The rules for prevention of mad cow disease are likely to be further tightened this year by the Food and Drug Administration.

FDA will publish on July 1 its final version of cattle feed rules, said Stephen Sundlof, head of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. The rule would most likely take effect about a month later. Draft rules were announced in October.

Source: Bloomberg/ Kerry Young, Feb. 16, 2006
Source URL: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=aDKMsagz9GJI&refer=japan

USDA released its report today on the shipment of bone-in beef that ended up halting of the beef trade between America and Japan. USDA concluded that the product in question posed no safety threat. USDA Secretary Mike Johanns said the shipment occurred because of a misunderstanding between the export company, the USDA inspector, and the importer as to what materials were permitted for trade.

Here is the summary from the report.

Source: USDA/ FSIS, Feb. 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Japan_Export_Investigation_Report.pdf

The rise in popularity of low-carbohydrate diets such as Atkins may have been meteoric, but it was also short-lived. Less than two years since Atkins-related fervor reached a climax, low-carb has been abandoned by manufacturers in favor of a more enduring product claim; low-fat.

Products making low- and no-fat claims now account for more than any other new 'lesser evil' products launched. Datamonitor figures show that in 2001, 7.4% of new food products launched worldwide claimed to contain reduced levels of fat, rising to 10.4% in 2005. Although growth in the proportion of products claiming to be low-fat is comparatively low at only 7.0% a year between 2001 and 2005, the sector remains in a dominant position.

Source: Datamonitor, Feb. 6, 2006
Source URL: http://www.datamonitor.com/~1e43d1eff34249b99d96e0a5f5a89fc8~/industries/news/article/?pid=E6F4851D-628D-4700-ABC4-AFB437C97CE0&type=CommentWire

Milk production in the 23 major States during January totaled 14.0 billion pounds, up 5.4 percent from January 2005. December production, at 13.6 billion pounds, was up 4.1 percent from
December 2004.

The annual production of milk for the U.S. during 2005 was 177 billion pounds, 3.5 percent above 2004. Revisions to 2004 production increased the annual total 129 million pounds. Revised 2005 production was up 0.3 percent or 498 million pounds from last month's publication.

Source: USDA/ NASS, Feb. 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/mkpr0206.txt

FLUID MILK:  Milk production trends across the country are holding steady to increasing seasonally. In the Northeast, milk production is steady to slightly higher with output increasing steadily in the Southeast. Milk supplies in the Central part of the country remain heavy though in slightly better balance with need than they have been in recent weeks. In Arizona, milk production is strong with increases noted in the 4 - 5% range. In California, milk output is very strong. Some reports of 6 - 7% increases from a year ago are noted. More concern is being expressed about how all the milk is going to be handled this spring. Output in the Pacific Northwest is quite variable with reports both higher and lower. Milk production in Utah and Idaho is increasing seasonally at a slow rate. A large snow storm struck much of the East Coast last weekend.

Source: USDA, Feb. 17, 2006

Cheddar Cheese prices received for US 40 pound Blocks averaged $1.28 per pound for the week ending February 11. The price per pound decreased 3.9 cents from the previous week. The price for US 500 pound Barrels adjusted to 38 percent moisture averaged $1.24 per pound, down 4.4 cents from the previous week.

Butter prices received for 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting USDA Grade AA standards averaged $1.24 per pound for the week ending February 11. The U.S. price per pound decreased 3.9 cents from the previous week.

Source: USDA/ NASS, Feb. 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/dppr0706.txt

For the week grain bids closed mix while soybeans edge up slightly higher. Wheat found early pressure from cancellation of Iraqi tender of 1 million tonnes of U.S. wheat. However, weather concerns in the southern plains and good weekly export sales number lend support in the pits. A cold front moved into the southern plains on Thursday and there is concern over wheat that might have come out of dormancy early. Weekly export sales for wheat were reported at 624,100 tonnes as compared to 300,000-500,000 tonnes. Yellow corn was also mix finding support late in the week from higher wheat and strong export sales number. Corn bids at elevators and processors are near or over 2.00 per bushel which is higher than last year.

Source: USDA/ AMS, Feb. 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_GR851.txt

Severe winter weather conditions on the East Coast caused many retail grinders to step into the market to replenish supplies. This along with limited live lean cow numbers forced the lean boneless beef prices higher. In addition, packers continued to bid higher on live cows in order to fill normal business needs. Many threatened to reduce hours next week due to the lack of numbers and decreasing margins. The lower lean percentage items trended mostly steady on moderate demand and offerings. Import boneless beef prices were firm to higher on moderate demand for light offerings early in the week. However, buyer interest improved thoughout the week as the domestic market trended upward. Cow cut prices were mostly lower on light demand and light to moderate offerings.
  
Lean boneless beef 92-94% 2.50 to 5.00 higher; 90% 1.50 to 5.00 higher; 85% steady to 2.00 higher; 81% not established; 75% generally steady; 73% not established; 65% steady. 100% lean items outside rounds firm; all other items weak to lower.

The Cutter cow carcass gross cut out value for Thursday, February 16, 2006 was estimated at 110.61 per cwt, up 2.96 from last Friday.

Source: USDA/ AMS, Feb. 17, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_LS850.txt

The aims of this work were the optimization and the in-house validation of a qualitative method for detection of meat and bone, steamed bone, blood, poultry offal, feather and fish meals in ruminant feeds by microscopy.

Detection limits were 0.05% for meat and bone, steamed bone, blood, feather and fish meals and 0.10% for poultry offal meal.

Source:  In-house validation of a method for detection of animal meals in ruminant feeds by microscopy. Food Control 17 (2): 85-92, 2006. Sanches, R.L.; Alkmin, J.F.; deSouza, S.V.C.; Junqueira, R.G.

How far do you plan ahead? For some, the answer is infinity, because they could tell you if a particular field was going to be planted to corn based on whether they year was odd or even. For others, the answer would be that plans are never made, because someone in the family will find a reason to change them. Few farmers put much faith in crystal balls and soothsayers to get a handle on the future, but the USDA ten year forecast released last week puts a foundation under some potential wobbles in your long term planning. Plug the USDA numbers into your business plan to see how your operation may fare.

Source: Farmgate/ Stu Ellis/ University of Illinois, Feb. 14, 2006
Source URL: http://www.farmgate.uiuc.edu/archive/2006/02/will_you_be_far.html