News
U.S. Sugar-Imperial Sugar in Court
Published April 18, 2022
A case dealing with a sugar industry merger will begin today in a Delaware courtroom. United States Sugar Corporation is seeking to purchase Imperial Sugar Company, but the Department of Justice wants to block the merger. U.S. Sugar, American Crystal…Amicus Brief Filed Friday
Published April 18, 2022
A coalition of agricultural groups filed a friend of the court brief supporting landowners who are challenging the definition of Waters of the United States. The case is expected to be heard in the U.S. Supreme Court this summer. The…What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets
Published April 18, 2022
Wheat, corn and soybeans are starting the week higher. Randy Martinson of Martinson Ag Risk Management is featured in this week's edition of What's Hot, What's Not in the Markets and says the slow planting progress has the market's attention.…Former MN Ag Commissioner Passes
Published April 18, 2022
Jon Wefald passed away over the weekend. Wefald, 84, served as agriculture commissioner in Governor Wendell Anderson’s administration from 1971-to-1977. He later became president of Southwest State University in Marshall and was chancellor of the Minnesota university system. Wefald was…Ships Stranded at Shanghai
Published April 18, 2022
Shanghai’s COVID lockdown is now in its third week. The Shanghai port is the largest in the world for container shipping, amplifying the supply chain problems worldwide. A plan to restart business activity has been announced. Last week, it was…Ag Shipments Stuck in Black Sea Ports
Published April 18, 2022
Due to the Russian blockade, more than 80 shipping vessels are stuck in Ukrainian seaports. Most of those ships are carrying ag commodities. The agriculture ministry is estimating 1.25 million tons of grains and oilseeds are stuck on these ships…Liquidation Rate is Inching Cowherd Numbers to 2014 Levels
Published April 17, 2022
With poor forage conditions in 2021, liquidation has already put the cattle industry on track to reduce the nation’s cowherd to near 2014 levels, which was the smallest beef cowherd since 1952. This year’s cow inventory is just over 30.13…Egg Prices Jump During Easter Season
Published April 17, 2022
Egg prices, adjusted for inflation, are nearly 15 percent higher than they were in 2015, during the last major Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak. According to USDA’s Ag Marketing Service, there were 38 percent more eggs available in the weeks…Top Four Largest Meatpacking CEO’s Invited to House Hearing
Published April 17, 2022
The House Agriculture Committee have invited the top four largest meatpacking CEOs from Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS, and National Beef Packing to testify at the upcoming hearing on cattle markets and price increases for consumers. In addition to the CEOs,…