A regional grocery company in the eastern U.S. will exit the manufacturing end of the business when it sells its dairy operation to a milk producers’ cooperative.

Giant Food LLC will sell its processing plant in Landover, Md., to the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative for an undisclosed sum.

Source: Washington Post/ Ylan Q. Mui, Feb. 24, 2006
Source URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/23/AR2006022302120.html

Wisconsin farmers may get a boost out of a bill passed by the state Senate mandating that utilities produce 10 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2015. The legislation could offer a greater market for corn for ethanol, methane from digesters, wind farms, and the like.

Currently the state says utilities must get 4 percent of their energy from renewable resources.

Source: Gazette/ Associated Press/ Ryan J. Foley, Feb. 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.gazetteextra.com/energybill022106.asp

The U. S. Department of Agriculture today announced a final rule that implements amendments to the current provisions of the Pacific Northwest and Arizona-Las Vegas milk marketing orders.  Producers in both milk markets approved these amendments.

This decision is based on testimony and evidence given at a public hearing held at Tempe, Ariz., beginning on Sept. 23, 2003; reconvened and continuing at Seattle, Wash., on Nov. 17, 2003, and reconvened and concluding at Alexandria, Va., on Jan. 23, 2004. 

Source: USDA/ AMS, Feb. 23, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/028-06.htm

In an effort to move Minnesota one step closer to regaining TB-Free Status, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are asking Northwestern Minnesota cattle producers within ten miles of an infected beef herd or deer to test their cattle for bovine tuberculosis (TB). Producers within an additional five mile “buffer” zone are also encouraged to test their cattle.

Herds within the 15-mile radius will receive free bovine TB testing for all animals 12 months of age and older.

Source: State of Minnesota/ News Release, Feb. 22, 2006
Source URL: http://www.bah.state.mn.us/diseases/tuberculosis/MN%20TB%20-%2010%20mile%20testing.pdf

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.89 billion pounds in January, up 7 percent from the 3.65 billion pounds produced in January 2005.

Veal production totaled 12.5 million pounds, 6 percent below January a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 55,700 head, down 18 percent from January 2005. The average live weight was 39 pounds above last year, at 368 pounds.

Source: USDA/ NASS, Feb. 24, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/lstk0206.txt

Cheddar Cheese prices received for US 40 pound Blocks averaged $1.25 per pound for the week ending February 18. The price per pound decreased 2.7 cents from the previous week. The price for US 500 pound Barrels adjusted to 38 percent moisture averaged $1.22 per pound, down 1.6 cents from the previous week.

Butter prices received for 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting USDA Grade AA standards averaged $1.22 per pound for the week ending February 18. The U.S. price per pound decreased 2.0 cents from the previous week.

Source: USDA/ NASS, Feb. 24, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/dppr0806.txt

For the week, grain bids closed mix. Wheat found support from poor crop conditions in the southern plains. A cold blast swept across the southern plains last weekend causing concerns of possible crop damage. Temperatures reach below zero in some areas of northern Kansas. Fields have deteriorated due to prolong drought conditions in the hard red winter belt.

Source: USDA/ AMS, Feb. 24, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_GR851.txt

Many cow harvest facilities cut hours this week as cow prices remained higher due to the very limited supplies. This allowed packers to force boneless beef prices higher. However, many grinders were willing to pay the higher prices because they needed the leaner products for their grinding formulations. In addition, beef trimmings from the steer and heifer sector were also limited as their numbers were reduced also. This caused price levels on the lower lean percent items to trend upward for the trading period. Import boneless beef prices were firm on slow market activity. Out-front interest was good due to limited offerings. Although spot supplies were moderate, prices were firm due to the lack of domestic product. Many grinders were scrambling to secure enough lean products to fill normal business needs. Cow ribeyes, items used for grinding, tenderloins and majority of the 100% lean items traded at higher prices on light offerings.
  
Lean boneless beef 92-94% 2.00 to 8.00 higher; 90% 4.50 to 7.00 higher; 85% 6.00 to 9.00 higher; 81% not established; 75% generally steady; 73% not established; 65% 4.00 to 5.00 higher. 100% lean inside rounds, outside rounds, eye of round and striploins higher; S.P.B. lower and flats/eyes steady.
  
The Cutter cow carcass gross cut out value for Thursday, February 23, 2006 was estimated at 116.40 per cwt, up 4.95 from last Friday.

Source: USDA/ AMS, Feb. 24, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_LS850.txt

In this work, the effect of pH on the solubility of tilmicosin in its aqueous phase was examined.

The dissociation activation energy was found to be -46.5 kJ/mol at pH 4.5. This high activation energy value was mostly attributed to the formation of tilmicosin salt.

Source: Study on the extraction equilibrium of tilmicosin between the aqueous and butyl acetate phases. Chemical Engineering Communications 193 (4): 427-437, 2006. Xu, Z.N.; Wang, J.; Shen, W.H.; Cen, P.L.

A dairy company in Bahrain has changed its name because of the boycott of all things Danish in Middle Eastern countries—even though the company is totally Bahraini owned.

Bahrain Danish Dairy Company has lost more than BD150,000 ($398,000 US) because of the boycott, and suffered a 35 percent drop in sales from its main export countries. Last year, the company had sales of BD8.25 million ($21.9 million US). Muslims make up about 81 percent of Bahrain’s population.

Source: Gulf Daily News/ Soman Baby, Feb. 23, 2006
Source URL: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=136212&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28340