Asia Pacific | Farm exporters to step up pressure in WTO talksCANBERRA, Feb ...

Asia Pacific

Farm exporters to step up pressure in WTO talks
CANBERRA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Leading farm exporters will step up pressure on the United States and Europe to kickstart stalled world trade talks by tackling issues over agriculture, Australia said on Friday.

Americas

UPDATE 1-USDA sees no more obstacles to Mexico easing beef ban
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - A senior U.S. Agriculture Department official said on Thursday he saw "no further obstacles" to Mexico relaxing its ban on American beef shipments, but he refused to speculate on when that might happen.

Cattle/Calf Inventories in Canada Soar: Stats Canada
Canada's estimated total cattle and calf inventories as of January 1, 2004, climbed to a record high level in the wake of the worldwide ban on Canadian cattle because of the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, according to figures released February 18 by Statistics Canada.

USA

USDA projects US 2004 beef output off at 25.4 bln lbs
WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - U.S. beef production will drop about 3 percent "to nearly 25.4 billion lbs" and fed cattle prices will average in the mid-$70s, the Agriculture Department said Friday at its annual outlook forum.

US must do more on ag in FTAA -Argentine ambassador
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The United States needs to sweeten its offer on agriculture for regional free trade talks to have any hope of finishing by a Jan. 1, 2005, deadline, Argentina's ambassador to the United States said on Thursday.

Mad cow fear gone; prices set to drop for beef
Government economists said Thursday that retail prices for choice-grade beef will drop by 10 percent to 15 percent this year because of the slump in exports following the nation's first-ever mad cow case.

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman’s Keynote Address - Ag Outlook Forum 2004
"The theme of this year’s Outlook Forum illustrates yet another challenge, and, no doubt, opportunities. We chose the theme "Ensuring a Healthy Food Supply" because of the increasing focus on diet and health issues inAmerica, and the potential impact of these trends on the food system."

Asia Pacific

Farm exporters to step up pressure in WTO talks
CANBERRA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Leading farm exporters will step up pressure on the United States and Europe to kickstart stalled world trade talks by tackling issues over agriculture, Australia said on Friday.

Americas

UPDATE 1-USDA sees no more obstacles to Mexico easing beef ban
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - A senior U.S. Agriculture Department official said on Thursday he saw "no further obstacles" to Mexico relaxing its ban on American beef shipments, but he refused to speculate on when that might happen.

Cattle/Calf Inventories in Canada Soar: Stats Canada
Canada's estimated total cattle and calf inventories as of January 1, 2004, climbed to a record high level in the wake of the worldwide ban on Canadian cattle because of the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, according to figures released February 18 by Statistics Canada.

USA

USDA projects US 2004 beef output off at 25.4 bln lbs
WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - U.S. beef production will drop about 3 percent "to nearly 25.4 billion lbs" and fed cattle prices will average in the mid-$70s, the Agriculture Department said Friday at its annual outlook forum.

US must do more on ag in FTAA -Argentine ambassador
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The United States needs to sweeten its offer on agriculture for regional free trade talks to have any hope of finishing by a Jan. 1, 2005, deadline, Argentina's ambassador to the United States said on Thursday.

Mad cow fear gone; prices set to drop for beef
Government economists said Thursday that retail prices for choice-grade beef will drop by 10 percent to 15 percent this year because of the slump in exports following the nation's first-ever mad cow case.

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman’s Keynote Address - Ag Outlook Forum 2004
"The theme of this year’s Outlook Forum illustrates yet another challenge, and, no doubt, opportunities. We chose the theme "Ensuring a Healthy Food Supply" because of the increasing focus on diet and health issues inAmerica, and the potential impact of these trends on the food system."