UPI Farming Today

Illegal meat still entering Britain

British officials have eased up on inspections for illegal meat entering the country, even though evidence indicates the problem is not easing.

The British Broadcasting Corp. reported Wednesday the head of a specialist transport firm noted only two inspections for illegal meat had been made on passengers at Heathrow Airport since May 2001.

The matter is considered significant since many think it was the illegal entry of wild game into Britain that may be responsible for the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which spread throughout the country last year.

Last week, two spot checks were conducted on luggage of passengers arriving at the airport from African nations. Up to 300 kilograms of meat products were found.

Earlier this week, a spot check uncovered 100 kilograms of chicken, fish and meat in the luggage of passengers from Nigeria who had tried to claim they had no personal possessions to declare.

Clive Lawrence, who heads his own transport firm, said the inspections were the first at the airport since last spring.

"I really classify it as a sticking plaster job," he said of the infrequent inspections.

Officials say that restrictions need to be tight to prevent contagious diseases that might be carried by the wild game from entering the country.

Peter Ainsworth, a shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs, said more needs to be done to ensure ports of entry are more secure.

"The sad fact is that with the present state of our border controls, we could import foot-and-mouth again tomorrow," he said.

In a separate matter, the spread of mad cow disease into Japan is being blamed for a meatpacking company being forced to declare bankruptcy.

Kawai in Takamatsu filed for bankruptcy because of dropping sales following revelations earlier this month the company labeled packages of imported beef as being domestic.

Kawai was one of the largest meat sales businesses in Japan. But in documents filed Tuesday, the company claimed debts totaling 1.4 billion yen.

EU may end U.S. beef hormone tests

European Union officials are recommending tests imposed on hormone-free beef products from the United States be brought to an end.

Researchers note recent tests have found no traces of growth hormones or any other substances banned by the European Union. Imports of U.S. hormone-free beef had been halted in 1999 after traces of growth hormones were found in beef labeled hormone-free.

European Union officials released a statement saying they believed U.S. officials were taking adequate precautions to ensure that beef was being labeled properly.

About 20 percent of all U.S. hormone-free beef entering the European Union was being tested. If elimination of the tests are approved, then U.S. beef will be subject to only the random testing that applies to other countries shipping beef into Europe.

Tyson to limit antibiotic use in chickens

Tyson Foods Inc. officials said they will reduce their use of an antibiotic the U.S. government is trying to prohibit altogether.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tyson will use other antibiotics in place of Baytril. The drug was administered to 0.2 percent of the 2.1 billion broiler chickens produced last year for human consumption.

Officials say continued use of the antibiotic can further the development in the chickens of foodborne germs resistant to medicine. Food and Drug Administration officials is trying to get the drug banned from poultry outright.

Sens. want changes in China restrictions

Two members of Congress sent a letter to China ambassador Yang Jiechi in hopes of urging the Asian nation to implement more lenient restrictions against imports of genetically modified crops.

China has said it will implement more strict rules on March 20 as part of an effort to ensure public safety and to comply with World Trade Organization obligations. It could slash U.S. exports of soybeans to China, and President Bush is expected to address the issue, along with many others, when he visits with China officials later this week.

Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Max Baucus, R-Mont., said in their letter they believe up to $1 billion in trade would be negatively impacted by new Chinese restrictions.

Cargill gets $1M fine for pork dump

Cargill Pork Inc. will pay a $1 million fine because of an illegal dumping of hog waste into a Missouri River.

Officials say the dumping in July 2000 at the Cargill hog farm near Martinsburg, Mo., contaminated five miles of the Loutre River and killed nearly 53,000 fish.

Improper operation of equipment is being blamed for the dumping, in which hog waste went through valves and holding ponds into the river. Company officials did not initially admit the discharges to Missouri natural resources department officials, as required by state law.

Grains up on CBOT

Grain futures were higher at the close Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Soybeans rose on follow-through buying tied to Tuesday's increases and on continued reports Argentina may impose taxes on exports, which would make their crops less attractive on world markets.

Corn was up on short-covering tied to positive spillover from wheat price increases.

Wheat rose on carryover buying tied to a technical recovery and solid export inspection figures provided by the Agriculture Department. Also helping was continued dry weather throughout the U.S. plains states.

Oats rose slightly on the absence of negative information.

The prices:

Soybeans: Mar 4.45 up 6 3/4, May 4.48 3/4 up 7 1/2, Jul 4.53 1/4 up 7 3/4, Aug 4.53 up 7 1/2.

Corn: Mar 2.06 3/4 up 1, May 2.13 3/4 up 1, Jul 2.20 up 1, Sep 2.26 1/2 up 1 1/4.

Wheat: Mar 2.80 up 2 1/4, May 2.85 1/2 up 1 3/4, Jul 2.88 3/4 up 2, Sep 2.92 1/2 up 2.

Oats: Mar 2.16 1/4 up 7 1/2, May 1.96 up 5 3/4, Jul 1.69 up 5 1/4, Sep 1.44 1/2 up 3.