Needed FMMO Reform Undermined by Make Allowance Giveaway
USDA recently announced that a final Federal Milk Marketing Order decision was approved by dairy farmers and cooperatives across all 11 orders through separate referenda conducted within each order. AFBF has called for changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders dating back to 2019.
“We’re grateful that USDA listened to not only our calls but also calls from the broader dairy industry to switch back to the ‘higher of’ Class I milk formula, increase Class I differentials, improve cheese price discovery and update milk composition factors,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.
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NE Louisiana Youth Learn Special Skills With Ouachita Parish 4-H Livestock Show
Ouachita Parish 4-H held a livestock show on Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Ike Hamilton Center in West Monroe.
The event featured many animals and was an opportunity to showcase youth involvement in agriculture.
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Tournament Rule Provides More Transparency for America’s Farmers
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the final USDA poultry tournament rule under the Packers & Stockyards Act.
“Farm Bureau appreciates USDA’s commitment to bringing greater fairness to farmers who raise poultry under the tournament system.”
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Coming Soon: The LSU AgCenter & 4-H Livestock Show
Cenla students will soon get the chance to showcase their hard work and talents at the upcoming 4H Livestock Show.
Jessie McDowell, a market lamb exhibitor from Deville, has been showing her animals in 4H for eight years.
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Cow Country Reporter: January 2025
The year 2024 is history! What will the year 2025 bring? No one knows, but we all have opinions, answers and questions. Let’s look back at the year 2024 to gain some perspective. Looking at the cattle industry we notice one theme, “Record Breaking”. Yes, the industry has broken many records.
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USDA Reminds Livestock Producers of Disaster Assistance Application Deadline for 2024 Losses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers, including dairy producers impacted by H5N1, that the deadline to apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) is Jan. 30, 2025, for losses due to specific adverse conditions that occurred in 2024.
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces 15 Additional States Onboard With National Milk Testing Strategy for H5N1, Shares Update on Vaccination Efforts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that 15 additional states have enrolled in the National Milk Testing Strategy, bringing the total number of states to 28 in roughly one month since the program launched. These 28 states represent nearly 65% of the nation’s milk production. In addition, USDA is sharing updates on its expedited work to support vaccine development for use in poultry and bovine species, as part of a multi-faceted effort to fight the spread of H5N1.
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SWLA Resident with Nation’s First Severe Bird Flu Case Dies
The Southwest Louisiana resident who had the nation’s first severe case of bird flu has died, health officials announced Monday.
This is the first human death related to bird flu in the country.
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Avian Influenza Detected In Second Louisiana Backyard Flock
On December 13, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) announced the detection of the first presumptive positive human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in Louisiana. Following a report of increased mortality in the non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) on the property in southwest Louisiana, testing by Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL) has detected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the flock.
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Bird Flu Found in SWLA Backyard Flock After Person Hospitalized
Bird flu has been detected in a backyard flock in Southwest Louisiana after a person exposed to the flock tested positive for the illness.
The SWLA resident was the first person in the state diagnosed with H5N1 and became the first person in the U.S. with a severe case of the disease in the current outbreak. They are hospitalized in Louisiana in critical condition, health officials said Wednesday.
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Avian Influenza Found in Louisiana Backyard Flock; Producers Urged to Take Precautions
Testing has confirmed a case of avian influenza in a backyard flock in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. The backyard flock owner alerted the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry of increased mortality in the backyard flock. Following an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry).
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Flesh-eating Maggots Halted All Cattle Imports From Mexico: Here's What it Means for Louisiana
A flesh-eating maggot that had been eradicated in the U.S. and parts of Central America is back and could potentially threaten Louisiana cattle, experts in the beef industry are warning.
Due to the reappearance of New World screwworms in Mexico — a type of flesh-eating maggot — the USDA has suspended all cattle and bison imports.
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Red River Livestock Auction: December 11, 2024
Click below for the market report from the latest Red River Livestock Auction.
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Kinder Livestock Auction: December 9, 2024
Click below for the market report from the latest Kinder Livestock Auction.
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Livestock, Wildlife Populations Threatened By New World Screwworm
As many know, typical fly larvae, or maggots, only feed on dead tissue. But that is not the case of the New World screwworm larvae, which feed on live tissue. LSU AgCenter extension veterinarian Christine Navarre said this can lead to more severe and potentially deadly consequences, which threaten livestock and wildlife populations.
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