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Activists fight for
bio-tech ban
Anti-biotech zealots have
enough signatures to include a measure banning genetically modified plants or
animals on the ballot in four California counties this fall.
Activists were emboldened by
such a ban in Mendocino County, CA, in March. The Washington,
DC_based Biotechnology Industry Organization says the industry is already
heavily regulated at the federal level.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report;
Vol. 67, No. 29-1; July 16, 2004
Changes due
for farm policy?
USDA's Keith Collins believes U.S. farm policy must change.
The highly respected chief economist says the WTO ruling against U.S. cotton subsidies is just one of the factors that could force changes in policy. Other factors include the huge federal budget deficit that will force Congress to reduce spending for farm programs, the Doha round of WTO negotiations, media attacks on current programs, and the recent GAO study which found poor enforcement by USDA of who receives farm program payments, says Collins.
In addition, improvement in the farm economy will encourage Congress to change farm policy.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 26-1; June 25, 2004
EU wants details
on U.S. subsidy plans
Under pressure from France "not to give away the farm," the European Union's trade negotiator said recently he was willing to scrap EU agricultural subsidies only if the United States gets more specific about its promise to follow suit.
"If we accept zero export subsidies, we are making a big step forward," EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said before heading to the World Trade Organization talks.
The EU made its offer last spring, and the United States has signaled readiness to scrap its own much smaller export subsidies and trade-distorting export credits. But both Washington and Brussels have stressed that the concessions are conditional on poorer countries agreeing to open their own markets.
The talks collapsed last September in Cancun, Mexico, largely over farm support issues.
Source: DTN AgDaily News; July 26, 2004
Equipment sales
are red hot
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers has reported June sales of 4WD up 104 percent from last June and combine sales up 75.4 percent. Year to date, 4WD sales are up 11.9 percent and combine sales up 22.3 percent.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 29-1; July 16, 2004
Glyphosate tests
results are in
The University of Nebraska has completed tests on different brands of glyphosate over three seasons in five different locations across that state.
No significant performance differences were found. But researchers did note that the cheaper the price, the less service you should expect if there are problems.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 28-1; July 9, 2004
Importer bloc will
complicate WTO talks
Food importers have now formed a bloc of their own.
Last year's big development in international ag trade was the forming of the so-called "G-20"—20 developing countries that formed a bloc to counter U.S. and EU dominance of WTO negotiations.
Now there's a so-called "Group of 10" importing nations who say "we won't swallow a piece of paper which is produced without our active participation."
This is bound to further complicate progress.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 26-1; June 25, 2004
Take livestock
temperatures 24/7
Livestock temps 24/7 are now possible through Colt Technology's TekVet System. It's an "early warning system" that monitors animals' temperature via ear-tag transmitter.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 27-1; July 2, 2004
