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MacAulay addresses ASF concerns

MacAulay addresses ASF concerns

North America needs to be ready in the event the disease arrives, the ag minister said

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A devastating swine disease was among the topics North America’s three federal ag ministers discussed during the USDA’s Outlook Conference in Washington, D.C. last week.

Hog farms in more than 15 countries, including Russia and China, have tested positive for African Swine Fever as it spreads across Asia, Africa and Europe.

North American officials should put together a proactive approach to manage the disease in case it arrives on the continent, rather than searching for ideas afterwards, said Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s ag minister.

“What I want to happen is be as ready as we can should (the disease arrive) here,” MacAulay told reporters Friday. “We are posting more on social media, posting in airports (and) increasing fines for anybody that tries to import meat” from countries affected by the disease.

Undeclared food can result in fines up to $1,300 per item, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says.

ASF surveillance also includes monitoring feed imports, and “making sure you have to be certified to bring (feed) in and all prevention measures that can take place will take place…” MacAulay told reporters.


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Funds Ditch Ag Commodities, Chase Stocks Amid an End to Middle East War, & Trade Deal Buzz

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The 12-day war between Iran-Israel came to an end sending crude oil futures plunging as the big fund speculators removed the war risk premium.

The weather risk premium in the Ag complex is sending corn, wheat and soybean futures lower on month-end selling ahead of the market moving USDA quarterly grain stocks and acreage reports on June 30th.

Instead, funds were chasing and sending tech stocks higher with the S&P 500/NASDAQ indexes setting new all-time record highs!

June 1 USDA Hogs and pigs report was slightly bearish while the U.S. $ Index traded to new contract lows as the de-dollarization that began in 2014 continues.

Feed in the form of soybean meal futures for livestock producers got cheaper, trading to new contract lows.

The Stats Canada seeded acreage update was bullish canola and wheat.