Xenophobic Hogwash: Shuanghui International's purchase of U.S. meatpacking giant Smithfield has brought out all the xenophobic anti-business lunatics. There appear to be three main points of attack:
Environmental: One activist who claimed that agribusinesses run by Americans are already environmental disasters said, "Now the Chinese will bring their typical environmental operation to our shores. How long before the rivers fill up with pigs?" Food Safety: "Now we will be getting Chinese adulterated foods made in the USA." National Security: "Letting the Chinese control our food supply??? ... Who will they name as Smithfield's CEO? Kim Jong Un [sic]"
In fact, the purchase is a recognition of the quality and the value of U.S. pork i...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Tomorrow is the Juneteenth federal holiday, and the USDA, along with the rest of the federal government and the CME, will be closed, so the monthly Cattle on Feed report was released a day early. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity on 1 June amounted...