It’s been a heck of a year for weather so far and we’re just a little over halfway through. We hope everyone impacted is doing alright. Please let us know if you need assistance both now and throughout hurricane season, and the same goes to those facing any kind of severe or extreme weather in your area.

This week, it was reported that the White House will release an executive order that the UDSA tighten the definition of the “Product of the USA” label on meat. We have written about this before and will keep you updated on what unfolds. Our latest blog from our UK team highlights the threats looming in post-Brexit trade deals, as well as opportunities to mitigate them. Lastly, our team has been busy working with participants in the Certified Regenerative by AGW pilot program to review regenerative plans and we’re looking forward to certifying our first farms and products later this year. Stay tuned here for great news to come, and please read on for more news and resources from the AGW program.

Featured Resource: Taking Pictures of Your Farm
Good photos are increasingly important for today’s businesses—especially farms and ranches that sell directly to consumers. But taking good quality shots—particularly of animals—can be tough. Written with AGW’s go-to photographer, Mike Suarez of Gorilla Byte Media, AGW’s Taking Pictures of Your Farm guide will help you take better photographs on your farm or ranch for use in social media, websites and other promotional materials.

Featured Resource: Technical Advice Fact Sheet 20 – Pre-Slaughter Stunning: Why It is Important for Poultry
This technical paper explores the issues of pre-slaughter stunning of poultry. Key topics include minimizing pain and stress at slaughter, evidence of pain and the time to loss of consciousness without prior stunning, and what happens when an animal is stunned.

Updates From Your Peers
Please catch the latest press mentions about AGW-certified producers and the program below. This week,

• The Brattleboro Reformer highlights AGW-certified Big Picture Farm in Townshend, VT in an article about an online tool for consumers to help locate high-welfare products.

• The Morning Call features The Lands at Hillside Farm in Shavertown, PA as a stop on the 4th Annual Pursue Your Scoops Ice Cream Trail. The Lands at Hillside Farm raises Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW dairy cattle and makes ice cream on-site for sale by the cone, cup and half gallon.

• The Hutchinson News features AGW-certified Josh Lloyd Farm in Kansas in an article about the upcoming “No Till on the Plains” event July 15.

• TheRoundup.org featured AGW’s family of certifications in an article titled “A-Z of Eco Labelling: 178 Green Certifications Explained.”

• Farmer’s Footprint featured AGW-certified shepherdess Jacqueline Smith at Central Grazing Company in Kansas.

You can help us reach more farmers by sharing our weekly farmer updates. Just pass this linkalong and thanks for helping us get the word out about farmer resources and AGW-certified businesses.