Legislation to avoid a patchwork of state laws on labeling of genetically modified (GMO) foods should make such labels mandatory, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told farmers in New Orleans Friday. Vilsack’s remarks at the Commodity Classic, a U.S. farmers’ trade show and multi-group convention, come as the U.S. Senate agriculture committee sends its proposal […] Read more
U.S. ag secretary calls for mandatory GMO label
Monsanto threatens to exit India over GM royalty row
New Delhi | Reuters –– Monsanto, the world’s biggest seed company, threatened to pull out of India on Friday if the government imposed a big cut in royalties that local firms pay for its genetically modified cotton seeds. Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India), a joint venture with India’s Mahyco, licenses a gene that produces its own […] Read more
World food prices stable in February near seven-year low
Rome | Reuters –– World food prices stabilized in February, as rising vegetable oil and meat prices offset declining cereal, sugar and dairy prices, the United Nations food agency said Thursday. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, […] Read more
China’s canola meal supply may fall under tighter standards
Beijing | Reuters — China may suffer a shortage of canola meal, a protein-rich feed ingredient, after Beijing plans to toughen the import standards for the oilseed from major exporters, industry analysts said. China will allow no more than one per cent of foreign material in canola shipments starting April 1, the country’s quarantine agency […] Read more
Farm groups rail against revenue cap proposal
CNS Canada –– A key proposal in the recently released Canada Transportation Act review on Canada’s transport systems is getting thumbs down from several Prairie farm groups. The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) disagrees with the report’s recommendation for a seven-year phase-out of the maximum revenue entitlement (MRE), an annual upper limit on the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle snaps back in anticipation of cash prices
Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts rose on Friday, paring recent losses as investors pulled futures closer in line with expectations for cash prices later on Friday, traders said. April closed 0.900 cent per lb higher at 136.350 cents, and June ended up 0.850 cent to 126.475. “We’re just playing catch up to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans surge on short-covering, export demand
Winnipeg/Reuters – U.S. soybean futures jumped nearly 2 per cent on Friday as investors covered short positions due to strong export demand, registering their biggest weekly gain since mid-December. Chicago wheat edged higher, and registered a big weekly gain on concerns over dry weather in parts of the U.S. Plains. Corn also climbed, on strong […] Read more
Egypt’s Agriculture Ministry to keep sending wheat inspectors abroad
Abu Dhabi/Reuters – The Agriculture Ministry of Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer, said on Friday it would continue to send experts to inspect government wheat purchases at ports of origin. Sources had told Reuters on Thursday that the agricultural quarantine authority was considering halting inspections abroad. “The central administration of the agriculture quarantine will continue […] Read more
Grain consortium lobbying hard for Australia’s biggest wheat exporter
Sydney/Reuters – A consortium seeking to buy Australia’s biggest wheat exporter, Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd (CBH), is stepping up lobbying for its offer amid concerns the deal may be snubbed and reports of a rival Chinese bidder. The Australian Grains Champion (AGC), which includes farmers and some former directors of CBH, wants to acquire and list […] Read more
CPP, Saudi firm are lead players in bid for Glencore
Bengaluru/Reuters – Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and state-owned Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co are among the lead bidders for a minority stake in the agriculture unit of Glencore Plc, Bloomberg reported on Friday. The firms are presenting final bids for the unit this month and Glencore is open to selling stakes to more […] Read more
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