The Ubiquity of Distress and other top headlines

Yeah, ubiquity. It's everywhere. Thus, there is plenty of distress from this "have we hit rock bottom yet?" recession. Here is a column from the NYT on the shared pain among top shelf companies. From Floyd  Norris:

Moody's is out with a report today that it calls "The Bottom Rung." It is a list of 283 American companies deemed most likely to default. The media industry has 46 companies on the list, more than any other. (No, my employer is not among them.)You can access the list here, but you will have to register with Moody's to see it.

TK: More coverage here. Just about every sector of the U.S. business district is represented on the list, including autos, clothing, restaurants and produce marketers The take home message. Misery loves company, perhaps - no, let's dress it up. "The Ubiquity of Distress".

USDA APHIS extends comment period on biotechnology regulations Grainnet

Eat, drink and be wary?

California's central valley farmland not immune to recession PRWeb

Now that milk, almond, walnut, and grain prices have dropped, the demand for farmland has also spiraled down. In California, Central Valley Agricultural Land that was in the $15,000 price range is now closer to $10,000 per acre. Schuil & Associates is working with buyers that have taken advantage of the lower prices. Many of the local farming companies that have been in the valley for generations have made the decision to sell and large corporate buyers have come in to fill the void.

Thousands of stimulus jobs for illegals The Post Chronicles

FDA seeks rapid test for salmonella AP

Citrus keeps migrant workers employed TBO.com

Spring break meets state of undeclared war ABC News

Roubini and the sucker's rally
But don't get your hopes up. NYU Professor Nouriel Roubini published another big prediction on his blog yesterday claiming that there will be at least one more bear market suckers' rally in the stock markets. (A bear market rally is what happens when markets briefly make gains, causing people (i.e. suckers) to put money into the market only to watch it plummet again when everyone realizes the economy is still screwed). He also expects the markets to reach new lows over the next 12 to 18 months, and "he puts the chance of a severe U-shaped recession at 66.7 percent, and a more severe L-shaped recession at 33.3 percent."



Church based weight plan peels pounds for blacks US News
The study included 35 men and women, average age 46, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 36. They took part in a pilot program conducted by lay leaders at Gospel Water Branch Baptist Church near Augusta, Ga. The lay leaders had received two days of training to present the 12 modules of Fit Body and Soul, a faith-based diabetes prevention program adapted from the U.S. National Institutes of Health-sponsored Diabetes Prevention Program.

Not exciting news for banana growers Business World
The Australian government's announcement last week allowing the importation of Philippine bananas subject to certain conditions is interesting. The same announcement was also issued in 2004; it then raised hopes among local growers. It should be noted that the government's intent to ship bananas to Australia was only submitted in the late 1990s.

Senate nears passage of $410 billion spending package Reuters
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday moved closer to approving a $410 billion spending bill to fund most of the government after the Obama administration offered assurances about proposed changes to U.S. policy on Cuba


National Organic Action Plan gains momentum Agri News

Tax hike warning over UK climate change Sky News

Alistair Hunt of the University of Bath claims that too little attention has been paid to the likelihood of global warming creating a financial strain for millions of Britons

Local food initiatives must make financial sense The DePauw

Dining Services should be applauded for its efforts to go local in its spending. While the issue of local food is a tough one to discuss - especially when the University has to start with the most basic of basics, defining what the word "local" means

Moving dietary guidelines into real world action The Packer and Kathy Means

Japan bird flu outbreak USDA FAS

Food Alliance hosts sustainability QSR Web

Fight over trucking hours  Today's Trucking.com

Record number of Americans falling behind on credit card payments