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The inventory was 7 percent
above Aug. 1, 2005 and 10 percent above Aug. 1, 2004. This is the second
highest Aug. 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.
Source: USDA; NASS; Cattle on
Feed; Aug. 18, 2006
The company bought 9,000 tons of beef each month from North America before a ban was implemented in 2003.
Since limited imports have resumed, the company has
been able to purchase just a few hundred tons, well shy
of demand.
Source: AFBF; Executive
Newswatch; Oct. 6, 2006
Johanns: 'Wait and see' on farmers drought aid
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns told reporters
recently that Congress should "wait and see" how
farmers fare when harvest is over before making a decision
on drought aid.
Johanns said many U.S. farmers have had a good crop year and will not need drought assistance.
He said the $6.5 billion disaster aid package
farm state lawmakers are advocating "just spreads money
to everybody" without regard to whether or not
individual producers have actually experienced drought conditions.
Source: AFBF; Executive
Newswatch; Sept. 28, 2006
WTO panel will investigate U.S. cotton policy
At the request of the Brazilian government, a World Trade
Organization investigation panel has been formed to determine if the United States
is complying with a decision to remove all cotton subsidies ruled illegal.
If the WTO panel finds that the U.S. has not complied with the 2005 decision, Brazil could request permission to establish retaliatory sanctions up to $1 billion.
Brazil claims the U.S. has not
made any attempts to comply with some parts of the ruling, despite
elimination of the "Step 2" program.
Source: AFBF; Executive
Newswatch; Sept. 28, 2006
The recommendations are:
• An opportunity to petition for a referendum every five years, with 10 percent of beef production signing the petition triggering a vote within a year.
• An adjustment of the checkoff rate from $1 to $2 per head.
• Enhanced understanding of the Federation of State Beef Council and considering a change in its name
• Make the checkoff more inclusive by eliminating any reference to the charter date.
While the four recommendations were passed by at least
two-thirds of the Task Force, not all were supported
unanimously. These recommendations will now be presented to
national and state beef organizations, which will
consider them as they develop future policy regarding
the checkoff.
Source: AFBF; Policy Links; Sept. 11, 2006
Food-related illnesses decline overall, CDC says
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
incidence of food-related illnesses among U.S. consumers has
declined over the last decade.
Improved industry controls and inspections are behind the drop in food-related illnesses, according to the CDC.
In 2005, human illnesses caused by virtually every germ tracked by the CDC were down compared to 1996-1998, when the FoodNet tracking system was initiated.
Illnesses caused by various germs declined as follows: yersinia, 49 percent; shigella, 43 percent; listeria, 32 percent; camplobacter, 30 percent; the 0157 E. coli strain, 39 percent; and salmonella, 9 percent.
Germs from foods annually cause illness in more than 75 million
Americans, with 323,000 seeking hospital treatment and 5,000 deaths.
Source: AFBF; Executive
Newswatch; Oct. 3, 2006
Oyster harvesters propose crop insurance package
Louisiana's oyster harvesters have asked for federal approval of a
crop insurance plan for their business.
"For as little as $100, you could get catastrophic coverage," said Mike Voisin, chairman of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force and owner of Motivatit Seafoods Inc. in Houma.
The program would take the 30-year production average in a
given harvesting area as a base, and harvesters would decide how much
coverage to buy each year.
Source: DTN Ag News; Sept. 5, 2006
