Rep. Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) introduced the Lowering Egg Prices Act alongside Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), and Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.), aiming to ease regulations that require farmers to discard hundreds of millions of eggs annually.

The bill mirrors a recent National Chicken Council (NCC) petition urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to modify a 15-year-old rule that mandates egg refrigeration within 36 hours of being laid. The regulation does not distinguish between table eggs, which require refrigeration, and breaker eggs, which are pasteurized for use in processed foods.
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NCC President Harrison Kircher praised the legislation, saying it would help stabilize egg prices by reducing unnecessary waste. A bipartisan group of lawmakers also sent a letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Sara Brenner urging the agency to revise the rule, citing a 2020 risk assessment that found broiler eggs pose minimal public health risk due to pasteurization.

By thinking beyond the product description and traditional applications, you can unlock the full menu potential of your seemingly single-use proteins. Here are some ways to do just that with four of our most popular—and most adaptable—globally inspired proteins: Beef Barbacoa, Chicken Carnitas, Chicken Tinga and Pork Carnitas. Read more from Hormel here. 

From UniPro Foodservice: Tariffs on, tariffs off, delays, and exceptions have been the pattern of the past six weeks or so, and expect more of the same until proven otherwise. Unfortunately, the situation is not straightforward and will likely remain that way.
At time of writing, U.S. tariffs on goods covered by the USMCA have been delayed until April 2. Tariffs on China remain in place and reciprocal tariffs are slated for April 2 as well. While U.S.-imposed tariffs will likely remain a moving target, much of the impact to individual markets and sectors of the economy will also depend on retaliatory actions by other countries.
Specific to beef and cattle markets, trade disputes with Canada and Mexico in aggregate may be minimal, although with substantial disruptions to individual entities and supply chains. As shown in the accompanying table, trade runs both ways between the U.S. and our neighbors. Beef trade runs both directions with Canada and Mexico, with the U.S. being a net importer from both partners.
In terms of cattle, the U.S. is a net total cattle importer from Canada. Feeder cattle flow both directions with a net flow towards Canada as more feeder cattle are shipped North than are brought to the U.S. This is offset by slaughter cattle imports, predominately fed cattle. The U.S. has long imported a considerable number of feeder cattle from Mexico. Inspections and processing protocols for New World Screwworm will limit the pace of Mexican imports for the foreseeable future, tariffs or no tariffs.
In total, aggressive tariff rates may somewhat limit imports of cattle and beef, but much of the movement may continue as the supply chains are very interconnected. The bulk of the tariff cost may be absorbed by Canadian and Mexican beef/cattle markets, while potential weaking of the Canadian Dollar and Peso could also offset some of the price impacts.
The largest risk to the cattle and beef complex likely hinges on potential retaliatory trade actions against U.S. beef to China. In 2024, China was the third largest importer of U.S. beef in tonnage and the second largest in value at $1.52 billion. Abrupt market disruptions to China would have near term consequences, even as strong global demand for U.S. beef amid cyclically tighter production may soften longer-term effects.
Risks and disruptions to other ag. markets will also be important to monitor. Grain markets are also significantly exposed to risk from retaliatory tariffs. China is the largest importer of U.S. soybeans and Mexico is the largest buyer of U.S. corn exports.
Mexico was the largest buyer of U.S. pork in 2024, more than double the size of Japan, the next largest destination. Mexico has long been a significant buyer of U.S. hams and other pork products. Pork trade with Canada is smaller and flows both directions. Canada is an important source of feeder pig imports for U.S. pork producers with some market hogs and slaughter sows imported as well.
Bottom line:  evolving situation will entail volatility and It is impossible to know what the status of trade and tariffs will look like in a year, or what will transpire between now and then, with many moving parts that may impact cattle and beef markets and other ag. and non-ag sectors. Unfortunately, the cattle and beef industry must be ready for a continually uncertainty at minimum.

President Trump has carved out more short-term exemptions to the 25% tariff he levied Tuesday on imports from Mexico and Canada, announcing to the surprise of the marketplace that he will exclude all incoming products covered by a 2020 treaty until April 2.
That earlier pact, known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), covers a large swath of foods and agricultural products, as well as manufacturing components like car parts. But there’s disagreement about how sweeping the exemptions will be. 
The White House has indicated that 50% of Mexican imports and 30% of incoming products from Canada are covered by the USMCA. It reportedly cited Mexican avocados as one of the products that is not under that umbrella. 
But Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum took a broader view. In a social-media tweet, she contended that the USMCA covers virtually every Mexican product that’s imported into the States. 
The postponement of duties will likely be warmly received by the food-away-from-home industry, a major buyer of foods and beverages from the U.S. neighbors. 
The National Restaurant Association has projected that the 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canada goods, along with 10% duties on Chinese imports, will cost the foodservice U.S. industry $12 billion. or roughly 30% of a typical restaurant’s profits. 
The association has asked Trump to exempt food and beverages coming into the country from Mexico and Canada because of the tariffs’ expected financial impact on restaurants. 
Trump announced the temporary suspension of the tariffs on Mexican goods via his Truth Social social-media platform midday Thursday, after meeting with President Sheinbaum. 
“I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum,” the U.S. chief executive wrote. “Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl." 
A few hours later, the White House announced that Canadian goods covered under the USMCA would also be exempted until April 2. 
Trump contends the tariffs are needed as leverage to force Mexico and Canada to be more aggressive in policing their borders with the U.S. He has demanded that both nations do more to stem the inflow of black-market fentanyl and undocumented aliens into the U.S. 
Less than 48 hours after the Mexican and Canadian tariffs were imposed, Trump agreed to suspend until April 1 the duties on cars imported from those nations. 
The start of April is looming as a key date in the development of the Administration’s global trade policies. A major internal report on the use of tariffs is expected to be submitted to the White House on April 1. Many economic analysts expect the president to impose tariffs on other nations because of the report. 
The speculation is that the additional duties will be aimed at discouraging the import of more foodstuffs, including agricultural items produced in Europe. The president has aired his belief that those protective measures will help American farmers by boosting domestic demand for their output. 
The turn of events fostered considerable volatility on the equity markets. At closing, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 482 points, or .99%. ​

Although the week has brought new HPAI cases around the country, there are optimistic reports from some states.

• California officials stated bird flu is "slowing down" in the state. During a hearing in the state Senate, public health officials said there have been no new cases since January, fewer dairy cows are getting sick, and quarantines on poultry flocks are being lifted by the dozens. "There were times in December," said State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones, "where I wanted to break down in tears, because every night we got 30 new cases."
• Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper announced the state is HPAI free following outbreaks in two commercial poultry operations in January. “HPAI remains a significant threat to our state’s No. 1 industry, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture will continue working around the clock to keep HPAI out of our state, protect Georgia’s poultry flock and bring down prices for Georgia consumers,” Harper said.
• Minnesota Turkey Growers Association Executive Director Ashley Kohls is pleased with the USDA's new $1-billion commitment to fighting bird flu. "It’s refreshing to have the current USDA leadership want to talk about this more broadly within the agency, instead of folks just within the poultry industry discussing it,” Kohls told media.

New outbreaks
Despite optimism in those states, new H5N1 outbreaks were reported elsewhere.

•  APHIS confirmed an avian flu detection in Idaho dairy cattle, the first such case since October. Since March 2024, APHIS has reported H5N1 detections in 977 dairy herds in 17 states.
• The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed HPAI in a Monroe County backyard flock. Since 2022, there have been three HPAI cases in the county.

The Indiana state Board of Animal Health reported an HPAI detection in an Adams County commercial breeder duck flock containing more than 3,200 birds.

The foodservice industry has always been about flexibility and resilience, and in 2025, many operators will strive to do more with less. Click here to read more. 

 In February 2024, government veterinarians in the Czech Republic investigating a bird flu outbreak found themselves in the middle of a puzzling case. Click here to read the full article. 

​The National Chicken Council (NCC) petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse or modify a regulation that requires the broiler industry to discard safe, nutritious eggs amid record egg prices driven by the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak.
“With government risk assessments affirming their safety, and the fact that surplus broiler hatching eggs would be pasteurized, we respectfully request FDA to immediately exercise its enforcement discretion to allow these eggs to be sent for breaking, helping to ease costs and inflationary pressures for consumers,” said Ashley Peterson, NCC senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs.
NCC previously petitioned the FDA during the current HPAI outbreak, but the Biden administration rejected the request in 2023. The council estimated that granting the exemption would release nearly 400 million eggs annually into the egg-breaking supply, preserving table eggs for consumer use.
Peterson said the move would not immediately lower egg prices but could help stabilize supply. “It’s just common sense we shouldn’t be throwing away eggs at a time like this, especially when the government says they’re safe,” she said.
NCC expressed willingness to work with the Trump administration to advance policies that address inflation and high food prices, including an exemption to the FDA’s Shell Egg Rule.

 The cost of food in the US increased significantly amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the steep inflation that followed. While prices have stabilized more recently, new factors have already driven up the costs for eggs and threaten to increase them for other common household foods. Click here for more. 

From fresh avocados to dairy products, Americans rely heavily on their bordering countries for everyday grocery items. The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump will impose a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada — two of the largest suppliers of agricultural products to the US — on February 1.  Click here for the full article. 

Global food prices recently rose to an 18-month high, with some food baskets expected to continue climbing, according to market watchers. Click here to read the full article: ​https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/05/food-prices-are-at-a-one-year-high-heres-what-may-get-more-expensive.html

The price of your favorite breakfast beverage doesn’t seem to be falling anytime soon.
Click here to read the full article. 

Not many ranchers active today will remember the last time the U.S. cattle industry was this small. On January 1, 2024, the All Cattle and Calves inventory was 87.15 million head, the smallest total inventory since 1951. The All Cattle and Calves inventory is 1.9% smaller year over year and is the fifth consecutive year of declining cattle inventories, a total decrease of 7.65 million head or 8.1% since the most recent peak in 2019. The 2023 calf crop was 33.6 million head, down 2.5% year over year and the smallest calf crop since 2014.
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Click here to read the full article. 

Dairy suppliers and others cite Pactiv Evergreen as the source of the supply problem. Tetra Pak and other competitors are boosting production to meet increased demand. Click here to read the full article.