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Online West Region Cattle Marketing Update set April 20

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will be holding the West Region Cattle Marketing Update online April 20 from 10-11 a.m. The focus will be the impact of COVID-19 on the beef industry.
 
The event is free and will be held on the Zoom meeting platform. Participants may also join by phone at 346-248-7799, meeting ID 191 418 537.
 
David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension livestock economist, College Station, will discuss livestock and food product marketing.
 
“Cattle and calf prices are a real challenge now,” Anderson said. “The grocery store stampede has caused a lot of unexpected beef buying, driving up wholesale prices, but the market has plenty of cattle available.”
 
Anderson said the new coronavirus has slowed down meat processing, as workers have been out sick, and at least one smaller plant in the eastern U.S. has closed due to the large number of illnesses among its workforce.
 
“Calf prices are feeling the pressure of what the fed cattle market will be in August or October when they might finish,” he said. “Ranchers have some decisions to make, but they also may have the luxury of a little time to make them.”
 
Ken Jordan, owner of Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, will also be offering insight into the market. There will be a question and answer period at the conclusion of the meeting. 
Source : tamu.edu

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Secure Pork Supply Plan | Preparing for the Future | U.S. Pork Producers

Video: Secure Pork Supply Plan | Preparing for the Future | U.S. Pork Producers

Join Jill Brokaw, a third-generation pig farmer and staff member of the National Pork Board, as she dives into the vital role of the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan in preparing the U.S. pork industry for potential foreign animal disease outbreaks. This video is an essential watch for pork producers who are looking to safeguard their operations against the threats of diseases like foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever, and African swine fever.

Why Should Pork Producers Care? An outbreak of foreign animal diseases in the U.S. could lead to severe restrictions and potentially result in industry-wide financial losses estimated between $15 to $100 billion. The SPS Plan is a collective effort to prevent such catastrophic outcomes by enhancing biosecurity, ensuring animal traceability, and promoting effective disease monitoring.

What You'll Learn:

The Importance of Preparedness: Understand why being proactive is crucial for maintaining business continuity during an outbreak. Enhanced Biosecurity Measures: Write a site-specific biosecurity plan that can serve as the first line of defense against potential outbreaks. Animal Disease Traceability: Learn about the significance of tracking animal movement and how acquiring a premises identification number (PIN) and using AgView can facilitate this process. Disease Monitoring: Find out how continuous observation and reporting can keep your herd healthy and disease-free.

Getting Started with SPS: The video breaks down the seemingly daunting task of preparing for a foreign animal disease outbreak into manageable steps. With free resources available at www.securepork.org, including templates and instructions, Jill guides producers on developing a customized plan to enhance their farm's defenses.

Expert Insights: Hear from Dr. Pam Zaabel on collaborating with your herd veterinarian to develop and implement your SPS plan effectively.

Takeaway: The Secure Pork Supply initiative is more than a plan; it's a commitment to the resilience of our food supply and the livelihoods within the pork industry. By embracing these proactive measures, we can collectively enhance our preparedness for foreign animal disease outbreaks.