Content about U.S. Department of Agriculture

April 30, 2012
Beef prices take hit from public concerns
John Barone's Commodities Corner column for April 30, 2012.
March 19, 2012
Commodities Corner: Corn prices to drop
John T. Barone tracks the commodities market.
March 5, 2012
Commodities Corner
Rising fuel prices pose threat to US recovery.
December 19, 2011
Choice beef prices may rise next year
John T. Barone's Commodities Corner.
July 8, 2011
Fed weighs nutrition standards for food marketed to kids
Federal guidelines would establish nutritional standards for food marketed to kids
June 27, 2011
Corn trends, weather patterns drive price hikes
Corn, the primary feed and cost input for cattle, hogs, poultry and dairy cows, is increasing in cost, driving prices for proteins up with it.
May 16, 2011
Looking behind the food cost increases
Now that commodities are front and center in the national spotlight, the finger pointers, conspiracy theorists and self-serving politicians have arisen as if drawn out by a full moon. Unfortunately, what many of them are spouting is sheer lunacy. Here are the three biggest “real” drivers of commodity prices.

May 13, 2011
Restaurants on how to make school food better
Restaurants help improve the availability of healthful food in school.
April 18, 2011
High diesel prices drive up food costs
Diesel prices drive foodservice costs more than any other factor. Fuel and freight increase costs at every link in the supply chain.
April 4, 2011
Kruse Report: Admiring the greenery
Chefs, caught between patrons who want indulgent, great-tasting foods and menu-labeling laws that can paint such dishes in a negative light, have rediscovered the joys of green vegetables as a means to enhance flavor while adding few calories. 

March 1, 2011
NPD: Most Americans don’t act on dietary guidelines
NPD reveals what Americans say about healthful eating strategies
February 28, 2011
Taco Bell supports its beef in new ads
The chain’s employees, franchisees star in $3 million ad campaign
February 21, 2011
Low cattle counts, high demand drive beef prices up
Where’s the beef? The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s semiannual inventory report confirmed expectations of lower beef cattle numbers. Total U.S. cattle inventories Jan. 1 were 92.6 million head, down 1.4 percent from a year ago and the lowest since 1958
February 21, 2011
With commodity costs on the rise, chains grapple with options to offset expenses
The restaurant industry is already dealing with increased costs. Favorable commodities prices — the lone blessing of the recent recession — are quickly disappearing as the U.S. economy slowly emerges from its three-year slump. And according to commodities experts, multiple market factors will continue driving prices for corn, beef, pork, grains and dairy upward well into 2011 and possibly beyond.

February 4, 2011
Industry in sync with new USDA guidelines
Consumer demand and growing trends already influencing operators
January 28, 2011
Taco Bell defends itself with new ads
Chain debuts "truth" campaign amid pending consumer lawsuit
January 18, 2011
Domino's adds reduced fat pizza for schools
Chain's 'Smart Slice' also lower in calories and sodium
December 2, 2010
McDonald's to roll out oatmeal in January
Fast food giant joins growing number of chains serving popular item
September 19, 2010
Researchers seek better E. coli testing methods


Even as legislative efforts to improve the safety of the nation’s food supply remain stalled in 
Congress, scientists are seeking better detection methods for 
deadly pathogens that could help restaurant operators better 
ensure the safety of their menu items.


Researchers from Purdue 
University in West Lafayette, Ind., in August said infrared spectroscopy can detect E. coli faster than current testing methods and can reduce the length of investigations into outbreaks by days.


August 23, 2010
Weather forces wheat prices up
Chicago wheat futures surged to $7.85 per bushel on Aug. 5, up 83 percent from a low of $4.28 on June 6. Over the past month, drought across wheat regions of Russia, Ukraine and Europe, excessive rain in Canada, and locusts in Australia have helped send prices higher.
July 22, 2010
Study: Restaurants adding more healthful dishes
The number of dishes labeled as "healthy" jumped 65% from last year.
July 5, 2010
Bison products recalled over E. coli concerns
Concern about a possible E. coli contamination has prompted Rocky Mountain Natural Meats to recall about 33 tons of ground bison and tenderized bison steaks.
June 25, 2010
USDA raises cattle, hog forecasts

The big news in the May and June U.S. Department of Agriculture World Supply & Demand reports were the sharp increases in estimated hog and cattle prices for 2010 — and the USDA’s first look at 2011. USDA bumped projected 2010 choice steer prices from $91 to $94 per hundredweight, or cwt, and forecast 2011 at $98.50 — both numbers up sharply from an average of $83.25 per cwt in 2009. Similarly, hog prices for 2010 were raised from $51.50 to $55.50 per cwt, and 2011 prices were projected at $55 — also a big jump from $41.24 per cwt in 2009.

May 16, 2010
Low supply keeps sugar prices high
Global sugar prices hit 29-year highs in February as bad weather reduced output in Brazil...
February 15, 2010
California beef recall expanded
MONTEBELLO Calif. Huntington Meat Packing Inc. has greatly expanded a January recall of 864,000 pounds...
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