BISMARCK, N.D. — Sunflower crops could set records in the nation’s top two producing states this year, helping to blunt a drop in nationwide production and ensure a healthy supply for processors in the United States and Canada.

NEW YORK — Canadian soft drink maker Cott Corp. said Friday its beverages subsidiary closed the private sale of $215 million in notes and repurchased notes due to mature in 2011.

Meltdown 101: Some signs of strength for US exports even as trade deficit rises

USDA report confirms cotton production losses in La, Miss, amid wet fall, harvest delays

NEW ORLEANS — A federal report has confirmed concerns about cotton production losses in Louisiana and Mississippi due to the wet fall.

FDA demands safety information from makers of alcoholic energy drinks

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Wolf Farms claims Classic Cupping Competition at Big Island coffee festival

Wolf Farms claims Classic Cupping Competition

Coastal flooding a concern as remnants of Tropical Storm Ida move up East Coast

Coastal flooding a concern as storm moves up coast

Calif. water deal will bring little immediate relief to farmers expecting another tough year

Calif water deal no quick fix for struggling farms

Va. dangles $6.7M to lure watermen out of the Chesapeake Bay crab business, gets few bites

Chesapeake crabbers not going for Va.’s buyout

Jury says former Iowa kosher slaughterhouse manager guilty on 86 of 91 financial fraud charges

Jury: Fmr. slaughterhouse manager guilty of fraud

APNewsBreak: Search suspended for 3 missing fishermen whose boat sank off NJ coast

APNewsBreak: Search halted for 3 missing fishermen

US adult smoking rate rises for the first time in 15 years, nearly 21 pct, CDC says

US adult smoking rate rises slightly

ATLANTA — Cigarette smoking rose slightly for the first time in almost 15 years, dashing health officials’ hopes that the U.S. smoking rate had moved permanently below 20 percent.

3 missing after fishing boat sinks off coast of NJ; empty life raft spotted in water

3 missing after fishing boat sinks off coast of NJ

Texas, leading cotton producer in US, on track to have 10 percent more than in 2008

Texas expected to harvest 4.9 million cotton bales

Wal-Mart posts 3 percent profit increase in 3rd quarter; important sales measure slips

Wal-Mart posts 3 percent rise in profit for 3Q

Off New England, warming ocean drives fish away from shore _ and market bins

Warming drives off Cape Cod’s namesake, other fish

Tropical Storm Ida further slows already late harvest season for Southern farmers

Ida further slows harvest for Southern farmers

AB InBev reports 3Q profit, but revenue drops 10 percent as beer sales slide

AB InBev makes 3Q profit, but revenue down 10 pct.

APEC: Nations must rein in stimulus spending, ensure stable growth in post-crisis period

President Barack Obama speaks briefly on Afghanistan

APEC ministers brainstorm strategy to sustain global economic recovery, back food security

Hard-hit Ohio community turns to gardens to help stretch food dollars

Hard-hit community learns to grow food

WILMINGTON, Ohio — Many of the new gardeners didn’t know how to grow vegetables, and weren’t sure what to do with them once they did.

US crop production estimates may ease fears about rainy harvest season cutting into production

US crop estimates may ease fears about wet harvest

Ralcorp says 4th-quarter profit nearly doubles as sales rise on Post Foods acquisition

Ralcorp nearly doubles profit in 4th-quarter

PepsiCo withdraws FTC paperwork in bottler buyouts to allow more review time, plans to refile

PepsiCo withdraws FTC filings in bottler deals

USDA says South Dakota’s corn, soybean production levels remain high; records forecast

USDA: SD corn, soybean production remains high

Yellowstone bison could go to Ted Turner’s Montana ranch after other options fall through

Yellowstone bison could go to Turner’s Mont. ranch

Frozen foods company announces plans for southern Indiana plant expansion, possibly 350 jobs

Frozen foods company plans S. Indiana expansion

USDA’s latest forecast says Nebraska’s expected corn harvest to beat 2007 record by 8 percent

USDA still expecting record Nebraska corn crop

Dakotas may see record sunflower yields despite late, wet harvest; boost supply for US, Canada

Feds to investigate record low milk prices paid to NY farmers as retail price falls minimally

Rice where there was none: Kenyan irrigation shows gov’t investment can stem food shortages

Cott closes sale of $215 million in notes and gets 95 percent response to tender offer