Ag in the News

12/27/2007

Local

Freezing temps put plant life at risk
Jack Frost nipped both noses and plants early Wednesday and will continue to do so at least through the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix. MORE!

National and International

Dakota Beef buys grain elevators in Kansas
Howard, S.D.-based Dakota Beef has purchased 12 grain elevators from Quinter, Kan.-based Midwest Cooperative in a debt, equity and cash transaction valued at about $7.6 million. MORE!

K-State conference to focus on swine profitability
Kansas State University's Research and Extension program will host its annual Swine Profitability Conference Feb. 5 in Forum Hall at the K-State Union in Manhattan, Kan. MORE!

IPE education en español: Using phosphates in poultry processing
At this year's International Poultry Expo, CarneTec.com will present "Using phosphates in poultry processing," a discussion in Spanish of phosphates' functionality and how to best use them for specific products. MORE!

Wrap Up

Hogs & Pigs data today. USDA's Quarterly Hogs & Pigs Report is out this afternoon at 2 pm CT. Traders expect hog numbers up from year-ago by about 3% with the increase seen mostly in market hogs, not in the breeding herd. Despite current corn prices, traders still expect expansion plans are there for early 2008 farrowing intentions. We'll have highlights of the report shortly after the release.

Argentina and wheat exports. Argentina's ag secretariat announced Wednesday it has extended indefinitely the closure of wheat exports. The government continues to assess damage to the crop from the November freeze and wants to ensure plentiful domestic stocks before allowing additional wheat exports.

China wants to boost rural incomes. While rural incomes have been rising, China's ag minister has reported the income gap between rural and urban residents continues to widen. For 2006, the official said that urban incomes are 3.28 times those of rural residents. That compares with 3.23 times in 2003. The ag minister said China has a goal of increasing per capita farm incomes by 6% in 2008, but did not signal how they were aiming to achieve that type of increase.

No Weekly Export Sales this morning. USDA's weekly update on sales of U.S. ag commodities overseas is out Friday morning due to the Christmas holiday.