Stressed cows, dried up crops: How that Texas heat is affecting agriculture

Farmers are straining to keep animals cool and carefully watching the impacts of the state's blistering heat wave on crops such as cotton and sorghum.

By Sarah Zimmerman • June 30, 2023

Bill makes US commodities priority in global food assistance programs

Lawmakers are pushing for more food from U.S. farms to go toward global hunger efforts, as part of the 2023 Farm Bill.

By Nathan Owens • June 29, 2023

Cultivated meat from cows: How Omeat uses plasma to grow beef

The company, which has already raised $40 million from key investors, says it can make products at the same cost as traditional meat.

By Megan Poinski • June 29, 2023

Egg production recovers as bird flu subsides

May production levels totaled a record 9.37 billion eggs, with cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza dwindling.

By Nathan Owens • June 28, 2023

California grants pork industry some Prop 12 relief

Industry advocates say the ruling allows a smoother transition for pork already in the supply chain from farms that do not meet the state’s new animal housing requirements.

By Nathan Owens • June 26, 2023

JBS pulls ‘aspirational’ claims about its net zero emissions goal

The National Advertising Review Board ruled the wording was misleading because it made consumers believe the meat giant was guaranteed to have virtually no greenhouse gas impact by 2040.

By Megan Poinski • June 26, 2023

Cultivated meat to enter US market with full USDA approval for Eat Just and Upside Foods

The United States is the second country that will have cultivated meat on the market. It has been available in Singapore since 2020.

By Megan Poinski • Updated June 21, 2023

After Prop 12 ruling, senators propose limits to state regulation of agriculture production

The EATS Act would prohibit states from enacting laws that restrict interstate commerce.

By Nathan Owens • June 21, 2023

USDA approves ‘cell-cultivated chicken’ label

The federal government’s first decision on what to call poultry made of cells grown in bioreactors will apply to products from Upside Foods and Eat Just.

By Megan Poinski • June 20, 2023

Depleted cattle herds push beef prices to near record levels

Prices could rise even further heading into grilling season as meatpackers grapple with higher costs and compete for a dwindling supply of cattle. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • June 20, 2023

Lawmakers weigh easing food safety rules for small meat operations to address consolidation

Consideration of the PRIME Act comes as the Biden administration works to expand independent processing capacity and break up consolidation in the beef and poultry industries.  

By Sarah Zimmerman • June 16, 2023

USDA takes aim at ‘grass-fed’ and other humane meat labeling claims

The agency is considering whether to strengthen requirements for verifying production practices as the industry faces criticism for potentially misleading consumers.

By Sarah Zimmerman • June 15, 2023

Pork prices weaken on excess supply, fueling concerns amid Prop 12 uncertainty

Pork packers like Hormel and Tyson have reported sales declines, citing inflation and soft demand.

By Nathan Owens • June 13, 2023

Egg prices decline as flocks rebuild, bird flu’s impact wanes, analyst says

The wholesale cost for a dozen has plunged from more than $5 to 84 cents, which could prompt consumers to purchase more of the popular commodity.

By Chris Casey • May 25, 2023

Supreme Court ruling upholding California’s animal welfare law could lead more states to act

Producers of meat, eggs and other animal items are being advised more restrictive state laws may be coming after last week's 5-4 decision affirming the ban on pork from farms using gestation crates.

By Chris Casey • May 17, 2023

Organic food sales hit a record in 2022, topping $60B for the first time

The category saw a 4.3% increase last year, which the Organic Trade Association said indicates a continued interest from consumers despite economic volatility.

By Chris Casey • May 15, 2023

Tyson Foods posts first quarterly loss in 14 years and lowers 2023 sales outlook

CEO Donnie King told Wall Street analysts he can’t remember a time when the company faced “the highly unusual situation” of its beef, pork and chicken operations experiencing challenges simultaneously.

By Chris Casey • May 9, 2023

JBS ends contracts with company fined for employing child labor

The meat processing giant will transition its sanitation services in-house at some locations and to third-party providers at other plants.

By Chris Casey • April 26, 2023

USDA gets closer to officially designating salmonella a contaminant

A proposal in the Federal Register would decree that raw stuffed breaded chicken with low levels of the bacteria is adulterated.

By Megan Poinski • April 25, 2023

Pilgrim’s Pride, Perdue settle in poultry price-fixing case totaling $35M

These chicken producers join a dozen other companies that have agreed to a settlement with Washington state’s attorney general who says the businesses colluded to increase profits. Five processors have yet to settle.

By Chris Casey • April 10, 2023

How are schools adapting agricultural programs amid climate changes?

As environmental changes continue, agricultural programs are adjusting curriculum to teach students how food and farming science are evolving.

By Lauren Barack • April 5, 2023

Conagra commits to phasing out gestation crates amid pressure

The food giant aims to source all of its pork from farms that use open pen gestation systems by 2026, a win for The Humane Society which had been pushing for the change. 

By Chris Casey • April 4, 2023

Why cage-free eggs could be on shaky ground

Industry leaders are still on a path to wider adoption of cage-free systems, but consumer expectations, bird flu and a Supreme Court decision could impact whether they continue to invest in the practice.

By Chris Casey • Feb. 28, 2023