Agribusiness Update for Thursday 09/19/13

There are still no answers yet regarding the recent find of Roundup Ready alfalfa in a Washington field. The alfalfa was rejected for export after testing confirmed traces of the genetically modified Monsanto trait. The USDA and WSDA are investigating. While the USDA approved "Roundup Ready" alfalfa in 2011, many farmers argue that it is increasingly hard to prevent cross-contamination because the crop is pollinated by honeybees.

The EPA released a peer-reviewed study yesterday that reveals findings on the state of American waterways. The EPA noted that agricultural activities named in the Clean Water Act remain exempt from jurisdiction or permitting. The EPA is also deferring to state laws to regulate bodies of water that are fully contained within a state and are not suitable for transportation.

Increased exports and lower imports have resulted in significant growth in U.S. net beef exports the last few months. In July - net exports grew to 72.3-million pounds. The U.S. exported 42-million more pounds of beef than it imported from January through July. For the same seven month period in 2012 - the U.S. imported 30-million more pounds of beef than it exported.

That's today's Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.