Library funding left out of budget bill (Bozeman Daily Chronicle) HELENA -- A bill funding the state's natural resource agencies is moving forward without money to reimburse the city of Bozeman for cleanup of the new library site. [News Source]

S. Korea will not give up key farm goods at FTA talks with U.S. South Korea's chief agriculture negotiator for free trade talks with the United States reiterated Wednesday that key agricultural goods must be excluded from a bilateral trade deal. [News Source]

Legislators speak out against U.S.-S.K. trade deal. The South Korean and U.S. negotiators on March 12 completed their eighth and final round of official talks on a proposed free trade agreement (FTA), as Seoul compromised on a number of Washington's demands. [News Source]

Korea Flexible on US Beef Import. A senior agriculture official said Wednesday that the government could maintain its policy to allow only boneless U.S. beef by accepting the United States' demand to abolish a 40-percent tariff on imported beef. [News Source]

U.S. groups seek help from senators to keep border closed to older cows. More than 100 U.S. agricultural groups and livestock auction yards sent a letter to senators this week seeking help to stop older Canadian cows from crossing the border. [News Source]

Cash announced to help Alta. cattle industry meet new mad cow rules. Alberta's beef industry is getting a $40-million boost to get ready for new feed regulations designed to help prevent mad cow disease. [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]

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]