NCC on Monday submitted comments to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) expressing concerns about the agency’s Interim Final Rule: “Payment of Indemnity and Compensation for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.” NCC noted that our members have been significantly impacted by the rule since its publication on December 31, 2024, and urged the agency to consider delaying further implementation to make the necessary updates to the audit tool, provide additional education for auditors to encourage a level playing field, and to reconsider how the results of this audit are linked to indemnification.
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New lines of sorghum cultivars free of tannin have made the grain more digestible and therefore easier to substitute for corn, according to a study by USDA’s Economic Research Service.
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As the third-largest meat holiday behind Christmas and Thanksgiving, the three-week shift in Easter timing had a substantial impact on meat sales. While dollar sales continued to grow due to inflation, pounds dropped 4.3% behind last year’s levels, according to the latest Performance Report from Circana, 210 Analytics, and Hillphoenix. This was driven by processed meat, specifically smoked ham. Fresh meat grew dollar sales 7.5% over March 2024 levels, with a 2.9% increase in pounds. Processed meat sales declined by more than 9% year-on-year. First-quarter sales increased 1.5% in pounds and 6.5% in dollars over the first three months of 2024.
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The staff at NCC wishes you and your families a very blessed and happy Easter!
