USDA announces Dr. Justin Benavidez as Chief Economist

On January 9, 2026, in USDA, by Tom Super

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on Tuesday congratulated Dr. Seth Meyer for his years of service to our country and announced Dr. Justin Benavidez as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Chief Economist.

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Midan Marketing has released its annual forecast, Top 10 Meat and Dairy Industry Trends to Watch in 2026. The outlook draws on continuous consumer tracking, marketplace evaluation, and year-round analysis to identify the forces most likely to shape growth in the year ahead.

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NC State names new poultry science head

On January 9, 2026, in Industry Notes, by Tom Super

Aaron Kiess, Braswell Distinguished Professor in NC State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science, took the helm as interim department head effective Jan. 2. Prior to joining NC State in 2021, Kiess spent 13 years as a faculty member in the Department of Poultry Science at Mississippi State University, where he worked with poultry companies to address pre- and post-harvest food safety issues.

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Chicken exports in September 2025 decreased 3.4 percent in quantity; decreased 4.1 percent in value when compared with September 2024, according to USDA.

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U.S. total broiler slaughter data for the week ending January 3, 2026, is estimated by USDA’s Poultry Market News Service to be 145,304,000 broilers, a 7-percent increase from the same week a year earlier.

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