Ag in the News

05/08/2008

National

JBS-Swift makes its case at Senate hearing
JBS-Swift & Co. CEO Wesley Batista argued Wednesday at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing that his company's pending acquisitions of National Beef Packing Co. and Smithfield Beef Group would not reduce market competition. MORE!

HSUS shoots video of downed cattle at auction houses
The Humane Society of the United States said it met with Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer last week to discuss videos it shot during April and May of downer cattle being ignored or mistreated at auction houses in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas. MORE!

Russia allows for importation of U.S. livestock
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday announced that the United States will begin exporting breeding cattle and bovine embryos; breeding, fattening and slaughter swine; and breeding and sport horses to Russia. MORE!

Chatel Farms launches new beef crumbles
Chatel Farms, a brand of Augusta, Ga.-based FPL Food LLC, has launched a new line of beef crumbles. MORE!

Surlean Foods names new corporate chef
San Antonio-based Surlean Foods has added Corporate Chef Mark Rodriguez to its R&D team. MORE!

Wrap Up

A farm bill deal. Key farm-bill writers today will hold a briefing to outline what they say is a deal on a new farm bill that has broad support across party lines. The measure is targeted for votes in the House and Senate next week, aiming to have it on President Bush's desk before the May 16 expiration of extended 2002 Farm Bill provisions. But there's a big question: Will Bush sign the bill? Jim Wiesemeyer explores this key issue in his Inside Washington Today commentary on the Pro Farmer page.

Wheat Tour day 2. Scouts on the second day of the Wheat Quality Council HRW Tour through Kansas found better wheat prospects than many expected in western and southern areas. Still, samples taken showed an average yield of 40.9 bu. per acre compared to a tour yield of 43.2 bu. per acre on similar routes last year. You can take a 'virtual' stop on the Tour as well via this report from AgWeb's Tanner Ehmke.

Weekly Export Sales today. For the week ended May 1, traders expect: wheat sales from 250,000 to 400,000 MT; corn sales from 450,000 to 750,000 MT; soybean sales from 250,000 to 350,000 MT; meal sales from 50,000 to 150,000 MT; soyoil sales from 5,000 to 15,000 MT; and cotton sales from 200,000 to 300,000 running bales.

Food vs. fuel answers. USDA Secretary Ed Schafer and top USDA officials will hold a news conference today to brief reporters and explain the various factors that are affecting food prices. The sessions come amid a rising focus on biofuels and the impact that is having on U.S. food prices and is an effort by USDA to explain what all goes into the cost of food at the grocery store.