ALL AG NEWS is a collection of articles for farmers, ranchers and others in agribusiness that rely on agriculture for their livelihood. It is a service of the only ALL FARM radio stations in Texas (900AM KFLP in Floydada-Lubbock, TX and 1310AM KZIP in Amarillo, TX) and is available live via the internet at: mms://stream.amaonline.com/kflp

All Ag Calendar

  • 10/08/09 -10/10/09 San Antonio International Farm & Ranch Show (www.farmandranchexpo.com)
  • 10/13/09 7:30am Ag Market Network's Monthly Cotton Conference Call (online at www.AgMarketNetwork.com) ***LIVE BROADCAST ON ALL AG, ALL DAY!
  • 10/14/09 9:00am Cattle Health Meeting in Plainview (806-291-5267)
  • 10/23/09 9:30am Prescribed Fire in Ranching Systems at the JA Ranch in Randall County (806-651-5760)
  • 10/28/09-10/30/09 Texas Cattle Feeders Association Annual Convention at Amarillo Civic Center (www.tcfa.org)
  • 10/30/09 9:00am Advanced Topics in Wildlife Management Series in Canadian, TX (806-323-9114)
  • 11/12/09 7:30am Ag Market Network's Monthly Cotton Conference Call (online at www.AgMarketNetwork.com) ***LIVE BROADCAST ON ALL AG, ALL DAY!
  • 11/17/09-11/18/09 Farm Service Agency Guaranteed Loan Program Lender Seminar in Lubbock (979-680-5220)
  • 12/05/09-12/07/09 Texas Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Fort Worth, TX
  • 12/15/09 7:30am Ag Market Network's Monthly Cotton Conference Call (online at www.AgMarketNetwork.com) ***LIVE BROADCAST ON ALL AG, ALL DAY!
  • z01/04/10-01/07/10 Beltwide Cotton Conference in New Orleans, LA (www.cotton.org)
  • z01/13/10-02/25/10 Master Marketer Program in Amarillo (806-677-5600)
  • z01/27/10-01/30/10 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in San Antonio, TX (www.beefusa.org)
  • z03/04/10-03/06/10 Commodity Classic in Anaheim, CA (www.commodityclassic.com)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Staples Disappointed With Dalhart Pork Plant Closure

A Smithfield Foods Inc. subsidiary will lay off 117 workers at it's Dalhart, Texas hog farm. The layoffs will begin by mid-October and fewer than 25 employees of the company's Premium Standard Farms LLC unit will continue to work at the site in Dallam County. The layoffs, effective Oct. 16, will be permanent.

In other Smithfield news, GE Capital said Monday that it had provided $150 million for Smithfield's previously announced $1 billion revolving credit facility. Smithfield Vice President Carey Dubois said GE "accounted for the largest portion of the... credit facility, helping provide Smithfield with the liquidity it needed." Smithfield announced last Friday that it had finished the sale of $225 million in senior secured notes. CEO C. Larry Pope said that would help "strengthen our balance sheet."

Texas Commissioner for Agriculture Todd Staples expressed disappointment with the news and said the pork industry has an $860 million impact with direct sales of $172 million. "Yes, pork producers are suffering today and much of that is due to the overall economic decline." He is outraged that media "professionals" continue to refer to H1N1 incorrectly as swine flu. He believes that this has led to the drop in prices and demand for the industry.

Staples introduced a resolution to other ag commissioners in the United States, as well as in Canada and Mexico, to urge politicians and media outlets to refer to the outbreak by it's correct name: H1N1. His comments can be heard below under GUEST INTERVIEWS for Wednesday August 26th, 2009.

GUEST INTERVIEWS

MONDAY
Bob Maurer with Manduca Trading in Chicago (800-388-0998)
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TUESDAY
Roger Haldenby, VP of Operations for Plains Cotton Growers (PCG)
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WEDNESDAY
Gerald Simonsen, Chairman of National Sorghum Producers (NSP)
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THURSDAY
Andy Holloway with Ash Angus LLC of Stamford, TX
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FRIDAY
Dr. Steve Amosson with Texas AgriLife Extension in Amarillo, TX
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The Agribusiness Report:
Listen for our Guest Interviews during the Agribusiness Report; weekdays at 2:10pm, 6:10pm, 10:10pm and the following morning at 8:10am. In addition, you can hear the Agribusiness Report on the following stations:
KBYG-AM Big Spring, TX
KCTI-AM Gonzales, TX
KDHN-AM Dimmitt, TX
KEYE-AM Perryton, TX
KFLP-AM Floydada, TX
KREL-AM Quanah, TX
KZIP-AM Amarillo, TX