AsiaPacific | China soybean buy signals growing appetite | A soybean delegati...

AsiaPacific

China soybean buy signals growing appetite

A soybean delegation from China yesterday signed contracts of intent for purchases of US soybeans at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). Overnight, the country bought 1.844 million tons of US soybeans, traders said today. In the past trading year the country, which is the largest customer for US soybeans, imported more than 282 million bushels. "The market for US soybeans in China is expanding at an incredible rate," says Zhang Xiao Ping, assistant director for the ASA in Beijing, China.

Cases of BSE may be a new strain

Specialists from the Office International des Épizooties (OIE), the world animal health organisation, are investigating outbreaks of “atypical” BSE strains in Italy and Japan, to confirm whether they are new strains of the disease.

An ad hoc group of experts from the UK, Switzerland, Italy and Japan has been convened at the OIE’s Parisheadquarters to review new test data. So far, they have decided that the Japanese and Italian outbreaks are probably not linked.

Despite these cases involving “observations…not previously been described”, the group did not believe current surveillance, disease control, or human health protection methods should be changed.

South Korea mobilizes military to combat bird flu

South Korean Prime Minister Goh Kun has mobilized hundreds of troops in an effort to contain the spread of the recent outbreak of bird flu. Goh called an emergency cabinet meeting and mobilized the military to combat the outbreak in an agricultural zone southeast of Seoul where mass slaughter of chickens and ducks and the destruction of eggs is under way.

USA

NPPC forms committee to address food-security

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has established a new Animal Health and Food Security Committee with a goal of addressing food security issues from a science-based perspective. The 17 committee members include veterinarians, scientists, pork producers and other industry representatives."Since September 11, 2001, concerns have been raised about the potential for terrorism aimed at the nation's food supply," says Joy Philippi, chair of the committee. "We are all going to have to be increasingly vigilant about enhancing security measures on the farm level."

Pioneer identifies high-energy hybrids for feed

The feed energy levels of corn hybrids vary greatly, according to new research from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. To help swine and poultry producers benefit from corn hybrids that provide above-average energy levels, the company has identified and classified 60 of its hybrids as high available energy (HAE).  These HAE hybrids will be marketed through the Pioneer IndustrySelect program.

AsiaPacific

China soybean buy signals growing appetite

A soybean delegation from China yesterday signed contracts of intent for purchases of US soybeans at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). Overnight, the country bought 1.844 million tons of US soybeans, traders said today. In the past trading year the country, which is the largest customer for US soybeans, imported more than 282 million bushels. "The market for US soybeans in China is expanding at an incredible rate," says Zhang Xiao Ping, assistant director for the ASA in Beijing, China.

Cases of BSE may be a new strain

Specialists from the Office International des Épizooties (OIE), the world animal health organisation, are investigating outbreaks of “atypical” BSE strains in Italy and Japan, to confirm whether they are new strains of the disease.

An ad hoc group of experts from the UK, Switzerland, Italy and Japan has been convened at the OIE’s Parisheadquarters to review new test data. So far, they have decided that the Japanese and Italian outbreaks are probably not linked.

Despite these cases involving “observations…not previously been described”, the group did not believe current surveillance, disease control, or human health protection methods should be changed.

South Korea mobilizes military to combat bird flu

South Korean Prime Minister Goh Kun has mobilized hundreds of troops in an effort to contain the spread of the recent outbreak of bird flu. Goh called an emergency cabinet meeting and mobilized the military to combat the outbreak in an agricultural zone southeast of Seoul where mass slaughter of chickens and ducks and the destruction of eggs is under way.

USA

NPPC forms committee to address food-security

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has established a new Animal Health and Food Security Committee with a goal of addressing food security issues from a science-based perspective. The 17 committee members include veterinarians, scientists, pork producers and other industry representatives."Since September 11, 2001, concerns have been raised about the potential for terrorism aimed at the nation's food supply," says Joy Philippi, chair of the committee. "We are all going to have to be increasingly vigilant about enhancing security measures on the farm level."

Pioneer identifies high-energy hybrids for feed

The feed energy levels of corn hybrids vary greatly, according to new research from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. To help swine and poultry producers benefit from corn hybrids that provide above-average energy levels, the company has identified and classified 60 of its hybrids as high available energy (HAE).  These HAE hybrids will be marketed through the Pioneer IndustrySelect program.