Lower retail prices for several foods, including eggs, ground chuck, sirloin tip roast, chicken breasts and toasted oat cereal resulted in a significant decrease in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Spring Picnic Marketbasket Survey. “As expected due to lower farm-gate prices, we have seen continued declines in retail prices for livestock products including eggs, beef, chicken, pork and cheese,” said …
Canada Closes a Door on U.S. Dairy Farmers
U.S. Farmers To Lose Milk Supply Contracts In 2016, U.S. milk producers, competing in a global dairy market, saw the value of milk fall to the lowest level since the recession. Now, U.S. dairy producers are facing another challenge: Canada’s national ingredients strategy. Canada’s strategy, implemented at the provincial level, is designed to make Canadian milk more competitive by lowering …
Scott Declares Wildfire Emergency
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida More than 100 wildfires were burning across Florida as the week began, with 23 consuming more than 100 acres. And the state has yet to get into the lightning-filled warmer months. On Tuesday, the Cabinet kicked-off a pre-planned “wildfire awareness week” with Gov. Rick Scott issuing an executive order that declared a …
World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates
The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report was released showing U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2016/17 are raised 30 million bushels on lower feed and residual use. This month’s 2016/17 U.S. corn outlook is for increased corn used to produce ethanol, reduced feed and residual use and unchanged ending stocks. U.S. rice ending stocks for 2016/17 are lowered …
Pork Producers Applaud White House Action on ‘GIPSA’ Rule
Call for Withdraw of Regulation The Trump administration gave notice that it will further delay the effective date of a regulation related to the buying and selling of livestock, a move applauded by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), which opposes the Obama-era rule. It also will take public comments on what to do with the regulation. The so-called Farmer …
Mexico Approves ChemChina Acquisition of Syngenta
Mexico has signed-off on ChemChina’s acquisition of Swiss-based Syngenta. The Federal Economic Competition Commission of Mexico recently announced approval the $43 billion takeover of Syngenta by the state-owned Company, ChemChina. The two companies call the move a step towards closing the transaction, which is expected to take place in the second quarter of this year. The approval by Mexico follows …
Wheat Growers: Prospective Plantings Report Alarming
National Association of Wheat Growers finds wheat plantings included in the Department of Agriculture’s Prospective Plantings report alarming. The recent report anticipates that all wheat plantings will be at 46.1 million acres, which is down eight percent from 2016. For winter wheat specifically, the planted area is estimated at 32.7 million acres, which is down nine percent from last year, …
Hog Prices Expected to Increase in 2017, Despite Challenges
Hog prices are expected to increase this year, even as pork production is expected to increase by three percent, according to a Purdue University agricultural economist. Christ Hurt writes that stronger demand will support prices because of a growing U.S. economy, and by a robust eight percent growth in exports as projected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hurt says …
Pence, Ross, to Talk Trade with Japan
Vice President Mike Pence and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will travel to Japan to discuss trade later this month. The duo is scheduled to travel to Tokyo on April 18th. The U.S. officials will meet with Japan’s finance, foreign and industry Ministers. Japan is the top export market for the U.S. pork industry, and the National Pork Producers Council has …
Alabama Farmers Federation Welcomes Kay Ivey
by Jeff Helms, Alabama Farmers Federation The Alabama Farmers Federation today welcomed Kay Ivey as Alabama’s 54th governor, noting her rural background and appreciation of farmers is good news for Alabama agriculture. Federation President Jimmy Parnell expressed confidence in Ivey’s leadership. “Gov. Ivey has always been a friend to farmers,” Parnell said. “She understands the importance of agriculture and forestry …