11/24/06 Curtailing Corn & Swine Flu

Curtailing Corn & Swine Flu. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Argentina and China may curtail corn exports next year - adding to already strong price pressures fueled by ethanol and feed demands. USDA World Ag Outlook Board Chairman Gerald Bange says a tighter international corn market could mean even higher corn prices in 2007 - if major players like Argentina pare exports BANGE: I think what they've been concerned about apparently is over booking or over selling exports for the out year and that appears to be what the nature of the story is although some of the facts are not totally clear yet. Scientists say they have identified the H3N1 swine influenza virus in domestic pigs in South Korea. A highly infectious respiratory pathogen - the H3N1 influenza A virus is a new genetic reassortment of influenza viruses first identified in U.S. pigs during 2004. The virus can be found in birds and mammals - including humans - but it is not generally transmissible between birds and humans. Researchers say - "Given the evidence that pigs can support the reassortment of influenza viruses from humans and other species - it is prudent that we enhance surveillance for atypical influenza viruses in pigs as part of overall pandemic preparedness efforts." Now here's today's Washington Grange Report. (GRANGE REPORT) That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.