Ag in the News

06/26/2008

National

Agriprocessors adds New York P.R. firm to team
Embattled Agriprocessors Inc. has added the high-powered New York-based public relations consultancy 5W Public Relations to its roster of representatives, according to media reports. MORE!

FSIS to stand firm with key E. coli policies for now: Raymond
Despite recent public meetings and calls from some industry groups for change, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is standing firm with some of its key policies regarding E. coli O157:H7 right now, USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Richard Raymond told the executive committee of the North American Meat Processors Association, according to NAMP. MORE!

Broiler meat exports set record in April
U.S. broiler meat exports set a year-on-year record for both volume and value in April, according to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. MORE!

Corn and pork trade symposium deadline approaching
The final day to submit registration to attend the 2008 Corn and Pork Trade Symposium to be held in Indianapolis is this Friday, June 27. MORE!

Wrap Up

Grains firmer overnight. Grain futures were stronger overnight on a combination of spillover from yesterday's gains and ongoing weather concerns. More rains are in the forecast, with the potential for heavy rains through the weekend.

Export Sales this morning. For the week ending June 19, traders look for a big new-crop soybean sales tally, between 2.24 and 2.5 million MT. Old-crop soybean sales are expected between -300,000 and 150,000 MT. Wheat sales are seen between 300,000 and 550,000 MT; corn sales between 300,000 and 800,000 MT; meal sales between 75,000 and 175,000 MT; soyoil sales of up to 10,000 MT; and cotton sales between 40,000 and 100,000 running bales.

USDA to decide soon on CRP. Secretary Ed Schafer said Wednesday he will decide over the next two weeks whether farmers will be allowed to take idled acres out of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) early and without penalty. Washington consultant Jim Wiesemeyer will keep you posted via his column on the Pro Farmer site.

Fed leaves rates unchanged. The Fed kept its key short-term rate at 2%, expressing heightened concern about inflation and suggesting its next move is likely to be a rate increase, its first since the credit crisis flared in August.