Covid-19 at JBS: Meatpacker JBS USA said it was “actively working to prevent any potential spread” of Covid-19 at its mammoth beef processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, where union officials said around 40 workers recently tested positive for the disease. (Meat and Poultry)
Parched Brazil soybeans: Drought in key parts of Brazil’s soybean-growing region will limit the 2021/22 crop to 139 million tonnes, a decrease of 5 million tonnes from a month ago, but still 1 million tonnes larger than the record set by last season’s crop. (USDA)
Jerry Bange dies: Jerry Bange, chairman of USDA’s influential World Agricultural Outlook Board for 20 years, until his 2014 retirement, and organizer of the annual Ag Outlook Forum, died at the age of 77 on Jan 13. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
LA train looting: The Union Pacific railroad says it has been hit by a 160 percent increase in thefts from its trains in Los Angeles County from “organized and opportunistic criminal rail theft;” up to 90 cargo containers day are breached each day. (Los Angeles Times)
Valley Proteins union drive: Workers at Valley Proteins say their drive for a unionized workplace will not be derailed by the purchase of the rendering company, based in Virginia, by multinational Darling Industries. (Facing South)