Blindfold Tests Demonstrate U.S. Beef’s Quality to Importers in Central America

Aug 14, 2023

In markets where buyers and end-users only know the lean, grass-fed beef produced locally, simple tactics are sometimes best to demonstrate U.S. beef’s superior attributes. In recent months, market development efforts have centered on blindfold taste tests in Guatemala, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras and Dominican Republic to demonstrate the superior quality of grain-fed U.S. beef. According to Lucia Ruano, USMEF’s representative in the region, the taste tests are very effective.

“We conduct a two-three hour educational program for importers and their end-user customers, for about 25-30 at a time. We discuss U.S. beef production with an emphasis on grain-feeding and how quality marbling impacts flavor and tenderness.

Click here to see more...

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.