Concerns about beef ban, trade barriers By Steve Hirsch The Washington Times WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration said yesterday "Congress will and should celebrate" its free-trade agreement with South Korea despite doubts by congressional trade leaders, particularly regarding beef and automobile issues. Concerns about beef ban, trade barriers By Steve Hirsch The Washington Times WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration said yesterday "Congress will and should celebrate" its free-trade...

The auction means there are only four dairy farms left in Springfield, where two generations ago there were three or four dozen, according to the Lockwoods' neighbor and fellow dairy farmer, Keith Ferguson, who has milked cows since the 1960s. Ferguson, who milks 60 head on Spencer Hollow Road, said the Lockwood auction meant that there are only four dairy farms left his farm in Spencer Hollow, Richard and Ray Moore's Mooreland Farm, the John Augustinovich farm on Elm Hill, and the Mike...

The weight of hogs ready for slaughter fell about 2 pounds per head to 269 pounds in February compared with the same month a year earlier, the USDA said March 23. Hedge-fund managers and other large speculators last week increased their long positions, or bets that prices will rise. Wet weather in hog- producing states including Iowa caused animals to lose weight as they overexerted themselves in muddy pens. Long positions in Chicago outnumbered short positions by 10,873 contracts for the...

The contaminated spinach that sickened hundreds of people and led to an unprecedented nationwide recall last fall was traced to a 50-acre field at a cattle ranch east of Salinas, Calif. Streams, which run through the ranch and carry manure from cattle, could have tainted the well water used for irrigation. The long-awaited findings of a joint federal and state investigation point to one bacteria-laden crop processed at one plant. It is primarily a beef cattle ranch with a small amount of...

Eldridge and representatives of other state and federal agencies visited the farm in Addy, about 75 miles north of Spokane, in early March after receiving reports of 50-60 dead cattle. Eldridge suggested that the dairy owners take steps to improve the farm s sanitary conditions and seek expert advice on herd health management and nutrition. During this investigation, we have found no threat to the health of people or other animals, Eldridge said in a news release. Concerns about possible...

The project announced April 16 will produce "the next generation of renewable diesel fuel," to help supplement petroleum-based diesel fuel supplies, the companies said. The companies revealed they have been collaborating over the past year "on ways to leverage Tyson's advanced knowledge in protein chemistry and production with ConocoPhillips' processing and marketing expertise. ConocoPhillips, a Houston, Texas-based oil and gas group, will make the necessary capital expenditures to enable...