Jan 17- Cargill Inc, the privately held agribusiness conglomerate and a leading beef processor, said on Thursday it will close its Plainview, Texas, beef plant effective Feb. 1 because there are not enough cattle to supply it. *The U.S. Agriculture Department will release its January 1, 2013, U.S. cattle supply on Feb. 1.
*Vietnam Dec coffee shipments exceed expectations. LONDON, Jan 17- Robusta coffee futures on Liffe set a 2-1/ 2 month high on Thursday, boosted by strong roaster demand which has helped absorb higher-than-expected shipments from Vietnam.
*Vietnam Dec coffee shipments exceed expectations. LONDON, Jan 17- Robusta coffee futures on Liffe set a nine-week high on Thursday, boosted by strong roaster demand which has helped absorb higher-than-expected shipments from Vietnam.
American and European officials are taking longer than expected to agree to begin free-trade talks, leading to some barely contained impatience among European political leaders who are hoping that President Barack Obama will signal support for a pact in his State of the Union address next month. The NYT reports.