Ag in the News

10/25/2007

National and International

Senate farm bill amendment would ban packer livestock ownership
The Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday passed an amendment to its version of the 2007 farm bill that would prohibit packers from owning livestock for more than 14 days before slaughter. MORE!

Possible E. coli contamination prompts ground beef recall
Blue Ribbon Meats, a Hialeah, Fla., establishment is voluntarily recalling approximately 8,200 pounds of frozen ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced late Wednesday. MORE!

Poultry companies help preserve Illinois River watershed
Six poultry processors recently presented a $275,000 check to the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission as part of a $1.1 million donation pledged over four years, the Associated Press reported. MORE!

Live from WWFE: Ethanol boom to slow: expert
CHICAGO — The Bush Administration's push for energy independence has prompted production of corn-based ethanol to skyrocket in the last two years, and the diversion of feed to fuel has taken a toll on livestock producers. But the biofuel's lack of energy relative to traditional motor fuels and distribution problems are making the product a tough sell. MORE!

Wrap Up

Wheat slumps again overnight. The losses in overnight action in wheat continues what started in Wednesday's day-trade session. Chicago wheat futures showed strong followthrough selling, trading mostly 9 to 16 cents lower overnight. Corn and soybeans, however, did post gains in a/c/e action.

Weekly Export Sales today. For the week ended Oct. 18, traders expect: wheat sales from 850,000 to 1.05 million MT; corn sales from 1.0 to 1.3 million MT; soybean sales from 550,000 to 750,000 MT; meal sales from 100,000 to 150,000 MT; soyoil sales from 20,000 to 30,000 MT; and cotton sales from 100,000 to 200,000 running bales.

Farm bill work continues. The Senate Ag Committee today is hoping to finish its markup session on its version of the next farm bill. A key vote is coming today on changes to the proposed Average Crop Revenue plan in the bill. Jim Wiesemeyer looks at what happened in the first day of markup on the bill via his Inside Washington Today column on the Pro Farmer page.

Kerrey won't run. Nebraska Democrats are searching for someone else to run for the U.S. Senate seat that Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) currently holds. The decision by former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) to not enter the race pretty much leaves former USDA Sec. Mike Johanns the front runner.