Irrigation Options in California and McDonalds Suit Against Major Meat Packers
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**Having endured crushing impacts of drought and regulatory water restrictions, California farmers have embraced drip irrigation to improve their water footprint.
Flood irrigation has faced increased scrutiny as inefficient and wasteful.
But experts say with automation and other design improvements, farmers could maximize efficiency with flood and surface irrigation systems.
UC Kearney irrigation management specialist, Khaled Bali says it could be as efficient as other pressurized irrigation systems, and environmentally friendly.
**McDonald’s has filed a lawsuit against Tyson Foods, JBS, and other major meat packing companies, accusing them of colluding for years to limit beef supplies.
The suit says the collusion allowed the companies to boost their profits while forcing McDonald’s to pay inflated prices for their meat supplies.
McDonald’s says the companies conspired on January 1st of this year to reduce production levels, which would artificially drive-up market prices.
**Plant-based products started quickly a few years ago, BUT Supermarket News says the market is beginning to settle and evolve.
Fresh meat alternatives had volume sales of 36.9 million pounds for the year ending on May 19, 21% lower year-over-year.
Volume sales for frozen alternatives totaled 90.1 million during the same period, down almost 12% year-over-year.
Plant-based dairy is also going through a significant downcycle with sales down 29% and volume down 18%.
