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Everyone knows the market share that the beef industry had been
losing has gone largely to the poultry industry. Chicken is the cheapest
protein, and its relatively low cost made it an attractive menu item.
It’s also a favorite component in a lot of prepared meal scenarios.
It’s easy to prepare, easy to cook, and easy on the pocketbook.
Meanwhile, pork has just kind of cruised along, not really gaining or
losing much market share over that period. Thus it’s been fairly easy
to put the pork industry on the backburner of our competitive radar;
they weren't introducing a new product every several days, nor were they
growing rapidly. Still, it would be a mistake not to recognize their
increased competitiveness.
Personally, I’ve always loved bacon, and I certainly don’t mind a
good pork chop or piece of ham, either. And I never felt like the
occasional pork meal was a betrayal of our industry like I usually do
when I relent and let one of my kids order some chicken dish. I kind of
see an occasional pork meal this way: “I’m just checking out the
competition.”
With that said, the pork industry has been making tremendous strides in
genetics and in the marketing of its product. Just compare muscle, the
feed conversions and the like, and one starts to realize that the pork
industry has been making a lot more progress genetically than the beef
industry.
Sure, we’re at a disadvantage in that we run in so many types of
environments, and lacking the generation turnover and selection pressure
created by larger litter sizes. Nonetheless, our production
disadvantages have been growing.
The bottom line is that the current state of the economy favors lower
priced proteins, and the poultry and pork industries are certainly
lining up to exploit their cost advantages.
-- Troy Marshall
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 More Pounds without Bigger
Cows
Cattle producers need every edge in today’s tough economy. Get more
pounds of calf to sell by using Gelbvieh or Balancer bulls on those
British-based cows. The Gelbvieh-influenced heifer mates give you the
benefits of a crossbred cow without a larger mature cow size, according
to MARC data. Get more at www.smartcross.org
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Many people were infuriated when Rush Limbaugh recently made a
public service announcement for the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS),
though there are some indications he’s stepping back somewhat from
that position now. Those people displeased with El Rushbo’s embracing
of HSUS probably won’t be pleased with HSUS’s plans to enlist
disgraced ex-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in a program to
stop dog fighting, but not because they don’t condemn the practice.
HSUS takes in over $120 million/year but virtually none of that money
ends up at animal shelters or directly helps animals. Instead, it’s
spent on lobbying efforts, which are essentially designed to eliminate
animal agriculture.
It may lack moral clarity, and the majority of contributors likely
don’t understand what they’re contributing to. But it is these types
of alliances with celebrities and others that tend to legitimize the
organization in the minds of many consumers who know little more than
that they support the idea of animals being treated well.
It may be cynical to pay respects to an organization’s ability to
distort and manipulate the general public. But it would also be a
mistake to not fully understand just how good the organization is at
collecting both dollars and political capital to use in its war against
animal ag.
Animal rights now pulls in about $400 million/year, and HSUS is
capturing a very large portion of those dollars.
-- Troy Marshall
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There was considerable excitement in the dairy industry following
Cooperatives Working Together’s announcement that it would purchase
and remove 103,000 dairy cows over the next several months (See
“Ranchers Brace As 103,000 Dairy Culls Head To Market,” May 15
BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly).
However, back end future months remain depressed as analysts point to a
decreasing rate of slaughter. Part of that decline is relative.
They’re comparing to some months of significant liquidation, but by
providing a light at the end of the tunnel, the buyout also provided a
sense of hope for dairy farmers – “If we can hold on for a few more
months, things will improve.”
Unlike the overall economy where a crisis of confidence is exacerbating
the problems, the dairy buyout may have temporarily slowed down the rate
of liquidation that the dairy industry needs to see in order to regain
profitability. Most market analysts are suggesting that the value of a
fed steer/heifer will only decline about 50¢/cwt. as a result of the
dairy buyout. Thus, for every 1,200-lb. fed animal, the beef industry is
only contributing $6/head to the dairy buyout.
That’s not insignificant but it’s far better than initially feared.
-- Troy Marshall
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A Washington think tank study found that levels of numerous gases
linked with air pollution, like carbon monoxide, have fallen off since
2001 and air quality in the U.S. has improved significantly over the
last decade.
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research analyzed
data collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
concluded that carbon monoxide decreased by 39%, ozone by 6%, and sulfur
dioxide by 32% since 2001.
"Pick any category you want and pollution levels are generally lower
than they were seven years ago," says Steven Hayward, the policy analyst
who authored the report, "Index of Leading Environmental Indicators."
"(Environmental groups) said air pollution was out of control, but this
was always more about politics than it was fact," Hayward says.
In looking over the data on air quality from the Bush years, Hayward
says levels of most air pollutants decreased at a faster rate than they
did during the Clinton administration. "Most of it's technological
change. Quite a bit of it's been forced by regulation, but a lot of it
has been the marketplace," Hayward says.
To read the full article, go to: www.foxnews.com/politics/.
-- Joe Roybal
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed BSE in an
80-month-old dairy cow from Alberta. No part of the animal’s carcass
entered the human food or animal feed systems. It is the 16th case of
BSE confirmed in Canada since May 2003.
CFIA says the animal’s birth farm has been identified, and an
investigation is underway. The age and location of the infected animal
are consistent with previous cases detected in Canada.
This case was detected through the national BSE surveillance program.
Canada remains a Controlled Risk country for BSE, as recognized by the
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Accordingly, this case
should not affect exports of Canadian cattle or beef, CFIA says.
-- CFIA news release
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 Right Then. Right Now.
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"Animal rights activists are using religious messages to recruit a
segment of the millennial generation that has little doctrinal anchor in
order to advance their vegetarian agenda," says Wes Jamison, an ordained
Baptist minister and Palm Beach Atlantic University associate professor
of communications.
Two major factors are driving animal rights groups' attempts to engage
people of faith, Jamison says. The first is that people motivated by
religion tend to give generously, which is important to the $400
million/year animal rights industry. The second reason is people
motivated by religious zeal tend to have sustained intensity over time.
This is a critical feature lacking from the current animal rights
movement, since many vegans and vegetarians tend to eventually return to
an omnivorous diet.
Jamison says animal rights groups are carefully selecting religious
passages that appeal to targeted individuals' sense of compassion,
self-denial and guilt. He then points to Biblical stories that directly
refute the messages and goes on to label animal rights groups engaging
in this tactic as "meaning entrepreneurs."
"We caution people against buying in to such messages and encourage
people to do their own review of Biblical scripture and literature,"
says Kay Johnson Smith, executive vice president of the Animal
Agriculture Alliance. "Farmers and ranchers are among the most
compassionate people in the world and are committed to the care of their
animals as a top priority."
-- Animal Agriculture Alliance release
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You’ve read BEEF Daily Editor Amanda Nolz’s words for the
past nine months or so at beefmagazine.com, now you can regularly
hear her voice. Nolz rolled out the first of a new weekly feature on
BEEF Daily this week – podcasts. Go to blog.beefmagazine.com/beef_daily/
to hear her inaugural offering generated from a recent trip to her local
coffee shop, Café Teresa. There, Nolz approaches a table of people she
doesn’t know and poses this challenge: “If you could ask a farmer or
rancher anything about the foods you eat, what would it be?”
Find out more at beefmagazine.com.
-- Joe Roybal
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The Beef Promotion Operating Committee has recommended a
$41.5-million Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) budget for Fiscal 2010,
reflecting a slight decrease from the 2009 budget but down more than 15%
from 2008.
The 2010 budget recommendation still must be approved by the full Beef
Board, which administers the national checkoff program, and by USDA. It
includes:
- $18.1 million for promotion, including advertising, foodservice,
retail and veal promotion, and new-product development.
- $6.2 million for research programs, including beef safety, product
enhancement, nutrition research and market research.
- $4.7 million for consumer info programs, which includes consumer
public relations and info, and outreach to nutrition influencers.
- $2.9 million for industry info programs, including beef and veal
quality assurance and issues management.
- $5.3 million for foreign marketing, including promotion and
public-relations programs around the globe.
- $1.8 million for producer communications, including trade
advertising, media relations, and direct communications to producers
about the results of their checkoff investments.
- $220,000 for evaluation of checkoff programs.
- $130,000 for program development.
- $255,000 for USDA oversight.
- $2 million for administration, which includes costs for board
meetings, legal fees, travel costs, office rental, supplies, equipment
and administrative staff compensation.
-- CBB news release
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 Fresh water on demand, 24 hours
a day.
Ritchie Industries is offering a $25 mail-in rebate on the purchase of
any Ritchie Omni Fount or Thrifty King CT unit. This offer is valid on
purchases from 3/2/09 through 5/31/09. All Ritchie fountains feature
stainless steel, heavy-duty polyethylene or a combination of both and
carry a 10-year limited warranty. For more information, contact Ritchie
Industries at 800-747-0222 or visit www.ritchiefount.com
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Infraspinatus, teres major, spinalis dorsi, serratus ventralis,
multifidus dorsi. While these sound like the scientific names of
Jurassic-era beasts, they're actually the names of five of the 10
most-tender muscles of the beef carcass, as measured by Warner-Bratzler
shear force testing. These cuts, however, are buried within the area of
the beef carcass that ranges from the neck to the fifth rib of the chest
cavity, a primal better known as the chuck. The chuck provides about 30%
of the saleable product in a beef carcass but traditionally has been
merchandized as ground beef or slow-cook roasts at a huge discount
relative to the high-value steaks from the rib and loin.
-- To read the rest of this article by Joe
Roybal, go to:
beefmagazine.com/beef-quality/0501-beef-cuts-value-program/
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After a decade of negotiation, Brazilian processed meat companies
Sadia and Perdigao merged this week, instantly becoming a force to rival
major U.S. food names in global markets.
Already commanding presences in the Middle East and Europe, which make
up 48% of their combined exports, Sadia and Perdigao will become Brasil
Foods, which hopes to expand that reach. "We aim to be a major
multinational food company," said Nildemar Secches, chairman of
Perdigao.
Under terms of the agreement, Perdigao will retain a 68% interest in the
new entity and Sadia a 32% stake. Bloomberg reports that the deal will
make Brasil Foods the world's largest poultry company by market value
and third-largest meat processor in the Americas behind Tyson Foods and
JBS in Brazil.
The combined forces of the two companies figure to be about 22 billion
Brazilian reals ($10.05 billion US) in annual sales. Their combined
market capitalization is around $5 billion, putting it on par with Tyson
Foods, Inc., and surpassing the $4.4-billion market cap of Hormel Foods.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes, Buenos Aires,
Argentina
|
 Let’s Talk Ag! Get your questions answered, along with
tips and advice from other farmers, for all things ag related.
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The University of California (UC) has established the UC Animal
Welfare Advisory Council to review issues of animal welfare related to
animal ag, and promote the development of recommendations based on sound
science to improve the welfare of livestock and poultry.
The council, chaired by Daniel M. Dooley, UC vice-president for ag and
natural resources, is comprised of vets, animal science professionals
and other experts from the UC system, the California State University
system, Colorado State University (CSU) and the private sector.
"The UC Animal Welfare Council brings together broad perspectives and
specialized expertise to address the humane care and treatment of
agricultural animals, while supporting the efforts of producers to
provide safe and healthy food products for society," said Bennie Osburn,
dean of the UC-Davis School of Vet Medicine and council vice chair.
Other council members include:
- Richard Breitmeyer, California state veterinarian.
- Alex Ardans, UC-Davis School of Vet Medicine professor emeritus.
- Dave Daley, California State University-Chico College of Ag
professor.
- Ron Faoro, DVM and past president of the California Veterinary
Medical Association.
- Temple Grandin, CSU professor of animal science.
- Dave McCrystal, DVM, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
- Joy Mench, UC Davis Department of Animal Science professor.
- Jim Reynolds, DVM, UC-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and AVMA
Animal Welfare Committee chair.
- Andrew Thulin, Cal Poly Department of Animal Science head.
- Neal Van Alfen, dean of UC-Davis College of Ag and Environmental
Sciences.
- Rick Standiford, associate vice president, UC Division of Ag and
Natural Resources.
- Steve Nation, executive director, UC Division of Agriculture and
Natural Resources governmental and external relations.
-- UC news release
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The House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to pass the
climate change bill before it recesses this week for Memorial Day. The
bill is to cut greenhouse gas emissions 17% by 2020 from 2005 levels,
implement a renewable electricity standard for states and mandate
various improvements in efficiency.
Republican members on the committee have stated their strong objections
to the bill and have been offering numerous amendments. The bill will
now be referred to eight other House committees, including the House
Agriculture Committee, for consideration.
The American Farm Bureau Federation, in a letter to members of the House
Energy and Commerce Committee, stated its opposition to the bill and
said it “ignores the complex needs of a very diverse U.S. agricultural
industry.”
We are a long way from the finish line on this legislation in the House
let alone the Senate.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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With rendering costs, biosecurity concerns and environmental
regulations increasing, it's getting harder — and more expensive —
to deal with carcasses on the farm. One alternative is composting —
where naturally occurring bacteria (microbes) digest carcasses into a
humus-like material called compost. The process works for manure,
too.
-- To read the rest of this article by Alaina
Mousel, go to:
beefmagazine.com/natural-beef/0501-composting-livestock-mechanics/
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Excessive moisture in the eastern Corn Belt continues to hamper corn
plantings. The situation is particularly troubling in Illinois and
Indiana, two states that, according to USDA’s March “Prospective
Plantings” report, are expected to plant 21% of the entire U.S. corn
crop.
The two states also account for some of the best corn yields in the
country. USDA data for 2008 shows that the Illinois corn crop had an
average yield of 179 bu./acre, compared to the national average of 154.
Indiana yields were also well above the national average.
Much of the talk in the marketplace at this point has focused on the
impact that the delays in plantings will have on yields. But there is
also the risk that farmers who are very behind on their plantings may
eventually switch to soybeans, induced in part by the recent surge in
soybean futures.
The latest USDA crop progress report showed that as of May 17, only 62%
of the U.S. corn crop had been planted. This was 8 percentage points
below the relatively late crop planted in 2008 and some 23 percentage
points below the five-year average.
In Illinois, only 20% of the corn crop has been planted so far, compared
with 92% that on average is planted by this time of year. Similarly,
just 24% of the corn crop has been planted in Indiana, compared to 67% a
year ago and 83% for the five-year average.
The market has yet to become extremely concerned with the delays in
plantings, in part because of the experience of a year ago. Corn
planting was also delayed last year but the final corn yield came in
almost exactly as what was projected in the May 2008 report.
-- CME Group Daily Livestock Report
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Disgraced former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was
released from prison on Wednesday after serving almost 19 months for
charges related to dogfighting, will work with the Humane Society of the
U.S. (HSUS) on anti-dogfighting campaigns after his release, HSUS
president Wayne Pacelle says.
The 28-year-old Vick is to work on programs aimed at preventing youths
from getting involved in dogfighting, and also on programs aimed at
assisting youths who have been involved, CNN reports. Vick pleaded
guilty in August 2007 to a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting
operation at a home he owned in Virginia. His sentence was to end in
July, but he was released to serve the remainder of his sentence in home
confinement.
Pacelle says HSUS was approached by Vick's representatives. Pacelle then
traveled twice to Leavenworth, KS, to meet with Vick in the federal
penitentiary there. It was during the second visit that the two
discussed how Vick could dissuade youths from involvement in
dogfighting, as well as help those apprehended in connection with it,
CNN reports.
The Associated Press says Vick's ultimate goal is to rehabilitate his
image and return to the National Football League. Vick, who was once the
league’s highest-paid player at $13 million/year, will be allowed to
leave the house for a $10/hour job as a construction laborer during his
period of house arrest.
-- Media reports
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The Environmental Protection Agency announced it is extending the
comment period by 60 days on a waiver application requesting an increase
in the amount of ethanol blended into a gallon of gasoline to up to 15%.
The new deadline for comments is July 20.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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The national average price for regular gasoline at retail rose 7¢
to $2.31/gal. for the week ending May 18. Meanwhile, the national
average price of diesel was up for the second week in a row, gaining
1½¢ to $2.23/gal.
The week’s gasoline price was the highest since Nov. 3, but is $1.48
below a year ago. Prices were up in all regions, with the East Coast
adding 8¢ to $2.30, the Midwest 4¢ to $2.30, the Gulf Coast 8¢ to
$2.21, the Rocky Mountains 6¢ to $2.24, and the West Coast 9¢ to
$2.46. California jumped 10¢ to $2.52.
Though diesel was $2.27/gal. below last year’s price, it was up in all
regions for the week. The East Coast climbed 2¢ to $2.28/gal., the
Midwest and Gulf Coast added 1¢ to $2.17 and $2.21, respectively. The
Rocky Mountains region was up 0.5¢ to $2.27, and the West Coast 1¢ to
$2.34. California rose to $2.35.
-- U.S. Energy Information Administration
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As the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) prepares to kiss and make
up with convicted dogfighter Michael Vick, the nonprofit Center for
Consumer Freedom (CCF) is calling on the animal rights group to return
the money it raised with the false promise that it would care for the
dogs rescued from Vick's former home.
Beginning on July 18 – the day after Vick's criminal indictment –
HSUS promised on its website that financial contributions would help it
"care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case." The New York
Times later reported that HSUS was not, in fact, caring for the
animals. HSUS president Wayne Pacelle told the Times that his group is
recommending that government officials "put down" (kill) the dogs rather
than adopt them out to suitable homes.
After CCF publicized this deception, HSUS quietly altered its online
fundraising pitch. And despite HSUS's stated desire to see the dogs
killed, CNN reports that most of them are being successfully
rehabilitated by genuine animal-rescue groups.
"Most Americans can't stand dogfighting," says David Martosko, CCF
director of research. "But they also can't stand phony fundraising
claims. If HSUS keeps the money it raised by promising it would care for
Michael Vick's dogs, the group is just as morally compromised as he is."
HSUS is not affiliated with any local "humane societies." The
organization doesn’t own or operate any hands-on dog or cat shelters
in the U.S. Less than 4% of its budget in 2007 was passed through to
legitimate pet shelters.
"HSUS knows Americans are dog lovers, and it's exploiting their emotions
to build a war chest for anti-meat, anti-dairy, and
anti-medical-research campaigns," Martosko adds. "HSUS should return
every cent and apologize for misleading the public."
For more info on HSUS, visit www.HumaneWatch.org.
CCF is a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies,
and consumers, working together to promote personal responsibility and
protect consumer choices.
-- CCF release
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Alltech and the Muhammad Ali Center are teaming up on a joint
initiative to establish the Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education
and Charitable Fund. The effort will strive to alleviate global problems
as they relate to education, health and nutrition, disaster relief and
other humanitarian efforts.
Alltech president and founder Pearse Lyons presented Muhammad and Lonnie
Ali with a check for $50,000 this week to establish the center. The
presentation was made during Alltech’s 25th International Animal
Health and Nutrition Symposium held this week in Lexington, KY.
"The Muhammad Ali Center is delighted to be associated with Alltech and
to announce a global education and charitable fund that will combine the
goals and efforts of our two entities," says Greg Roberts, president and
CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville. "Both of our institutional
goals include social responsibility and education. This fund will help
us to have greater impact around the world.”
-- Alltech news release
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Farmland values appeared to stabilize in the first quarter of 2009
after modest declines at the end of 2008, according to the Federal
Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s first quarter Survey of Agricultural
Credit Conditions. Banking contacts in the seven-state District
reported demand and prices for good quality farmland remained solid, but
prices for marginal farmland have dropped due to limited buyer interest.
Nonirrigated cropland values ticked up slightly while irrigated
cropland values were flat. Ranchland values edged down due in part to a
struggling livestock sector. Going forward, most bankers expected
farmland values to hold steady.
Survey respondents also reported that farm income declined from 2008
record highs. Softer farm incomes slowed capital spending and eased
non-real estate loan demand, despite a further reduction in agricultural
interest rates. Also contributing to the drop in non-real estate loan
demand was a rise in loan renewals and extensions. Survey respondents
anticipated that farmers will be frugal with their spending because of
the current volatile agricultural economy and uncertainty in the broader
financial markets.
Turbulent agricultural and macroeconomic conditions also contributed to
tightened agricultural credit conditions. Collateral requirements edged
up and the rate of loan repayment fell for the second straight quarter.
In addition, loan referrals to non-bank credit agencies rose as a
consequence of drought conditions in wheat growing areas of the
district. In general, survey respondents felt that agricultural credit
conditions could weaken further.
Go to www.KansasCityFed.org/agcrsurv/agcrmain.htm
for complete info.
-- Kansas City Fed release
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Congress will be out next week for its Memorial Day recess. When
Congress returns appropriation bills will be a priority. The House
Appropriations subcommittee on Agriculture is expected to address
USDA’s fiscal year 2010 appropriations the third week of June.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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The House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to consider food
safety legislation this summer. Even though the legislation will focus
on the Food and Drug Administration, indications are efforts will be
made to include limitations on the use of antibiotics for livestock
during consideration of the bill. Earlier this year, legislation, the
“Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA),” was
introduced. This legislation would phase out the non-therapeutic use in
livestock of medically important antibiotics.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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DNA data and genomewide selection were hot topics at the 2009 Beef
Improvement Federation (BIF) annual meeting and research symposium in
Sacramento, CA.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
release by NALF
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A bipartisan group of 44 Congressmen introduced legislation, “The
Renewable Fuel Standard Improvement Act,” to eliminate the requirement
that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consider indirect land use
when calculating the greenhouse gas emissions associated with advanced
biofuels. There is great concern of the negative effect indirect land
use would have on the domestic biofuels industry.
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), chairman of the House Agriculture
Committee, said, “The unreasonable restrictions placed on the biofuels
industry in the 2007 Energy Bill were never debated by Congress, and
I’ve spent the past two years trying to undo the damage that we’re
seeing now that EPA has published the proposed regulations that will
make it impossible to meet the RFS. In order to ensure that a clean,
homegrown biofuels industry will succeed in the U.S., we need to have
federal energy policies that are flexible, practical and
innovative.”
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Beef Bucks, Inc., a non-profit organization that promotes the beef
industry as well as educates the general public about all of the great
things about America's finest food, has launched a website. At www.beefbucks.org, you can learn
more about the Beef Buck program, which provides vouchers on a
dollar-for-dollar exchange for beef purchases at retail. Available are a
pre-paid check or a VISA debit card that can be redeemed at a wide
variety of locations across the country.
Since the formation of Beef Bucks, Inc. in 1997, thousands of pounds of
beef in numerous forms have been purchased via Beef Bucks, which are
backed by one of two financial institutions, First Dakota National Bank
of Yankton, SD or Wells Fargo Bank of De Smet, SD. in the amounts of $5,
$10, and $20.
Beef Bucks are also available on a VISA debit card. This debit card is
loadable from $25 to $500 and is valid anywhere VISA is accepted. This
VISA/Beef Buck card has an acquisition fee of $4 when initially loading
the card and $2 fee if a re-load is desired. This debit card comes with
a card and envelope for gift giving.
Beef Bucks have been used in more than 40 states in an assortment of
establishments from fast-food restaurants, steak houses, retail meat
markets, grocery stores and home-delivery services. Expired Beef Bucks
that are unused, may be returned and replaced with a like amount.
Retailers accepting Beef Bucks need only to deposit the check as they
would any other check accepted in their establishment.
Beef Bucks is also involved with a variety of projects, including
scholarship presentations, two editions of a Beef Recipe Collection, and
an annual golf tournament in which producers, financial institutions and
corporate entities participate. To learn more, go to www.beefbucks.org or call
888-640-MEAT.
-- Bob & Nancy Montross, www.beefbucks.org
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The Alaskan volcano Mount Redoubt, located 110 miles southwest of
Anchorage, has spewed ash into the Earth's atmosphere since March 15.
Though it’s 3,000 miles away, experts predict crops in the Midwest may
suffer from adverse growing conditions if Redoubt's explosions continue
and intensify.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
FMI/Nielsen/Lempert E-Newsletter article
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