Ag in the News

11/08/2007

National and International

Patchy system can't ensure food safety, critics say High-profile recalls spotlight fragmented U.S. authority Josh Funk
Peanut butter is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. But chicken pot pies are the U.S. Department of Agriculture's responsibility. Frozen cheese pizzas - FDA. But if there's pepperoni on them, USDA has jurisdiction, too. MORE!

Americans like hamburgers, locally grown and convenience foods: poll
According to PARADE magazine's biennial "What America Eats" survey, 21 percent of Americans would choose a hamburger as their only food on a deserted island. MORE!

Murray's Chicken launches consumer farm-viewing tool
South Fallsburg, N.Y.-based Murray's Chicken announced the introduction if its online farm source verification system — a virtual tool that will allow consumers to literally see where the poultry they bought was raised. MORE!

Food Emporium meat departments certified organic
New York-based gourmet grocery chain The Food Emporium has received certification to handle and cut organic beef in its full-service meat departments. MORE!

IDDBA elects new officers, board of directors
The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association announced the election of its new board of directors and officers for the 2007-2008 year at its annual meeting in Chicago. MORE!

Wrap Up

Weekly Export Sales this morning. For the week ended Nov. 3, traders expect: wheat sales from 350,000 to 550,000 MT; corn sales from 650,000 to 950,000 MT; bean sales from 450,000 to 650,000 MT; meal sales from 150,000 to 250,000 MT; soyoil sales from 5,000 to 15,000 MT; and cotton sales from 150,000 to 225,000 running bales.

Farm bill still on hold. Things remain stalled as Democratic and GOP leaders try to find an agreement on the number and scope of amendments that will be allowed for the farm bill. Not much action is expected today as Senate Ag Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the lawmaker shepherding the bill on the Senate floor, has set a news conference for this morning on energy provisions in the bill. Head to the Pro Farmer page to read the latest via Jim Wiesemeyer's Inside Washington Today dispatch.

Senate to vote on WRDA today. While action on the farm bill may be stalled, the Senate is planned to vote on overriding President Bush's veto of the Water Resources Development Act. The House already voted to override this week. If it happens in the Senate, it will be the first rejection of a Bush veto.

China says hog disease 'under control.' China's ministry of agriculture says that the vaccination program on blue-ear disease in hogs has worked and the disease is "under control." The agency detailed that detections of the disease dropped some 87% in October this year compared to year-ago and the number of deaths fell more than 90% compared to year-ago.