Ag News: Friday, December 2

"Lamy Pushes for Unity Ahead of Hong Kong"
World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy is urging aWTO member- nations to make progress ahead of the meeting of all WTO ministers in Hong Kong.

In a written statement - Lamy urged WTO members to - in his words - exercise good will and intensify their efforts to find as much harmony as possible ahead of the Hong Kong ministerial. And Lamy himself will be hard at work ahead of the conference as well.

During a meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee - Lamy said he plans to present a revised version of the Draft Ministerial text in the very near future. In fact - Lamy told committee members he intends to have the revisions completed by the end of the week.

According to Lamy - the revised draft will only reflect non-controversial issues and will capture the current state of the negotiations without trying to push the envelope.

"U.S. Farm Group Leaders Scheduled to Speak from Hong Kong Ministerial"
A who's who of U.S. farm group leaders will hold a series of press events during the meeting of all WTO ministers that starts December 13th in Hong Kong.

The AgTrade Coalition - a group of more than sixty U.S. ag groups - will start with a kickoff press conference Monday night, December 12th, at seven o'clock Central. American Meat Institute President Patrick Boyle - National Milk Producers Federation Director Tom Camerlo - and National Corn Growers Association Chairman Len Corzine are all scheduled to speak at the event.

Finishing out the week - the Coalition has two AgTrade Press Conferences scheduled. On Thursday the 15th - representatives from the American Potato Trade Alliance - National Oilseed Processors Association - and International Dairy Foods Association - will be joined by former Special Negotiator for Agriculture Joe O'Mara at 7 p.m. Central.

Then on Friday night at 7 p.m. Central - American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman and American Soybean Association Chairman Ron Heck will speak at the final scheduled AgTrade Press Conference.

"Chinese Wheat Buyers Make Two-Week Trip to the U.S."
Through the sponsorship of U.S. Wheat Associates and the support of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service - a team of thirteen Chinese wheat buyers is in the U.S. for a two week trip across the country. According to U.S. Wheat Associates - the agenda for the team is packed with visits to wheat organizations in D.C. - New York - Kansas City and Portland - as well as meetings with U.S. government officials - grain companies and traders.

But if you're thinking this trip could end with the announcement of a million-ton sale - which happened two years ago when the Chinese government's grain buying agency came to the U.S. - don't bet on it. USW Regional Vice President Matt Weimar says this visit is about the future - learning about U.S. wheat choices - and the reliability of the U.S. market system.

So far in the 2005-2006 marketing year - the U.S. has sold 285-thousand metric tons of wheat to private millers in China. At this time last year - according to USW - the U.S. had sold two-million metric tons to China through their state trading enterprises.

Why the drastic reduction? USW says China had a good domestic crop this year - and they've also imported over 10-million of wheat tons in the past 18-months - both of which have built China's domestic wheat stocks..

"USDA Makes $2.7 Billion Available for Voluntary Conservation Programs"
USDA is releasing nearly 2.7-billion dollars of fiscal year 2006 funding for voluntary conservation farm bill programs on working lands.

According to U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns - who made the announcement Thursday - the timing of the announcement gives farmers and ranchers a better opportunity to develop conservation plans and investments - and get started with conservation before the next planting season.

Farmers, ranchers and other landowners will address soil, water, air and wildlife habitat concerns on privately owned working lands - with financial and technical assistance from USDA's Natural Resources and Conservation Service.

Allocations for fiscal year 2006 include just over one-billion in financial assistance - and nearly 1.3-billion for technical assistance for NRCS voluntary conservation programs - like the Conservation Security - Grassland Reserve and Wildlife Habitat Incentives programs.

"USDA Plans Purchase of Dry Beans & Canned Pineapple"
USDA's planning to purchase up to 30-million pounds of dry beans - and up to 2.8-million pounds of canned crushed pineapples for donation to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns announced USDA's intent on Thursday.

The announcement is in addition to the 9.9-million pounds of canned pineapples and 1.1-million pounds of dry beans already purchased this fiscal year - which started October 1st. In FY 2005 - USDA purchased 22.9-million pounds of dry beans and 28.9-million pounds of canned pineapple.

Each year - USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service purchases a variety of high quality food products for distribution by the Food and Nutrition Service. Products are used for the national school lunch - school breakfast - and summer food service programs - among others.