U.N. pleased w/ Iraq aid donations
United Nations officials Friday hailed the number of donations coming from countries around the world to help support the programs that will feed people in Iraq once U.S. troops complete their military efforts.
World Food Program Director James T. Morris said its goal of raising $2.2 billion for humanitarian assistance for Iraq is off to a good start -- with about $1 billion more still needed.
U.S. officials contributed $260 million toward the U.N. effort, while Germany donated $6.46 million. Canada contributed $4.2 million, Spain donated $1.6 million and New Zealand gave $565,000.
Australia made a significant contribution of 100,000 metric tons of wheat.
"This is the best possible start to the biggest single appeal in (the program's) history," Morris said. "We are extremely grateful for these nations' generosity."
One complicating factor is the World Food Program is reviewing food contracts already approved under the United Nations' Oil for Food Program to see which ones can be sent to Iraq by a May 12 deadline set last week in a U.N. Security Council resolution.
Morris said the full value of applicable Oil for Food contracts could total less than the initial estimate of $270 million.
"It's still unclear how much the outstanding Oil for Food contracts will be available in time," Morris said. "In any case, they will not cover the bulk of our immediate needs. The onus will remain on individual donors to help fund an operation which could evolve into the largest in the history of humanitarian aid."
The World Food Program already is pre-positioning 30,000 tons of food in countries bordering Iraq to support any relief effort helping up to 2.1 million refugees who flee Iraq.
A second phase of the relief efforts, which would begin in about a month, would see U.N. staff return to Iraq to support food distribution efforts for all of Iraq -- about 27.1 million people.
The final phase, possibly to be implemented by September, would see Iraq re-establishing its own food system, with U.N. officials handling the feeding of up to 5 million people.
War not hurting cattle markets
Kansas State University agricultural economist James Mintert said he believes war with Iraq will have a minimal effect on cattle markets unless the war expands significantly.
He said the war has had little impact on domestic and international meat demand although there are signs demand is improving.
Mintert said cash slaughter cattle prices could drop by late spring.
"Cash slaughter cattle prices this summer are now expected to average in the upper $60s to low $70s, supported by smaller slaughter and lighter steer and heifer weights than in 2002," he said.
But if consumer demand for beef remains as strong late this year as it is now, then slaughter cattle price recoveries could go as high as the upper $70s, Mintert said.
U.N. donates trucks to Pakistan girl's ed program
The United Nations' world food program is providing trucks to Pakistan to help transport edible oil to schools where food aid is being provided to rural families who allow their daughters to be educated.
Under the incentive, each girl in the program receives a four-liter tin of edible oil for each month in which she attends school for at least 20 days.
Officials said during 2002, more than 160,000 girls were enrolled in 3,300 schools in rural Pakistan because of the oil incentive.
U.S., Russia reach deal on poultry
The U.S. Agriculture Department and Russian Agriculture Ministry have reached an agreement on technical issues related to poultry trade.
Although the two countries had settled the substance of their dispute over poultry last year, final details of the agreement were not completed until last week.
The new agreement will permit Russian Veterinary Service inspectors to check out U.S. poultry processing facilities. For a brief time last year, Russia refused to allow imports of U.S. poultry, citing health concerns related to the drugs U.S. poultry farmers use. Trade officials said they thought the issue was really retaliation for non-farm related U.S. policies.
Indiana wants to close hog farm
Indiana Environmental Management Department officials filed a lawsuit that seeks to close a hog farm that has been the site of various manure spills.
State officials filed their suit last week after a spill at Pohlmann Hog Farms near Crawfordsville that killed more than 3,000 fish. They note it is the ninth spill from the farm since 1976.
The farm has been fined in the past, paying more than $80,000 in penalties over the years. State officials say shutting the farm down is the only way to stop the pollution from occurring in the future.
Grains futures mostly higher on CBOT
Grain futures were mostly higher at the close Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Soybeans rose on weather forecasts while corn rose on a lack of negative news.
Wheat received a boost from Japan's buying decision and dry weather that could reduce the hard red winter wheat crop.
Oats were mixed.
The prices:
Soybeans: May 5.90 3/4 up 5 1/2, Jul 5.89 up 6 1/4, Aug 5.75 1/4 up 5 1/4, Nov 5.19 1/2 up 3.
Corn: May 2.39 up 1/4, Jul 2.39 3/4 up 1/2, Sep 2.39 up 1/4, Dec 2.39 3/4 unch.
Wheat: May 2.85 up 3 1/2, Jul 2.89 1/4 up 3, Sep 2.95 up 4 1/2, Dec 3.05 1/4 up 3 3/4.
Oats: May 1.85 up 3/4, Jul 1.61 1/2 off 1/2, Sep 1.50 off 1/2, Dec 1.47 1/4 off 3/4.
