Voa Agriculture Report - China Sees Control of Pig Disease

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Agriculture

Animal

English

Experts

July

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breathing

cases

deaths

disease

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humans

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spokesman

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western

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year

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

The government China says much progress has been made in efforts control the spread of blue-ear pig disease. Government officials last week that forty-seven thousand pigs were infected in . That was down more than fifty percent from the reported for June.

The name for the virus comes the fact that infected pigs can temporarily develop discolored . The scientific name is porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.

China has an estimated five hundred million pigs. An Ministry spokesman said more than one hundred million pigs been given vaccine to prevent the disease.

The said two hundred fifty-seven thousand pigs were infected with virus this year. Sixty-eight thousand of them died. Many were destroyed.

An Agriculture Ministry official said the outbreak a form of the virus that is unusually deadly pigs.

Vietnam also has reported recent cases of blue-ear .

The disease causes reproductive failure in female pigs and difficulties in young pigs. Older pigs may also be . Signs of the disease can include high fever and of pneumonia. Pigs weakened by the virus are more to get bacterial infections.

An outbreak of infectious disease as many as one million pigs in China last . China's top veterinary health official said this past June blue-ear disease was the cause of most of those . China reported the outbreak to the World Organization for Health last September.

The World Organization for Animal Health the disease happens in most major pig-producing areas of world. The disease was first recognized in nineteen eighty-seven the United States. Three years later it appeared in Europe and spread quickly.

The agency says the does not seem to affect animals other than pigs. say they do not know of any cases of who have gotten the pig disease.

China is the largest producer of pigs. Supply shortages have driven up prices this year in China. Still, a Commerce Ministry said this month that China exported sixty-two thousand metric of pork in the first half of the year. compared with pork exports of two hundred forty-six tons all of last year.

And that's the VOA Special Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. For more stories agriculture, go to voaspecialenglishcom.. I'm Faith Lapidus.

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Voa Agriculture Report - Foot-and-Mouth Disease in England May Be Under Control

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England

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is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Farmers in have been worried about foot-and-mouth disease among their cows. viral sickness is one of the worlds most destructive of livestock. Foot-and-mouth disease does not usually kill animals. it sickens them and severely reduces production of meat milk, resulting in economic disaster.

The current cases of disease first struck cattle in southern England. At the of July, a farmer in Surrey noted that two his cows were sick. He reported the news to health officials. They passed it on to the World for Animal Health.

Agricultural scientists confirmed the cases of the disease in two animals. The first of one hundred twenty cows was killed August third. that time, the government banned export of all livestock, meat and milk products. The ban is expected to in place until August twenty-fifth-.

About one cattle were killed from a second infected herd on farm about three kilometers from the first. A third of cows was killed last week. Almost six hundred have been destroyed so far to prevent the spread the disease.

Tests of cows on two other in Surrey showed no presence of the highly infectious . So experts say the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease could over by the end of the week if no cases are found. However, they urged farmers to continue check their cattle for signs of the disease.

British health investigators believe there is a strong possibility outbreak started in a research center close to the . The center has two laboratories that use the virus research and to make vaccines. One of the laboratories the claim. It said there is no evidence the was transported out of the laboratory by people.

In thousand one, foot-and-mouth disease cost the British agricultural and industries billions of dollars. More than six million animals killed. The crisis delayed a general election for a , canceled many sports events and closed the countryside to .

The disease affects animals such as , pigs, goats and sheep. It spreads easily through direct among animals. It is also spread by people on and shoes.

And that's the VOA English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Faith Lapidus.

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Voa Agriculture Report - The Fight Over Farm Subsidies

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Ember

Freedom

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agreement

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big

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is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Two words enough to start a debate: farm subsidies.

Farmers are subsidized by their governments usually receive direct payments loans. Domestic subsidies provide support within a farmer's own . Export subsidies help them sell their products in other , often at a lower price.

Developing nations criticize export in the United States and other wealthy countries. They the result is that their own farmers are often to compete on the world market.

The dispute over is one of the major barriers to a new for the World Trade Organization. Negotiators will meet again month in Geneva to discuss compromise proposals for agricultural industrial goods.

One version written last month calls the United States to lower its subsidies. In return, developing countries like China, India and Brazil would make reductions in taxes on industries.

But in Washington, House of Representatives recently passed a farm bill that continue high-paying subsidies. These go mostly to farmers in Midwest and South who grow corn, wheat, cotton, rice soybeans. The bill would also add money for growers fruits and vegetables.

The bill now goes to Senate. President Bush has threatened to veto it. He subsidies for farmers currently receiving high prices for crops corn and soybeans.

Today's farm subsidies have roots in Great Depression.

In nineteen thirty-three-, Congress passed a law paid farmers not to plant on some of their . The idea was to control crop supplies and support , while protecting the soil.

Since nineteen thirty-three-, legislation known the farm bill has come before Congress about every years for renewal.

After the nineteen sixties, to farmers increased. In nineteen ninety-six-, Congress passed the to Farm Act. This law removed the requirement to areas of land unplanted in order to receive government .

Economist and author James Weaver thinks political pressure on will make big cuts in subsidies unlikely anytime soon. says most farmers with high subsidies like the system way it is. The amount received is based on area. So the wealthiest farmers with the most land receive the most money.

And that's the VOA English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Steve .

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Voa Agriculture Report - Working Magic in the Garden With Beans

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Agriculture

Illinois

This

a

agriculture

amount

and

are

areas

be

beans

centimeters

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supports

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is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Beans are popular choice for home gardens.

The University of Extension service says bush bean plants need the least of work. They stand without support.

Green bush used to be called string beans because of fiber along the pods containing the seeds. Now green beans called snap beans because plant breeding reduced the fibers.

Unlike bush bean plants, pole beans need to climb. But they need less space than bush because they twist around poles or sticks. Because the are tall, a person can stand while harvesting the .

The University of Illinois Extension says beans should not planted until all danger of a freeze has passed the spring. Cold weather could damage them. Planting beans two to four weeks until early August will provide continuous harvest.

Small weeds and grasses around beans plants to be controlled, but be careful not to harm plants. The root systems are not very strong or .

Seeds should be planted at a depth of two one-half centimeters. Make sure the soil is not too or the seeds could develop poorly.

Bush beans be planted five to ten centimeters apart. And there be at least forty-five to sixty centimeters between the .

Pole beans should be planted ten to fifteen apart in rows that are about seventy-six to ninety apart. Or you could plant them in hills with to six seeds per hill.

The hills should seventy-six centimeters apart and with seventy-six centimeters between rows.

The University of Illinois specialists say to harvest beans the pods are firm and have reached their full . Do not wait until the seeds inside are fully . Bean plants produce more beans if pods are continually before the seeds are mature.

But wait until plants are completely dry before picking beans. Picking beans wet plants can spread bean bacterial blight, a disease damages the plants.

The specialists at the University Illinois Extension say beans should be moved to different of the garden each year. This is because diseases affect beans can stay in the soil and infect next bean crop.

Not only are beans a food, they are also good for the soil. Other take nitrogen out of the soil, but beans and legumes replace it.

And that's the VOA Special English Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. To learn more about , go to voaspecialenglishcom.. I'm Steve Ember.

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Voa Agriculture Report - Goats Employed in Fight Against Kudzu in US South

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But

Chattanooga

Steve

This

VOA

a

and

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climate

department

died

drive

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fans

flowers

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goats

got

growing

hectares

homes

in

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kudzu

long

song

stop

that

the

then

there's

thirties

to

up

was

work

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Once upon time, people in the southern United States enjoyed kudzu its beauty. Kudzu is a climbing woody vine native Asia. It produces big green leaves and sweet-smelling purple .

The Japanese brought it to the United States eighteen seventy-six-. It grew well in the warm, wet of the southeastern states. People planted kudzu around their to hide things like fences.

In the nineteen , during the Great Depression, the government put people to planting kudzu for soil protection. Between nineteen thirty-five and nineteen fifties, the government even paid farmers to plant . The kudzu also provided cattle feed.

kudzu kills other growth as it spreads. Finally, in fifties, the Agriculture Department no longer suggested it as cover crop. Then, in nineteen seventy, officials declared it weed. Today it is known as "the plant that the South."

Kudzu now covers an estimated three million of land. Over time, much of whatever was nearby .

People are always looking for better ways to the invasive plant. Since last year, the public works in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been using goats.

This by Randy Mitchell tells the story of the kudzu-eating :

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It was the end of August in Tennessee's town

The weather had been hot and humid, summer a hangin� �*%round��

The vines had been growing long steady all season long

I knew it was time me to write another kudzu song

That stuff is everywhere even choking out a railroad bridge

But now kudzu eating goats out on Missionary Ridge

The tunnels to where it was a danger to try to through

They tried poison and herbicides and chopped it where it grew

But nothing seems to work very and the city was at wits end

They discovered goats like kudzu and would eat all up and

The 3.4 acres would be clear and free of up to the tunnel's ledge

Cause now there's kudzu goats out on Missionary Ridge

Yet even kudzu has . Artisans form the twisting vines into baskets. Others use in food, clothing and herbal medicines.

And that's the Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Ember.

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Voa Agriculture Report - Congress Honors Norman Borlaug, Father of 'Green Revolution'

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Agriculture

Borlaug

Center

Earth's

Leader

Population

The

This

a

agriculture

as

award

book

can

disease-resistant

forties

from

grew

his

hunger

is

lives

methods

millions

nineteen

of

pesticide

plant

poverty

respect

scientist

some

the

times

to

urged

week

work

would

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

American agricultural Norman Borlaug has received the Congressional Gold Medal. The is the highest civilian honor given by Congress. Norman is often called "the man who saved a billion " and "the father of the Green Revolution."

His helped fight starvation in India and Pakistan in the sixties. He won the nineteen seventy Nobel Peace Prize.

President Bush, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Harry Reid presented him with his latest honor last . The scientist is ninety-three years old. He still works an adviser at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement in Mexico.

In accepting the medal, he Congress and the administration to increase development assistance for . He said the world needs better and more technology deal with hunger. In his words:

"Hunger and and misery are very fertile soils into which to all kinds of ',isms,' including terrorism."

In the nineteen , Norman Borlaug and a team developed highly productive and wheat for farmers in Mexico. About twenty years later, of people in India and Pakistan were in danger grain shortages.

The improved wheat from Mexico also well in South Asia, combined with changes in growing . Norman Borlaug persuaded farmers to use more fertilizers and chemicals and to water their crops with irrigation systems. results were big production gains that many believe saved many as a billion lives.

President Bush noted that still affects much of the developing world. He said most fitting honor for Norman Borlaug is to lead second Green Revolution that feeds the world.

Yet support for new agricultural technologies has been criticized at over the years. Some researchers worry about the effects industrial methods of modern farming. Some have argued that resources are limited and not able to feed everyone.

researcher Paul Ehrlich, for example, wrote a nineteen sixty-eight called "The Population Bomb." He predicted that population growth cause widespread harm to the planet.

But now, people are saying there should be greater attention and for Norman Borlaug. A major theme of his work that people can deal with difficulties and that technology improve their lives.

And that's the VOA Special English Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Jim Tedder.

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Voa Agriculture Report - Many US Farmers Struggle With Hot, Dry Weather

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Alabama

Belt

But

California

Department

Farmers

Plains

Some

Tennessee

The

This

additional

by

crops

degrees

driest

drought

farmers

feed

go

is

low-cost

mainly

not

of

other

planted

recover

remember

summer

the

to

too

twenty-five

is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Heat and are threatening some of America's most productive farmland.

The of Agriculture says an early summer heat wave across West has increased demand for water to save dry . But in many areas, water supplies are limited. Water also needed to fight wildfires in western states like , Nevada and Washington.

Temperatures have reached about thirty-eight Celsius recently in parts of Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Agriculture Department says temperatures averaged several degrees above normal.

Some people in the West say they cannot a time with less rain in half a century. drought conditions have been most severe in the South.

The northern part of Alabama is described as the in about one hundred years. With grasslands damaged, many in Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee have no hay to their cows. So they have sold up to half their cattle early.

In southern Alabama and northern , farmers also suffered through a dry period last year. were hoping for a big corn crop this year sell for ethanol fuel. But the government says most their crop is in poor or very poor condition.

Experts say soybeans and cotton look better ---- but very much. Federal officials have declared all counties in a drought disaster area. That means farmers can get emergency loans. But they are asking Congress for an seventeen million dollars in aid.

Ten million would to drilling for water and regrowing pasture lands. The money would go to cattle producers to help them their losses from selling early.

But drought is not only weather problem right now for American agriculture. Recently, much rain fell for some crops in the southeastern . Heavy rain and flooding in the lowlands damaged wheat in the winter.

To the east, rains of centimeters or more in areas struck the western Gulf Mexico. The rains washed out fields and flooded lowlands.

But farmers welcomed heavy rainfall in early July from Mississippi River Delta to the southern Atlantic coastal area. have also received some welcome rains along the Corn . This area includes the Ohio Valley and parts of Upper Midwest.

Summer crops in the Midwest have been free of the drought suffered in other areas this .

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written Jerilyn Watson. I'm Steve Ember.

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