According to 2011 data compiled by the U.S.-Russia Coalition for trade, Russia is currently among the world’s top 10 importers of pork and beef (ranked 5th and 8th respectively). Most recent 2009 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations lists pork and beef as Russia’s top two imports by value, at about $3.

The newly-discovered Schmallenberg virus has spread to southern England. So far, 83 farms in the United Kingdom (UK) have documented infected animals, as well as many farms in Germany, France and the Netherlands. Of the confirmed English cases, most have involved sheep herds, but some infected dairy cattle have been noted as well.

The U.S. Supreme Court just unanimously overturned the Montana Supreme Court’s decision requiring PPL Montana LLC (PPL)—an energy company—and other landowners, such as ranchers, to pay rent for the use of Montana’s riverbeds. The state of Montana and a number of environmental groups had argued that the state owned the riverbeds.

The growth of beef exports around the world has resulted in more conflicts over how individual countries raise their production animals. Increased U.S. beef export efforts, coupled with mutual interest in expanded trade in areas of Asia and Europe to a lesser extent, have sparked controversy over our meat production practices.

Delegates from China met with U.S. agricultural representatives in Iowa to discuss trade agreements and agricultural cooperation at a firstever symposium. Chinese officials toured farms and signed a five-year agreement to direct conversations on agricultural topics.

Sunday, Feb. 19 saw the announcement of what might be the first successful effort to grow meat in a lab. Of course, it didn’t take long for the discussion to take on distinctly science-fictiony tones that would make any nerd feel at home. Star Trek’s famous replicators were mentioned.

Anti-animal ag groups like the Humane Society of the United States have been crowing over recent reports of declining domestic demand for beef. But their cheers might be not only premature, but wholly misplaced. The reality of the so-called decline is far from what it seems on the surface.

Ag folks aren’t the only ones complaining about President Barack Obama’s proposed budget. The budget has created some unusual bedfellows; groups like the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) are both dissatisfied with Obama’s fiscal proposal.

American ranchers both big and small stand to benefit from the new Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The Pacific-countries trade agreement aims to reduce barriers to trade and integrate companies of all sizes into the global market.

Many non-ag consumers see the concepts of “animal welfare” and “animal rights” as synonymous. Given society’s move away from the farm, consumers’ experiences with animals are often limited to their pets. People’s tendency to see their pets as family members makes the situation ripe for well-funded animal rights groups to exploit consumers’ confusion.