USA | NCBA estimates cost for total BSE testing more than $30 per-head | The ...

USA

NCBA estimates cost for total BSE testing more than $30 per-head

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association's chief economist is estimating that if Creekstone Farms is allowed to voluntarily test all its product for BSE, the major players in the industry will follow suit and the cost of the testing, which he estimates at $30 per-head, will be borne by producers.

USDA stands by decision on independent tests for BSE

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stood by its decision to stop a small Kansas meat processor from carrying out independent tests for BSE, or mad cow disease. Earlier this month the USDA rejected an application by Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to voluntarily test 100% of its beef for processing in order to resume exports to Japan.

Japan

Japan, U.S. to Set Up Working Group to Settle BSE Row (Kyodo News)

TOKYO, Apr 21, 2004 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- Japan and the United States will agree later this week to set up a working group to help settle a dispute over mad cow disease, government sources said Wednesday night. The sources said the two governments will reach the agreement during bilateral talks in Tokyo later this week.

China

China partially eases beef import ban; talks about bird flu continue

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said Wednesday that China will end an embargo on imports of U.S. embryos, bull semen and tallow, but the announcement falls short of expectations that Asia's largest country might be inclined to quickly restore full beef trade with the United States.

China Reports Suspected SARS Case in Beijing

BEIJING (Reuters) - China reported the first suspected SARS case in Beijing since a deadly outbreak last year, saying a nurse was being treated for symptoms of the disease and that more than 170 people were under observation.

Australia

Cattle Council seeks federal funding for NLIS scheme 

The Cattle Council says it will continue to lobby the Federal Government to commit funding for a national livestock identification scheme. Council members met Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss last night, to ask for a commitment of $20 million funding for the scheme. The council's executive director Brett de Hayr says the Minister agreed to consider the funding request and to meet again to discuss options.

NSW dairy seeks to increase live exports to China

The New South Wales dairy industry hopes to earn up to $20 million a year from increasing live exports to China. The state hasn't been able to benefit from the trade because of Chinese concerns over the deadly disease, Blue Tongue. But after a recent trade mission, dairy industry representatives are hopeful they've been able to convince Chinese authorities that the state is free of the disease. New South Wales Farmers Association Dairy Committee chairman Arthur Burns says only 40,000 cattle were exported to China from Australia last year, well below demand.

ACT farmers forced to transport feed as drought worsens

The big dry is hurting farmers in the ACT, who are buying feed from as far away as South Australia to boost dwindling supplies as the conditions worsen.

Grazier Andrew Geike, from Lanyon Station in Canberra's south, says many feed suppliers in the region have been severely drought-affected and don't have extra hay to sell to farmers.

South Korea

Strong Australian Dollar Benefits, Hurts Korea

The Australian dollar has steeply appreciated by 27.1 percent to A$ 1.29 against the U.S dollar early this year. The Australian dollar was worth A$ 1.77 to the American dollar in the beginning of last year. Those unprecedented changes in a foreign exchange rate can occur only in emergent cases like a foreign currency crisis. The Australian dollar has drastically appreciated against the U.S dollar, compared to the appreciation of other currencies, such as the New Zealand dollar (23 percent), the Brazilian real (22 percent), the euro (19 percent) and the yen (11 percent).

IMF Predicts 5.5% Economic Growth for S. Korea

The country's Gross Domestic Product is forecast to mark a stronger than expected growth of 5.5 percent this year. Citing Korea's favorable monetary policies, the International Monetary Fund painted an equally positive picture for 2005.

USA

NCBA estimates cost for total BSE testing more than $30 per-head

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association's chief economist is estimating that if Creekstone Farms is allowed to voluntarily test all its product for BSE, the major players in the industry will follow suit and the cost of the testing, which he estimates at $30 per-head, will be borne by producers.

USDA stands by decision on independent tests for BSE

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stood by its decision to stop a small Kansas meat processor from carrying out independent tests for BSE, or mad cow disease. Earlier this month the USDA rejected an application by Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to voluntarily test 100% of its beef for processing in order to resume exports to Japan.

Japan

Japan, U.S. to Set Up Working Group to Settle BSE Row (Kyodo News)

TOKYO, Apr 21, 2004 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- Japan and the United States will agree later this week to set up a working group to help settle a dispute over mad cow disease, government sources said Wednesday night. The sources said the two governments will reach the agreement during bilateral talks in Tokyo later this week.

China

China partially eases beef import ban; talks about bird flu continue

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said Wednesday that China will end an embargo on imports of U.S. embryos, bull semen and tallow, but the announcement falls short of expectations that Asia's largest country might be inclined to quickly restore full beef trade with the United States.

China Reports Suspected SARS Case in Beijing

BEIJING (Reuters) - China reported the first suspected SARS case in Beijing since a deadly outbreak last year, saying a nurse was being treated for symptoms of the disease and that more than 170 people were under observation.

Australia

Cattle Council seeks federal funding for NLIS scheme 

The Cattle Council says it will continue to lobby the Federal Government to commit funding for a national livestock identification scheme. Council members met Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss last night, to ask for a commitment of $20 million funding for the scheme. The council's executive director Brett de Hayr says the Minister agreed to consider the funding request and to meet again to discuss options.

NSW dairy seeks to increase live exports to China

The New South Wales dairy industry hopes to earn up to $20 million a year from increasing live exports to China. The state hasn't been able to benefit from the trade because of Chinese concerns over the deadly disease, Blue Tongue. But after a recent trade mission, dairy industry representatives are hopeful they've been able to convince Chinese authorities that the state is free of the disease. New South Wales Farmers Association Dairy Committee chairman Arthur Burns says only 40,000 cattle were exported to China from Australia last year, well below demand.

ACT farmers forced to transport feed as drought worsens

The big dry is hurting farmers in the ACT, who are buying feed from as far away as South Australia to boost dwindling supplies as the conditions worsen.

Grazier Andrew Geike, from Lanyon Station in Canberra's south, says many feed suppliers in the region have been severely drought-affected and don't have extra hay to sell to farmers.

South Korea

Strong Australian Dollar Benefits, Hurts Korea

The Australian dollar has steeply appreciated by 27.1 percent to A$ 1.29 against the U.S dollar early this year. The Australian dollar was worth A$ 1.77 to the American dollar in the beginning of last year. Those unprecedented changes in a foreign exchange rate can occur only in emergent cases like a foreign currency crisis. The Australian dollar has drastically appreciated against the U.S dollar, compared to the appreciation of other currencies, such as the New Zealand dollar (23 percent), the Brazilian real (22 percent), the euro (19 percent) and the yen (11 percent).

IMF Predicts 5.5% Economic Growth for S. Korea

The country's Gross Domestic Product is forecast to mark a stronger than expected growth of 5.5 percent this year. Citing Korea's favorable monetary policies, the International Monetary Fund painted an equally positive picture for 2005.