Ag in the News

10/02/2007

National and International

Armour-Eckrich plant closing
Smithfield Foods-owned Armour-Eckrich Meats LLC said it would permanently close its Lufkin, Texas, plant on March 14, 2008, affecting about 165 employees. MORE!

Smithfield Deli launches cause marketing campaign
Smithfield, Va.-based Smithfield Deli Group has launched Deli for the Cure, a new campaign that will utilize sales of lean deli meats to contribute to breast cancer awareness, the company announced Monday. MORE!

National Pork Board builds case to lower pork's recommended cooking temperature <br> Although the current recommended cooking temperature for pork is 160 degrees F, the National Pork Board is on a quest to lower that, which would likely improve products' flavor and texture. MORE!

Conference to explore risk assessment, economics and food-borne illness
The Interagency Risk Assessment Consortium, which includes representatives from U.S. government agencies, institutes and centers with food safety responsibilities, is hosting a conference to explore how economists can make greater contributions to risk assessments, including new methods of valuing the public health protection benefits of pathogen control in the food supply chain. MORE!

Arby's launches line of toasted subs
Atlanta-based fast-food chain Arby's announced the launch of its Toasted Subs line, which features four new deli-inspired sandwiches. MORE!

Wrap Up

Lower overnight trade. Corn futures were 6 to 7 cents lower, soybeans 10 to 12 cents lower and Chicago wheat mostly 7 to 10 cents lower in overnight trade.

Senate farm bill work. So far, neither the Senate Finance Committee nor the Senate Ag Committee have set markup sessions. Jim Wiesemeyer looks at the latest in his Washington Insight column found under the Weekly Commentary section. Meanwhile, in his Inside Washington Today column, available to Pro Farmer Members on the Pro Farmer page, Jim looks at the issue of food safety and its potential impact on the farm bill.

More Brazil beans. Private Brazilian consulting firm Celeres raised its Brazilian 2008 soybean estimate to a record 63 MMT -- up 6.9% from the 2007 crop -- even though the crop is just starting to be seeded. USDA has estimated the crop at 61 MMT.

CRP payments roll out. USDA is issuing the annual installment of $1.8 billion in rental payments to those holding contracts in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Currently, enrollment stands at 36.8 million acres.