Ag in the News

01/04/2008

National and International

FSIS launches risk-based testing for E. coli in raw ground beef
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has commenced an enhanced risk-based sampling and testing program for E. coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef, one of the many programs it promised to initiate following the Topps Meat Co. recall last fall. MORE!

VICORP Restaurants teams with Boulder Sausage Company
Denver, Colo.-based VICORP Restaurants announced that it has partnered with Boulder, Colo.-based Boulder Sausage Company to serve sausage entrees at its restaurant chains Village Inn and Bakers Square. MORE!

Ag economist sees $4.75 corn possible on ethanol demand
Increasing ethanol production demand and expected lower corn acreage next year could push cash corn prices in 2008 into the $4.25 to $4.75 per bushel range, according to Purdue University Extension Economist Chris Hurt. MORE!

Sale of Smokey Bones complete
Private investment firm Sun Capital Partners Inc. on Thursday announced that one of its affiliates has completed the acquisition of Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill. MORE!

Papa Murphy's launches chicken bacon artichoke pizza
Vancouver, Wash.-based take 'n' bake pizza chain Papa Murphy's has added a new chicken and bacon option to its line of deLITE pizzas, QSR reported. MORE!

Wrap Up

Grains softer overnight. Grain futures were slightly lower in overnight trade on light profit-taking. Key to close out the week will be if traders lighten their long exposure to the market after starting the year with very strong gains.

Export sales this morning. USDA's weekly export sales report was delayed until this morning because of the holiday schedule. For the week ended Dec. 27, traders expect: wheat sales from 250,000 to 450,000 MT; corn sales from 900,000 to 1.3 million MT; soybean sales from 300,000 to 500,000 MT; meal sales from 50,000 to 100,000 MT; and soyoil sales from 5,000 to 10,000 MT.

More rain needed in South America. Just light, scattered rains are in the forecast for dry areas of South America through the weekend. Go to the weather section and check the latest 7-day precip map.

Iowa caucus over. It was a night of surprises and firsts. Huckabee (R) and Obama (D) won the Iowa presidential caucuses, dramatic evidence of voters' hunger for change. Romney placed second among Republicans as a large number of evangelical Christians backed Huckabee. Clinton and Edwards were in a tight race for Democratic runner-up.