Ag in the News

02/28/2008

National

Humane Society suing USDA
The Humane Society of the United States has moved its campaign on downer cattle to a new venue: the courts. The organization filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., against the Department of Agriculture, alleging that the agency's rules fail to prevent sick animals from being slaughtered, and are inconsistent with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and the Federal Meat Inspection Act. The group also charges that the USDA's rules were promulgated in 2007 without adequate public notice and comment as called for by the federal Administrative Procedure Act. MORE!

Hormel launches Mexican-inspired product line
Austin, Minn.-based Hormel Foods Corp. announced the debut of its Carniceria Hormel line, which includes quick-cook and slow-cook pork, beef and chicken products inspired by Mexican cuisine. MORE!

Economists find differing beef-risk perceptions across countries
ecall continues to expand, now new research indicates that such events touch off far greater concern in Mexico and Japan. MORE!

EU ban on Brazilian beef partially lifted
Raw beef products from 106 Brazilian farms that meet European Union safety requirements are now allowed to be exported there, EU officials said Wednesday, according to Agence France Presse. MORE!

Roundy's Supermarkets plans further Chicago expansion
Milwaukee-based Roundy's Supermarkets plans to open 15 to 25 new grocery stores in Chicago over the next several years, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. MORE!

Wrap Up

Mixed overnight action. Wheat futures were sharply lower while corn was weaker and soybeans mostly higher. Wheat futures were down 19 to 54 1/2 cents while corn was unchanged to down 7 1/2 cents and soybeans were down 3 3/4 cents to 6 1/2 cents higher.

Weekly Export Sales today. For the week ended Feb. 21, traders expect: wheat sales from 150,000 to 400,000 MT; corn sales from 650,000 to 950,000 MT; soybean sales from 450,000 to 650,000 MT; meal sales from 50,000 to 125,000 MT; soyoil sales from 10,000 to 20,000 MT; and cotton sales from 200,000 to 250,000 running bales.

Humane Society of U.S. files suit. The Humane Society of the U.S. has filed a suit against USDA over the inspection provision that allows animals that become immobile after inspection to be moved into the slaughter mix. The American Meat Institute criticized the suit. There has been no response from USDA as of yet.

Wanted: More food aid donations. The UN-based group is hoping to encourage more food aid donations to meet what it sees as a $500 million gap in food aid needs for 2008. WFP officials will be meeting with several U.S. lawmakers and government officials over the next week to coax additional aid amounts.

Wrap Up