Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday it will dedicate at least US$6 billion to help smaller-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers who were hurt by the pandemic, along with producers of organic food and other specialty crops. The agency said it would also increase by approximately $5.6 billion payments made
USDA plans more pandemic programs for disadvantaged farmers
Review found disparities in farm aid distribution
Some U.S. meat packers announce vaccine plans
Many workers are still waiting for their first jabs
COVID-19 vaccines are making their way into the arms of U.S. meat and agriculture workers, but companies and union officials say progress needs to be faster after coronavirus outbreaks idled slaughterhouses and sickened thousands of workers. Vaccinating food workers could help prevent further production disruptions that sent meat prices soaring in spring 2020 and forced retailers like Kroger
As pork plant speeds up slaughtering, workers report more injuries
The need for speed seems to be at the expense of employee health
Reuters – One of North America’s leading pig slaughterhouses is running faster than ever as meat packers hustle to keep pork in grocery stores during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plant worker Hector Ixquier says it’s time to slow down. Ixquier said he sought medical treatment in January for tendons he strained in his right arm while
U.S. grains: Soy futures rally on dry Argentina weather
Attention turns to next week's USDA supply-demand outlook
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures prices pushed higher on Friday, notching a fourth straight weekly gain, as dry weather in Argentina continued to fuel worries about global supplies of the oilseed. Corn futures rebounded from a three-week low reached in the previous session, while wheat futures also edged higher. Concerns increased over crops
U.S. livestock: Hog futures take a breather
April live cattle up, but well down off highs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures consolidated on Friday as the market caught its breath after pulling back from contract highs reached last week. Strong demand for U.S. pork from China recently supported hog futures, as China is battling the fatal pig disease African swine fever, which increased its need
Texas ranchers scrambled to keep animals alive during freak storm
From power generation to diesel fuel and frozen ponds, icy blast underlined lack of winterization
Reuters – Texas ranchers worked overtime to haul water and hay to cattle to keep them alive during a freak winter storm, but some cows succumbed to unusual icy temperatures that also killed chickens, idled meat plants and threatened crops. The deaths of baby cows in the top U.S. cattle state and struggles to care
U.S. livestock: Pork export sales rise, profit-taking hits hog futures
Cattle futures down while beef exports up
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures ended lower on Thursday as profit-taking overshadowed strong U.S. export demand, analysts said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a weekly report, said weekly net U.S. pork export sales were 59,600 tonnes for 2021, up 68 per cent from the prior four-week average. Weekly export
U.S. grains: Soybeans jump on inclement South American weather
Weekly U.S. corn export sales miss expectations
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures settled higher on Thursday as adverse weather across South America fueled concerns about a short-term supply crunch. The market briefly turned lower late in the trading session amid gains in the U.S. dollar that make U.S. farm goods less attractive to importers, traders said (all figures US$). Prices
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs up on new swine fever outbreak in China
April live cattle down, feeders up
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures jumped on Wednesday as China reported a new outbreak of a deadly pig disease, raising expectations that Chinese importers could increase U.S. purchases. China’s farm ministry confirmed African swine fever in piglets being illegally transported through Funing county in the southwestern province of Yunnan. The
U.S. grains: Soy futures consolidate after gains
Excess rain in Brazil underpins soy, corn futures
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures fell on Wednesday as the markets consolidated after rallying in the previous session. Strength in the U.S. dollar weighed on prices, analysts said, because a firm dollar makes U.S. farm products less attractive to importers (all figures US$). For soybeans, there was a “lack of fresh
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