Paris | Reuters — The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has lowered to the safest level the official risk of six countries for BSE, a move expected to open international market access for their beef exports. These countries are France, Ireland, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Cyprus and Liechtenstein. OIE members in Paris last week eased […] Read more
OIE cuts six European countries’ BSE risk level
USDA refuses farmers’ requests on avian flu vaccine
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it would not allow commercial release of a poultry vaccine to fight the worst outbreak of bird flu in U.S. history because it was not effective enough. The agency said in a notice that additional criteria must be met before a vaccine can be […] Read more
Sources say BASF mulling potential bid for Syngenta
Reuters — German chemicals group BASF is considering a potential offer for Syngenta, its Swiss rival which has received a C$56 billion takeover offer from Monsanto, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. BASF is speaking to investment bankers about the possibility of an offer for Syngenta, though it has made no decision and […] Read more
Cuba produces best sugar harvest in 11 years
Havana | Reuters — Cuba’s sugar harvest grew 18 per cent this year to 1.9 million tonnes, the most for the beleaguered industry in 11 years and the best performance since the state sugar company Azcuba was founded in 2011, official media said on Friday. The Communist Party daily Granma said the harvest, which began […] Read more
New Russian wheat tax puts exporters, traders on edge
Moscow | Reuters –– Russia approved the launch of a new wheat export tax from July 1, which traders say could threaten profits on advance contracts for the new crop if the rouble weakens in coming months. Russia’s government said Friday that the new tax was intended to stop exports surging if the rouble drops […] Read more
Ukrainian N plants to shut, government pressure cited
Kiev | Reuters –– A company controlled by Ukrainian tycoon Dmytro Firtash said Thursday it was closing down its last two nitrogen fertilizer plants in Ukraine because of “unprecedented pressure” from the government which had deprived the plants of gas. A statement by his Group DF said the closure of the Cherkassky Azot and Rivneazot […] Read more
Russian ag ministry proposes new wheat export duty formula
Donskoy | Reuters –– Russia’s agriculture ministry said on Tuesday it had finalized the methodology for the calculation of a wheat export duty that will be introduced from July 1. It has proposed exporters pay a duty of one rouble per tonne on wheat priced up to 11,000 roubles (C$268) per tonne on a free-on-board […] Read more
Russian wheat prices follow global benchmarks higher
Tikhoretsk | Reuters — Russian wheat export prices rose last week following an increase in global benchmarks and concerns over dry and hot weather in the European part of Russia, analysts said. Russia, one of the world’s big wheat exporters, competes with other global suppliers, including France, where Western European wheat prices hit the highest […] Read more
Meatpacker JBS closes plant, lays off 650 workers in Brazil
Sao Paulo | Reuters — The world’s largest meatpacker JBS SA laid off 650 workers and closed a plant in Brazil’s Mato Grosso state due to the lack of cattle ready for slaughter, a state labour official and the company said on Wednesday. JBS CEO Wesley Batista said last week that the first three months […] Read more
U.S. bill to repeal COOL advances
Washington | Reuters — U.S. legislation to repeal country-of-origin meat labelling (COOL) laws, which the World Trade Organization found discriminate against Mexico and Canada, passed a congressional committee on Wednesday and moved one step closer to becoming law. The House of Representatives’ agriculture committee approved the bill on a vote of 38-6, clearing the way […] Read more
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