Family Farm and Food Bytes
Meat sales remain resilient (FarmWeekNow) - It appears consumers haven’t lost their appetite for meat despite ongoing food price inflation. In fact, a recent study found they actually beefed up purchases last year.
U.S. meat sales hit a record high of $104.6 billion and pounds sold increased 2.3% in 2024, according to the 20th annual Power of Meat report released this month by the Meat Institute and FMI—The Food Industry Association.
Data from the report indicates the average American shops for meat 54 times per year and spends $16.12 on meat per trip. The top three purchases for refrigerated meat are beef, chicken and pork while the top three purchases for prepared meat include lunchmeat, bacon and sausage.
Food price inflation remains steady (FarmWeekNow) - In 2025, overall food prices are anticipated to rise at a rate similar to that of 2024 and at a slower pace than the historical average rate of growth. USDA projects prices for all food could increase 2.2% this year. Food-at-home prices are predicted to increase 1.3% while the steepest increase could be for food-away-from-home, with prices predicted to increase 3.6%.
A potential easing of food price inflation could still increase stress for consumers. Food prices jumped 9.9% in 2022, which was the largest increase since 1979, another 5.8% in 2023 and 2.3% in 2024.
The latest episode of the Taking Stalk podcast: Ep. 16 - Solar and wind offers: What to consider before signing (IFB News) - Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan joins IFB staff experts Bill Bodine, Laura Harmon and Garrett Thalgott to provide valuable insight into the renewable energy industry and steps farmers should consider before signing a wind or solar contract. https://www.farmweeknow.com/podcasts/
Renewed push resurfaces for whole milk in school meal (Tammie Sloup, FarmWeek) –
Legislation that would allow schools that participate in the federal school meal program to serve whole and 2% milk is resurfacing in the House and Senate. Reintroduced versions of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act are pending in both chambers, with the Senate Ag Committee holding a hearing April 1 examining the role of milk in school nutrition programs and its impact on children’s health. The legislation has received bipartisan support.
In 2010, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which aimed to reduce childhood obesity and cut health risks for kids. It required school meals to include more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, protein and low-fat dairy and less sugar, sodium and fat. Starting in 2012, whole and 2% milk was not permitted in school meals because those products are higher in saturated fat and calories than lower-fat options.
The proposed bills would change the permissible milk types to also include reduced fat and whole milk. The bill would also exempt milk fat from the saturated fat limits in school meals.
IDOA extends poultry exhibition, sale suspension (FarmWeekNow) - To help prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the Illinois Department of Agriculture is extending the suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auctions for another 30 days through May 11. Reports can be made to the IDOA at 217-782-4944 or the USDA at 866-536-7593.
Soybean board exploring diversified uses (Rhiannon Branch, FarmWeek)
The United Soybean Board (USB) continues to explore and promote diversified uses for the nation’s soybean crop including
- High oleic for dairy feed - High oleic soybeans have gained popularity for food uses, but now USB has found a place for them in the livestock industry.
- Swine nutrition - USB has helped fund studies that show higher inclusion rates of soybeans in hog feed can improve respiration rates and lower the risk for respiratory diseases in pigs.
- Soy-based products - New uses for soybeans in everyday items continue to be a focus area for USB.
- Vice Chairman Brent Gatton said from Goodyear tires to Sketchers tennis shoes he is impressed by the scope of products that include soybeans.
- Gatton said one of his favorite new developments is firefighting SoyFoam, which is a wetting and smothering agent capable of extinguishing Class A and Class B fires safely without the use of harmful chemicals.
About Family Farm and Food Bytes: This is a collection of articles gathered from Illinois Farm Bureau FarmWeek, FarmWeekNow and other trusted media sources and is designed to keep you informed as a member and leader within the Cook County Farm Bureau® organization. We thank the FarmWeek staff for their reporting skills and talents. The articles summarized above are not intended to represent Cook County Farm Bureau policy or positions, but rather to provide members an idea of what is being reported regionally, nationally, and globally.