Agribusiness Update for Monday 11/11/13

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the Rural America at a Glance report released by USDA's Economic Research Service Thursday highlights the critical need for a new Food, Farm and Jobs bill that will help to reverse troubling demographic and economic patterns in rural America. Vilsack says too many people in rural America live in persistently-poor areas and too many people are still having trouble finding a good job.

USDA has estimated that the 2013 corn crop will achieve a new record of 13.99 billion bushels, 7% larger than the previous record and a whopping 30% larger than last year's drought-shortened crop. USDA expects yield to average 160.4 bushels per acre, the second-highest yield on record.

Every lawmaker representing Washington, Oregon, and Idaho urged the U.S. Energy Department to maintain an independent Bonneville Power Administration that puts Northwest power users first, in a bipartisan letter to Energy Secretary. The 23 Members emphasized the importance of correcting discrimination against hiring veterans that occurred at BPA. 

That's today's Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.