Ag Headlines, Tuesday September 15, 2015

Fed Decision on Interest Rates Looms

Analysts describe financial markets as “nervous” leading up to this week’s Federal Reserve Meeting. The Fed is expected to reach a decision on whether or not to raise interest rates for the first time in years. Bloomberg reports the decision may boil down to what happens in financial markets during the next few trading days. Volatility in currencies, bonds and stocks has soared to multi-month highs in recent weeks, threatening the central bank’s plan for tightening monetary policy for the first time since 2006. USA Today reports that strong data does exist in support of the increase. However, if the Fed views the recent financial market turbulence, sparked by a slowdown in China’s economy, as a sign of market instability that could override the strong data and keep the increase on hold. The Fed will announce its decision Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Study Finds Little Difference in Sweeteners

A recent USDA study finds there is no significant difference in health effects between high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners, such as honey. The Washington Post reports the researchers found that three sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, honey and cane sugar, basically have the same impacts. The belief high fructose corn syrup may be harmful and is linked to obesity and diabetes prompted the USDA study. USDA researcher Susan Raatz said the marketers “made a big mistake when they called it ‘high-fructose corn syrup,’ and that "a sweetener is a sweetener, no matter the source." Health authorities, such as the Mayo Clinic, have repeatedly maintained that high fructose corn syrup is no less healthy than any other type of sweeteners.

Agriculture Education Effort to Target Transitioning Military Service Members

An effort announced Monday will integrate agriculture into the career training and counseling programs military service members receive when transitioning out of the military. Information about USDA resources and programs will reach 200,000 transitioning Service members every year through the effort, according to the Department of Defense. USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden said “when Service members return home, we want them to know that rural America has a place for them -- no matter where they are from.” Since 2009, USDA has provided $438 million in farm loans to help more than 6,482 veterans purchase farmland, buy equipment and make repairs and upgrades.

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