R-CALF, OCM file suit against JBS merger
BILLINGS, Mont. — R-CALF USA, along with the Organization for Competitive Markets, last week filed litigation in the U.S. District Court — Northern District of Illinois.
The lawsuit was filled against the proposed acquisition of National Beef Packing Co. by Brazilian-owned meatpacker JBS.
The U.S. Department of Justice along with 17 state attorneys general also filed litigation against JBS over the proposed deal.
R-CALF USA and OCM seek to block JBS’ proposed acquisition of National Beef. The government’s lawsuit focuses primarily on the impacts of fat cattle and consumers while R-CALF and OCM’s lawsuit focuses primarily on how packers use captive supplies to leverage down prices.
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RMA launches new online resource for farmers
WASHINGTON — USDA’s Risk Management Agency has launched an online resource to help farmers focus on how to protect against downside risks as well as how best to take advantage of upside opportunities in the market.
The new resource, a sub-site of the RMA’s Web site called Farm-Risk-Plans.USDA.gov, allows farmers to complete a risk management checklist, identify their enterprise’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and explore a wealth of risk management information.
WAPA buying wind power from Basin
BISMARCK, N.D. — The agency that distributes hydroelectric power generated by Missouri River dams is planning to buy wind power for the first time.
The Western Area Power Administration says its deal to buy up to 50 megawatts of wind power per year from Bismarck-based Basin Electric Power Cooperative for three years is a "precedent setting" way to meet its power demands and support renewable energy.
Financial details were not released last week. WAPA says it will buy the power from 2010 through 2012.
Drought has plagued the Missouri River Basin for eight straight years, lowering electricity production. The six power plants on the river generated a record low amount of electricity in July, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says. Total energy production this year is expected to be half the normal amount, down to 5 billion kilowatt hours.
