Japan won’t lift U.S. beef ban before late 2006. U.S. ratings agency Standard & Poor's said Monday that it expects Japan to keep its import ban on U.S. beef at least until late this year. [News Source]

Beef farmers urged to appeal bills. Struggling cattle farmers supposedly overpaid under a federal program designed to help them through tough times are being urged to appeal bills they’ve been receiving. [News Source]

Lessons learnt from mad cow epidemic. The discovery of mad cow disease has taught scientists how to better manage disease and improved how farmers and industry respond to new virus outbreaks. [News Source]

Japan stirs mad cow advisory committee after debacle with U.S. beef imports. Japan on Monday reshuffled an expert panel on mad cow disease that advised the government on the safety of U.S. beef, amid reports that half the panel resigned over the debate on reopening the domestic market to American imports. [News Source]

Mad cow testing by single company bad for international trade. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said today that the federal government can't let an Arkansas City Company test its cattle for mad cow disease because doing so would be bad for international trade. [News Source]