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March 1 has arrived, meaning that, apparently, as of today, the United States is “all in” on the budgetary sequester that has been in the news for weeks. As you probably know by now, sequestration is an across-the-board reduction in spending mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011. Dire predictions have been made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about furloughing meat inspectors as part of the budget reduction process, thus jeopardizing pork marketing channels in coming days....More

What a week in Washington. As a vast divide separates the Republicans and Democrats on budget issues, The Hill is predicting a high likelihood that the automatic spending cuts known as the sequester will be implemented. Food Safety News reported this week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could conduct 2,100 fewer inspections at domestic and foreign food facilities and the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) might have to furlough all employees for approximately two weeks to meet the extensive budget cuts. This would, in effect, bring the U.S. meat industry to a screeching halt....More