Behemoths Face Off in WTO Subsidy Talks
TL;DR: At the halfway point of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) biennial meeting in Abu Dhabi, attended by 164 global trade ministers, the atmosphere is tense with discussions on addressing the nearly one trillion dollars in trade-distorting agricultural subsidies. New Zealand’s Trade Minister, Todd McClay, represents the country, highlighting the international stakes involved. WTO Director-General […]
Closure of Missouri Beef Packing Plant to Impact Over 300 Workers
TL;DR: The state of Missouri has been notified by Missouri Prime Beef Packing of its decision to close its Pleasant Hope processing plant in April, as revealed in a notification letter for worker adjustment and retraining. Set for April 26, this closure will impact 335 workers, as reported on the state’s website. This announcement follows […]
European Research Connects Reduced Antimicrobial Use in Animals to Lower Human Drug Resistance
TL;DR: A collaborative investigation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and the European Medicines Agency has highlighted the impact of decreasing antimicrobial drug use in food-producing animals on the resistance observed in humans. This study, detailed in the EFSA Journal, utilised data from EU-wide surveillance from […]
USDA Cold Storage Report Highlights Fluctuations in Meat Supplies
TL;DR: The most recent USDA Cold Storage report for January presents a varied scenario for the status of poultry and red meat reserves in the United States freezers. In the poultry sector, overall supplies experienced a modest 1% rise from the prior month, yet when compared to the same timeframe last year, there’s a 4% […]
India and Brazil Emerge as Key Players in Global Agriculture
TL;DR: At the International Sweetener Colloquium held in Aventura, Florida, analysts highlighted the shifting dynamics in global agriculture, with India and Brazil taking centre stage. Michael Zerr, a lead analyst at Cargill, discussed the evolving food import needs and the global dependency on Brazil for sugar supply. Zerr addressed the historical concerns of population growth […]
Senators File Resolution Over Paraguay Imports
TL;DR: Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) have taken a stand to protect American agriculture by proposing a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to halt beef imports from Paraguay. This action seeks to reverse the recent decision by the Biden administration to allow these imports, emphasising the paramount importance of maintaining […]
Shift in Australian Dairy Exports: A Boon for New Zealand
TL;DR: Rabobank’s recent Australian Dairy Sector Outlook report highlights a significant transition in Australia’s dairy trade dynamics, with export volumes declining and imports increasing over the past few years. This shift is attributed to several factors, including reduced domestic milk production, diminished export competitiveness, and more attractive returns in the domestic market. The 2022/23 season […]
USDA Reports on Recent Trends in Meat Production
TL;DR: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the US Department of Agriculture has unveiled the newest data on the nation’s meat production and slaughter rates as of February. The statistics present a varied landscape across the meat sector, comparing year-on-year figures. In the beef sector, there’s been a slight downturn, with production at 2.28 […]
US Meat Export Federation Identifies Angola as a Key Growth Market
TL;DR: The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is spearheading the first trade mission to Luanda, Angola, from February 26-29. Matt Copeland, representing the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) with the backing of the Beef Checkoff Program, is participating in this pivotal mission. Despite Angola’s economic hurdles, Copeland sees a promising future […]
Joint Irish-NZ Methane Project Kicks Off
TL;DR: DairyNZ has embarked on a significant partnership with Irish agricultural experts to tackle the challenge of methane emissions from dairy cows grazed on pastures. This collaborative effort, set to span four years, involves a team comprising researchers, students, professors, and database technology specialists from both DairyNZ and Ireland’s Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc), […]
