Ag in the News

10/04/2007

National and International

House farm bill provision on meat inspection a sticking point in Senate
The Senate Agriculture Committee begins work Thursday on the 2007 Farm Bill under pressure to forego a House bill provision that would allow some state-inspected meat to cross state lines. MORE!

Nationwide class action lawsuit filed in connection with Topps recall
Two law firms announced Wednesday the filing of the first nationwide class action lawsuit on behalf of consumers who consumed ground beef products possibly contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 in conjunction with the recent recall issued by Topps Meat Co. MORE!

Tyson raises pay for poultry growers in Arkansas
Tyson Foods Inc. has raised per-pound payments for a group of contract chicken farmers who supply its Berryville-Green Forest poultry complex in Arkansas, a company spokesman confirmed. MORE!

Strauss Veal & Lamb introduces 'meadow raised' veal
Franklin, Wis.-based Strauss Veal & Lamb International added its name to the growing number of companies offering humanely raised, natural product with the introduction of its new line of "Meadow Raised" veal. MORE!

Sizzler puts new 'steakhouse favorites' on the menu
Culver City, Calif.-based dining chain Sizzler announced the addition of a new line of steaks to its already beef-heavy menu. MORE!

Wrap Up

Weekly Export Sales today. For the week ended Sept. 27, traders expect: wheat sales from 1.4 to 1.8 million MT; corn sales from 900,000 to 1.2 million MT; bean sales from 650,000 to 750,000 MT; meal sales from 75,000 to 125,000 MT; soyoil sales from 5,000 to 10,000 MT; and cotton sales from 80,000 to 150,000 running bales.

No ag panel farm bill markup. The Senate Finance Committee is still set to markup their package of provisions to provide the Senate Ag Committee with more money to write their version of the farm bill. But the Senate Ag Committee scheduled -- and then postponed -- a markup session for late this afternoon. Jim Wiesemeyer explores the situation in his Inside Washington Today column found on the Pro Farmer page.

Canada crop update. Stats Canada is to come out with their crop report this morning and is expected to show a slightly smaller Canadian wheat crop estimate as early yield reports in southern Prairies were disappointing. The average trade guess puts the Canadian wheat crop at 20.2 MMT versus 20.322 MMT previously.

Less China corn. The U.S. Grains Council has put the China corn crop at 139 MMT, down 6.5 MMT from 2006-07. They based the crop estimate on a just-completed tour of corn areas in China. USDA Sept. 12 put the Chinese corn crop at 147 MMT, down from their prior peg of 148 MMT.