Agribusiness Update for Thursday 12/5/13

According to Politico - Congressional budget leaders Paul Ryan and Patty Murray are considering a plan to give some domestic and defense programs burdened by the sequester some relief through 2015 by replacing cuts with budgetary savings in other areas. One proposal still under consideration would set overall discretionary spending levels at around 1-trillion dollars for 2014.

The 113th Congress is making history for the wrong reasons - according to National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson. The House will recess on December 13th - and Johnson says the U.S. still needs a farm bill now - but Congress' lack of action on so many pieces of legislation has made them one of the least productive in history - he says.

USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists have discovered a new way to fight foot-and-mouth disease. Scientists have discovered interferons - which are proteins - can instantly protect animals against FMD - giving vaccines enough time to induce the animal's immune response necessary to fight the disease.

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