Agriculture

Producer Price Index Sees Biggest-Ever Drop

The Producer Price Index fell 1.3 percent in April, the biggest decline in the history of the report, said the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "In April, over 80 percent of the decrease in the final demand index can be… more

Trump Says Government Buying $3B From Farmers, Ranchers

The federal government plans to purchase $3 billion in crops, meat and dairy products from farmers that will be used in food banks and other facilities, announced President Donald Trump over the weekend. Farmers and ranchers, which were already suffering… more

Costco, Wendy’s Others Limit Meat Purchases

A national meat shortage has spurred many restaurants and retailers to scale back on meat offerings to customers. In the case of fast-food burger chain Wendy's, it is warning customers of potentially limited menus due to the shortages in the… more

Missouri Pork Association: Millions of Pigs to be Euthanized

Though the Missouri Pork Association (MPA) applauded President Trump's signing of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to extend funding to pork producers, problems apparently lie ahead. "Hog values have plummeted, and hog farmers are facing liquidation of their farms without… more

Seaboard Reports $103M Loss

Merriam-based Seaboard Corp. reported a $103 million loss during its most recent quarter, a big drop from the same year-ago period, when the company earned $57 million. Net sales did rise, hitting about $1.7 billion from $1.5 billion last year.… more

Smithfield Foods Closing Martin City Plant

Smithfield Foods is indefinitely closing its Martin City plant, which employs about 400 workers. The move follows the closure of a Sioux Falls, S.D. plant, which is considered one of the biggest COVID-19 hotspots in the United States, where hundreds… more

Trump Chooses Seaboard, YRC Execs for Recovery Group

President Donald Trump has named two Kansas City-area executives to what have been dubbed the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups. Steven Bresky, the president and CEO of Merriam-based Seaboard Corp., was named to a group focused on agriculture. Meanwhile,… more

Farmers Feeling Pandemic Pain, MU Professor Says

The apparent disconnect between plummeting prices for farmers and soaring grocery demand from consumers is likely to be with us for a while as the nation continues to address the COVID-19 pandemic. That's the assessment of Scott Brown, an associate… more

KU Pushes for Less Restaurant Food Waste

One lesson a team of students and faculty at the University of Kansas hopes we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic is how to reduce food waste at restaurants once they reopen.  The group has made a collaboration to determine what… more

CDC Issues Worker Guidance for COVID-19 Exposure

The CDC has issued guidance for critical infrastructure employees who might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 to return to work. Critical-infrastructure employees are considered those who work in 16 different sectors, including those in law enforcement, janitorial staff,… more