Articles by Charles Abbott | Manitoba Co-operator

New U.S. rules aim to cut antibiotic use in farm animals

In a bid to stem a surge in human resistance to certain antibiotics, U.S. regulators announced new guidelines to phase out their use as a growth enhancer in livestock. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the antibiotics could still be used to treat illnesses in animals raised for meat, but should otherwise be

Markets

U.S. Farm Bill talks stall, sides far apart on food stamps

By Charles Abbott, GFM Network News November 22, 2013

The four key negotiators on a new U.S. government Farm Bill are miles apart on the paramount issue — the level of cuts in the major U.S. anti-hunger program – with no sign of compromise as time runs down for legislative action before the end of the year. Four hours of face-to-face meetings on Wednesday

Livestock

Panel raps lack of action to curb drug use in U.S. livestock

By Charles Abbott, GFM Network News October 22, 2013

U.S. regulators and livestock producers have failed to curb the use of antibiotics in livestock despite concerns that excessive use in meat production will reduce the drugs’ effectiveness in humans, said a panel of experts. “Meaningful change is unlikely in the future,” concluded the 14-member panel, assembled by Johns Hopkins University, in a report released

Markets

U.S. cancels October crop report, first miss in decades

By Charles Abbott, GFM Network News October 17, 2013

The U.S. government on Thursday canceled its monthly crop report for the first time ever, and said it will not estimate U.S. or world crop production until early November. Cancellation of the October report means the first harvest-time estimate of U.S. crops will be Nov. 8. The production report and companion data on crops worldwide

Markets

U.S. Farm Bill negotiators may begin work next week

By Charles Abbott, GFM Network News October 16, 2013

U.S. House and Senate negotiators could meet for the first time next week to work on a new US$500 billion Farm Bill, more than a year past due and repeatedly delayed by House Republican plans for steep cuts in food stamps for the poor. The bill is also expected to cut funding for conservation programs

Crops, Markets, Weather

Reformers hail limit on U.S. crop insurance subsidies

By Charles Abbott, GFM Network News October 15, 2013

Farm subsidy reformers praised a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to make the wealthiest growers pay more for federally subsidized crop insurance, the first eligibility limit on a program that costs US$9 billion a year. The non-binding House vote late on Friday will be a factor in upcoming negotiations with the Senate on

U.S. farm law expires again with lawmakers split on new bill

By Charles Abbott, GFM Network News October 2, 2013

Overshadowed by the government shutdown, the U.S. farm subsidy law expired for the second time on Tuesday with lawmakers still deadlocked over how to confront cuts in food assistance programs for low-income Americans. Analysts say Congress is more likely to revive the farm law for another year or two — the path it took when

Markets

USDA will mostly ‘go dark’ in case of federal shutdown

By Charles Abbott, GFM Network News September 30, 2013

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will shut off its gusher of statistical reports in the event of a federal government shutdown, leaving traders and food producers in the dark about most activities in the world’s largest farm exporter. But inspections of meat are considered among essential services that will continue even if most workers are

Markets

U.S. House backs $40B cut in food stamps over 10 years

By Charles Abbott, GFM Network News September 19, 2013

The Republican-run U.S. House of Representatives voted to cut spending on food stamps for the poor by US$40 billion over 10 years on Thursday, defying a veto threat from the White House in the name of fiscal reform. House majority leader Eric Cantor, the driving force behind the legislation, said it was “wrong for working,

U.S. sugar surplus headed for the gas tank

By Charles Abbott, GFM Network News July 26, 2013

Faced with a huge sugar surplus, the U.S. government published a rule on Friday that allows it to sell excess amounts at a loss to ethanol companies for making biofuels for cars and trucks. The Agriculture Department said the “sugar-for-ethanol” program, authorized by a 2008 law, would be “if needed … an additional tool to

U.S. grains: Soybeans dive to biggest weekly loss in 6-1/2 years

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle gain from falling feed prices

U.S. grains: South American supply issues wane

GFM Network News

U.S. grains: Soybeans dive to biggest weekly loss in 6-1/2 years

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle gain from falling feed prices

U.S. grains: South American supply issues wane

Author Archives Charles Abbott

New U.S. rules aim to cut antibiotic use in farm animals

U.S. Farm Bill talks stall, sides far apart on food stamps

Panel raps lack of action to curb drug use in U.S. livestock

U.S. cancels October crop report, first miss in decades

U.S. Farm Bill negotiators may begin work next week

Reformers hail limit on U.S. crop insurance subsidies

U.S. farm law expires again with lawmakers split on new bill

USDA will mostly ‘go dark’ in case of federal shutdown

U.S. House backs $40B cut in food stamps over 10 years

U.S. sugar surplus headed for the gas tank

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