11/06/06 Merger Concerns & Trade Opening

Merger Concerns & Trade Opening Up. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Just last week National Farmers Union spoke to U.S. Department of Justice officials about their opposition to the Smithfield-Premium Standard Farms merger. Now they`re voicing concern with another proposed merger - the one between the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade. NFU has requested a Department of Justice investigation and hearings on the proposed merger. They cite concerns about the anti-trust issues that would arise from the merger - and potentially overlapping contracts - especially within the ethanol industry. NFU President Tom Buis says he wants to ensure the Justice Department examines the proposed merger with an eye toward the impact it would have on family farmers, ranchers and fishermen. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab applauded on Friday the recent actions by Colombia and Peru to lift their BSE-related bans on U.S. beef and beef product imports. In 2003, the United States exported a combined total of more than $4 million worth of beef and beef products to Colombia and Peru. The reopening of these two markets restores two-thirds of the market access for U.S. beef and beef products in South America. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. The mass production of produce and flowers has created products with shelf lives that simply amaze. Today a Red Delicious apple retains its crunch for nearly a month longer, thanks to a process called Smart Fresh that slows ripening. SmartFresh also allows countries like China and New Zealand to ship apples long distances without loosing quality. Roses grown in Chile, Mexico or Costa Rica are delivered to US stores nearly as fresh as when they were picked due in part to a product called FreshSpan a specialized packing system that modifies the atmosphere of shipping containers. While all of this bodes well for the both the commercial side of agriculture and consumers who now hold produce to impeccable standards, I have to wonder if we have "lost something in translation." When I buried my face into a bouquet of red roses, I was left longing for fragrances that no longer exist. The same holds true for treated apples, they often lack that tart aroma associated with fall. Yet I suspect it won't be long before that researchers develop with a method to retain fragrance while keeping freshness. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.