Agribusiness Update for Thursday 12/12/13

Agribusiness Update for Thursday 12/12/13

This is the Agribusiness Update...I'm Greg Martin...

Even though the top farm bill negotiators have made progress and continue to have productive meetings - House Ag Chair Frank Lucas says there are still some outstanding issues they are addressing. Lucas is confident they will work through them and finish a farm bill in January - but not before then. Therefore - Lucas stated that he will file legislation to extend the current farm bill through January this week to allow the farm bill conferees to finish their work without the threat of permanent law implementation.

Tyson's beef supply chain manager said the company will start requiring beef and chicken suppliers to meet on-farm requirements for animal treatment next year. A third-party auditor will visit farms to ensure compliance - assessing how workers handle animals, whether animals have access to adequate food and water and whether treatment is humane.

Monsanto and Novozymes are teaming up to transform research and commercialization of sustainable microbial products that will provide a new platform of solutions for growers around the world. They've announced a long-term strategic alliance - the BioAg Alliance - which will allow the companies to leverage employees, technologies and commercial assets in their agricultural biological portfolios.

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

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