Foster Farms to reduce contracted growers in La. AP (July 02, 2009) FARMERVILLE, La. (AP) - A California-based poultry company that recently took over a closed Louisiana processing plant with assistance from the state says it will not extend contracts to all of the plant's former growers.
Philip Morris to buy South Africa snuff maker AP (July 02, 2009) RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Philip Morris International, maker of Marlboro and other cigarettes for sale overseas, has agreed to buy a Swedish company's South African snuff and pipe tobacco operations for 1.75 billion South African rand, or roughly $222 million.
Washington state farmers sue to stop feedlot plan AP (July 01, 2009) YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - A group of Washington state farmers have joined two environmental groups in filing a lawsuit to block a proposed feedlot from using a well that is exempt from requiring state permits to water up to 30,000 cattle.
General Mills 4th-quarter profit almost doubles AP (July 01, 2009) MILWAUKEE (AP) - General Mills Inc. said Wednesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit almost doubled as consumers stuck with its well-known brands such as Cheerios cereal and Yoplait yogurt.
AB InBev sells drinks can plants for $577 mln AP (July 01, 2009) BRUSSELS (AP) - Anheuser-Busch InBev said Wednesday it will sell four U.S. packaging plants to Ball Corp. for $577 million to help pay off debt.
Constellation Brands 1Q profit drops 85 percent AP (July 01, 2009) VICTOR, N.Y. (AP) - Constellation Brands Inc. said Wednesday that its fiscal first-quarter profit slid 85 percent partly on increased restructuring charges, but the wine company's adjusted results still beat Wall Street expectations.
Louisiana farmers struggle with dry conditions AP (June 30, 2009) NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Louisiana got some welcome rain this week, but farmers were still worrying about vulnerable crops in drought conditions that even threatened to cancel their Fourth of July fireworks displays.
Farmers plant more corn than expected in 2009 AP (June 30, 2009) ST. LOUIS (AP) - Farmers planted an unexpectedly large crop of corn and soybeans this year, easing some fears of rising food costs.
Altria announces departure of UST executive AP (June 26, 2009) RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Altria Group Inc. said on Friday that Murray S. Kessler, chief executive of the smokeless tobacco company UST Inc., will leave the company at the end of June after overseeing key elements of UST's integration into Altria.
Slowdown in once-booming organics troubles farmers AP (June 26, 2009) (AP) - The organic dairy industry was thriving when Allen and Jean Moody bought a 200-acre Wisconsin dairy farm in 2006 and joined the ranks of farmers churning out milk raised without growth hormones, pesticides or other chemicals.
ConAgra Foods 4Q profit drops 13 percent AP (June 25, 2009) OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - ConAgra Foods Inc. said Thursday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell 13 percent as the prior-year period benefited from the sale of its commodity-trading unit.
Corn catch-up: Crop planted late after wet spring AP (June 25, 2009) ST. LOUIS (AP) - Across much of the nation's Corn Belt, growers like Richard Borgsmiller finally have their crops in the ground, after spring rains swamped their fields and put them weeks behind schedule.
Monsanto 3Q profit falls 14 pct, will cut 900 jobs AP (June 24, 2009) ST. LOUIS (AP) - Monsanto Co., the world's biggest seed maker, said Wednesday its third-quarter profit fell 14 percent and it plans to cut 900 jobs, or about 4 percent of its work force.
Ohio governor backs plan for livestock standards AP (June 23, 2009) CINCINNATI (AP) - Ohio should have a state board to set guidelines for livestock care, Gov. Ted Strickland said Monday, adding to the debate between farm interests and the nation's biggest animal welfare organization.
Kroger 1Q profit jumps 12.7 pct; more eat at home AP (June 23, 2009) CINCINNATI (AP) - Grocery operator Kroger Co.'s first-quarter profit shot up 12.7 percent, as recession-hit households continue to eat at home more and seek food bargains.
Obama to sign anti-smoking bill in Rose Garden AP (June 22, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is set to sign into law an anti-smoking bill that will give the Food and Drug Administration unprecedented authority to regulate tobacco.
Wet, soggy spring hurts Colorado hay harvest AP (June 22, 2009) ILIFF, Colo. (AP) - Colorado's wet spring has helped some farmers, but it's leaving Eastern Plains hay farmers with a soggy mess.
Feed costs, swine flu put small hog farms in peril AP (June 19, 2009) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Marty Malecek got a business degree intending to take over the Minnesota hog farm that his father started nearly 20 years ago. Instead, they are selling their 1,700 hogs and auctioning off land after it became clear that they could no longer cover their costs.
Bovine TB quarantine expands to 42 Nebraska herds AP (June 17, 2009) OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of Nebraska cattle herds quarantined because of bovine tuberculosis concerns has jumped to 42 and two other states were warned the disease may have already spread there.
Hearing set for lawyer accused of extorting Dole AP (June 17, 2009) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A lawyer accused of taking part in a scheme to extort Dole food company for billions of dollars is under orders to appear at a contempt hearing Wednesday.
Judge upholds ND's anti-corporate farming law AP (June 16, 2009) BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A judge has ruled that a nonprofit foundation can keep more than 1,700 acres of wildlife habitat it owns in three North Dakota counties, while upholding the state's law against corporations owning or leasing farmland.
Smithfield Foods posts smaller-than-expected loss AP (June 16, 2009) SMITHFIELD, Va. (AP) - Smithfield Foods Inc., the nation's largest hog producer and pork processor, posted a smaller-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter loss Tuesday as pork sales remained stable. The company said the swine flu outbreak had no significant impact on results.
Low tide: Shrimp industry hit by imports, prices AP (June 16, 2009) BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. (AP) - Ho Van Le, who trawls in the Gulf of Mexico aboard his 50-foot vessel Star Light, understands the price squeeze facing shrimpers as this year's season gets under way amid a global recession.
Wash. state approves water right for large feedlot AP (June 12, 2009) YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - Washington state officials have approved a water rights transfer for a proposed feedlot that would be the first new one the Northwest in years, but the project still faces questions of whether it can draw drinking water from wells.
Main provisions of FDA tobacco legislation AP (June 12, 2009) (AP) - Main provisions of legislation giving the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the production and marketing of tobacco products:
House set to send FDA tobacco bill to Obama AP (June 12, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - After more than a decade of efforts by smoking opponents, Congress prepared to take a final vote Friday on legislation giving the government far-reaching powers to regulate tobacco and limit tobacco industry marketing and sales practices that lure young people into smoking habits.
Kroger recalls store brand wings in 2-pound bags AP (June 11, 2009) CINCINNATI (AP) - Kroger Co. has recalled some store-brand chicken wings because of incorrect package labeling that could endanger people with certain allergies.
Nebraska officials propose grain-insurance fund AP (June 11, 2009) LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska officials are moving forward with a plan to establish a multimillion-dollar insurance fund to protect farmers when grain warehouses go broke, following the financial collapse of an elevator last year.
Senate to vote on FDA power to regulate tobacco AP (June 11, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - A tobacco control bill set to win Senate approval would give the federal government broad new powers to monitor and change a toxic substance that contributes to some 400,000 deaths every year.
Survey names Wendy's the top fast-food chain AP (June 10, 2009) COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The chain that claims it's "way better than fast food" did better than its competitors in a new survey. Wendy's has been named the top fast-food chain by restaurant guide publisher Zagat.
Brown-Forman 4Q profit falls as sales slide AP (June 10, 2009) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Brown-Forman Corp. said Wednesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell 20 percent, mostly hurt by costs related to job cuts and distributor inventory reductions. Still, the results from the maker of Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey and other liquors still beat Wall Street's expectations.
Sunflower growers get insurance against low prices AP (June 10, 2009) BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The federal government is expanding an insurance program for sunflower farmers - two years after almost killing it - in a move that could help protect growers against fluctuating prices and low crop yields.
For many senators, tobacco bill is personal AP (June 10, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Dick Durbin was just 10 or 11 when he and his cousin Mike sneaked out behind a garage in East St. Louis, Ill., to have a smoke, Durbin's first. He didn't care much for the taste of the cigarette but, unfortunately, Mike did.
Ancient purple carrot finds new life coloring food AP (June 09, 2009) FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - The ancient purple carrot is returning to its roots, this time to dye processed foods rather than the robes of Afghan royals.
Herbal sales dominated by sizable companies AP (June 09, 2009) (AP) - Some people who buy supplements to avoid Big Pharma drug companies may find themselves doing business with Big Herba, instead.
Tests show many supplements have quality problems AP (June 09, 2009) (AP) - Lead in ginkgo pills. Arsenic in herbals. Bugs in a baby's colic and teething syrup. Toxic metals and parasites are part of nature, and all of these have been found in "natural" products and dietary supplements in recent years.
3 missing, 20 hurt in NC Slim Jim plant collapse AP (June 09, 2009) GARNER, N.C. (AP) - Three people were missing and 20 taken to hospitals after an explosion at a Slim Jim meat products plant in North Carolina, officials said Tuesday.