Asia Pacific | Australian Farmers to Suffer From U.S. Farm Bill The Australia...
Asia Pacific
Australian Farmers to Suffer From U.S. Farm Bill
The Australian farmers, especially dairy and sugar producers, will suffer heavily from the U.S. Farm Bill, an official publication said Monday.
South Korea confirms new cases of FMD in pigs
(full story)24 June, 2002 16:28 GMT+08:00
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea confirmed on Monday three pigs had tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease on a farm less than 100 km south of Seoul and only a day ahead of a World Cup semifinal soccer match in the capital. All 16 farms where there have been positive cases so far in this year's outbreak have been clustered in a range 60-90 km south of the capital. The timing of the outbreak has been particularly uncomfortable for South Korea as it has coincided with the World Cup final which it is co-hosting with Japan. European countries, including Germany which faces South Korea in the semifinal match, have warned travelling soccer fans not to return home with food from the country to avoid any risk of transmitting the disease to European livestock. Thousands of German fans are expected to make it to the match. "The final tests (in the pigs) showed positive for foot-and-mouth," Lee Joo-ho, the director of an emergency team set up at the agriculture ministry said by telephone. On Sunday, the agriculture ministry said an initial test showed the three pigs tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease, fatal to animals with divided hooves but harmless to humans. "The disease is suspected of being brought in by humans or cars, not by air, as it has mainly hit pigs," Lee said. Cattle are more vulnerable to a wind-borne virus since they are usually outdoors. South Korea will slaughter a further 6,138 animals, mainly pigs and cows, in the affected farm and neighbouring areas. This will bring the total culled in a bid to contain the disease since the outbreak started on May 4 to 133,770 animals. The country has almost nine million pigs and almost two million cows. In early 2000, South Korea responded to an outbreak in cattle, which severely damaged its $400 million-a-year pork export, with a sweeping vaccination campaign and limited culling. NO NEW PHASE South Korea does not consider the latest cases a new phase of the outbreak. "Although it is an additional case, I don't think the disease is spreading as it is sporadic and limited in areas," Lee said. Monday's confirmation came nearly two weeks after the most recent confirmed case on June 11. Of the 16 farms with positive cases, 14 farms are located between the cities of Yong-In and Ansong in Kyonggi province. The remaining two were near Chinchon in Chung Chong province. Despite the outbreak, a cattle farmer in the affected area was putting on a brave face. "World Cup fever is hot here," said Uoo Young-mook, a farmer in Ansong, the city most seriously affected by this year's outbreak, by telephone. "The affected farm owners gather together to cheer for Korean team." "While we are doing our best to disinfect our farms, we are also cheering hard for the Korean team," he said. On Tuesday, more than 6.5 million South Korean soccer fans are expected to take to the streets across the country to watch the semi-final match. The country had laid 310 treated mats at airports and harbours to disinfect visitors' shoes and the authorities are also using sniffer dogs. But it has no plan to lay disinfected mats at soccer stadiums.
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Europe and Middle East
'Mad Cow' Disease Can Show Telltale Signs Early
The human form of "mad cow" disease is hard to diagnose early on, but UK researchers have put together a profile of symptoms that may help catch more cases sooner.
UK urges EU sheep intestine ban to counter BSE risk
LONDON, June 24 (Reuters) - Britain's food watchdog recommended to the European Commission on Monday that sheep intestines, used for sausage skins, be banned from the food chain in case mad cow disease should occur in sheep.
Americas
No cases of foot-and-mouth in Argentina for last 5 months
The Argentine government said Saturday that no cases of foot-and-mouth disease among the country's cattle had been reported in the last five months, opening new markets for the nation's beef exports.
BSE in Spain
Spain records its 142nd case of BSE.
USA
South Dakota Judge Orders Halt To National Beef Checkoff
In a strike against the American beef industry, a U.S. District Court judge in South Dakota June 21 ruled the Beef Promotion and Research Act is unconstitutional and ordered a halt to checkoff collections starting July 15.
Statement by the Secretary Ann M. Veneman Regarding Beef Checkoff Challenge
"I am disappointed by the ruling of the U.S. District Court in South Dakota that the Beef Promotion and Research Act is unconstitutional. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regards such programs, when properly administered, as effective tools for market enhancement."
Organic farmers no longer forced to contribute to checkoffs
Farmers tired of paying for programs that promote crops and livestock finally have a way to get out of them: Go organic.
Beef, Pork Production Set May Records
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.02 billion pounds in May, up 4 percent from the 3.88 billion pounds produced in May 2001 and a new record high for May.
US May Merge Food Safety Into Homeland Security
The Bush administration said Thursday it may ask Congress to consider merging a dozen federal agencies that oversee US food safety into the proposed Homeland Security Department.
Democrats Undecided About Beef Quota
The future of the Agriculture Minister's plan to split up the US beef quota is still up in the air.