Agribusiness Update for Friday 08/30/13

This is the Agribusiness Update...I'm Greg Martin... USDA has forecast net farm income at 120.6-billion dollars in 2013, up six-percent. Ag Secretary Vilsack says the year-over-year increase is a testament to the resilience and productivity of the nation's farmers and ranchers.  After adjusting for inflation - net farm income in 2013 is expected to be the second highest since 1973. Politico is reporting that an earlier-than-expected debt ceiling deadline could delay immigration reform until next year. There are actually fewer than 40 congressional working days before the end of 2013 and Congress has a lot of issues to deal with. Government funding will run dry on September 30th - the same time the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill expires. The EPA's decision last month to withdraw a proposed rule allowing the agency to collect information - including locations and animal population sizes from production facilities - has drawn criticism from some animal welfare and environmental organizations. HSUS claims the animal ag industry has benefitted from EPA's lack of information and opposed efforts to increase transparency. That's today's Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.