Page 879 of articles about news

Chinese firm recalls tainted luncheon meat

24-Apr-2009
A major Chinese meat processor has recalled 100 boxes of luncheon meat containing a banned chemical, Chinese media reported Thursday. The meat was contaminated with clenbuterol, a drug often given to people to treat asthma, but also commonly used to cut body fat.

USA - Industry keeps eye on thawing relations with Cuba

24-Apr-2009
The U.S. embargo against Cuba is a commercial, economic and financial embargo that was imposed on Cuba on Feb. 3, 1962. Some in the U.S. meat industry are hopeful this most recent move by Obama will lead to normalizing trade. What might be surprising to some readers is despite the trade embargo, Cuba is already a U.S. meat customer. The U.S. was the largest pork supplier to Cuba in 2008, with exports valued at $12.65 million.

USA - USDA to conduct first wide-scale survey of organic agriculture

24-Apr-2009
This spring, USDA will conduct the first-ever, wide-scale survey of organic farming in the United States. The survey will look at many aspects of organic farming during the 2008 calendar year - from production and marketing practices, to income and expenses. It will focus not only on operations that are currently engaged in organic production, but also on those making the transition to organic agriculture.

China - $9.5b earmarked to help farmers

23-Apr-2009
The central government will spend 65 billion yuan ($9.5 billion) on infrastructure and services in rural areas to help farmers cope with the economic downturn, the State Council said yesterday. The move to support the agricultural sector includes investment in pig raising and dairy farming and improving grain production.

Tiny super-plant can clean up hog farms and be used for ethanol production

22-Apr-2009
Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that a tiny aquatic plant can be used to clean up animal waste at industrial hog farms and potentially be part of the answer for the global energy crisis. Their research shows that growing duckweed on hog wastewater can produce five to six times more starch per acre than corn, according to researcher Dr. Jay Cheng. This means that ethanol production using duckweed could be "faster and cheaper than from corn," says fellow researcher Dr. Anne-Marie Stomp.