Page 231 of articles about news in Press releases

Chinese farm equipment subsidies are to increase 300 percent to 1.46 billion US dollars this year with targets including doubling of mechanisation in the country’s rice harvest within five years. A special Preview in Beijing heard that momentum like this underlines the crucial importance of Agritechnica, the world’s biggest farm mechanisation event, as shop window, discussion platform and world meeting place for agricultural investors from expanding farming sectors in countries such as China.

Exports of biogas plants more than tripled in value during 2008, reports the German manufacturer EnviTec Biogas AG. The Lohne-based company said that installations increased from 8.2 million Euros to 29.7 million Euros.

The search for the top trainees in the pig and poultry industries has begun with the launch of the 2009 Pfizer Trainee of the Year Awards.

A new technology that kills dangerous pathogens on food at home, and in restaurants, grocery stores, beverage-manufacturing and food-processing facilities, was licensed this week to the maker of FIT Fruit and Vegetable Wash™.

Murphy-Brown LLC, the livestock production subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, Inc., announced today that it is on schedule to complete the certification and farm site assessment components of the Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) program for all its company-owned and contract grower-owned swine production farms in the United States before the end of 2009.

Cranswick, the Yorkshire-based food manufacturer, is to acquire the pork processing business of Bowes of Norfolk Limited for cash funded from existing bank facilities, subject to clearance from the UK Competition Authorities.

Farmers Cooperative Company announced today plans to build a state-of-the-art feed mill in Coon Rapids, Iowa. At capacity, the proposed mill would have 400,000 tons annual output, employ up to 25 people, and consume approximately 9 million bushels of corn per year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced availability of a testing method that it has developed to help food producers detect deadly Salmonella contamination in their products. The Salmonella Rapid Culture Method delivers highly accurate results in less than 48 hours, compared to up to four days for other methods.

The UK pig industry could save nearly £2.5 million a year simply by enclosing creep areas in the farrowing house. In addition, it could reduce CO2 emissions by 15,000 tonnes, thereby making a positive contribution to environmental change.

Atria begins negotiations to discontinue the loss-making business operations of the Lätta Måltider unit, which manufactures salads and sandwiches in Sweden.

Maple Leaf Foods today announced that despite active negotiations with several prospective purchasers, current economic conditions and credit markets have made it difficult to complete a satisfactory sale of its Ontario pork processing business located in Burlington, Ontario.

VIV-organiser VNU Exhibitions announces changes in the trade show calendar in Asia-Pacific. The upcoming VIV China 2009 takes place from October 19 – 21, 2009. VIV India is re-scheduled from November 2009 to February 1 – 3, 2010 and will also move to Bangalore.

Through a number of measures, Danish Crown has taken the next step towards ensuring that the group will remain a competitive business in future.

From 10 April 2009, butchers across Australia will help consumers more clearly identify home-grown, fresh Australian pork.

Rabobank announced the purchase of a $354 million portfolio of agricultural loans from the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).

An arrest has been made and charges laid against a former Maple Leaf Consumer Foods employee by the Guelph Police Service in regards to product tampering of several Schneider’s meat products.