Page 313 of articles about markets-economics

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced an investment in research, traceability and product development that will boost the competitive edge Canadian hog producers need to succeed in domestic and international markets. The investment of over $15 million will help deliver a better profit back to the farm gate and strengthen the industry for the future.

U.S. beef and pork muscle cut exports performed well in March, concluding the first quarter of 2010 with increasing momentum.

In the first quarter of 2010, nearly 2 million tonnes of meat were commercially produced in Germany. This was an increase of 3.3% or 63,500 tonnes from the same quarter a year ago.

Unprecedented hot weather in many areas in Thailand (43-44 ºC) has resulted in lower pig production as the animals are suffering heat stress and eating less.

Total U.S. meat production for 2011 is projected to be slightly higher than 2010 as increased pork and poultry production more than offset declines in beef production.

Swine stocks were recorded on the reference date of 1 December 2009 and yielded a total figure of 3 137 000 animals. This corresponds to a 0.5% decrease in stocks compared to the date of the last census in June 2009.

Vietnam was estimated have spent USD 813 million on imports of raw materials to make feeds in the country from January to April.

Exports of quality Iberian ham increased during 2009 by a little over 10% and the product was commercialized in 90 countries in five continents, this was equivalent to 200,000 Iberian hams being exported from Spain last year.

Pork exports to Hong Kong have resumed after being suspended due to the discovery last month of foot-and-mouth disease in pigs and cows in Miyazaki Prefecture, the agriculture ministry said.

Agricultural income per annual work unit fell by 11.6% in the EU in 2009, mainly caused by a drop in output prices. The result is based on estimates provided by the Member States in January 2010.

Between 2000 and 2009, employment in the agricultural sector in the EU27 decreased by 25%, the equivalent of 3.7 million full-time jobs1. It fell by 17% in the EU152 and by 31% in the 12 Member States (NMS122) that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007. In 2009, employment in the agricultural sector was equivalent to 11.2 million full-time jobs in the EU27, of which 5.4 million were in the EU15 and 5.8 million in the NMS12. Between 2000 and 2009, real agricultural income3 per worker increased by 5% on average in the EU27, although the change differed significantly between the NMS12 (+61%) and the EU15 (-10%).

Recently, a new pork trade certificate with Russia has been negotiated. This certificate sets guidelines for U.S. packers that are exporting pork to Russia. The Russian Product Verification Program is a program to verify compliance with the Russian tetracycline standard.