Ag in the News

12/12/2007

National and International

USDA confirms U.S. beef sale to Russia
Russia has purchased about 125,000 pounds of U.S. whole muscle beef, the first such purchase since it banned U.S. beef in 2003 due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy concerns, a USDA spokeswoman confirmed. MORE!

Environmental Power breaks ground for JBS Swift biogas plant
Environmental Power Corp. on Tuesday held a groundbreaking ceremony for its biogas plant at the JBS Swift beef processing facility in Grand Island, Neb. MORE!

Brazilian beef exports up in January-November period
Brazilian beef exports from January through November totaled 2.373 million metric tons, up nearly 8 percent from the same period last year, according to the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (ABIEC). MORE!

Beef Checkoff puts veal on more plates By Tom Johnston on 12/12/2007 for Meatingplace.com As part of its "Go-to-Market" strategy, the Beef Checkoff-funded veal program has added veal items to more foodservice menus. MORE!

American Meat Science Association accepting awards nominations
Nomination guidelines are available for the American Meat Science Association's 2008 awards program. MORE!

Wrap Up

Mixed to weaker overnight tone. Corn futures were 1 to 3 cents lower, while soybeans were 4 to 5 cents lower on profit-taking in overnight trade. Chicago wheat futures finished mixed.

Farm bill work continues. Lawmakers defeated an amendment to the farm bill that would have largely replaced the current farm program structure with one focusing on a stepped-up crop insurance program. The measure failed 37-58. Work continues today on the bill in the Senate, with votes likely on a host of other amendments.

Energy and farm bill linkage. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he would accept an amendment to the farm bill that would echo a mandate included in the Senate-passed energy bill. The Senate will take another attempt to discard or alter controversial items from an omnibus energy bill and have another cloture vote on Thursday.

China meetings. China has agreed to resume imports of U.S. pork from six domestic plants that had been barred from trade, the Bush administration said on Tuesday. The decision was announced as U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez convened a round of bilateral economic talks with Chinese officials in Beijing.