Page 821 of articles about news

Efforts to protect the nation from potentially catastrophic animal diseases will continue with a $21 million package from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to Texas A&M University and Kansas State University. The monies will support the homeland security department's Center of Excellence for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense at the universities through 2016.

The latest figures published for the livestock census carried out on 15 November 2009 show a 10.6% decrease in the swine population in Belgium, dropping from 6,207,595 head in 2008 to 5,547,134 in 2009.

Brazil, Russia, India and China agreed to combat hunger and boost efforts to promote food security, according to a strategy signed by the countries' agriculture ministers in Moscow.

Recent studies by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and other research institutes indicate that, on average, 15 percent of wild boars hunted in Germany carry the hepatitis E virus.

The European Commission authorised a UK scheme with a budget of approximately £20 million (€22.3 million) which aims at supporting farmers in UK who encounter difficulties as a result of the current economic crisis. Aid under this scheme can be granted until 31 December 2010 and will take the form of a direct grant.

The Ohio House signed off on legislation establishing the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, the next step in the process following voter approval of the issue in November.

Ukrainian authorities have banned the import of pork from Russia's Southern, Central, and Volga federal districts.

European citizens broadly support the new aims of agricultural policy as conducted at European Union level and a majority are in favour of maintaining its budget. This is one of the main findings of a survey of people's attitudes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Wageningen UR's Swine Research Farm at Sterksel is to carry out research into carbon neutral pig farming using a mini-biogas plant. The Productschap Vee en Vlees (Cattle and Meat Marketing Board) will invest 170 thousand euros in a low-cost prototype design.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) made official the decision to restore the certification of “foot-and-mouth free” for Columbia, after examining the petition presented by the organisation in charge of animal health for this South American country.

Despite a drop in their average net market income as they faced a cost-price squeeze, farm operators primarily engaged in hog and pig farming saw their average net farm operating income grow 14.1% from 2006 to $38,054 in 2007, thanks to net program payments. Combined with an 8.1% gain in average off-farm income, the 79.1% growth in average net program payments contributed to push average total income up 11.4% to $67,649.