Page 612 of articles about news in Swine news

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today issued the 2008 Annual Report of the Packers and Stockyards Program. The report assesses the general economic state of the livestock and poultry industries; describes changing business practices in those industries; and identifies market operations or activities that appear to raise concerns under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) issued provisional Import Heath Standards (IHSs) for pig meat, pig meat products and by-products from Canada, the EU, Mexico and the USA. The four provisional IHSs include risk management measures based on a risk analysis on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus in pig meat. PRRS is a viral disease of pigs found in many pig-producing countries, but which is not found in New Zealand or Australia.

On March 25th, 2009 the Ukrainian Customs Service stopped charging an additional 13% import duty for beef, pork, offal, poultry products, processed beef and pork; raw sugar, grape wine and fermented beverages in excess of WTO negotiated levels. Some legal aspects of this duty decrease are still not clear, but previously negotiated customs duties are now restored.

The world economic crisis that began in 2008 has major consequences for U.S. agriculture. The weakening of global demand because of emerging recessions and declining economic growth result in reduced export demand and lower agricultural commodity prices, compared with those in 2008. These, in turn, reduce U.S. farm income and place downward pressures on farm real estate values. So far, the overall impact on U.S. agriculture is not as severe as on the broader U.S. economy because the record-high agricultural exports, prices, and farm income in 2007 and 2008 put U.S. farmers on solid financial ground. Moreover, the debt equity ratios in agriculture tend to be more conservative than those in most other sectors of the economy. There is much uncertainty concerning the depth and extent of the crisis. The outcomes for U.S. agriculture are dependent on whether or not there is a global realignment of exchange rates to correct current macroeconomic imbalances.

Two percent fewer pigs will be slaughtered this year in the European Union according to figures submitted by member countries. Not all countries have sent in their data, and past forecasts have not been particularly accurate, but the trend towards tighter supplies is unmistakable.

First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said Friday that Russia, the largest importer of U.S. chicken in 2008, would become self-sufficient in poultry and pork in 2011.

This notice reissues FSIS Notice 16-08. This notice provides instructions for Public Health Veterinarians (PHVs) and other inspection program personnel to conduct humane handling activities randomly throughout their tour of duty. Also, PHVs are to encourage establishments to develop and implement a systematic approach for the humane handling of animals.

Proposed for introduction in 2012, farmers will be forced to pay an annual fee to help pay for surveillance and preparation for the outbreak of diseases, such as bluetongue, classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth.

The Bureau of Animal Industry is planning to conduct a surveillance for Ebola-Reston virus in the Visayas and Mindanao hog farms after it concludes the activity in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

This study uses data from two national surveys of hog farmers to examine how hog manure management practices vary with the scale of production and how these practices evolved between 1998 and 2004. Included are the effects of structural changes, recent policies on manure management technologies and practices, the use of nutrient management plans, and manure application rates. The findings suggest that larger hog operations are altering their manure management decisions in response to binding nutrient application constraints, and that environmental policy is contributing to the adoption of conservation compatible manure management practices.

Research underway at the University of Manitoba suggests distillers dried grains with solubles have the potential to play an important role in swine nutrition. Dr. Martin Nyachoti, who is overseeing the swine research, says characterizing the digestibility of nutrients and making that data available will allow nutritionists to formulate rations more accurately.

The Russian veterinary authorities have sent Follow up Report No. 15 to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The Caribbean is a strong growth market for U.S. meat exports. Last year, the area accounted for almost $150 million in U.S. beef and pork exports. The island region was also the largest destination for U.S. lamb, purchasing about half the value of all U.S. lamb exports.

A new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been reported in Sichuan province.

The European Commission presented a White Paper laying out a European framework for action to improve Europe's resilience to climate change, emphasising the need to integrate adaptation into all key European policies and enhance co-operation at all levels of governance. Complementing the White Paper, the report "Adapting to climate change: the challenge for European agriculture and rural areas" summarises the main impacts of climate change on EU agriculture, examines adaptation needs, describes the implications for the CAP and explores possible orientations for future action. It aims at further engaging Member States and the farming community into a debate and action on adaptation needs that result from climate pressures.

The United States may need to consider mandatory farmer participation in a livestock traceback system, but insight must first be gathered from opponents of the idea, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Friday.