Asia Pacific | ASEAN approves talks with JapanA day after reaching a deal wit...

Asia Pacific

ASEAN approves talks with Japan
A day after reaching a deal with China in a bid to create the world's largest free trade zone, the leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations have approved free trade talks with Japan.

Japan finds possible mad cow case in 20-month-old bull
A 20-month-old Holstein bull in Japan's northern island of Hokkaidomay have mad cow disease, a local government official said on Tuesday, a development that could impede efforts to end a ban on U.S. beef imports.

Philippine province may reduce pork prices
Backyard hog raisers in the Philippine province of Negros Occidentalmay reduce pork prices in the market next month from its expected 5 to 15 percent hike during the yuletide season.

Europe

On-line Registration
Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan has launched a new facility to register calf births online through the Department's website.

Beef Export Strategy
English beef producers are warned to study what is needed for the European export market.

Americas

Bush visiting Canada
President Bush's trip North of the border will be akin to a polite dance where he'll try to avoid missteps that could create more anti-Americanism in Canada.

Bush to dine on Alberta beef, may announce end of cattle ban
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin will be serving Albertabeef to U.S. President George W. Bush Tuesday night as he presses Bush to reopen the U.S. border to Canadian beef, lumber and other products.

Mad cow bans cost Canada farmers C$5 billion
Canadian farmers have lost close to C$5 billion ($4.2 billion) in revenues since the country's first home-grown case of mad cow disease 18 months ago sparked trade bans.

USA

Smithfield Foods profit soars 61 percent on hog production, higher prices
Smithfield Foods Inc., the world's largest pork producer, said profit in the fiscal second quarter rose 61 percent as the company sold more hogs at higher prices.

Pork Board plans 'bold new marketing initiative'
The National Pork Board has approved a $53.7 million budget for 2005 that will allow for the first major change in the pork industry's consumer marketing program since the "Pork.

Soybean seed companies sing same song on rust: Scout, and spray
Plant breeders have the reputation of miracle workers. They've manipulated genes to create plants with resistance to everything from the deadliest herbicides to the hardiest bugs to the ugliest stalk and stem rots.

R-CALF: Stop releasing inconclusive test results, open up BSE test supply
R-CALFUSA, which represents cattle ranchers nationwide, blasted the Agriculture Department Monday, saying that release of inconclusive bovine spongiform encephalopathy test results "traumatizes" cattle markets.

Asia Pacific

ASEAN approves talks with Japan
A day after reaching a deal with China in a bid to create the world's largest free trade zone, the leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations have approved free trade talks with Japan.

Japan finds possible mad cow case in 20-month-old bull
A 20-month-old Holstein bull in Japan's northern island of Hokkaidomay have mad cow disease, a local government official said on Tuesday, a development that could impede efforts to end a ban on U.S. beef imports.

Philippine province may reduce pork prices
Backyard hog raisers in the Philippine province of Negros Occidentalmay reduce pork prices in the market next month from its expected 5 to 15 percent hike during the yuletide season.

Europe

On-line Registration
Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan has launched a new facility to register calf births online through the Department's website.

Beef Export Strategy
English beef producers are warned to study what is needed for the European export market.

Americas

Bush visiting Canada
President Bush's trip North of the border will be akin to a polite dance where he'll try to avoid missteps that could create more anti-Americanism in Canada.

Bush to dine on Alberta beef, may announce end of cattle ban
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin will be serving Albertabeef to U.S. President George W. Bush Tuesday night as he presses Bush to reopen the U.S. border to Canadian beef, lumber and other products.

Mad cow bans cost Canada farmers C$5 billion
Canadian farmers have lost close to C$5 billion ($4.2 billion) in revenues since the country's first home-grown case of mad cow disease 18 months ago sparked trade bans.

USA

Smithfield Foods profit soars 61 percent on hog production, higher prices
Smithfield Foods Inc., the world's largest pork producer, said profit in the fiscal second quarter rose 61 percent as the company sold more hogs at higher prices.

Pork Board plans 'bold new marketing initiative'
The National Pork Board has approved a $53.7 million budget for 2005 that will allow for the first major change in the pork industry's consumer marketing program since the "Pork.

Soybean seed companies sing same song on rust: Scout, and spray
Plant breeders have the reputation of miracle workers. They've manipulated genes to create plants with resistance to everything from the deadliest herbicides to the hardiest bugs to the ugliest stalk and stem rots.

R-CALF: Stop releasing inconclusive test results, open up BSE test supply
R-CALFUSA, which represents cattle ranchers nationwide, blasted the Agriculture Department Monday, saying that release of inconclusive bovine spongiform encephalopathy test results "traumatizes" cattle markets.