The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that registration for the 99th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum (AOF) is now open. AOF is USDA’s largest and premier annual two-day event, being held in-person at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott on February 23-24, 2023, and all sessions will be live streamed on a virtual platform.

The Biden administration has announced a new investment of over $50 million in grants will be provided to US schools to invest in new food service equipment that will allow them to continue serving nutritious meals. In 2022, the administration has given $30 million in equipment grants to schools.

A conference to highlight the global role and importance of meat and meat production was recently held in Dublin, Ireland. The conference, “The Societal Role of Meat - What the Science Says,” was organized by a panel of world-renown meat science experts and The Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc), the semi-state authority in the Republic of Ireland responsible for research and development, training, and advisory services in the agriculture and food sector.

When heat is applied to food, the structure of sugars and proteins are rearranged. Some of the newly formed compounds are Maillard reaction products (MRP). The Maillard reaction can form melanoidins that improve color, flavor, and aroma, but can also lead to the loss of essential amino acids and the formation of advanced glycation end-products that may negatively affect animal health.

Water will continue to be a concern for beef cattle production, particularly in the west where surface and ground water are rapidly depleting. The beef industry has made great strides in water reduction but will need to continue to decrease blue water use, for if there is no water, beef cannot be produced.

The level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in low laying rate hens was significantly decreased in the serum, small white follicles, and dominant follicles. In the hypothalamus and small yellow follicles, the mRNA expression level of estrogen receptor in low laying rate hens was higher than in the medium laying rate hens.

The rate of development of growth traits determines the productivity of sheep. Shortening the fattening cycle of sheep can effectively improve economic efficiency.

Ractopamine (RAC) is a feed additive that stimulates rate of gain, feed efficiency, and carcass leanness in finishing cattle. The objective of the present study was to quantify the effects of age and RAC on whole body metabolism and nutrient use by tissues of the portal-drained viscera, liver, and hindquarters of steers.

Insects are regarded as one of the most promising protein sources for feed production due to its high nutritional value and low environmental cost. The objectives of this study were to analyze the dynamic nutritional composition of Drosophila (fruit fly) at various developmental phases in parallel with a commercial black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal, as well as to determine the effect of diets with their inclusion on broilers.

July 27, 2015 – Ashley Weaver, from Rocky River, Ohio, is one of four recipients of the 2015 ASAS Science Policy Summer Internship.

Weaver is a senior at The Ohio State University majoring in animal science and minoring in political theory. She hopes to attend Law School in the Fall of 2016, focusing on Environmental and Animal Law.

“With a law degree I hope to be able to provide counseling and scientific-driven information to help the agricultural world,” said Weaver.

Weaver grew up in a suburb near Lake Erie, Ohio and had limited agriculture experience. However, she had a passion for riding horses. Consequently, this passion inspired her to receive her Associate’s degree in Horse Science from the Agricultural Technical Institute of Ohio State.

May 25, 2015 – Maci Lienemann, a junior majoring in animal science at the University of Nebraska, is one of four recipients of the 2015 ASAS Science Policy Summer Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Lienemann will intern with U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., during her time in Washington, D.C.

“I have a unique set of interests when it comes to livestock, science and policy, so I hope this internship will give me a glimpse of how I can combine those into a future career,” Lienemann said in a recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln press release.

During the internship, Lienemann will work with congressional staff and federal agencies on preparing research and legislative briefings. She will also interact with agricultural constituents.

Funding from the Bob Zimbelman, Harold Hafs, Barb Glenn, Jack Britt, and Louis Boyd Appreciation Clubs will support this summer’s science policy interns.

June 29, 2015 – Tiffany Hebb is a graduate student at Tuskegee University but a native of Washington, D.C. Being raised in the D.C. metropolitan area, Hebb had no prior experience with agriculture.  In fact, she initially believed majoring in animal sciences meant studying companion or laboratory animals.

“You can only image how surprised I was to see a goat on my first day of introduction to animal science class, and even more shocked when it defecated right in front of me,” said Hebb regarding her first-ever encounter with livestock.

Yet, her first livestock encounter did not deter her; it sparked a curiosity in the broad world of animal sciences, which turned into an ever-growing passion for the field. As she learned more about agriculture and animal sciences, she wanted to explore all the possibilities of animal agriculture and related sciences.

Currently, Hebb is pursuing a Doctorate degree in Integrative Biosciences and training in Reproductive Physiology. Her project specifically investigates the molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis in goats. Her career goal is to continue developing as an animal scientist through research and administrative activities that allow her to effectively communicate scientific knowledge.

July 27, 2015 – Pierce Bennett, a sophomore studying animal science at Kansas State University, is one of the four students chosen to spend the summer in Washington, D.C. as a Science Policy Intern for ASAS. Currently, he interns in the Legislative Affairs department with the North American Meat Institute (NAMI). 

Bennett grew up on a four-generation family farm in western Ohio, raising sheep and managing native wild prairie grass through the CRP program. He also has experience in the pork, beef, and crop industries and currently works at the Kansas State University Sheep and Meat Goat Center.

“As a communications option in the animal science and industry department at KSU, I am attempting to tailor my education to the public relations and policy professions,” said Bennett.

His goals for the internship are to learn how policy makes it from discussion to written work. “I want to better understand all of the current issues we are facing in agriculture, and find out how folks who don’t have an agriculture background perceive those agricultural issues,” said Bennett.

By: Olivia Woods, ASAS Science Policy Summer Intern



July 28, 2016 – Coming directly from a quiet college town in Western Oregon, the pace and intensity of Washington D.C. initially took me by surprise. During my first week on Capitol Hill, I learned the basics of working in a congressional office very rapidly. This is where my previous professional and administrative skills came in handy. On any given day in the office, I am expected to read and file incoming emails, field phone calls, or voicemails from hundreds of constituents, then tally their various opinions for the office’s daily report.

In addition to these administrative tasks, I am trained to give guided tours of the Capitol building to interested constituents.  Although an intimidating prospect at first, these tours quickly became one of my favorite parts of the job because they provide the opportunity for me to get out of the office, stretch my legs, and meet some new people.

By: Morgan Jones, ASAS Science Policy Summer Intern

July 28, 2016 – Hello! My name is Morgan Jones and I am currently in the ASAS Summer Policy Internship Program interning under South Dakota Representative Kristi Noem and South Dakota Senator John Thune in Washington D.C. My legislatures have gone above and beyond for the farmers and ranchers of my state, which is important when your state has four cows for every one person.

Being born and raised in Milbank, South Dakota, agriculture has had a large impact on my life. It is my hope that one day I can contribute to this industry. I currently attend the University of Minnesota and am working towards a major in Animal Science with a Pre-Veterinary emphasis and minors in Political Science and Public Health. Although my ultimate goal is to become a veterinarian, I have always been curious about the policies and laws affecting animal science. This interest led me to shadow Dr. Oedekoven, South Dakota’s State Veterinarian, to see how these two passions could be combined.

My experience in Washington D.C. has gone above and beyond my expectations. My first week at the capitol I attended a House Agricultural Committee hearing and ended up sitting next to a lobbyist from the American Veterinary Medical Association. I have also gained valuable legislative knowledge, in addition to connecting with South Dakota constituents. I look forward  to what the rest of my internship entails!

By Cordelia Hiers, ASAS Science Policy Intern


July 28, 2016 – Every good dream contains hopes, goals, and aspirations, all of which fall subject to time. Starting at the age of eight years old I have dreamed of living in Washington D.C. In the past, when dwelling on my dream, I would have told you with certainty I was going to become a zoo veterinarian. I moved from dream to dream with fluidity from a zoo veterinarian, to a farrier, to an equine vet, as well considering equestrian management. My common ground: agriculture. It was not until later in my high school career that I discovered my fondness for the agriculture industry was irrevocable.

Following high school graduation, I attended Murray State University in the state of unbridled spirit, Kentucky. The Hutson School of Agriculture at Murray State University consists of a small team of faculty and staff who are dedicated to fostering their students’ dreams. This group of faculty emphasizes an unmatched precedence in the future of their students and they harbored my ambitions.  I received my education both inside and outside of the classroom that set me on a curricular path toward my future career.

I am proud to say that I have a received my Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture with a minor in Political Science; a combination of my passion for agriculture and my desire to advocate on its behalf. Fourteen years later I am in Washington D.C. interning with Animal Agriculture Alliance, an organization dedicated to bridging the communication gap between farm and fork. Currently, I have just begun my second week with the Alliance and the experience thus far has proved to be invaluable.

By: Alexandra Cantrell, ASAS Science Policy Summer Intern

July 28, 2016 – After spending two months in Washington D.C. I have come to love the rich history of the city itself and the impact that the people living in this district can have on the world. I always knew that Capitol Hill dictated the way our country is run, but it did not truly resonate with me until I started touring the halls of our government buildings. I now understand that our nation’s capital has a profound effect on our culture and the way our society thinks. My first realization of this was in the Supreme Court building, which showcases the history of our past justices. To portray the development of law, throughout the building there are friezes of different philosophers and great lawgivers of history such as Moses, Aristotle, and Chief Justice John Marshall.

Another exhibit that caught my eye was the showcase of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. I had the opportunity to meet her once when she attended the opening of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth. It was great to have a chance to learn about her in more detail. As a fellow Texan, rancher, and woman, she inspired me with her dedication to the law. Even though she was probably not an Animal Science major, I consider her a role model for what people in agriculture can accomplish in government and policy.

Under the checks and balances within our government, the legislative branch is intended to make the laws, the executive branch is meant to enforce the laws, and the judicial branch must interpret the laws set by the government. Many of the cases heard by the Supreme Court over the course of our history have shaped who we are as a nation today and it humbled me to walk through the displays within the building.

My passion for agriculture began when I was just a freshman in high school. I was accepted into the James Madison Agriscience Magnet Program where I began to study agriculture. I went into college knowing what I wanted to study and had already gained four years of meaningful, hands-on, practice.

Fast forward to completing my internships and earning a degree after studying agriculture for nearly ten years, I reflect on what prepared me to be successful in my internships and there are three things that immediately stand out to me: an ability to effectively communicate, an understanding of my field, and a willingness to continually learn. My predominant role as an ASAS Science Policy Intern was communication— communicating with leaders within the organization, with members, and readers. Within my congressional office, communicating well with office staff, members of congress, and especially constituents was a key aspect of performing well. What prepared me to communicate well with others, was my experience in customer service. A job as simple as managing the front desk at a water park resort taught me how to be patient, to ask the right questions to find solutions, and to have proper decorum. Another major aspect of interning for the American Society of Animal Science as a Science Policy Intern is understanding what major or current issues agriculturalists are facing and finding sources that you may continually refer to in order to remain informed.

Although I spent a majority of my internship studying crop insurance rather than an animal science based issue, I was able to attend briefings and find resources that I could learn more from. In retrospect, I would have chosen an animal science related issue to follow throughout my internship and covered that issue in my previous editorials. However, most importantly, my foundation had been established and my willingness to learn was ever-present. Although crop insurance was not a familiar topic to me, the experience has diversified my agricultural knowledge and has taught me that there is more to agriculture than livestock.

Tyler is a senior earning a dual degree in animal science and agricultural communications and journalism at Texas A&M University.

Raised on her family’s commercial sheep and cattle operation, Tyler developed a love for agriculture at a young age. Growing up, she was heavily involved in both 4-H and FFA, showing lambs and competing in judging and leadership activities across the state.

Tyler continued her involvement in agriculture by participating in a variety of student organizations and activities at Texas A&M. During her three years at the university, she has been an active member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council, Pi Beta Phi Sorority, Saddle & Sirloin, Aron and Mary Lois Savell Leadership Mentor Group, Study Abroad, and the 2016 Texas A&M Meat Judging Team. In 2015, Tyler testified to the Natural Resources Committee at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.