Search - Drovers

The world’s largest meat producer was the latest victim of a cyberattack. And as the food chain relies more on automation and less on manual labor, cyberattacks may be a rising risk for the food chain.

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can produce toxins that are harmful to livestock, wildlife and people. The growth of this bacteria is aided by high temperatures.

JBS USA announced it has suffered an organized cyberattack that has affected servers supporting its IT systems in North America and Australia.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing to list the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act. The chicken’s habitat spans parts of five states, including Colorado, Kansas and Texas.

After JBS confirmed a cyberattack shuttered some of its processing plants, USDA’s daily cattle slaughter estimates revealed 94,000 head of cattle were processed on Tuesday, a drop of 27,000 head compared to last week.

Australian and North American units of the world’s largest meat works were hit over the weekend by an organized cyber attack on its information systems, Brazil’s JBS SA said in a statement.

The dire drought situation is one USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey thinks could last through at least the remainder of 2021. Forecasts also point to a drier weather pattern returning for Texas and the Plains.

Demand for pork and grains is helping propel prices in 2021, and USDA is forecasting it to be a record year.

JBS USA says it has invested $130 million to increase production capacities at two of its major beef processing facilities in Grand Island and Omaha, Neb., and announced annualized wage increases over the past year.

Gregory Bloom, CEO and owner of U.S. Protein, shares his perspectives on the cattle market based on experience as a cattle buyer, meat seller and working with chefs and restaurants.