China's Prime Minister Zhu Rongji visited a Midwest farm Sunday.  He was given a 1,500 pound prime Angus bull bred in Illinois and saw how a 10-ton combine operates.  The Midwest visit followed the signing of the agricultural trade portion of a comprehensive list of demands the United States is making before supporting China's membership in the World Trade Organization.

Before leaving Washington, however, Zhu warned U.S. interests not to press too hard for more liberalization, according to news reports.  Both Bloomberg News and Reuters quoted Zhu as saying, "If you want more in the WTO agreement you have to give us time to do it.  If you want too much too soon, in the end, you may end up with nothing.  I said these are (trade provisions) are all possible but in a few years' time."

Reuters reports that the United States and China signed an agreement Saturday on ag trade issues and "reaffirmed their desire to see China join the World Trade Organization as possible."

It is hoped all the issues between the two sides can be resolved to allow a comprehensive agreement to be finalized by year's end.

The bull given Zhu was bred by the University of Illinois in Urbana to produce lean, high-quality beef more efficiently.  The bull and other cattle breeding technologies will be sent to China as part of a program to enhance that nation's beef production.

"You don't send one bull to a nation the size of China and expect to immediately feed more people, but this is a significant first step toward improving beef production in China so that it is more efficient and nutritious," said Doug Parrett, University of Illinois animal sciences professor.