News Update

News Update
Dec. 5, 2005

Japan Could Open Border by Mid-December, Official Says

Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato said late last week that the Japanese market will reopen sometime mid-December, according to the American Meat Institute (AMI).

The ambassador made the comments during a meeting Dec. 1 with AMI officers, the organization reported. AMI met with Kato to encourage the Japanese government to implement the country’s Food Safety Commission (FSC) recommendations by the end of the year.

The FSC is now reviewing public opinions submitted during a month of comment that ended Nov. 29. The agency is expected to reach its final conclusion, expected as soon as Thursday, and submit its recommendation to Japanese government officials.

South Dakota Beef Program Gains Momentum

Participants in the South Dakota Certified Beef program say the state project to promote local beef is beginning to pay off, The Associated Press reported.

South Dakota Agriculture Secretary Larry Gabriel said approximately 90 ranchers have been trained and licensed for the program, and about 6,000 cattle have been enrolled. According to the article, ranchers must use radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on all enrolled cattle. Four small plants in South Dakota are processing the beef products.

USDA Awards Grants for Rural Development Research

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced Dec. 2 eight grants totaling $2.4 million for research on rural development.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the funded rural development projects examine the social, economic, technological and demographic factors that affect quality of life for rural Americans. Topics covered include land use at the rural/urban fringe; investments of financial, social and human capital for rural economic development; and intergenerational assistance among rural and farm families.

Although the eight awards are given to project directors at specific universities, these awards fund a number of multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research teams.

The average award size was $299,000. Descriptions of funded awards are available at http://cris.csrees.usda.gov.

The fiscal year (FY) 2005 grants were awarded to the University of Arkansas, University of Maryland, Michigan State University, Oregon State University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and University of Wyoming.

Visit www.usda.gov/2005/12/0522.xml for more information.

Funds Designated for Markets and Trade Research

Secretary Johanns also announced 11 grants totaling $2.2 million awarded for research on agricultural markets and trade. The grants support research examining trade barriers, consumer behavior and choice, market mechanisms, and organizational structures of agriculture and agricultural research investments, according to USDA.

The USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) administers the Agriculture Markets and Trade program through the National Research Initiative (NRI). The NRI is the largest peer-reviewed, competitive grants program in CSREES. It supports research, education and Extension grants that address key problems of national, regional and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of agriculture.

USDA reports that research from the grants will benefit, among others, the livestock sector in addition to producers of genetically modified grain and consumers around the world.

The average award size was $199,500. Descriptions of funded awards are available at http://cris.csrees.usda.gov.

The FY 2005 grants were awarded to the University of Arizona, the University of California-Berkeley, American University-District of Columbia, University of Idaho, Kansas State University, North Dakota State University, Ohio State University, Oregon State University and Washington State University.

Visit www.usda.gov/2005/12/0524.xml for more information.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc.