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Usda

All articles tagged with #usda

technology13 days ago•5 min saved

Drones pivot to track flesh-eating screwworms across Texas outbreak

US agencies have repurposed hundreds of DHS drones to surveil wildlife and livestock for New World Screwworms in South Texas and surrounding areas, logging more than 1,000 flights and surveying over 22,000 animals. About 45 domesticated-animal cases have been confirmed, with drones—often infrared-equipped Skydio X10s—used to spot wounds or fever and aid AI-assisted analysis. While drones support broad surveillance, eradication still relies on Sterile Insect Technique, with new sterile-fly facilities planned in Moore Air Base, Texas and Douglas, Arizona, and continued cross-border efforts with Panama and Mexico amid human-case reports in the region.

via Ars Technica|

#drones #screwworm #sterile-insect-technique

health13 days ago•46 min saved

USDA Recalls 30,000 Pounds of Argentine Beef Across Florida and Texas

The USDA announced a recall of nearly 30,000 pounds of raw beef produced by Corte Argentino USA LLC that was imported from Argentina without import reinspection. The affected products (made May 15–20, 2026) carry sell-by dates Sept 15–20, 2026 and were distributed to Florida and Texas. No illnesses have been reported. Consumers should dispose of or return recalled beef and can contact the manufacturer at 786-350-5805 or [email protected] for questions.

via Yahoo|

#beef-recall #florida #food-safety

politics17 days ago•7 min saved

Policy clash delays wildfire funding as Spokane area battles blazes

A dispute over USDA immigration and DEI policies delayed $15 million in wildfire-prevention grants for Spokane-area projects, hindering fuel-reduction work as the region fights wildfires and evacuations unfold; advocates say linking funding to national policy priorities is dangerous, while officials seek timely deployment to curb fire risk.

via Politico|

#dei #grants #politics

business27 days ago•22 min saved

Border inspection lapse prompts recall of over 12,000 pounds of Canadian bacon

The US Department of Agriculture issued a Class I recall for more than 12,000 pounds of Canadian-imported Royale Natural Applewood Smoked uncured bacon and Top Valu uncured hardwood smoked bacon from Maple Leaf Foods after regulators found the products never underwent import reinspection into the United States. The bacon, packaged in 12-ounce vacuum packs, was distributed to stores in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. No illnesses have been reported. Consumers should discard the affected packages or return them to retailers. Maple Leaf Foods attributes the issue to border paperwork rather than product safety and noted the recall stems from a routine inspection finding a lack of required reinspection.

via New York Post|

#bacon #business #import-reinspection

health1 month ago•18 min saved

Beef Delivers More Micronutrients Per Calorie Than Chicken

USDA data and nutrient-scoring analyses show beef (especially grass-fed) often has higher density of micronutrients like iron, zinc and B vitamins per calorie than chicken; chicken remains a high-protein staple but typically offers fewer of these micronutrients on a per-calorie basis. The findings feed into the MAHA push and the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines, which emphasize nutrient-dense, minimally processed proteins, while noting costs and access vary by meat type and region.

via Dallas Express|

#beef #chicken #dietary-guidelines

politics1 month ago•11 min saved

Fraud crackdown on SNAP hits headwinds as GOP states push back

The Trump administration’s plan to root out fraud in the SNAP food-aid program is drawing pushback from Republican-led Ohio and Georgia, which say USDA’s inspector general overstates fraud by labeling routine errors as theft. Ohio successfully disputed a large initial figure, lowering the alleged fraud amount, while Georgia challenges the interpretation of data as well. The disputes highlight concerns about methodology and accuracy as several states await final findings, even as SNAP enrollment declines under tighter eligibility rules.

via Politico|

#fraud #inspector-general #ohio

health1 month ago•187 min saved

Screwworm comeback: a dinner-safe scare, but beef prices could rise

The New World screwworm has reappeared in the United States and targets living tissue in livestock, but public health officials say it does not threaten food safety—meat is still considered safe thanks to veterinary care and strict inspection; the bigger impact is economic, with potential billions in damage to the southwestern US and potential higher beef prices, since infestations affect livestock health and supply rather than the safety or quality of meat already in the food chain.

via CNN|

#beef-prices #food-safety #health

government1 month ago•7 min saved

USDA Relocation Plan Sparks Legal Battle Over Staffing

The Agriculture Department is pursuing a nationwide reorganization that relocates thousands of Washington, D.C.-area staff to five regional hubs, with many employees asked to move or resign. Unions have filed suit seeking a preliminary injunction, arguing the plan would degrade key programs and violate congressional funding restrictions, while noting attrition could parallel a large workforce reduction. USDA officials say the move is not intended as a large-scale reduction, but internal documents indicate substantial staffing cuts across multiple agencies as part of the plan.

via Federal News Network|

#government #injunction #relocation

politics2 months ago•14 min saved

Trump Admin Bets on Regenerative Agriculture With Market-Driven Biofuel Rule

President Trump signs an executive order advancing regenerative agriculture as the USDA releases the final Regenerative Feedstock Rule, linking regenerative farming practices to new biofuel markets with standards for carbon intensity, traceability, and auditing, plus an updated carbon intensity calculator to help farmers market feedstocks such as corn, soybeans, sorghum, and canola.

via USDA (.gov)|

#biofuels #executive-order #politics

politics2 months ago•2 min saved

Screwworm outbreak pressures U.S. beef market and becomes political heat

The USDA is preparing a $1 billion-plus program to eradicate screwworms in the United States after the first U.S. case surfaced in Texas, with 12 confirmed cases mostly among cattle. Beef prices are already high amid a drought-depleted herd, and the outbreak could worsen prices. Politically, Trump officials fault the Biden administration and immigration policy for the spread, while Democrats tie funding cuts to the response; if more detections occur, the pest could become a broader political risk for Trump and the GOP.

via Axios|

#beef-prices #gop #politics

agriculture2 months ago•12 min saved

Idaho tightens animal imports after screwworm detection

Idaho's agriculture department issued an administrative order restricting the movement of warm-blooded animals from screwworm‑infested zones and requiring a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued within five days of travel, plus documentation that the animal was authorized to leave the infested area, after the first U.S. screwworm case was confirmed in Texas. Animals from states with detections but outside infestation zones must also have a health certificate issued within five days before entering Idaho; officials urged pet owners and travelers to take precautions and coordinate with USDA.

via KSL News|

#agriculture #animal-importation #certificate-of-veterinary-inspection

science2 months ago•8 min saved

Return of the New World screwworm roils US beef markets amid cross-border crime links

A revived New World screwworm has been found in the US (Texas and New Mexico) after decades of eradication, with researchers tracing its comeback to illegal Central American cattle trafficking; the outbreak threatens billions in beef losses, has involved a dog case in New Mexico, and has spurred discussions on control methods including sterile fly releases and the controversial SWASS tool, underscoring the need for cross-border action to halt the pest at its source.

via CNN|

#illegal-cattle-trafficking #science #screwworm

world2 months ago•5 min saved

New World Screwworm Spreads Beyond Texas, Threatening U.S. Cattle Industry

The USDA confirms three additional New World screwworm cases, including one in New Mexico, signaling the parasite’s spread beyond Texas. Authorities have quarantines around affected areas and are ramping up sterile‑male fly releases as part of a long‑term program to halt the outbreak, while researchers seek faster sterile‑fly production and a potential Texas fly factory. Beef prices remain steady for now, but the parasite threatens the U.S. cattle industry if containment fails.

via ABC7 Los Angeles|

#agriculture #cattle #screwworm

agriculture2 months ago•4 min saved

New World Screwworm Sparks Federal Rebuke of Texas Official Over Reporting Remarks

The U.S. Department of Agriculture publicly rebuked Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller after he suggested ranchers might avoid reporting New World screwworm infestations due to quarantine restrictions, as Texas logged five confirmed cases in less than a week and New Mexico reported a case. Federal officials emphasize that rapid reporting enables containment through quarantines, surveillance, sterile fly releases, and other tools; Miller advocates deploying SWASS in addition to sterile flies. Governor Abbott and Rollins stressed a coordinated response, and a new senior advisor for screwworm preparedness was named.

via Texas Public Radio | TPR|

#agriculture #screwworm #sid-miller

agriculture2 months ago•4 min saved

Texas ag chief and USDA clash over screwworm response as outbreak looms

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins publicly clashes with Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller over the federal response to the New World Screwworm outbreak in Texas, with Rollins calling Miller’s criticisms unserious and Miller accusing USDA of slow action and urging immediate deployment of the Screwworm Adult Suppression System. The feud highlights tensions between federal and state leaders as the parasite threatens cattle herds and beef prices, while the USDA presses ahead with its screwworm playbook—sterile flies, quarantine zones, increased surveillance—and ramps up production to contain the outbreak, amid calls for stronger federal intervention.

via CNBC|

#agriculture #miller #policy