Loss of Central Oregon rendering plant still causing worries. It's been six months since Redmond Tallow Co. closed, and Crook County officials are still seeking a long-tern method of disposing of Central Oregon animal carcasses and byproducts. [News Source]

Safety terms for U.S. beef imports to stay. Japan won't relax its safety requirements for American beef despite an announcement in Washington that an international animal health organization will classify the United States as a country that can export beef regardless of cattle age. [News Source]

NMPF opposes opening Canadian border to breeding animals (AG Weekly) ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Milk Producers Federation, in comments submitted Friday (March 9) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is opposing the resumption of cattle exports from Canada for breeding or herd replacement purposes. [News Source]

U.S. beef “controlled risk” (Meat News) UNITED STATES: A review by the World Organization for Animal Health classified the U.S. as a “control risk” for BSE. [News Source]

South Korea Vows to Defend Its Interests (AP via Yahoo! Finance) South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday vowed to defend his country's national interests as tough free trade talks with the United States head for conclusion later this month. [News Source]

The Almanac (UPI) The weekly UPI Almanac package for March 19-25, 2007. [News Source]

Premise registration continues on plan (Iowa Farmer) Editor’s note: On Nov.. 22, the Bush administration pledged not to make a planned National Animal Identification System mandatory. However, that has not derailed movement toward a voluntary tracking system. [News Source]

About the Brain… (Winston-Salem Journal) Today is the start of Brain Awareness Week, an annual campaign sponsored by the Society for Neuroscience, the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, and a coalition of more than 1,200 science, advocacy and health organizations. The goal is to increase public awareness about brain and nervous-system research. [News Source]