Agriculture not top target for terrorism
Agriculture in the United States is too spread out for any would-be terrorist to inflict significant damage against the U.S. food supply with a single attack.
Ohio State University agricultural trade professor Luther Tweeten admitted terrorist groups might consider a potential contamination of food because the agriculture system is dispersed, making it difficult to watch everything at once.
"On the other hand, agriculture is not an easy target for the same reason," Tweeten said. "Any one point is not going to do the kind of damage terrorists are looking for.
"An attack on one farmer's livestock or crop is not going to have a very big impact, and terrorists are looking for things with a huge psychological impact," he said.
Ever since the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, farm-related officials have tried to increase security around agriculture-related facilities.
They have wondered about the possibility of someone trying to taint food supplies for political gain.
Tweeten said people should realize there is a potential danger of agri-terrorism.
"There's no question that the war in Iraq has heightened awareness of this issue," he said. "No one knows for sure if it's going to make terrorism more or less frequent but it's a concern that everybody should be more aware of."
Possible agriculture related segments at risk include chemicals, which could be developed into explosives; spray planes that could be stolen and used to disperse chemical or biological agents; and agri-businesses that stockpile chemicals or equipment.
Also vulnerable are farmers with large feedlots or confinement operations that could be sources for spreading animal diseases, and food processing facilities and packing plants that could be infiltrated and toxins introduced into the food supply.
Tweeten said farmers and farm-related businesses can help reduce the chances of an attack by locking up buildings, securing chemicals, along with aircraft and farm equipment.
"It's up to the people to be vigilant and be aware of what is going on around them," he said.
Iraq farmers losing crops to war
When the United States and Britain rebuild Iraq after the war, the problem of feeding Iraqi people will be made worse by the fact that combat is interfering with the planting season for that country's farmers.
This is the time of year when Iraqi farmers would be planting spring vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, okra and cauliflower while also harvesting their winter wheat grains.
The American Farm Bureau Federation noted Iraq had been expecting to harvest 1.7 million tons of wheat and barley. They were unsure how much of that crop would actually be harvested, since many farmers are refusing to operate farm equipment that might be mistaken for a tank by U.S. troops.
New system to detect salmonella
The Agriculture Department's food safety and inspection service has adopted a new system to detect salmonella in ready-to-eat meat, poultry and pasteurized eggs.
The genetics-based screening method was developed by DuPont Qualicon and federal officials say their method reduces reporting time by at least three days.
Officials are now checking the system, which looks like a desktop computer, to see if it can also detect E.coli bacteria that can taint food.
Union pleased with disaster aid
The National Farmers Union praised the Agriculture Department for trying to speed up disaster relief programs.
Officials with the Washington-based union admit they wish sign-up for the federal program would begin before June 6. They fear the delay will leave some farmers without assistance, even though they suffered weather-related losses to their crops during 2001 and 2002.
But they are pleased to see aid being provided to help farmers, allowing them to continue to plant crops this year and in the future.
Crop plantings begin
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday 7 percent of the rice crop is planted, compared to 8 percent at this time last year and 7 percent average for the past five years.
For sorghum, 10 percent of the crop is planted, compared to 12 percent last year and 11 percent average the past five years.
For oats, 1 percent of the crop is planted, compared to 3 percent last year and 4 percent average the past five years.
Fifty-one percent of the winter wheat crop was reported in excellent or good condition, with 35 percent average and 14 percent poor or very poor.
Grains mostly higher on CBOT
Grain futures were mostly higher at the close Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Soybeans fell on weak plantings and export figures from the Agriculture Department.
Corn, wheat and oats rose on solid plantings and export figures.
The prices:
Soybeans: May 5.74 1/2 off 5 1/2, Jul 5.73 1/4 off 4 1/4, Aug 5.60 3/4 off 4 3/4, Nov 5.15 1/4 off 3 1/2.
Corn: May 2.36 1/2 up 8 3/4, Jul 2.37 up 9, Sep 2.38 up 8 3/4, Dec 2.40 up 8 3/4.
Wheat: May 2.86 3/4 up 7 1/2, Jul 2.89 up 6, Sep 2.95 3/4 up 7 3/4, Dec 3.05 1/4 up 4 3/4.
Oats: May 1.89 1/4 up 7 1/2, Jul 1.64 1/2 up 3 3/4, Sep 1.51 1/2 up 3 1/4, Dec 1.49 up 2.
