1. GRAIN & OILSEED ISSUES

Sales of Rice Wine Surge after Press Reports on Anti-Cancer Effect [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2011/04/19/0302000000AKR20110419094300003.HTML

Summary: Major convenience store chains have reported that sales of rice wine have increased 45 percent during the last four days since the press reported on anti-cancer effect of rice wine on April 14.  Buyers at convenience store chains commented that the popularity of rice is likely to remain strong in the coming months due to the press report.

2. LIVESTOCK ISSUES

Fluid Milk Processors in Fight to Secure Fresh Milk Supply [Korean, OSY]

http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2011041759611&sid=0104&nid=004<ype=1

Summary: Seoul Diary Co. and Yonsei Dairy Co. reportedly had a physical confrontation in a local dairy farm last week as Yonsei Dairy barricaded the entrance of the farm to block a milk tanker of Seoul Dairy.  This incident indicates the amount of tension that is building in the local fluid milk industry as every processor is making an all out effort to secure additional supply of fresh milk.  Among the 37,000 dairy cow that were destroyed during recent FMD outbreak in Korea, member farms of Seoul Dairy accounted for the highest loss, 23,000.  As a result, Seoul Dairy has deployed a very aggressive effort to find replacement farms, which has caused disputes with other processors.

3. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

Virus Disease Threatens Local Bees [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/It/New/3/08/20110415/36433068/1

Summary: Sacbrood Virus (SBV) has reportedly spreading again in local bee farms.  This virus disease was responsible for a dramatic 76.7 percent decline in local bee population (7.7 billion bees) last year.  Researchers suspect that the virus was transferred to Korea in mid 1980’s from South Asian countries and China.  The treat of the disease is serious because there is no known cure or prevention method available yet.  Decline of bee population has also bee reported in other countries, including the U.S. and Europe, in recent years.

No Need to Worry about Radioactivity Contamination in Fish Caught in Northern Pacific Sea, FDA [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/Inter/Japan/3/0213/20110419/36518407/1

Summary: U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced on April 17 that FDA does not plan on testing for radioactivity in fish caught in northern Pacific sea.  FDA mentioned that considering the distance between Japan and the fishing areas in the state of Alaska, the chance of the fish in the fishing area being contaminated by radioactive materials should be zero.

Price of Glass Eel Soars due to Reduced Catch [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2011/04/18/0318000000AKR20110418133700055.HTML

Summary: Price of glass eel has gone up this year to 11 million won per kilo (5 million won last year) as of April due to reduced catch, according to Jnrabukdo province, which is a major producing area of wild eel in Korea.  The glass eels are cultivated in indoor aquaculture facility for 10 months.  It is reported that some cultivation farms are importing glass eels from China to make up for the reduced local catch.