Yuji Hosoda More than 30 percent of dairy cows which underwent artificial insemination in 2014 were crossbred with Japanese Black wagyu beef cattle to produce F1 breed calves for beef production, according to statistics by the Animal Inseminators’ Association of Japan. The percentage is the third highest since the association began compiling the data in 1995. The ratio for Hokkaido, the major dairy production area, topped 20 percent, marking a record high. The increase reflects dairy farmers’ effort to expand shipments of beef calves which are priced higher than dairy calves to cope with rising costs which squeeze their profits. This means the number of births of dairy calves will … Continue reading →

Two candidates running for the presidential election of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu) expressed their determination to reflect the voices of farmers and primary agricultural co-operatives in making the historical reform of the organization. Speaking to some 160 representatives with a voting right who gathered in Tokyo on Tuesday, June 23, Choe Okuno, 68, president of Mie Prefectural Union of Agricultural Co-operatives, and Toru Nakaya, 65, president of Wakayama Prefectural Union of Agricultural Co-operatives, explained their views on how to expand farmers’ income and how to deal with the government’s move to restructure JA-Zenchu. JA-Zenchu is having a presidential race for the first time in 10 years. The … Continue reading →