South Africa confident Brazil will not go to World Trade Organization over poultry tariffs

South Africa does not believe Brazil will go to the World Trade Organization over its decision to impose higher tariffs on some poultry imports, and that there's "no big crisis" with Brazil on poultry, according to South Africa Trade Minister Rob Davies.
Brazil's poultry association has said that it would ask the government to approach the World trade Organization about import charges of 6 percent to 63 percent that South Africa imposed on Brazil's exports. Initial information showed that Brazilian producers were dumping products in South Africa and neighboring countries, according to legal representation for the South African Poultry Association.

Foreign investment up in Vietnam animal feed industry

Foreign firms have been increasing their investments in Vietnam's animal feed industry, expanding production and the overall market to keep up with growing demand, according to the Vietnam Animal Feed Association.
In March, U.S.-invested Cargill Vietnam added two factories to its nine existing facilities, increasing its total capacity to 1 million metric tons per year and accounting for 10 percent of the local market. In 2011, China-based CP and New Hope announced that they will each build six additional factories to their existing Vietnam operations by 2014.
Vietnam's animal feed demand is expected to reach 18 to 20 million metric tons by 2015 and 25 to 26 million metric tons by 2020. The country currently has 59 foreign-invested firms and joint ventures which hold 70 percent of the domestic market share, while 180 local firms retain the remaining 30 percent.

US corn surplus larger than expected on early harvest

The U.S. corn surplus on August 31 will be larger than previously estimated as farmers begin harvesting early after a warmer-than-usual spring in the Midwest, and as more wheat is used to feed livestock, according to reports.
Unsold supplies will come to 801 million bushels, up from the average estimate of 715 million bushels, though still down from 2011's 1.128 billion bushels, said U.S. Department of Agriculture data. “The USDA is saying that rising wheat supplies will bridge the gap in corn supplies before the U.S. harvest begins,” said Roy Huckabay, an executive vice president of the Linn Group. “Corn supplies are tight, and that will increase attention on crop conditions and weather forecasts the next three months.” Corn futures for May delivery fell 1.4 percent to $6.49 a bushel On April 9 on the Chicago Board of Trade. The commodity has dropped 16 percent in the past year on forecasts that world wheat reserves will rise to the highest since 2002.
Estimates say that 4.6 billion bushels of corn will be used for animal feed, 5 billion for ethanol and 1.7 billion for exports. Global corn consumption will reach 867.29 million tons, an increase from 848.06 million last year, according to the USDA.

EU forecasts 2012 wheat harvest up 2 percent

The EU soft-wheat harvest will rise an estimated 2 percent in 2012, to 131.4 million metric tons from 2011's 128.8 million metric tons, according to the European Commission.
Stocks of the wheat may climb to 13.8 million metric tons by the end of June 2013 from 10.1 million metric tons, with feed use falling by 2 million metric tons to 53 million metric tons. Output of durum wheat could rise to 8.4 million metric tons from 8.1 million metric tons, according to the commission.
The EU's barley harvest is also forecast to climb, to 54.7 million metric tons from 2011's 51.3 million metric tons. Corn production may drop, to 62.2 million metric tons from 66.8 million metric tons, with ending stocks settling at 9.3 million metric tons from 13.2 million metric tons.

Alltech 2012 symposium regulatory session to address feed safety, trade

Alltech’s 28th Annual International Symposium, held May 20–23 in Lexington, Ky., will address the challenges of the increasing global population, evolving regulations and the publicity of food safety through its dedicated regulatory session, featuring expert speakers from leading regulatory organizations and influencers.
“Agriculture is at a crossroad between competitiveness, trade, safety and sustainability," said Jean Kennedy, European regulatory affairs manager for Alltech. "Minimum standards of feed safety are often not enough. Businesses are going beyond these minimum standards for several reasons including strict retailer procurement policies, brand/reputation management and consumer demand. This regulatory session will address both feed safety and trade against the backdrop of these competing demands.”
Regulatory focused session topics will include:
Feed Safety

• Key Challenges to Sub-Saharan Feed Safety and Regulation
• Food Safety Modernization Act
• Japanese Case Study: Crisis Management
• Quality Assurance – A marketing ploy or a risk reduction strategy?
Feed Trade

• Ensuring Compliance Across International Boundaries
• Do Better Standards Mean Safer, Better Foods?
• 5 Trends that Might Concern You – Reviewing the regulatory scene
• Feeding 9 billion people: A unique challenge for the world’s feed industry
Featured presenters at the regulatory session will be De Wet Boshoff, executive director of the African Feed Manufacturers Association; Mario Cutait, chairman of the International Feed Industry Federation; Joe Hain, deputy director, Processed Products and Technical Regulations Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Keith Millar, head of Animal Feed Unit and Secretary to the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, Food Standards Agency, United Kingdom; Joel Newman, president of the American Feed Industry Association; Ashley Peterson, National Chicken Council, United States; Katsuaki Sugiura, professor at the University of Tokyo Research Center for Food Safety; Patrick Wall, professor of Public Health at the University College Dublin, Ireland.
The symposium is expected to draw more than 2,500 delegates from around the world. Registration is discounted through April 14.

Australian pig expert to discuss boosting UK production

Australian pig expert Dr. Paul Hughes is expected to provide a clear and possibly challenging view on the practicalities of breeding, herd management and how to improve performance when he addresses two special Two-Tonne Sow events for English pig producers on May 9 and 10.
Hughes will be drawing on years of pig farming experience and his research at the South Australian Research and Development Institute when he speaks at the events, which are entitled, “Reproduction: What’s New?” and have been organized by the British Pig Executive. “New ideas and advice on how they can be put into practice are invaluable, as we help the English industry increase production,” said BPEX knowledge transfer manager Angela Cliff. Key meeting topics are gestation management (housing and feeding), seasonal infertility, feeding for litter size and lactational oestrus.
Other speakers at the meetings will include Mick Hazzeldine from Premier Nutrition and Dr. Steven Jagger from ABN. 

Russian Baltic Pork Invest sees 2011 sow herd, production increase

In 2010 and 2011, the sow herd of Kaliningrad-based Russian Baltic Pork Invest increased from 3,100 sows to 6,200 sows, leading to weekly slaughter that grew from 2,000 pigs to 4,000 pigs, according to the company's latest report.
The company puts a high emphasis on biosecurity, surrounding its farm with high fences and guards 24/7. The structure is based on separated sections for breeding and gestation, farrowing, weaning and slaughter pigs. A quarantine unit for replacement stock is separated from the main herd, and a disinfectant bath is available for incoming vehicles.
During 2011, an average 32.3 piglets were weaned per sow. There was a low mortality and high growth rate among growers and slaughter pigs. There are plans to expand business with at least ten new farms in Russia in the coming years, according to the company.