Dublin/Brussels | Reuters — Ireland has become the first European Union country allowed to export beef to the U.S., 17 years after Washington banned EU imports over BSE. This follows a successful inspection by U.S. authorities of Ireland’s beef production system completed in July, the Irish agriculture department said on Monday, after the ban on […] Read more
U.S. allows imports of Irish beef, first EU shipments in 17 years
China frees prices of commodities, services in fresh reforms
Shanghai | Reuters — China has freed prices of 24 commodities and services, removing all price controls on agricultural products, among other reforms, its top economic planning agency said. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a document last month, letting the market decide prices of tobacco leaves, the last agricultural product previously under […] Read more
Hong Kong culls chickens, suspends imports after H7 bird flu found
Hong Kong | Reuters — Hong Kong began culling 15,000 chickens on Wednesday and suspended imports of live poultry from mainland China for 21 days after the H7 bird flu strain was discovered in a batch of live chickens from the southern province of Guangdong. Authorities also ordered the closure of the wholesale poultry market, […] Read more
S. Korea to disinfect farms as FMD, bird flu spread
Seoul | Reuters –– South Korea will disinfect farms around the country over the new year and limit the transport of animals, stepping up its effort to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that has spread close to the capital as well as bird flu. The foot-and-mouth among hogs had been limited to the centre […] Read more
India reportedly considering import tax on pulses
New Delhi | Reuters — India, the world’s biggest importer of pulses, is considering a 10 per cent tax on overseas purchases of pulses to support local farmers, a government official said Tuesday. The government is also considering to lift a ban on exports of pulses and edible oils, the official, who declined to be […] Read more
Iraq buys 200,000 tonnes hard wheat from Canada, U.S., Australia
Hamburg | Reuters — Iraq’s state grains board has purchased 200,000 tonnes of hard wheat to be sourced from Canada, the U.S. and Australia in an international tender for at least 50,000 tonnes, European traders said on Monday. The purchase comprised 100,000 tonnes of Canadian wheat, 50,000 tonnes of U.S. wheat and 50,000 tonnes of […] Read more
Nutreco shares slip after Cargill ends bid fight
Amsterdam | Reuters — Shares in Nutreco fell last Tuesday after U.S. commodities company Cargill said it was pulling out of a bid battle for the Dutch animal feed maker. Cargill’s withdrawal leaves the field clear for Dutch investment firm SHV, which has made an offer valuing the company at around 3.1 billion euros (C$4.4 […] Read more
Striking port workers in Argentine grains hub halt shipping
Buenos Aires | Reuters — Port workers in part of the Argentine grain hub of Rosario went on strike on Thursday to demand a year-end bonus, paralyzing ship movements, said the head of the powerful CGT union’s local branch. Wage increases are lagging behind Argentina’s soaring inflation rate, which some private economists estimate is around […] Read more
Russia adds rail loading to informal curbs on grain exports
Moscow | Reuters — Russia has significantly cut railway loading of grain for export, industry sources said, adding to informal curbs to overseas shipments. Russia, one of the world’s main wheat exporters, is restricting grain exports to try to cool domestic prices as the country tackles a currency crisis linked to plunging oil prices and […] Read more
China approves Syngenta’s Viptera corn: reports
Chicago | Reuters — Chinese authorities have informed some agriculture industry officials that the government has approved U.S. imports of a type of genetically modified corn that has sparked lawsuits against seed maker Syngenta, according to reports from Agri-Pulse and Bloomberg. Syngenta will make an announcement about Chinese government approval of Agrisure Viptera corn, known […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
