Tag Archives: News

【News】 Declining hog farms and disease outbreak force half of regional piglet markets to close (April 14, 2015)

  Yuji Hosoda Regional markets which trade piglets for fattening are recently closing down one after another. Out of 12 such markets which existed in 2013, six were either closed or temporarily suspended by April, as hog farms are increasing their size while their number is dropping, and farmers are refraining from moving their piglets after the spread of the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus. Farmers, who have been depending on the markets to trade piglets, are forced to find other ways to market them, and market dealers express concern over its impact on the prospects of the regional swine industry. The Japan Agricultural News found that piglet markets in … Continue reading

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【News】 Fire your imagination (April 12, 2015)

-Bonsai Art Museum (Saitama-shi, Saitama Prefecture)- Kotaro Yamada The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama, is the world’s first and only publicly-run bonsai museum where visitors can enjoy looking at masterpieces of bonsai and learn how to appreciate its history. Located in Saitama-shi, Saitama Prefecture, which is known for having many local bonsai nurseries and experts since the Taisho Era, it’s expected to play an important role in promoting Japanese culture. “You’ll find it more interesting when you look it at from underneath as if you are a dwarf,” said Shinichiro Hayashi, a 35-year-old curator of the museum and his advice was very true with a 95 centimeter tall Chaenomeles sinensis … Continue reading

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【News】 Agricultural co-ops group chief to step down amid push for reform (April 10, 2015)

Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), said Thursday, April 9, that he is stepping down, at a time when the government is working on reforming the JA group. At a press conference held after the central union’s board meeting, Banzai said the Cabinet’s approval of a bill to overhaul the organization, made on Friday, April 3, became a kind of a “breakpoint” for him to make the decision. “I hope a new central union under a new president will give a boost to conducting self-reform,” said Banzai, who had been expected to serve until August 2017. “I made the decision with positive intentions.” The new … Continue reading

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【News】 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vows to protect agriculture (April 8, 2015)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly said on Tuesday, April 7, he will “protect what should be protected,” referring to key farm products which the government has pledged to exempt from tariff cuts in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations. In a meeting with Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), Abe also stressed that his administration shares the same goals as the JA group, which are to increase farmers’ income and revitalize rural areas. He said exports of farm products will expand further in the future, adding that he hopes to make such a situation an opportunity to proceed with agricultural reform together with the JA group … Continue reading

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【News】 Spring brings new lives to farmers! (April 6, 2015)

Kotaro Yamada Spring is the season for lambing and here at Ohnodai-houbokujo ranch located in Fujisato-cho, Akita Prefecture, ewes are giving birth to approximately 120 baby lambs this spring from February through mid-April. The ranch breeds black-faced black-legged Suffolk sheep for meat production. Newborn lambs are raised in the barn for a while until the grazing season starts in the middle of May. Fujisato village has been focusing on lamb meat production since 1989 in order to make lamb meat its local specialty. Currently the village breeds about 200 lambs a year. Kaoru Takahashi, an engineer for Agriculture and Forestry Division of the village shows his pride and confidence in them, … Continue reading

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