Articles by Rebekah Alvey

The hog industry says the U.S. pork supply is safe following detection of H5N1 in a pig from a backyard farm in Oregon, but concerns remain about possible mutations in the virus.

FDA's Human Foods Program released its 2025 Priority Deliverables today, which details the primary focuses for its first year under the reorganization. Highlights include a goal to issue guidance on action levels for lead in food intended for infants and young children, finalizing the rule on the “healthy” claim and proposing a rule on front of package nutrition labeling. 

Nine Republican lawmakers are seeking additional insight into the USDA’s $45.6 million investment in Pure Prairie Poultry, which closed early this month, and the steps the agency has taken to help growers. 

The 2024 election is six days away. Several House districts that are represented by Ag Committee members or have significant agricultural production could be key to determining control of the chamber.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is rapidly staffing up to help farmers with their conservation challenges, and that brings with it the need to train the new employees. However, the agency is finding that many of these new conservationists didn’t grow up on a farm and need help understanding the different types of farming systems they will encounter.

A Wisconsin poultry grower who contracted with Pure Prairie Poultry tells Agri-Pulse to expect lawsuits to be filed today over the company’s closure. The shutdown has resulted in roughly 2 million chickens left without fed and growers without a processor able to take them.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating whether onions supplied by Taylor Farms are the source of an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders that has led to one death, according to NBC News. 

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is going after Donald Trump in a podcast aimed at rural residents, specifically pointing to Trump’s plan to impose across-the-board tariffs.

The produce industry, Food and Drug Administration and Purdue University have launched a new multi-year study to analyze the spread of salmonella in cantaloupe production following multiple food safety outbreaks. 

Experts responsible for examining scientific evidence and drafting recommendations to the agencies for the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans said that there is not sufficient data to draw conclusions about ultra-processed foods and health outcomes.