|
|
|
|
|
Even though the court found no evidence of wrongdoing by Tyson,
the cattlemen are appealing, contending they shouldn't have to pay
Tyson's legal expenses.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report;
Vol. 67, No. 36-1; Sept. 3, 2004
According to the Agriculture Department, the state is farther along than most in setting up a system to identify farms and agriculture facilities and assigning them unique numbers for easy identification.
USDA's program would eventually replace a mishmash of
incomplete records throughout the country. USDA set a July deadline for
states to complete the first step of the program, which is designed to better
identify the origins of disease outbreak. By 2006, USDA
is optimistic the program will be able to identify groups
of animals, and then individual animals.
Source: AFBF; Executive
Newswatch; Aug. 26, 2004
Cats can contact bird flu and spread it to other cats. More research is necessary to determine if cats are capable of spreading bird flu to humans, the scientists concluded.
Nearly 30 people have died from bird flu in Asia so far this year.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Sept. 3, 2004
That move would open Brazilian markets to Cargill products and boost Brazil's meat exports at the same time.
As just another example of the strange bedfellows created by merger mania, one of Cargill's biggest distributors in Europe, Sadia SA, will now be one of two main competitors it faces in the Brazilian market.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report;
Vol. 67, No. 36-1; Sept. 3, 2004
Japan may ease
BSE requirements
A Japanese newspaper reported recently that the government may ease its demand that all cattle be tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
Instead, cattle younger than 20 months would be exempt from testing for BSE. This could open the door for resuming imports of U.S. beef by the end of 2004.
A 21-month-old Holstein bull was the youngest animal found to have BSE in Japan, which some speculate led the government there to consider setting the exemption age for testing at 20 months.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Sept. 3, 2004
Ag exports
set to decline
Fiscal 2005 U.S. agricultural exports are forecast at $57.5 billion, down $4.5 billion from the revised fiscal 2004 estimate.
Most of the decline is due to increased foreign competition and lower prices for cotton, wheat, and soybeans as prices weaken in response to increased global production of these commodities.
Forecast 2005 U.S. agricultural imports reach a record $55 billion, lowering the trade surplus to $2.5 billion, the lowest level since fiscal 1972.
The accelerated import growth that occurred between 2002 and 2004 is largely due to higher processed product prices, partly due to a weaker dollar. These price gains are expected to slow in 2005.
Source: USDA; Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade: Aug. 26, 2004
Texans spend billions
on hunting and fishing
Of the 38 million U.S. residents who hunted, fished or watched wildlife in 2001, nearly 5 million did so in the Lone Star State. Those 5 million spent $5.4 billion, or about $1,100 per person, according to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
While the $5.4 billion spent in 2001 is less than the $6.5 billion, or about $1,400 per person, that hunters, fishermen and wildlife watchers spent in 1996 in Texas, the number of people coming to the state to participate in those activities increased by about 200,000 from 1996 to 2001.
Source: Fiscal Notes; August 2004
Looking at Texas, irrigated land was cash renting for $56 an acre while nonirrigated was $23.70 an acre. Texas pasture land was renting for $7.80 an acre. The highest rental rates for irrigated cropland was in Arizona at $150 an acre, while Wisconsin had the highest pasture leases at $37 an acre.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report;
Vol. 67, No. 35-5; Aug. 27,2004
