This is good because a forced sell would have put downward pressure on the sales price of those assets," said Farha Aslam, industry analyst with Stephens inc. (Stephens inc. performs investment banking services for Smithfield Foods and is compensated accordingly. This is good because a forced sell would have put downward pressure on the sales price of those assets," said Farha Aslam, industry analyst with Stephens inc. (Stephens inc. performs investment banking services for Smithfield...

beef exports to Japan remain in flux, pork exports continue at a steady clip despite producers' fears that new import standards could give Japan an excuse to reject pork shipments. pork exports worth more than $1 billion, according to the U. But once information about the rules became clear, ''we realized it wasn't too big a deal,'' Luckey said of producers in Nebraska, where pork is the fourth-largest agricultural commodity. The new rules, which went into effect last May, changed maximum...

Exports to Japan grew 23% to 1,644 tonnes, more than making up for the reduced exports of frozen pork to Hong Kong, which now bars sales of frozen pork in fresh pork markets. Export forecastOverall, Thailand s pork export trend this year looks promising, with shipments anticipated to increase by 8% to 12,000 tonnes, over last years 11. Thai processed pork exports were up 9% in the first three months of 2007, with Japan leading the way, the Thai Swine Producers and Processors for Export...

The beef export forecast for 2007 is nearly unchanged from last month but the pork export forecast is reduced sharply, because of expected weak pork sales to a number of markets. Pork production growth is forecast to be moderate as producers remain cautious about expansion. Pork exports are forecast to continue to expand although slower than exhibited in recent years. A recovery in cattle weights should support higher beef production despite expected smaller fed cattle marketings in 2008....

After new tests confirmed that swine that ate feed containing melamine and related compounds is safe for human consumption, USDA says up to 56,000 swine that have been quarantined are OK for processing. An updated FDA and USDA risk assessment found that a healthy adult weighing 132 pounds would have to eat over 800 pounds of melamine-contaminated food in one day in order to reach an unhealthy level of melamine. commercial fish farms are confirmed to have received the feed, FDA says, and...

pork exports worth more than $1 billion, according to the U. beef exports to Japan remain in flux, pork exports continue at a steady clip despite producers fears that new import standards could give Japan an excuse to reject pork shipments. But once information about the rules became clear, we realized it wasn t too big a deal, Luckey said of producers in Nebraska, where pork is the fourth-largest agricultural commodity. The new rules, which went into effect last May, changed maximum...