Ag in the News

04/09/2008

National

USDA audits humane handling at 18 slaughter plants, takes action on five (updated)
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has audited humane handling practices at 18 slaughter facilities under contract with federal food assistance programs, issuing a Notice of Suspension to one, non-compliance records to three and a Letter of Concern to another. MORE!

Minnesota's bovine TB status downgraded by APHIS
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has downgraded Minnesota's status for bovine tuberculosis, moving it from the list of Modified Accredited Advanced states to the Modified Accredited list. MORE!

Twin Hens offers gluten-free beef pot pie
Princeton, N.J.-based Twin Hens has introduced a gluten-free beef pot pie that uses organic cornmeal for the topping along with rice flour and rice starch in the gravy. MORE!

All-natural brand named official chicken sausage of Boston Marathon
The al fresco all-natural Sweet Italian chicken sausage from Chelsea, Mass.-based Kayem Foods has been selected as the official chicken sausage of the 112th Boston Marathon for the third year in a row. MORE!

NAMP rolls out new training course series
The North American Meat Processors Association is offering a new series of four professional development courses in June. MORE!

Wrap Up

USDA reports today. Traders are expecting USDA's Supply & Demand Report out this morning to show a decline for corn carryover compared to their March figure. The average trade guess puts corn carryover at 1.303 billion bu., soybean carryover at 157 million bu. and wheat carryover at 261 million bushels. We'll have details of the report shortly after its 7:30 am CT release.

Credit crisis costs. The International Monetary Fund says that the costs to the credit crunch will reach $1 trillion worldwide. The IMF said the losses would amount to about $143 for every person on Earth, or $3,100 for every U.S. resident. 

Argentine farmers may revive strike. Argentine farmers are threatening to revive their strike, which was suspended last week, as they are upset that the Argentine government has made no effort to restart talks on lowering soy export taxes.

One big auction. Today's Omaha World-Herald reports on an antique tractor auction in Bridgeport, NE, that went even longer than initially expected. It was originally billed as a seven-day auction but ended up lasting eight days. The sale started April 1 with 3,000 tractors and a total of 25,000 items for sale. It drew about 3,500 registered bidders from eight countries to the implement site and bidders from 10 other countries via the Internet.