Swine epidemic in China casts long shadow on world pork market
China, the world’s largest producer and consumer of pork, recovered from an epidemic of African swine fever among its pig herds by late 2021, three years after its first reported outbreak of the disease. Yet the domestic pork market remains volatile, “which may create additional uncertainty among pork exporters,” said three USDA economists in a new report.
Canada prevails over U.S. in dairy dispute
A USMCA dispute panel rejected U.S. charges that Canada bent the rules to unfairly restrict American sales in its dairy market despite agreeing in the free trade agreement to grant more access. “This is good news for Canada’s dairy industry and our system of supply management,” said Trade Minister Mary Ng and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAuley in a statement.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Egg price-fixing verdict: In a case filed a dozen years ago, a federal jury in Chicago ruled that several large egg producers conspired to control the U.S. egg supply and raise prices from 2004-2008. (Associated Press)
Grocery inflation to slow: Retail food prices were forecast to rise by a negligible 1 percent in 2024, a dramatic slowdown from grocery price inflation of 11.4 percent last year and 5.2 percent this year. (USDA)
Opposition to Midwest E15: After warnings by two oil companies of potential logistical headaches, the White House has slowed action on a request by eight midwestern governors for EPA approval of year-round sales of E15 in their states, said two unidentified sources. (Reuters)
Bird flu hits Ohio: Highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed on an egg farm with 1.3 million hens northwest of Columbus, Ohio, the largest outbreak in domestic flocks this fall; some 5.8 million birds died in outbreaks this month. (USDA)
Canadian feral ‘super pigs’: An exploding population of feral “super pigs” in Canada’s prairie provinces, often crossbreeds of Eurasian boar and domestic swine, is threatening to spread across the border into Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. (Associated Press)
ON THE CALENDAR
Monday
The USDA issues the final Crop Progress report of the year, 4 p.m ET. The weekly report will resume in April 2024.
Tuesday
Chicago Federal Reserve Bank hosts the annual Midwest Agriculture Conference with the topic, “Who owns Midwest farmland and why?” 10 a.m. ET, Chicago.
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small leads agricultural trade mission to Angola, through Friday. By coincidence, President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola will meet President Biden at the White House on Thursday.
Hemp Industries Association holds 27th annual conference, through Wednesday, Austin, Texas. Texas is the leading state for hemp production.
Association of Equipment Manufacturers holds annual conference, through Thursday, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Public broadcaster KJZZ-FM holds a panel discussion on “Food, Water, and the Future of Tribal Lands,” at 9 p.m. ET, Rio Salado College, Tempe, Arizona. The event also will be live streamed.
Wednesday
Organic Produce Network and Western Growers Family of Companies hold Organic Grower Summit, through Thursday, Monterey, California.
Thursday
Senate Agriculture Committee holds hearings on nominations of Basil Gooden to serve as Agriculture undersecretary for rural development and Summer Mersinger to serve as commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 10 a.m. ET, 328A Russell.
The USDA updates its estimate of farm income this year, now forecast at $141.3. billion, down from the record $183 billion of 2022 but still the third year in a row of exceptionally high income, 11 a.m. ET. The Economic Research Service will hold a webinar on the report at 1 p.m. ET.
The USDA releases quarterly Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade and monthly Agricultural Prices reports, 3 p.m. ET. At present, food and ag exports in fiscal 2024 are forecast at $172 billion, the fourth highest on record, but the farm trade deficit would be $27.5 billion, the largest ever. Exports during fiscal 2023 were $178.7 billion with a trade deficit of a record $16.7 billion.
The National Academy of Sciences holds an all-day Food Forum “reflecting on major developments in food, nutrition, and agriculture over the past 30 years.” Speakers also will discuss challenges to food production and distribution in the future, 9 a.m. ET.
The United Nations holds COP28 climate summit, through Dec. 12, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
