Agribusiness Update for Tuesday 12/17/13

Following a Friday morning session - the Chairs of the Agriculture Committees spoke optimistically about the farm bill's progress. House Chairman Frank Lucas said negotiators are moving right down the path toward a conference report in January. Stabenow echoed that positive outlook - saying she has no question they'll be able to come together and have a farm bill that Congress can take action on next month.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says rural electric cooperatives have provided reliable, affordable power to rural communities for more than 75 years. Investments announced Friday - he says - will help ensure our electric infrastructure continues to deliver reliable and affordable electricity for years to come. More than 1.8-billion dollars in funding was announced for electric utility infrastructure projects in 25 states and one territory.

The three-year phase-out of food animal antibiotic uses and over-the-counter antibiotic sales proposed by the USDA raises questions from an expert at Washington State University. Douglas Call, a professor of molecular epidemiology says "Removing antibiotics from non-therapeutic uses in U.S. food-animal production seems reasonable at first glance, but there could be unintended consequences."

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