Genomics is a rapidly expanding field that requires unique education to use knowledge from quantitative genetics. However, it is challenging to provide education to meet the needs of the rapid genomic revolution particularly with limited funding, faculty, and expertise. In the early 2000s, the USDA defined a need for solid infrastructure to deliver information about advances in animal genetics.

Dr. Christine B. Navarre presented the first talk about “Best Management Practices for Parasite Control in Beef Herds in the Southeastern United States”. Recently, it has been difficult to create a parasite control program as the ability of cattle dewormers has been worsening overtime. Since there are no new products in development, a new way of managing parasites is needed to slow down resistance.

Dr. Spicer began by discussing how reproductive efficiency is one of the main factors affecting profitability in farm animals and how the overall goal is to improve reproductive efficiency. Understanding the mechanisms that control ovarian follicular development may lead to ways to improve reproductive efficiency.

Nora Bello of Kansas State presented a riveting discussion focused on “Statistics for Reproducible Research in Companion Animal Nutrition”. The major topics of the discussion explored current understanding of P-values and hypothesis testing with a lens of companion animal nutrition and the associated argument that statistical analyses must be fully understood by the user.

The Ruminant Nutrition Symposium II began with Dr. Daniel Loy reviewing the past forty years of the cattle industry in the Midwest. The industry consistently deals with change; technology advancements (adoption), black swan events (reaction), and disruptive technologies.

The symposium focused on “The Evolution and Application of Information Technology to Assist with Animal Production Analytics” and was introduced by Luis O. Tedeschi, PhD from Texas A&M University. The Nation Animal Nutrition Program (NANP) was established in 2010 to support research requested by stakeholders. It addresses challenges in research, education, and teaching, and supports agencies in animal agriculture.

The National Meetings will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn the latest steps taken towards implementation of voluntary accreditation for BS degree Animal Science programs.

American Society of Animal Science Journals earned large Impact Factor increases, led by Animal Frontiers, 5.304 (co-published by ASAS, EAAP, AMSA, CSAS, and WAAP) and Journal of Animal Science, 3.159, according to Clarivate’s annual Journal Citation Report (JCR) for 2020.

Devani et al. (2021) recently published a study, in the Journal of Animal Science, that used genome-wide association study (GWAS) to estimate the genetic correlation between young and mature teat and udder scores to determine if these traits are influenced by the same genes.

On June 25th, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee met to consider its version of agriculture appropriations for fiscal year 2022.

The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) Working Group was charged with assessing and making recommendations to enhance the rigor, transparency, and translatability in animal research by improving the experimental design, optimizing translational validity, enhancing training, and increasing the transparency of research studies involving animal models.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced supplementary assistance for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently received a letter from Joe Courtney (D-CT), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), and 55 other members of Congress supporting the increase of dairy consumption in children by allowing schools to offer low-fat, flavored milk as part of school meals programs.

President Joe Biden released his American Families Plan, designed to grow the middle class, expand the benefits of economic growth to all Americans, and leave the United States more competitive.

The Meat Packing Special Investigator Act was recently announced by Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) to address anti-competitive practices in the meat and poultry industries that threaten the nation's food supply and national security.

Two bills that push back against President Biden’s 30x30 Executive Order have been introduced in the House and Senate.

Over 450 conservation, consumer, farm, and environmental groups have collaborated on a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting Congress to allocate $200 billion in new funding over the next 10 years to increase farm bill conservation, research, renewable energy, forestry, and regional food system and supply chain resilience programs, as well as the agriculture, forestry, and rural-related elements already contained in President Biden’s American Jobs Plan.

Over Memorial Day Weekend, the world’s largest meat company, JSB Foods, experienced a ransomware attack that affected everyone from farmers to restauranters.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has introduced the Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act.

The Rural STEM Education Research Act, introduced to the House by Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK) and cosponsored by Science Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), has passed in the House and will now move to the Senate.