Southeast Farm Economy Hit Hard and Oregon Pig has H5N1
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.**While the farm economy seems to have stabilized in the Midwest and Northern Plains, it weakened in the rest of the U.S. this fall.
The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book says, “Agricultural activity was flat to down modestly, with some crop prices remaining unprofitably low.”
Farmers in the Sixth District of Atlanta are having a hard time, while those in South Georgia and parts of Florida noted significant damage and losses resulting from Hurricane Helene.
**The USDA says grain inspections were lower week to week during the seven days ending on October 24.
Corn assessments were reported at over 823,000 metric tons, down from one million tons the previous week, but still above the 541,000 tons inspected during the same week a year ago.
Wheat inspections totaled over 248,000 tons, down from almost 269,000 the previous week, but higher than the 198,000 tons a year earlier.
**A pig in Oregon is the first in the nation to test positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus.
The USDA says test results are pending for two other pigs on the Crook County farm, while two others tested negative.
The pig that tested positive has shown no signs of illness.
Officials say the five pigs were tested "because of the presence of H5N1 in other animals on the premises."
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