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Food & Agriculture

Animal Ag News 9/29

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  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the awarding of over $26 million to farmers and agricultural producers across the country through the USDA Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program. Entities can use these grant funds to develop value-added agricultural products, conduct market research, and implement business and marketing strategies.
  • Following a comprehensive national search, the Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Corey Scott as president and chief executive officer. Scott will become the third president and CEO in DMI’s history, succeeding Barbara O’Brien, who will retire following the 2026 Joint Annual Meeting of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, National Milk Producers Federation and United Dairy Industry Association, Oct. 19-21. The appointment follows a months-long succession process conducted by the DMI Board of Directors to identify the leader best positioned to lead strategies designed to grow dairy sales, strengthen consumer trust and deliver value to the dairy farmers and importers who fund the checkoff.
  • The Public Lands Council (PLC) closed out their 58th Annual Meeting by announcing Nevada rancher Ron Cerri as the new PLC President. Cerri owns and operates a cow-calf operation in Orovada, Nevada. He has previously served as a member of the PLC Board of Directors, President of Nevada Cattlemen’s Association (NCA), Nevada State Grazing Board Central Committee and as a Humboldt County Commissioner.
  • The National Pork Producers Council presented U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA) with the inaugural “Bringing Home the Bacon” awards on behalf of America’s 60,000-plus pork producers. The awards were created to recognize members of Congress who have championed the needs of the pork industry and contributed to enhancing or protecting the livelihoods of U.S. pork producers.
  • Zoetis invites attendees to its new location and experience at the 2026 World Dairy Expo. This year, Zoetis is moving from the Exhibition Hall to the Coliseum Lower Level. Designed as a welcoming place for dairy producers, veterinarians, industry partners and experts from across the dairy industry, the new Zoetis space will give attendees multiple ways to connect, engage and experience what’s moving dairy forward. Throughout the week, attendees will be able to hear from visionary dairy leaders and industry experts during the Dairy On stage talks, gather over Wisconsin-inspired favorites at the Milky Whey Lounge, add their farm to the Born of the Bond Wall and explore milestones that have shaped dairy innovation on their way to a railside view of the Coliseum showring.
  • For 20 years, the W.D. Farr Scholarship has created a legacy of helping graduate students pursue careers in meat science, animal science and related fields. Applications are now being accepted for the final year of the program. Eligible students must apply online by submitting a cover letter, curriculum vitae, description of applicant’s goals and experience, a short essay, statement of belief in the industry, as well as a review of the applicant’s graduate research and three letters of recommendation by Oct. 9, 2026.
  • When highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strikes a poultry operation, responding quickly and having the right resources available are critical to controlling the spread of disease. New research funded by USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation has produced a practical tool designed to help poultry producers and animal health officials better prepare for these emergency situations by quickly estimating the resources needed for flock depopulation. The research is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program, which encompasses all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. The research is made possible in part through proceeds from the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo.
  • Focusing on producer priorities is a cornerstone of the National Pork Board (NPB). Six producer-led advisory committees were recently established to align with the NPB strategic plan. Through a rigorous selection process, more than 120 leaders from 33 states will lend their voice, offer their experience and perspective, and provide direction as part of their committee member role. These insights will help board members and staff deliver meaningful progress on behalf of America’s 60,000 pig farmers.
  • The 2026 Women’s Leadership Conference brought together women from across the poultry, egg and agriculture industries for conversations centered on leadership, professional growth, resilience and the importance of supporting one another. From navigating burnout and building a professional reputation to finding mentorship and creating space for the next generation of women leaders, the conference reinforced the value of confidence, connection and community at every stage of a career. The conference was held Aug. 20-21, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla.
  • Novus announced a new source of organic trace mineral nutrition available for the animal agriculture industry. RELYZANT™ Bis-Chelated Trace Mineral is the next-generation bis-chelate from NOVUS. Available in zinc, copper, and manganese, the mineral is bound by two lactic acid ligands, forming a stable, neutral molecule that maintains integrity across changes in pH in the gut and interactions with other parts of the diet, ultimately resulting in more mineral being accessible to the animal.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at USDA headquarters to celebrate America’s ice cream makers’ swift action to meet their commitment to eliminate certified artificial colors from ice cream products made with real milk and sold at food retail by the end of 2027. The IDFA Ice Cream Commitment is the third in a series of industry-wide, voluntary commitments that bring companies across the U.S. dairy sector together around common, measurable goals to respond to consumers and advance shared health and nutrition priorities. The effort follows two successful commitments to reduce added sugar and eliminate certified artificial colors in milk, cheese and yogurt served in schools, creating a record of coordinated action across the industry rather than individual company pledges alone.
  • As of Sept.1, there were 74.3 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, down two percent from September 2025 but up two percent from June 1, 2026, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
  • At the recent Public Lands Council (PLC) Annual Meeting, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced winners of the 2026 Rangeland Stewardship and Rangeland Innovation awards to recognize exemplary management and outstanding accomplishments in restoring and maintaining the health of public rangelands. The Rangeland Stewardship Permittee winner is Jamie Johnson, and Collaborative Team winner is the Deep Springs Resource Management Team, based in Big Pine, California. The Rangeland Innovations Permittee winner is the Hunewill Ranch Land and Livestock, Co., a seventh-generation ranching operation in Bridgeport, California, and the Collaborative Team winner is the Carbon County Weed & Pest District.
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