Two U.S. meat groups have had remarkably different reactions to the agreement for Russia to join the World Trade Organization. Read More...

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk today praised Japan's decision to review its ban on importation of certain cuts of beef, Reuters reported today. Read More...

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said today that the United States may appeal a World Trade Organization ruling finding fault with its country-of-origin labeling program for red meat. Read More...

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., achieved a major victory when the Agriculture Department made a $4 million grant to promote the sale of American beef in Korea this year. Read More...

The Agriculture Department on Thursday sent a modified version of its proposed changes to the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards rule to the Office of Management and Budget for review, and today Food & Water Watch, a consumer group, and the National Farmers Union sent out conflicting reactions to USDA's approach. Read More...

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan all celebrated the congressional approval of the free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama on Friday. Read More...

When President Obama welcomed South Korean President Lee Myung-bak for a state visit early today and celebrated the congressional approval of the Korea, Colombia and Panama free trade agreements, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Bill Donald was among the invited guests at the arrival ceremony. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman were among the guests at tonight’s state dinner. Read More...

The long-awaited and long-feared proposed rule requiring animal identification for the purposes of tracing back incidences of disease will be published in the Federal Register on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today. Comments on the rule will be accepted until November 9. Read More...

The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and the National Farmers Union are calling for federal intervention in the management of the beef checkoff following the resignation on Sunday of Cattlemen’s Beef Board chairman Tom Jones and the resignation on June 29 of CEO Tom Ramey. Read More...

The American Farm Bureau Federation is opposing a House proposal to stop the Agriculture Department from proposing a new rule to govern the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. Read More...

With hearings on the pending U.S. free trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and Korea starting this week, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council are calling for quick congressional approval of the pacts. Read More...

The House Agriculture Committee is holding two hearings this week while Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is preparing to hold her first hearing on the next farm bill in Michigan on Saturday. Read More...

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., announced Thursday that the House Agriculture Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee will hold a hearing on April 6 at 9:30 a.m. to review the state of the beef industry. Read More...

The National Meat Association is not satisfied with the response to its Freedom of Information Act request for documents related changes to the rule implementing the 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act, and is considering an appeal. The NMA, which represents meat packers, requested the records from the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. Read More...

DENVER — On paper, Bill Donald looks like a typical National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president. A third-generation Montana rancher, Donald runs his operation with the help of his wife and two sons. But in person, he is something quite different. He sports a ponytail and relishes explaining his role in the founding of R-CALF USA, NCBA’s philosophical and membership rival. Read More...