Asia Pacific | Australia eyes Iraq interim govt agricultural roleAustralia sa...

Asia Pacific

 

Australia eyes Iraq interim govt agricultural role
Australia said on Sunday it was interested in taking a leading agricultural role in the interim government running post-war Iraq.

 

China politics puts US trade trip on hold
A U.S. agriculture trade negotiator's trip to China has been put on hold to give China's new leaders more time to settle in, a U.S. trade official said on Friday.

 

Japan, a First Hand Look at this Key Export Market
The Japanese economy is mired in an economic slump that has lasted for more than a decade. Still this island nation ranks only behind the United States as an economic powerhouse. Historically, Japan has been the top export market for American farm products, and despite the sluggish economy, Japanese consumers continue to exercise very strong buying habits.

 

Japan: Group Opposes Possible Sale of Meat, Milk of Cloned Cows
A citizens group working against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) urged the health ministry Monday to ban the retailing of meat and milk of cows cloned from the somatic cells of adult animals.

 

Americas

 

llegal Processor Fined
Canadian company receives a $6,000 fine for selling uninspected meat.

 

Europe

 

BSE Breaches Investigated
Agency investigates breaches of SRM controls on imported cattle slaughtered in UK.

 

USA

 

Meat industry identifies export issues as priorities 
The commitment of many countries to export meat was evident at the International Meat Secretariat regional meeting, according to the group's chairman.

 

US: Meat industry group calls for clarification of country-of-origin rules
The American Meat Institute (AMI) has called on the US government to clarify draft guidelines on how to operate a new labeling law, which will require the declaration of the name of the country where a food item originated.

 

USA: Smithfield to merge pork-processing units
US pork producer Smithfield Foods has announced it is to merge two of its major pork processing plants, resulting in the loss of a “minimal” number of jobs as the company tried to cut costs.

 

Beltway summit to focus on livestock, animal protein issues
A two-day conference titled, "Challenges to the U.S. Animal Protein Businesses: Domestic and International Responses, Risks and Repositioning," is slated for May 12 to 14 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Va.

 

Catelli Bros and Advance Food partner in veal, lamb endeavor
Catelli Brothers, one of the nation's largest veal and lamb purveyors, has announced that it will partner with Oklahoma-based Advance Food Co. to introduce a full line of frozen veal and lamb products for the foodservice marketplace.

 

Beef Production Down, Pork Up
USDA says red meat production remained essentially unchanged at 3.50 billion pounds in February.

 

Veneman Announces Additional Assistance for Drought-Stricken Livestock Producers

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2003 Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide surplus USDA stocks of non-fat dry milk to livestock producers in areas hardest hit by continuing drought.