Asia Pacific | Beijing Faces Unusual White Christmas; Inner Mongolia Herds Di...
Asia
Beijing Faces Unusual White Christmas; Inner Mongolia Herds Die
Beijing, Dec. 23 -- Record snowfall in northern China is killing livestock in Inner Mongolia and slowing down Beijing traffic, with weather forecasts predicting more snow through Christmas Day.
USA
The South Dakota Cattlemen's Association (SDCA) will push for more equitable treatment in the 2002 Farm Bill for livestock producers growing alfalfa or grass on crop acres. At its recent annual meeting, SDCA members passed resolutions asking that producers who planted alfalfa, alfalfa/grass or grass on acres that had a commodity crop base during the previous farm bill be able to retain that crop base.
Hogs Dodge Fourth Quarter Price Wreck
Tuesday's practical top for live hogs was $31/cwt. at Sioux Falls, $30/cwt. at St. Paul and $29.50/cwt. at St. Joseph. Four years ago, on Dec. 17, 1998, the top prices for barrows and gilts at these three markets were $9, $10 and $9 respectively.
Beef Industry Partnership With Popular Sandwich Shop a Success
More than 600,000 pounds of beef from the top round cut was sold at Quizno's restaurants as a result of a checkoff-supported promotion for the company's Bistro Beef Sub with Au Jus Dipping Sauce this fall. Beef usage at the restaurant was up nearly 50% over its monthly 2002 average during the promotion, which ran Sept. 16 to Oct. 27.
Americas
Venezuela Troops Board Tankers
President Hugo Chavez's government took new measures Saturday to try to retake control of oil production from striking petroleum workers, sending national guard troops to board two tankers filled with gasoline. Gasoline production has nearly halted since oil workers went on strike early this month
Europe
French farmer in wolf-killing row
(12/23/02 - BBC News)
A French sheep farmer has become the first person in France to be placed under formal investigation for killing a wolf. Thirty-five-year-old Herve Bernaudon, a sheep farmer from the Hautes-Alpes region, faces six months in prison if he is found guilty of killing a protected species.