Ag in the News

10/19/2007

National and International

Russia bans imports from six U.S. poultry processors
Russia has banned poultry imports from six U.S. poultry processors following a recent round of audits. The ban becomes effective Nov. 1. MORE!

Congressman wants answers from FSIS on Topps recall
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) penned a lengthy letter to USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service this week, demanding to know why it took so long for the agency to enact the Topps Meat Co. recall and what steps the agency is taking to improve its oversight. MORE!

Giant, Stop & Shop to drop low-oxygen modified-atmosphere packaging
Supermarkets Giant and Stop & Shop, both banners of Netherlands-based Ahold, will replace low-oxygen modified-atmosphere packaging for ground beef with high-oxygen packaging, the retailers announced. MORE!

American Grassfed Association opposes USDA grass-fed marketing claim
The American Grassfed Association on Wednesday rejected the standard for grass-fed claims announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. MORE!

Brazil beef exports up in sales and volume through September
Brazilian beef exports totaled $3.3 billion from January through September, an 18 percent increase over the same period last year. Volume reached 1.9 million metric tons, up 12.5 percent, according to the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association. MORE!

Wrap Up

Wheat stronger overnight. Chicago wheat futures were mostly 10 to 13 cents higher in overnight trade, while corn was 1 to 2 cents higher. Soybean futures were around a penny lower.

Windy conditions. Rain has moved out of most areas of the Corn Belt... for now. But western Minnesota in particular has a wind advisory in effect. Not a good thing to add on top of wet soils where corn standability issues have already arisen.

Russia to ban U.S. pork, poultry. Russia will enact a ban on imports of U.S. pork and poultry from 30 plants or cold storage facilities, with some reports saying the ban will start Nov. 1. It is the outcome of visits to U.S. plants and facilities by Russian officials in June and July. While Russia is the biggest export market for U.S. poultry, some note there are still around 100 plants still able to ship into Russia.

Cattle on Feed today. Based on the average pre- report trade guess, traders expect the data to show cattle placed in feedlots increased over year-ago during September, while On Feed and Marketing numbers are expected to be below year-ago. On Feed is guessed at 95.7%, Placements at 104.9% and Marketings at 96.0% of year-ago.