COVID
Increased regulation and the search for better work-life balance are two factors leading to a shortage of truck drivers in the U.S. Walmart is now increasing the starting salary for drivers to try to attract new people.
The commodity markets came under pressure to start the week as traders tried to shed risk over shipping concerns in China as COVID-19 concerns caused officials to shut down transportation amid a two-pronged lockdown.
A red zone is defined by the White House as an area with 100 or more new infections over a one-week period. The good news is the rate of new cases is dropping, says Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association.
If international trade were an Olympic sport, then the U.S. would have lost this latest round of competition by more than a mile.
Farmers and ranchers are facing a time of unparalleled uncertainty and disruption. No one is left unscathed by the effects of COVID-19. Dealing with stress during a time of social distancing makes the challenge greater.
Rural communities are likely to see an outbreak of the COVID-19 variant omicron later than big cities but Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci says the pandemic will eventually end.
The White House says 95.6% of USDA employees have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or filed for an exemption, but the number who’ve received the vaccine is the lowest among reported federal agencies.
Tyson Foods’ pork processing plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, has suspended operations for a week beginning Monday due to more than two dozen cases of COVID-19 confirmed at the facility.
Closures and shutdowns are still leaving many producers struggling with what to do with their hogs. One producer resorted to Facebook to sell hogs.
America has an abundance of livestock, but U.S. hog producers need harvest facilities up and running to convert that abundancy into food, explained Smithfield Foods CEO and president Kenneth Sullivan on Fox News.
No rock is being left unturned to move pigs right now, says Illinois pig farmer Thomas Titus. With packing plants closing and slowing down temporarily, pig farmers are faced with unprecedented decisions.
As novel coronavirus (COVID-19) makes its way into the U.S., are you prepared for some of the more likely scenarios that could impact your operation?
Brian Mehlhaf, who custom feeds hogs in Parkston, S. D., decided to head online to try to make a profit. He thought posting hogs for sale on Facebook would be a last resort. Now, the response is overwhelming.
As labor woes continue to cripple meat processing plants, Missouri is rolling out a unique concept to answer many processors’ biggest need. The classroom on wheels will provide workforce development at a pivotal time.
A full-page ad in the New York Times this week sparked a nationwide question: Is the food supply chain actually breaking? Agricultural economists disagree.
President Donald Trump several times over the past week has indicated some $16 billion of COVID-19 farmer aid would be announced soon.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has exempted livestock haulers from compliance with federal Hours of Service rules that limit drive time until at least April 12 due to COVID-19 emergency relief efforts.
A bipartisan letter was sent the FTC to investigate the growing concentration in the meatpacking and processing industry, and any anticompetitive behavior resulting from this concentration.
Tyson Foods has achieved a 96% vaccination rate for COVID-19 among its 120,000 American workers.
USDA said late last week it’s not approving a vaccine mandate exemption for Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees, and now there are fears the next shortage farmers will face will be with FSA local field staff.
No evidence suggests livestock can transmit COVID-19 to humans. Foods from farm animals also are considered safe from the virus.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday introduced a massive new legislative package to combat the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.
Supply chain issues are becoming one of the biggest concerns for agriculture, and some economists say as the bottlenecks reach a critical point, it could take at least a year to remedy chaos in the global supply chain.
Case IH-New Holland Parent Company Forced to Idle Production in EU Due to Shortage of Semiconductors
CNH Industrial announced this week its temporarily shutting down several of its European manufacturing plants that produce agricultural equipment. CNH says it plans to shut down the facilities for eight days this month.
The White House’s executive order signed in September requires all USDA employees to be vaccinated by Nov. 22, and includes county FSA offices and employees, as well as elected county committee members who are paid.
“Pipeline” is used to describe processes from petroleum refining to manufacturing X-boxes. Stuff can go in only as fast as it comes out, but when one pipeline part has a problem, it gets complicated, says John Phipps.
Tyson Foods said Friday labor unions have agreed to support its requirement for U.S. employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November, and the company will offer new benefits to workers including paid sick leave.
In an effort to help employers protect workers from COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued updated guidance for meat industry workers, among others.
COVID-19 testing and cases are on the rise as the push to get America vaccinated continues. New data shows rural vaccination rates are up in 19 states, while questions remain about the new Delta variant.
Foodservice spending at restaurants and bars totaled a record $67 billion last month. That’s up more than $1 billion from February despite analysts saying the issue of finding restaurant staff is holding back sales.