Latest News From Jennifer Shike

It’s no surprise pork products made the U.S. CBP's Top 10 Agriculture Seizures of 2021 list more than once. Protecting animal ag is a high priority, especially as deadly swine viruses like ASF move closer to the U.S.

History was made on Jan. 7 when a 57-year-old Maryland man with deadly heart disease received a heart from a genetically modified pig. 

FTC orders Tyson Foods, Inc., Walmart, Amazon, Kroger and other large wholesalers and suppliers to turn over information to help study causes of empty shelves and sky-high prices.

Keep family and friends safe from foodborne illness this Thanksgiving by following these tips, USDA advises.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of global supply chains.

2021 is known as the “Great Resignation,” says Twyla Stevens, director of human resources at the Carthage System.

In a partnership announced in mid-June, Helm Agro will provide marketing, distribution and technical support for Alltech Crop Science’s biological products.

Luke Bryan was met with an unexpected surprise as he kicked off his 2021 Farm Tour at Statz Bros. Farm in Marshall, Wis., on Sept. 9.

If the labor shortage is not addressed, it could lead to farms and plants shutting down, causing serious financial harm to the communities in which they operate, says NPPC President Jen Sorenson.

USDA Secretary Vilsack announced that $700 million in competitive grant funding will be available through the new Farm and Food Workers Relief grant program to help farm and food workers with pandemic costs. 

U.S. ag is suffering from a labor shortage that could increase production costs and consumer food prices if not addressed through visa reform to provide better access to the foreign-born workers on which it depends.

CoBank says challenges brought on by COVID-19 will speed up automation throughout many sectors of the supply chain. Here's a deeper look at the animal protein industries in CoBank's latest report.

A 92-year-old Iowa woman showed the world you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it when she stepped back into the show ring during the National Swine Registry’s Summer Type Conference in Louisville, Ky.

“The wild hog is very possibly the most dangerous animal in the wild. And he knows no enemies and he knows no fear,” says Hank Berdine of the Mississippi Levee Board in a new video series, Feral Swine in America.

Senators John Hoeven and Michael Bennet reintroduced the Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the Hours of Service and Electronic Logging Device regulations at the U.S. DOT.

Why don't we finish goals? Jon Acuff, best-selling author and motivational speaker, says we often focus on the wrong thing when we talk about our goals. Here's what he says it takes to finish the goals that matter.

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the country anything, it’s that there is a tremendous amount of synergy between the circumstances of a pandemic involving humans and those involving animals. 

A new $11.65-million investment by the USDA will fund 14 projects to help farmers and private landowners trap and control feral swine.

With just eight days left in EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s term, RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper weighs in on worst-case scenarios and his optimism about the new administration.

EPA Administrator-designate Michael Regan hosted a virtual roundtable with members of the Ag CEO Council and staff, composed of leaders of some of the largest agriculture and farm organizations in the U.S.

Confidence about the future of the workplace has declined less than one might expect, says a report from ADP Research Institute. Positivity persists despite the pandemic. But how is COVID-19 affecting the ag workforce?

The Centers for Disease Control agrees that frontline meat and poultry workers should be some of the first vaccinated after health care workers and those in long-term care facilities.

The pivotal moment in the journey to more sustainable livestock production is now, says Brett Kaysen of the National Pork Board. Here's a look at how the pork and poultry industries are driving progress.

The best way to protect animal well-being? Allow farmers to make farm and animal-specific decisions on animal care, says NPPC's Michael Formica. Although the Meat Institute's lawsuit was dismissed, the fight's not over.

Halloween 2020 may look a little different, but regardless of what your community says about trick-or-treating, there is no reason why your kids shouldn’t have fun dressing up this year.

A drone delivering bacon turned heads in Galesburg, Ill., earlier this month when it stopped at Lacie Ball's home to bring her and her two young boys a package of bacon.

It’s not easy to be a successful food company. According to a recent research study, major food companies are experiencing a drop in sales and intensified competition from smaller players.

Big questions hang heavy in the air. Are we too efficient? What is the right number of sows to have in production? Mark Greenwood of Compeer Financial shares his view on what’s ahead.

The National Western Stock Show held in January in Denver, Colo.,  has canceled for 2021. Show management provide details on what's ahead.

When Andy Detweiler was 2 years old, he lost his arms in a farming accident. In March, Amanda Nigg lost everything in a house fire. Here's how these two social media influencers say they've survived the ups and downs.

The reality of how COVID-19 is impacting young people, especially in rural communities without reliable access to the internet, is hard to ignore. Despite challenges caused by the pandemic, watch how these kids #FarmON.

Trade war. Ethanol headaches. Daunting price outlooks. 2020 has been overwhelming for farmers so many reasons – and that’s not even considering the rug that really got pulled from under us, says John Phipps.

Deer-vehicle collisions account for about 1 million accidents each year that kill 200 Americans and result in $1 billion in vehicle damage. A new vehicle-based lighting system may prevent these collisions.

Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the Agricultural Security Risk Review Act, legislation that would add the USDA Secretary as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

Congressmen urge House leadership to support America’s agricultural fairs in the next COVID-19 relief package. Here's why.

Two of the world's largest meatpackers have installed ultraviolet air cleaning equipment in some of their U.S. processing plants. The decision comes as pressure increases on companies to protect workers from COVID-19.

The Missouri State Fair is taking a "back-to-basics" approach and is pivoting to a youth livestock show on Aug. 13-23.

For the first time in 106 years, the Kansas State Fair has canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, reversing an initial decision on June 30 to proceed with the state fair. Plans are in place for livestock shows to continue.

When people realized they were going to be sheltering at home this spring, they started to change. And some of those changes will likely stick around, experts say. 

Piecing the puzzle together to find a solution has looked different for every state fair in 2020. Here's a look at the status of state fairs and insights from industry leaders along the way.

The Oklahoma State Fair is the latest state fair to cancel for 2020 due to the evolving COVID-19 health crisis.

The 2020 National FFA Convention & Expo will be held virtually in 2020, the National FFA Organization announced on Friday.

The Colorado State Fair announced a “reimagined” 2020 event in light of the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.

The U.S. net farm cash income in 2020 is projected to decline 9% from 2019. Nearly 200 agricultural groups sent a letter to President Trump urging continued implementation of the U.S.-China Phase One Trade Agreement.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will issue an Executive Order on June 12 canceling the Illinois and Du Quoin State Fairs for 2020. However, youth exhibitors will still have a chance to showcase their hard work in September.

Countless fairs, festivals and expositions have been canceled for 2020 – but not the Missouri State Fair. It will be held as scheduled on August 13 to 23, however, organizers say it will look a little different. 

Heartbreaking. In one word, that’s how Kamryn Kreis, 18, describes the announcement that the Ohio State Fair had been canceled for 2020. This was not how her last year of showing pigs at state fair was supposed to go.

Today’s consumer wants to know how their food is grown and raised. They are asking specific questions. The conversations are lasting longer. So, what does this mean for farmers?

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.

The Trump administration issued new guidelines Wednesday to make it easier for essential workers who have been exposed to COVID-19 to return to work if they do not have symptoms.