes (-39%), Chile, with 195 tonnes (+94%) and Kuwait, with 179 tonnes (+18%). “The two poultry sectors added US$ 165 million in foreign exchange revenues to the country, and there are good expectations regarding the flow of…
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This is the first case in Puerto Rico 15 January 2025 2 minute read The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a backyard poultry flock in Puerto Rico on Monday. This is the first case of HPAI in domestic birds in Puerto Rico during this outbreak, which began in February 2022. Samples from the flock were tested and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. APHIS is working closely with animal health officials in Puerto Rico on a joint incident response and will provide appropriate support as requested. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the public health risk associated with these avian influenza detections in birds remains low. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal…
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Prices expected to stabilise and then increase 15 January 2025 1 minute read EU poultry prices are expected to decrease slightly when the current inflationary context stabilises, according to the EU Agricultural Outlook report (2024-2035).  However, they are projected to gradually increase to around EUR 2 730/t by 2035, mainly due to sustained demand in the EU and price developments at world level.  The price gap – whereby higher production prices in the EU confront lower world prices – is set to continue and will make competition in export markets a challeng
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