Tuesday, June 30, 2015

China authorities seize 100,000 tons of meat, poultry

Allen Harim cited by OSHA for alleged workplace hazards

Pakistan seeks 50 percent duty on wheat imports

  • freeimages.com
    Pakistan is seeking a 50 percent regulatory duty on the import of wheat.

    From WATTAgNet:
    Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research has sought a 50 percent regulatory duty on the import of wheat, in an effort to discourage purchase from overseas markets due to a surplus.
    The proposal is awaiting final approval from the Economic Coordination Committee.
    The previous 25 percent regulatory duty on wheat recently was raised to 40 percent.
    Some provinces, such as Sindh, have been the victim of substandard wheat imports this year, despite the high-quality wheat produced in the country. Therefore, the provinces recommended the duty increase.
    An official says prices on the international market are lower than Pakistan’s rates, and traders were importing wheat from other countries to sell it cheaper in the local market.
    Because of the imports, “a huge quantity of surplus stock from the previous year is already stored in the country and another bumper crop has started hitting the market,” an official said.
    The World Trade Organization forbids countries from banning the import of any commodity in an open competitive market, so the regulatory duty is the country’s only option to discourage imports.

India closes biggest wheat import deals in a decade

Cargill establishes Technology Application Center in China

Gene that controls soybean seed coat hardness pinpointed

Monday, June 29, 2015

Nebraska flocks hit by avian flu depopulated

Egg, turkey shortages will impact school menus

6 avian influenza stories to follow

  • Freeimages.com/novapages
    Avian influenza continues to have a big impact on the poultry industry.
    From WATTAgNet:
    Avian influenza continues to be a major focus for the poultry industry. Here are six developments concerning avian influenza you should know:
    1. Are avian influenza control strategies working? – University of Minnesota’s Dr. Carol Cardona, meeting at the International Conference on Avian Influenza and Poultry Trade, suggested to poultry health professionals that current methods used to prevent the spread of avian influenza are not working, and encouraged them to rethink the control methods being used.
    2. Another week without new cases – APHIS had previously been sending email notifications concerning outbreaks to shareholders on a daily basis. After multiple days of sending emails stating there were no new cases, the agency announced it would only send notifications when a new case has been confirmed. The last confirmed case was reported on June 17, when a commercial layer flock in Wright County, Iowa, was infected. Before that case was confirmed, the U.S. had gone a full week without any new avian influenza detections.
    3. Avian influenza risk greater downwind – Dr. Brian McCluskey, chief epidemiologist at the USDA Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) told attendees at the International Conference on Avian Influenza and Poultry Trade that studies show avian influenza virus is likely to be airborne, and flocks downwind of premises that have been infected are at a greater risk of contracting the virus.
    4. Funds to fight avian flu must remain, senator says – U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, urged his fellow legislators to not approved proposed budget cuts to the USDA, citing that the agency needs funds to battle the ongoing avian influenza problem.
    5. Michael Foods plans layoffs – After having its egg supply greatly reduced as a result of the avian influenza outbreak, Michael Foods has filed paperwork with the Nebraska Department of Labor, concerning plans to lay off workers at its facilities in Wakefield, Nebraska.
    6. Depopulation of Nebraska flocks completed – The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced that the depopulation of flocks in Dixon County that were hit by avian influenza has been completed. An estimated 4.9 million birds were euthanized.
    Bookmark WATTAgNet's avian influenza update page for current news concerning the virus and its impact on the poultry industry.

Exclusive U.S. distribution rights for NoxiFerm go to Brookside Agra

Eggland's Best voted America's most trusted egg brand

Dr. Rosales participates in International Conference on AI and poultry trade

JBS offers to buy Moy Park for $1.5 billion

  • Bigstock
    JBS has offered to purchase poultry company Moy Park from Marfrig for a price of $1.5 billion.
    From WATTAgNet:
    Brazil-based meat and poultry company JBS has agreed to buy European poultry company Moy Park from Brazilian competitor Marfrig for a price of about $1.5 billion.
    The proposed transaction will involve a $1.19 billion investment from JBS for the acquisition, with another $318 million being invested to take on Moy Park’s current debt. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
    The news of the proposed acquisition comes one month after JBS CEO Wesley Batista said the company will “for sure” be looking at potential acquisitions in the chicken and pork sectors, as well as the packaged food sectors. That statement was a direct departure from comments Batista made during the JBS quarterly earnings call on March 11, when he said the company would not pursue acquisitions in 2015, but would instead seek organic growth.
    Moy Park, whose key product categories include chicken, turkey, broiler hatching eggs, feed sales and beef, processes 234 million birds annually, according to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database. It has 4 processing plants and 6 further processing plants.
    Moy Park has been in a state of expansion in recent months, as it announced plans to complete at least 250 new poultry houses in Northern Ireland. In addition to Northern Ireland, Moy Park also produces and processes poultry in Ireland, England, the Netherlands and France.

Feed mill process control with FT-NIR spectroscopy

Mar-Jac seeks growers to support expansion in Alabama

India’s soybean output expected to jump 10 percent

Friday, June 26, 2015

DuPont Industrial Biosciences President speaks at Agrivision 2015

Report: India must double feed production

EU poultry meat exports up 2.5 percent in early 2015

Date set for the second Foster Farms Bowl

OSHA cites Case Farms for alleged safety violations

Thursday, June 25, 2015

FAO: Avian influenza cases in Africa only the beginning

  • Freeimages.com/pixelstar
    The outbreak of avian influenza in western Africa is likely to become worse, says a veterinary official from FAO.
    From WATTAgNet:
    Avian influenza cases have been growing in western Africa, and the chief veterinary officer of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says the cases being seen now are only the “tip of the iceberg.”
    “I have sufficient information to be worried and insufficient information to be at ease,” the FAO’s Dr. Juan Lubroth told IRIN.
    Highly pathogenic H1N1 avian influenza has not been in the region since 2008, and in some countries, it has not been present since 2006. So far in 2015, the virus has been detected in numerous African countries, including Nigeria, Niger, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Ghana.
    FAO in April had warned that the outbreak, which originated in Nigeria, had the potential to spread into other countries. At that time, it had not yet been confirmed in Niger or Ghana. FAO also cited Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Togo as countries at risk.
    In Nigeria alone, there have been 30 cases of avian influenza confirmed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), affecting nearly 65,000 birds. OIE has also reported five cases of avian influenza in Ghana since June 1, affecting  4,669 birds.
    Bookmark WATTAgNet’s avian influenza update page for 

Analysis: Time to rethink avian flu control strategy

Intervision Foods’ Jim Wayt elected USAPEEC chairman

Just Bare helps youth development programs in Twin Cities

Nigeria officials: Report sick birds instead of selling them

New Cobb breeder award for Holland

Rose Acre Farms breaks ground on Arizona egg farm

Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch expansion effort gets boost

US asking WTO for arbitration over COOL damages

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Senator: Don’t cut USDA funds during avian flu crisis

Analysis: Avian flu risk is greater downwind, APHIS says