Agribusiness Update for Thursday 4/25/13

This is the Agribusiness Update...I’m Greg Martin...

Just three-months ago there were concerns of barge traffic coming to a halt on the Mississippi River near St. Louis. Now - flooding has forced the closure of several locks. As a result - barge shipping on the Illinois River and parts of the Mississippi River was at a standstill on Monday.

Democratic Sen. Max Baucus said Tuesday he will retire and not seek a seventh term next year, setting up a fight by both parties for conservative-leaning Montana. Baucus is chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which holds broad sway over tax policy, health care and other issues. Last week, he raised the ire of gun-control supporters when he broke ranks with Obama and most of the majority Democrats to oppose a plan to expand background checks on gun purchases.

There is yet another new voice for the beef industry. The popular “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner” originally voiced by Sam Elliot and then by Matthew McConaughey is now in the hands of the older millennials and Gen-Xers. You’ll still hear Aaron Copeland’s “Rodeo” score with the voice of young actor Garrett Hedlund, who is no stranger to the beef industry.

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