Korea to lift ban on Canadian beef imports

An eight year ban on Canadian beef imports to Korea will be lifted, Korea's Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MIFAFF) has reported this week. Under the new arrangements reported by Meat and Livestock Australia, Korea will solely permit beef from Canadian cattle less than 30 months of age. Any fresh or processed products containing specified risk materials (including tonsils, internal organs and intestines, brains, skulls, eyes and spinal cords) will continue to be banned. Both countries also agreed that the Korean government will be able to independently inspect and approve Canada's processing facilities.  Prior to the ban in May 2003, Canada's market share in the Korean beef market was approximately 4pc in 2002, with imports totalling almost 14,000 tonnes swt (KITA).

FarmReady grants re-open tomorrow

Primary producers and wild game harvesters will be entitled to reimbursements of 65 percent of the cost of undertaking approved training courses when the FarmReady Reimbursements Grants program re-starts tomorrow, July 1. Producers will be able to claim up to a maximum of $1500 each financial year, with further funding of up to $500 available to assist with travel, accommodation and child care expenses. Indigenous land managers will be eligible for a 100pc reimbursement of the cost of approved training courses up to the maximum of $1500 annually. The Federal Government has also expanded the FarmReady Reimbursement Grants program to include agritourism and food tourism training. For further information about FarmReady click here.

NFF welcomes National Food Plan

The National Farmers’ Federation says the Federal Government’s release of an issues paper into the formation of a National Food Plan is a welcome move. The plan would play a vital role in bringing issues surrounding food scarcity and food security to national prominence. NFF Vice-President Duncan Fraser said it was hoped the plan would cover key issues such as achieving balanced water reform, the impact of development on Australia’s best agricultural land, better funding for agricultural research, enhanced biosecurity protections for Australia’s ‘clean and green’ reputation,  increased investment in road, rail and port infrastructure the prioritisation of resolutions to the current free trade negotiations. “The National Food Plan is an important first step in this process, and the NFF’s response to the issues paper will provide a platform on which the Blueprint can be developed, in order to secure a robust future for Australian farmers,” Mr Fraser said.

Coal Seam Gas video casts

As the rapid development of the coal seam gas industry spreads across large areas of agricultural land, the Department of Environment and Resource Management in Queensland has released a series of vodcasts responding to frequently-asked questions about the coal-seam gas industry. Existing Vodcasts on the site focus on “myths about coal seam gas”, “Protecting the Great Artesian Basin”, and “Environmental laws, compliance and enforcement”. New vodcasts on the issue will be released every fortnight. They can be viewed by clicking here

Dutch ban non-stun kill

The Dutch Parliament yesterday passed a bill banning the slaughter of livestock without stunning animals first, removing an exemption allowing Jews and Muslims to butcher animals according to their centuries-old Halal and Kosher religious customs. Religious groups said Jews and Muslims would have to import meat from abroad, stop eating it, or leave the Netherlands.