Agriculture
AgricultureArgentine farmers warn on deteriorating conditions for agriculture and livestock
The combination of policies from the Argentine presidential Kirchner couple and scarce rainfall have had devastating consequences for agriculture and livestock breeding, claimed Hugo Luis Biolcati president of the Argentine Rural Society, SRA, the country’s strongest farmers’ lobby.
FAO promotes agriculture resources in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia have vast untapped agricultural resources and can play a vital role in improving world food security, the FAO and EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) said at the opening of a two-day meeting in Istanbul this week.
China resumes purchases of Argentine soy beans banned since April
China’s two largest state-owned grains and oilseeds trading companies to import soybean oil from Argentina, easing restrictions imposed in April. Beijing-based Cofco Ltd., China’s biggest grain trader, and China Grain Reserves Corp. have been cleared by the commerce ministry to import soybean oil from Argentina.
UN corn and soybean futures resumed rally on Monday
United States corn and soybean futures resumed their rally Monday as a surprising government crop report from last week continued to drive concerns over supplies.
Brazil forecasts crop will reach a record 148.9 million tons in 2010 farm year
Brazil forecasts a record crop of cereals and oilseeds totalling 148.9 million tons, the largest ever, according to the latest release from the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute, IBGE.
GM cultivation totalled 134 million hectares in 2009; 77% soybeans, 49% cotton
The cultivation of genetically modified plants increased globally in 2009 with the field area rising by nine million hectares over 2008 to a total of 134 million.
Zoellick calls for the reinstatement of emergency food aid program
World Bank president Robert Zoellick expressed concern about the renewed speculation with agriculture commodities which in the last months have seen prices of food in developing countries soar
FAO emergency meeting to address soaring prices of cereals
Experts from more than 75 FAO Member States agreed Friday that while there were no grounds for complacency, there was no indication of an impending world food crisis. They proposed exploring new measures to check food price volatility and manage associated risks.
USDA cuts forecast for global wheat 2010/11 harvest, 5.5% down from last year
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cut its forecast for global wheat production in 2010-11, but by less than expected. USDA now predicts total output of 643 million tonnes for the current agricultural year, down from its August forecast of 645.7 million.
IMF confident risks of further large price spikes for wheat have eased
Despite a large rise in the two months to August, wheat prices remain well below levels reached during the boom in 2008 and market pricing indicates that the risks of further large price spikes have eased, says a report from the IMF.
