Page 753 of articles about news

More than 20 national food and agriculture organizations yesterday announced the formation of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). The alliance will work to enhance U.S. consumer trust in the modern food production system that provides an abundance of affordable, safe food.

According to information published by Abiceps, so far this year, pork meat export sales have suffered an 8,15% decline in volume, going from 448.731 tons in the first nine months of 2009 to 412.168 tons in the same period of this year.

According to the figures made public by the Agricultural Economic Institute (LEI), antibiotics use in the intensive livestock industry in the Netherlands has come down in 2009.

In a final report sent to the OIE, Botswana reports that the foot and mouth disease event having started in July 2010 is closed.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved higher blending rates for ethanol in gasoline for 2007 and newer vehicles, allowing mixtures with up to 15% of the corn-based fuel at the pump. The current maximum ethanol blend rate is 10%; a mid-level blend rate increase of 12% had been discussed in recent months.

The results of a survey conducted in June this year indicated that nearly 70% of producers already keep pregnant sows in group systems, which is in line with the requirements of the EU legislation due in 2013.

In a study of energy use on Iowa hog farms, Iowa State University (ISU) researchers found a huge drop in the use of nonrenewable energy for pig production over the last 35 years.

Offal imports grew from 174,000 tonnes in the first six months of 2009 to 286,000 tonnes in the same period of 2010. Pork imports rose from 65,700 tonnes to 88,100 tonnes in the same period.

A new set of implementing rules on animal by-products, endorsed today by the Member States in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), is expected to simplify controls and reduce administrative burden, while maintaining the existing high levels of human and animal health protection.

In 2009, the total antimicrobial consumption in pigs was 103.7 tonnes active substance, representing an 11% increase from 2008, while the consumption increased by 12% when measured in doses.

Aiming to further strengthen the protection of human and animal health, the European Union earmarked today more than €250 million to support programmes to eradicate, control and monitor animal diseases in 2011. Member States endorsed the financial package proposed by the European Commission during today's meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH).