Ag in the News

05/05/2008

National

Meat and poultry products recalled on listeria concerns
Gourmet Boutique LLC, a Jamaica, N.Y., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 286,320 pounds of fresh and frozen meat and poultry products that may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced. MORE!

S. Korean officials perform damage control
Americans don't eat U.S. beef because of dangers related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and South Koreans are genetically more vulnerable to BSE than Americans and Europeans. MORE!

Kraft serves up smaller packages for consumer convenience
Kraft Foods Inc. said it is now offering products in smaller package sizes in order to provide quick, convenient meals to U.S. consumers. MORE!

Web site offers inside look at Ohio pork farms
The Ohio pork industry is aiming to give consumers a new perspective on pork production through OhioPorkTour.com, a Web site that takes a deeper look at production facilities across the state. MORE!

Live from FMI: How to make eco-friendly business strategies profitable
LAS VEGAS — A "green wave" is cresting through the business community and society in general, and while it means added costs, it also represents opportunities for profit, according to Andrew Winston, a sustainability author and founder of Winston Eco-Strategies, who spoke here at the Food Marketing Institute Show. MORE!

Wrap Up

Mixed overnight action. Corn futures were 1 to 3 cents lower, while soybeans were widely mixed and Chicago wheat was mostly 1 to 5 cents higher in overnight trade.

Senators request RFS waiver. Twelve U.S. senators, including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), have requested the EPA waive requirements of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that was increased via the new energy legislation approved at the end of 2007. Texas has already requested a waiver of the RFS. An EPA spokesman said the agency will review the requests and act on them as required.

South Korea market reopening May 15. South Korea has announced it will resume quarantine inspections of U.S. beef May 15 and the restart will reflect the rules under the beef agreement reached last month between the two countries. South Korea will also send a team of inspectors to the U.S. this month to inspect U.S. facilities.

Planting update today. USDA's Weekly Crop Progress Report comes out this afternoon at 3:00 pm CT and should continue to show corn planting is running well behind normal. Some areas of the Midwest did see field activity resume over the weekend, but not enough to bring the state current with average corn planting.