Asia PacificJapan confirms 18th case of BSEThe authorities here confirmed Jap...

Asia Pacific

Japan confirms 18th case of BSE
The authorities here confirmed Japan's 18th case of mad cow disease, amid pressure from the U.S. to resume imports of its beef suspended over health fears.

Commission to discuss lifting beef ban
Lawmakers from Japan's ruling party endorsed a plan Thursday for the food regulators to consider lifting the country's costly ban on American beef imports.

Americas

Tyson Foods latest to expand Canada beef plants
Tyson Foods Inc. will start slaughtering more Canadian cattle at a plant in Brooks, Alberta, in mid-June after spending C$17 million ($13.6 million) on an expansion.

Europe

Agriculture Commissioner indicates EU could be flexible in WTO talks
The European Commissioner for agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, has indicated a fresh willingness to be flexible in protecting European food production to secure agreement at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Doha Development Round.

USA

BSE study puts beef export market loss in range of $3.2 to $4.7 Billion
The Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension today released "The Economic Impact of BSE on the U.S. Beef Industry," which provides a comprehensive assessment of the economic impact of lost export markets and policy changes affecting cattle procurement and processing.

USDA sees soybean production down 8% at 2.895 billion bushels
USDA today projected US oilseed production for 2005/06 at 89.2 million tons, down 8% from 2004/05, saying soybean production will account for most of the reduction.

ConAgra chief stepping down, seeking replacement
Bruce Rohde, chairman and chief executive of ConAgra Foods Inc., said he will be stepping down as chief executive in the near future and asked the Board of Directors to approve a search committee for his replacement headed by Board member Steven F. Goldstone, retired head of RJR Nabisco.

Asia Pacific

Japan confirms 18th case of BSE
The authorities here confirmed Japan's 18th case of mad cow disease, amid pressure from the U.S. to resume imports of its beef suspended over health fears.

Commission to discuss lifting beef ban
Lawmakers from Japan's ruling party endorsed a plan Thursday for the food regulators to consider lifting the country's costly ban on American beef imports.

Americas

Tyson Foods latest to expand Canada beef plants
Tyson Foods Inc. will start slaughtering more Canadian cattle at a plant in Brooks, Alberta, in mid-June after spending C$17 million ($13.6 million) on an expansion.

Europe

Agriculture Commissioner indicates EU could be flexible in WTO talks
The European Commissioner for agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, has indicated a fresh willingness to be flexible in protecting European food production to secure agreement at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Doha Development Round.

USA

BSE study puts beef export market loss in range of $3.2 to $4.7 Billion
The Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension today released "The Economic Impact of BSE on the U.S. Beef Industry," which provides a comprehensive assessment of the economic impact of lost export markets and policy changes affecting cattle procurement and processing.

USDA sees soybean production down 8% at 2.895 billion bushels
USDA today projected US oilseed production for 2005/06 at 89.2 million tons, down 8% from 2004/05, saying soybean production will account for most of the reduction.

ConAgra chief stepping down, seeking replacement
Bruce Rohde, chairman and chief executive of ConAgra Foods Inc., said he will be stepping down as chief executive in the near future and asked the Board of Directors to approve a search committee for his replacement headed by Board member Steven F. Goldstone, retired head of RJR Nabisco.