The ban affects pork from Tyson plants in Logansport, Indiana, and Storm Lake, Iowa, and Smithfield's Farmland plants in Crete, Nebraska, and Monmouth, Illinois, said the US Department of Agriculture. It is believed that concerns over antibiotic residues have prompted the Russian restrictions.

Sent Down

News that Russia banned pork from two Tyson Foods Inc. plants and two Farmland Foods plants, a division of Smithfield, sent US hog prices sharply lower at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, says Reuters.

Russia has claimed the antibiotic tetracycline was found in some of the pork, said USDA said. The US Meat Export Federation, and both meat companies involved are currently investigating Russia's action.

"We're still trying to learn more about the reason for the suspension," said Tyson spokes man Gary Mickelson, from the Springdale HQ in Arkansas. The company still has four plants exporting meat to Russia.

USDA seems not to be overly concerned. Spokesman Keith Williams said that these matters come up occasionally and are usually resolved quickly, "in a couple of weeks."

View the Reuters story by clicking here.