Congressmen snag key assignments

This has been a good month for Valley congressmen seeking to represent local interests at a high level in Congress. First there was Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, being named to […]

Corn prices could soar or crash, Iowa State economist predicts

Corn ending stocks are projected by USDA at "dangerously low levels." Those low levels, coupled with ongoing drought, could send prices soaring or crashing just as they did in 2008 and 2009, when prices rose to record-highs only to crash following the Great Recession, according to Chad Hart, agricultural economist at Iowa State University, in an interview with AgWeb.com.


Record US corn crop possible despite drought-Texas A&M economist

U.S. corn production, slashed dramatically by drought in 2012, could rebound to a record-large crop this year if yields improve moderately, said an agricultural economist from Texas A&M University on Monday.

The economist, David Anderson, also said pork production could top beef in 2014, pushing beef into third place in U.S. meat production.

 

USDA offers loans to farmers who grow for locals

With interest in locally grown food soaring, the federal government said Tuesday it has created a small loan program to help community farmers who might not be able to borrow money from banks.

Call it seed money. The low-interest "microloans" of up to $35,000 are designed to aid startup costs, bolster existing family-run farms and help minority growers and military veterans who want to farm.

Mexico: High Path Avian Influenza H7N3 Outbreak in Aguascalientes

SENASICA reported that the outbreaks were located in both the San Francisco de los Romo and Aguascalientes City municipalities. These areas are approximately 22 kilometers from one another. The notice indicates that signs of the event first occurred on January 3, 2013, when a San Francisco de los Romo producer noticed clinical signs of avian influenza and notified appropriate officials.

Campylobacter infections in poultry processing workers

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal has published a study looking at Campylobacter infections among poultry processing workers. They found 29 cases of lab-diagnosed Campylobacter […]

Economic and financial conditions bode well for US agriculture

Bolstered by strong demand from developing countries, the falling dollar, and the growing importance of biofuels, U.S. agriculture enjoyed several years of high prices and strong demand prior to the 2008-09 recession. The same factors helped maintain high agricultural prices throughout the recession.

USDA report bad news for poultry processors

USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report on Friday predicted tighter stocks of U.S. corn and prices remaining in the $6.80 to $8.00 a bushel range.
USDA forecast by the end of the 2012/13 marketing year, corn stocks would tighten to 602 million bushels, down from 647 million bushels predicted a month ago and below the average traders’ guess of 667 million bushels ahead of the report.