Agriculture's Big Picture

Futures prices for U.S. stocks are on the rise overnight, as is copper—a key component in building materials.

 

Action from the European Union to stave off more crisis like the one seen in Greece is helping European stocks today, according to Bloomberg. However, the Euro has been pushed a four-year low.

With anti-incumbent fever sweeping the country, today’s primary elections could have major impacts on agricultural policy. Key Senate battles in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Arkansas go to the voters today. A fourth key battle is in Pennsylvania to decided the replacement for deceased Congressman John Murtha.

 

The Arkansas race will have the most immediate impact on agriculture. That seat is currently held by Blanch Lincoln (D-Ark.) who is the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman.  

 

Congress, never a group to miss a chance to assign blame, turns its attention on the Obamba administration today. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will lead a group of administration officials to the Senate today to testify before two committees about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

The Old Gray Lady is on the case of Roundup resistant weeds now with a submission from its editorial board on Sunday. Get this, they actually support the technology, GMOs and they are concerned that the Roundup Ready technology could loose effectiveness very soon.

 

Home Depot has turned in better than expected quarterly earnings, led by interest in gardening products and energy-efficient appliances, CNBC reports.