News Update

News Update
Sept. 4, 2007

Bones Found in Shipment to S. Korea

South Korea’s Agriculture and Forestry Ministry announced today it had found rib bones Monday in a 15.5-ton shipment of U.S. beef.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the country said it would revoke import approval for Colorado-based Swift & Co., the facility that processed the order, and send the entire shipment back.

South Korea had previously revoked import approval for another facility and suspended three others from shipping meat, the Wall Street Journal reported.

U.S. Ag Exports Expected to Reach Record Levels

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns last week announced a record $79 billion forecast in fiscal year (FY) 2007 agricultural exports. For fiscal year 2008, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts exports to reach $83.5 billion with growth and new sales across all major agricultural product groups. The forecasts eclipse the old record of $68.6 billion set last year.

“These export numbers, once again, demonstrate that U.S. agricultural products are in high demand around the world,” Johanns said. “They also reflect tight world markets for grains and oilseeds. U.S. farmers are hard at work to supply these markets, both at home and abroad. In short, the world wants what we produce, and at USDA we will continue to work aggressively to maintain and open markets for our farmers and ranchers.”

Building on momentum from 2007, export gains in 2008 will be broad-based, with record sales for bulk grains, oilseeds, cotton, and high-value horticultural and livestock products.

According to USDA’s first forecast for FY 2008, an expected record U.S. corn crop, strong foreign demand and reduced competition will boost U.S. corn exports $600 million. China’s demand for soybeans and cotton remains strong. Developments in the bio-diesel market will raise Europe’s demand for soybeans as well. Horticultural exports are anticipated to rise by $800 million, supported by strong foreign demand and a competitive dollar. Beef exports are expected to increase $400 million due to larger volume.

Imports for FY 2008 are forecast at $75 billion, up $4.5 billion from the 2007 estimate, making for an $8.5 billion trade surplus in 2008. The largest import gains are forecast for fresh and processed fruits, coffee beans and other tropical products, bulk grains, and wines and beer.

USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and the World Agricultural Outlook Board release agricultural trade forecasts quarterly. The summary and full report of USDA’s Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Exports may be accessed at ERS’ web site, www.ers.usda.gov, or at the FAS web site at www.fas.usda.gov. The next quarterly report will be issued in November.

— Release provided by USDA.

ERS Releases Food Safety, Farm Data

ERS has released data regarding food safety, and farm household and well-being.

The Food Safety Briefing Room provides a central point for obtaining information about economic issues that affect the safety of the U.S. food supply. ERS estimates the human illness costs of foodborne disease to help policymakers identify the magnitude of the societal effect of foodborne disease. ERS also analyzes the effectiveness and equity of alternative policies and programs designed to protect consumers from unsafe food.

Visit www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/ConsumerFoodSafety/ for more information.

The agency’s Farm Household Economics and Well-Being briefing room focuses on indicators of the economic well-being of the households of the principal operators of family farms. It includes USDA’s latest forecast for 2007. Indicators of well-being include household income and wealth (from both farm and off-farm sources), and indicators of health insurance coverage. The briefing room compares the financial well-being of farm households relative to all U.S. households, identifies the contributions of off-farm employment, non-farm self-employment, transfer payments, and financial market investments in household income, and discusses how taxes influence both income and wealth. The briefing room also describes the demographic characteristics of the principal farm operator households and how members of these households allocate their time to farm and off-farm work.

See www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/WellBeing/ for more information.

NCBA Adds Field Reps to Affiliate Relations and Member Services Team

Building on the success of its growing membership, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is making two additions in its member services area. Rachel Aja of Buckeye, Ariz., will serve as southwest field representative, representing NCBA in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. Mark Wellman of Fowler, Ill., will serve as the east/central field representative, working primarily in Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois.

Both Aja and Wellman will join the NCBA team on Sept. 10.

Aja and Wellman bring the number of NCBA field representatives to five, joining three already in the field: Dan McCarty, Clay Edwards and Melanie Sojourner.

— Release provided by NCBA.