In Australia, supply of cattle increased significantly pushing up production, as the drought season really starts to impact producers. This surge of supply has done little to help the already low prices.
       
       However, there is a glimmer of hope as Australian live exports to Indonesia are on the increase. With the prospects of three new feedlots to open next year, greater demand is expected which will hopefully push up beef prices.
       
       On top of the market situation, Australian producers are battling against environmental groups, who are discrediting the industry.
       
       In the US markets, beef exports are over a third lower compared last years figures. Earlier in the week, Japan suspended beef shipments from an American meatpacker, after bovine spinal columns (banned under a trade agreement) were found in imported boxes of fresh meats. The beef industry has also further defended it this week following the recent E.coli scares.
       
       In the UK, the TB eradication group presented their first progress report, which includes increased support for producers with affected herds. Industry leaders however say that measures proposed will not eradicate the disease, and are still calling for a targeted badger cull, which the group say they have not yet ruled out.
       
       In Canada, the threat of TB in Manitoba is forcing down export prices and increasing production costs. Farmers are calling for a cull of the wild elk, which spread the disease.
       
       The Canadian government has involved the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in a dispute with the US over country of origin labelling. Canada argues that the mandatory country-of origin labelling (COOL) law is ’onerous’ and affects the competitiveness of Canadian products.
       
       
       Source: The BeefSite, October 14,2009.