H.K. may lift ban on Japan beef. Japan plans to work out soon the final details of an accord with Hong Kong for the territory to resume imports of Japanese beef after banning the trade since September 2001 when Japan discovered its first case of mad cow disease, diplomatic sources said Thursday. [News Source]

Some ranchers shy on first day since mad cow announcement (AG Weekly) TULIA, Texas -- West Texas rancher Kevin Crooks lost about $1 million in the year following the country's first case of mad cow 18 months ago. If he'd had cattle big enough to sell at the Tulia Livestock Auction on Monday, he wouldn't have brought a one. [News Source]