PHILIPPINES, March 3, 2004 -- The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) through Memorandum No. 11 has temporarily banned poultry imports from the State of Texas due to a confirmed outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza in Gonzalez County. This makes Texas the third state following Delaware and Pennsylvania from which exports of poultry products to the Philippines are banned. The order became effective on February 26, 2004

PHILIPPINES, March 3, 2004 -- The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) through Memorandum No. 11 has temporarily banned poultry imports from the State of Texas due to a confirmed outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza in Gonzalez County. This makes Texas the third state following Delaware and Pennsylvania from which exports of poultry products to the Philippines are banned. The order became effective on February 26, 2004

AUSTRALIA, March 3, 2004 -- Australia is estimated to have harvested a record winter crop in 2003/04, more than double the size of the drought-reduced 2002/03 harvest. Wheat and barley crops in 2003/04 are estimated at a record levels. The production outlook is largely mixed for Australia's current summer cropping cycle, with forecasts showing an improvement in sorghum production and a further reduced rice crop.

JAPAN, March 3, 2004 -- Following on the domestic agricultural producer's marketing success of putting the face of the farmer on domestic products, Zenmokuren (the Japan federation of Wood Industry Associations) has established a task force to evaluate the use of a product- and quality-labeling program to promote domestically produced wood products, according to the Japan Forest Products Journal (4 Feb 2004).

INDIA, March 3, 2004 -- *India to insist on inclusion of special provisions at WTO meet*, *India must be more proactive in WTO - world bank economist*, *Cancun issues to top G-15 agenda*, *Raasi seeds plans to start contract farming in cotton - awaits clearance of its Bt cotton hybrids*, *Ground water wastage to hit grain harvest*, *Awards for Indo-US agro partnerships*, *Sri Lanka: seeds*.

PERU, March 3, 2004 -- Fishmeal production in CY 2004 is forecast at 1.5 Million Metric Tons, a 27 percent increase compared to the previous year. This significant increase is the result of a higher total catch. Soybean meal imports are expected to 525,000 MT in CY 2004. Soybean oil imports are forecast at 225,000 MT in CY 2004.

SOUTH AFRICA, REPUBLIC OF, March 3, 2004 -- The biggest growth industry in South Africa is tourism. Hotels, restaurants, institutional and other food service sector outlets play an integral part in the tourists' experience of South Africa. The sector is expected to continue growing, as convenience fast food chain restaurants become more and more important in the South African way of life. South Africa is ranked 25th by the Global Competitiveness Report out of 75 countries, the highest place among all developing countries globally. This means that the country's business environment is b

CANADA, March 3, 2004 -- Temporary Ban On Poultry From Texas * Several Asian Governments Ban Canadian Poultry * Decline In Farm Cash Receipts Despite Record Program Payouts * More Cattle Aid Possible * Grain And Feed Annual Report * CN Rail Strike Hurting Shipments, Says CWB * Study Probes Canadian Farmers' Views On GM Wheat

CANADA, March 3, 2004 -- For 2004/05, in western Canada, seeded area is expected to shift out of spring wheat and coarse grains into oilseeds and durum wheat. In the east, a drop in winter wheat area is forecast to be offset by an increase in corn. Post forecasts that feed use projections will be directly impacted (higher) in 2003/04 and 2004/05 due to closure of overseas markets for Canadian live cattle exports resulting from the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 2003.

SYRIA, March 3, 2004 -- The 2003 wheat crop is estimated to be good crop because of good rainfall. Wheat stocks hit a record and are forecast to decrease after the GOS decided to boost exports of wheat at world market prices, significantly below the local purchase prices from the farmers. The barley crop is estimated to be good, about 1.1 million tons. The private sector is importing significant quantities of barley and the GOS is exporting surplus quantities of barley. Corn imports are increasing and may hit a record due to the developing glucose and starch industry. Egypt has become the major rice supplier to Syria

EUROPEAN UNION, March 3, 2004 -- Total EU imports of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables from the U.S. amounted to 772,496 MT in 2002, a 7.5% decrease compared to 2001. Despite the decrease in volume, the value increased by 3.6% from 1.13 billion US dollars to 1.17 billion US dollars.