Ag in the News

10/01/2007

Local

Air-pollution plan is taking shape Valley scrambles to meet deadline as particulate season starts
With less than three months to go before a federal deadline to clean up the Valley's dust-choked air, regional officials are scrambling to finish up a plan that will convince the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the area is serious about getting clean. MORE!

National and International

Topps expands E. coli recall to 21.7 million lbs of ground beef
Topps Meat Co. announced Saturday it massively expanded its nationwide recall to include 21.7 million pounds of frozen ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 as health officials investigate 25 illnesses in eight states. MORE!

John Tyson steps down from executive role
Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods Inc. on Friday announced that Chairman John Tyson will no longer be serving the company in an executive capacity. Tyson will, however, remain chairman of the board. MORE!

Mississippi Beef Processors owner to begin serving jail time
Richard N. Hall, president of the failed Mississippi Beef Processors operation in Oakland, Miss., on Monday will being serving an eight-year sentence in a federal prison in Texarkana, Texas. MORE!

Harris Ranch's David Wood wins 2008 Richard L. Knowlton Innovation Award
David E. Wood, chairman of Harris Ranch Beef Co., has been selected by Meatingplace to receive the 2008 Richard L. Knowlton Innovation Award, which honors excellence in the U.S. meat industry in the areas of innovation, business success, leadership and industry contribution. MORE!

National Turkey Federation Web site honored
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) was recognized by the Web Marketing Association in the 2007 International Web Award competition for the creation and development of its Web site, EatTurkey.com. MORE!

Wrap Up

Welcome to October. Another month is history and the flip of the calendar takes us into October. Grain futures were higher in overnight trade, signaling funds will rather be long to start the month than continue on Friday's liquidation. Volatility will continue to be high this month.

USDA makes it official - no CRP early out. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will not offer penalty-free early releases from Conservation Reserve Program contracts at this time. Check this link for USDA's full statement.

Bearish Hogs & Pigs Report. USDA's Hogs & Pigs Report, released on Friday afternoon, was pegged bearish by the market, as it showed most categories above expectations. Traders had a bearish report factored into the market, but figures showed more expansion in the industry than expected.

Food safety big news. The latest recall is from Topps Meat Co.', which on Saturday recalled 21.7 million pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 as health officials investigate 25 illnesses in eight states.