USDA APHIS safeguards US agriculture in 2023

Jul 11, 2024

Protecting U.S. agriculture and natural resources while supporting global supply chains

By Farms.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released its Impact Report for 2023, detailing the agency’s vital accomplishments in safeguarding U.S. agriculture and natural resources. APHIS Administrator Mike Watson emphasized the agency's continued commitment despite numerous challenges.

With a workforce of over 8,250 spanning the U.S., territories, and abroad, APHIS's activities have been crucial.

The agency conducted over 700 inspections of genetically engineered organism field trials and issued 15 Regulatory Status Reviews to assess plants developed using genetic engineering.

In terms of import regulation, APHIS inspected and cleared billions of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and significantly contributed to the safe import of avocados from Mexico.

The expansion of U.S. potato exports to Mexico by 48% exemplifies APHIS's role in enhancing U.S. agricultural exports.

The agency also provided critical support to Caribbean nations battling African swine fever, implemented rigorous biosecurity measures in the U.S. territories, and responded effectively to the avian influenza outbreak by testing millions of commercial poultry and wild birds.

On the economic front, APHIS facilitated new markets worth millions in exports to countries like Israel and Vietnam and supported population control efforts against Mediterranean fruit flies through its facility in Guatemala.

The 2023 Impact Report highlights APHIS's unwavering dedication to protecting America's agricultural sector, supporting global supply chains, and ensuring the health of animal populations, reinforcing its essential role in U.S. and global agriculture.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.