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STARLINK PROBLEMS CONTINUE
The StarLink saga continues.
The Japanese agricultural ministry announced last Monday that genetic traces of StarLink hybrid corn have been detected in 2/3 of the samples taken from feed-use corn imported into the country during the April June quarter.
South Korea's Food and Drug Administration has also expressed concern, asking the US Embassy there to take steps to ensure that all corn and byproducts imported
after November 9 do not contain StarLink corn.
Meanwhile, the Korean Corn Processing Industrial Association (KOCOPIA) has decided to exclude US origin corn from its November 15 tender due to fears of StarLink contamination. The US is South Korea's largest corn supplier with sales of approximately 8.5 MMT expected in the 2000-2001 marketing year.
Aventis is now seeking a new agreement with US grain elevators. Those elevators designated as official receiving points for StarLink corn are now being
required to sign new agreements guaranteed that the GMO will only be "directed toward approved usage in the domestic market".
As a result of the strict conditions imposed by the agreement, US grain industry officials expect limited participation in the StarLink Logistics Program.
DAKOTA GROWERS: GROUP STUDIES ADDING CANADIAN MEMBERS
The president of Dakota Growers Pasta Co. of Carrington, N.D., says his
co-op may consider shifting some of its membership into Canada because of two years of poor-quality crops in the region. Finish the article at http://web.northscape.com/content/gfherald/2000/11/15/news/MP111
5DURUM.htm
RUSSIAN AG MINISTER SEES GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN THE MARKETS AS A WAY TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
Russian Deputy Agriculture
Minister Nikolai Dolgushin, speaking at the International Grain Industry in the 21st Century conference in Moscow on Tuesday, said boosting grain output should become a national priority. Mr. Dolgushin sees
the Russian grain market, short-term, growing to levels sufficient for domestic requirements and, long-term, becoming a significant exporter.
Currently, there is no common grain market, and commodity exchanges are underdeveloped with only about 4% of grain being traded there. Another problem Mr. Dolgushin sees is seasonal price fluctuations -- falling in the autumn months and rising again in the spring. He sees both the underdeveloped grain market/commodity exchange and price fluctuation problems being solved via state intervention on the market. Ideally, all grain elevators would be handed over to a new agency which would hold interventions via commodity exchanges, with the government spending 5 billion rubles (US $180 million) for annual grain purchases for intervention stocks. Aside from increasing average yield through the introduction of modern technologies, Dolgushin anticipates increasing the planted area from 46 million hectares (113 million acres) to 52 million hectares (129 million acres) by 2005.
AGRICULTURE GAINS STRENGTH IN SENATE ELECTION
The Senate elections have increased the power of Senate Minority Leader Tom
Daschle, D-S.D., a key player in farm policy and the House elections changed the balance of power in that body slightly toward the Democrats, but resulted in the defeat of Rep. David Minge, D-Minn., one of the most
talented of the young prairie populist. Finish the article at: http://web.northscape.com/content/gfherald/2000/11/13/agweek/1113 JERRY.htm
WTO TALKS ARE CONTINUING IN GENEVA WITH FOCUS ON EXPORT SUBSIDIES
With WTO talks continuing in Geneva this week, emphasis appears
to be on export subsidies. The 18-nation Cairns Group has unveiled their proposal for improving market access, which includes deep cuts to tariffs, "substantial increases in all tariff quota volumes"
and "down payments" in the form of 50% cuts and the eventual phase-out of subsidies.
The EU, Japan, Norway and Switzerland are also all expected to present papers, if not this week, then in the near future. While looking for a commitment from developed nations to "eliminate all forms of export subsidies and commit to their unconditional prohibition", the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have called for "preferential agricultural treatment for developing countries, continuing existing flexibility with export subsides".
Russia is also in WTO news. Apparently bilateral talks with WTO members concerning their joining are not proceeding well. Without going into detail,
Economic Development & Trade Minister German Gerf said Monday that Russia has serious disagreements with some WTO members regarding their access to the Russian market. Gerf went on to say the talks are
scheduled to be completed by the end of 2001, but meeting that deadline may be difficult. There is some indication that Russia may put WTO accession talks on hold in mid-2001 if they are not satisfied with the
progress. In the meantime, WTO Director-General Mike Moore has scheduled a visit to Moscow on March 30 for a Russia-EU conference on WTO accession.
WINTER WHEAT CROP CONDITIONS SLIP BUT STILL ABOVE LAST YEAR
Read the crop conditions report of November 12, 2000. [PDF]
QUICKEN FOR FARM ACCOUNTING
Receive hands-on training using Quicken for your farm accounting needs.
The class will cover the basic accounting package that we have adapted for farm enterprises and allow you to enter a sample farm. There will also be individual instruction for any class participant. We recommend Quicken over Quickbooks if you do not need a payroll package for employees (Two people from the same farm unit can share a class for one cost.)
November 20 6:30 -9:00PM
November 27 6:30-9:00PM
Classes will be held in the Red Lake Falls, MN Computer Lab
FBMT 2300 Computer Application in Farm Management. One Management credit, $61.40
Register by November 20
For more information contact:
Greg Kalinoski, Farm Business Management, Northland Community and Technical College (218) 253-4208.
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