This episode of Brian Ross Investigates looks at the case of two brothers linked to a huge corruption scandal in Brazil who have been buying up American meatpacking companies, which have now received more than $100 million in U.S. taxpayer money meant for American farmers and ranchers. Brian Ross joined the Law & Crime Network as chief investigative correspondent in 2018 after decades of award-winning work at ABC News and NBC News. His reports have exposed government and corporate Read More …
JBS has frequently been accused of links to deforestation. Now the meatpacker is facing growing pressure from Brazilian politicians and environmentalists to address the information gaps and transparency failings in its supply chain. Critics say these deficiencies mean JBS is unable to ensure it does not buy cattle from farms involved in illegal deforestation over a decade after promising to do so. Read more from The Guardian.
JBS USA is buying Empire Packing Co. LP, its case ready production facilities and Ledbetter branded retail products, for US$238 million. The acquisition includes operations of five production facilities located in Cincinnati, Denver, Mason, Ohio, Memphis, Tenn. and Olympia, Wash. Empire Packing provides its grocery clients with case ready meat solutions and custom food processing and packaging services, and Ledbetter Foods branded products sold at retail nationwide. JBS said the transaction is subject to regulatory review and government approvals. Read More …
By Bobbi Wilson, Wisconsin Farmers Union The looming threat of a milk monopoly is making headlines as the nation’s largest dairy cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America, negotiates the purchase of Dean Foods following its bankruptcy announcement. If the deal is approved, DFA would achieve near total control over regional fluid milk markets in New England and the Midwest. The news comes on the heels of a Government Accountability Office report showing reduced farmer earnings and power imbalances result from Read More …
The Pilgrim’s Pride poultry plants in downtown Chattanooga last month were fined nearly $7,000 in penalties and fees for three violations over the past 18 months involving odor problems, documents show. The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, responding to a complaint related to the 1591 Broad St. “kill plant” last Aug. 5, said that bay doors had been left open and a fan that disperses liquid for odor control wasn’t operating. Also, an odor control mister outside Read More …
CANCELLED 22nd Annual Food and Agriculture Conference and Membership Meeting After much deliberation and careful consideration, the OCM Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 2020 annual convention in Oklahoma City. The Board is concerned about the health and safety of our members, staff, annual meeting speakers and registrants, and the possibility for community spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) during our annual gathering. Therefore, we believe the responsible decision is to cancel our 2020 annual conference. We Read More …
JBS has done it again. Today, Meatingplace reports the Brazilian meatpacking giant’s South American arm has secured a deal to sell over $700 million dollars worth of beef, pork, and poultry to China per year under its Friboi and Seara brands out of Brazil. “This agreement reflects the maturity and evolution of our trade relations with China,” said Renato Costa, president of Friboi. “It will be an opportunity for us to evolve in our supply chain in an Read More …
Source: CNN By Nathaniel Meyersohn America’s biggest retailers are pushing back against this country’s largest meat processors. The future of the nation’s food chain is on the line. Walmart last week opened a meatpacking plant in south Georgia that will cut, package and label its own brand of steaks and roasts to deliver to meat cases at 500 stores in the region. It is Walmart’s first meatpacking plant. Costco has also developed its own farm-to-store poultry production operation in Nebraska Read More …