A third case of mad cow in America hasn’t derailed USDA plans to scale back testing for the disease. Current testing levels are about 1,000 per day, up from 55 in 2003.

A 10-year-old Alabama cow tested positive for the disease last week, and another test has confirmed the cow was infected. One additional test remains.

Source: Forbes/ Associated Press/ Libby Quaid, March 15, 2006
Source URL: http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/03/14/ap2594725.html

The tariff on unprocessed grain corn entering Canada from the U.S. will remain in place until at least mid-April after today’s final decision by the Canada Border Service that American grain imports are dumped and subsidized.

In December, CBSA set a provisional anti-dumping duty of 58 cents(US) per bushel on unprocessed corn from the U.S., and a countervailing duty of $1.07 per bushel for a total of $1.65 per bushel.

Source: Reuters, March 15, 2006
Source URL: http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?
type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-03-
15T171950Z_01_N15272459_RTRIDST_0_CANADA-
FOOD-CANADA-TRADE-COL.XML

Residents of six Indiana and Ohio counties recently learned how to arm themselves for battle against large-scale farms, including Hound-ing farms.

Consultants for the New York-based Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE) gave residents from Blackford, Delaware, Jackson, Rush, Wayne and (Ohio's) Darke counties some basic tips: buy organic food; vote; don’t trust the government to protect you; file lawsuits; carry a camera everywhere; take water samples; and take air samples.

Source: The Star Press/ Seth Slabaugh, March 15, 2006
Source URL: http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20060315/NEWS01/603150322/1002

A Tennessee lawmaker has looked across the border at the nation’s third case of mad cow disease in neighboring Alabama and renewed his battle to ban cattle protein or bone meal made from cattle or other ruminants in all livestock feed. The measure would be tougher than federal regulations regarding feed ingredients.

Rep. Frank Nicely, a Republican from Strawberry Plains, said the tougher regulations should have been put in place a decade ago.

Source: Tennessean/ Associated Press/ Erik Schelzig, March 15, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20060315/BUSINESS01/603150365/1436/BUSINESS

A bill that would have restricted new rules being imposed on Arizona’s agriculture industry died Tuesday after a preliminary vote in the state Senate.

The bill would have amended the state Constitution and was initially aimed at pre-empting a potential citizens’ initiative to ban the use of sow crates, among other livestock production practices. After a public outcry and subsequent revision, the bill still failed, 15-12.

Source: The Arizona Republic/ Amanda J. Crawford, March 15, 2006
Source URL: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0315agriculture-bill0315.html

Pennsylvania producers will be required later this year to include odor controls on new large-scale livestock operations according to revised state laws. But what those regulations are isn’t known yet.

The odor controls will not be required when producers spread manure to fertilize their fields.

Source: The Daily Item/ John Finnerty, March 15, 2006
Source URL: http://www.dailyitem.com/archive/2006/0315/biz/stories/02biz.htm

An individual milk producer trying to influence prices is like a voice crying in the wilderness: unheeded, lonely and with little chance of being heard by those in power. But, if milk producers join a cooperative, and then the nation’s 50 largest cooperatives join together, well, processors would almost be forced to take notice, according to one economist.

Richard Levins, an agricultural economist and emeritus professor at the University of Minneosta, said the top four dairy processors account for 60 percent of fluid milk and 80 percent of cheese sales. The nation’s largest processor has 30 percent of the market share.

Source: Agri News/ Jean Caspers-Simmet, March 14, 2006
Source URL: http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/25862216254028.bsp

The USDA World Supply/Demand report showed, as expected, in line with pre-report expectations. Other factors such as the USDA March 31st Prospective Plantings Report, Quarterly Gain Stocks report, and weather in the wheat and corn belts will be the more likely market movers. Rain activity in the Southern Plains will be a key fundamental to watch. As of this report 90% of the Texas wheat crop is rated poor to very poor with crop conditions not much better in Kansas and Oklahoma even though fresh showers have been beneficial in some areas. Crop moisture needs are more of a concern as soil moisture levels are much lower than a year ago. Also, reports of a Mad Cow case in a beef herd in Alabama were confirmed after the markets closed on Monday.

Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension/ Mike Roberts, March 14, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/periodicals/purcell/2006wp/10.html

The objective of this study was to monitor the feeding and competitive behavior of individual dairy calves (n = 8) after introduction into an established group of older calves fed ad libitum by a computer-controlled milk feeder.

In summary, feeding behavior of young calves is altered on the day of mixing, but calves are able to maintain milk intake when using a milk feeder fitted with a stall that prevents calves from displacing one another.

Source: Effects of mixing on drinking and competitive behavior of dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 89 (1): 229-233, 2006. ODriscoll, K.; vonKeyserlingk, M.A.G.; Weary, D.M.

A new report from the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) and Program on Agricultural Technology Studies (PATS) compares production systems, technology, labor, performance, and satisfaction with quality of life on grazing dairy farms and more conventional dairy farms. This report – Grazing in the Dairy State – shows that managed grazing dairy farms are established across the state and could make an even greater contribution to a steady milk supply for Wisconsin.

Source: University of Wisconsin/ News Release, March 15, 2006
Source URL: http://news.cals.wisc.edu/newsDisplay.asp?id=1463