Agriculture
AgricultureCuban farmers pushing for greater autonomy to produce and sell crops
Cuban farmers are pressing for greater autonomy to produce and sell their crops, blaming government inefficiency for Cuba’s falling food output despite agricultural reforms introduced by President Raúl Castro.
Uruguay enjoys record crops but 2010 prospects not so clear
Uruguay expects for this year a record export of grains and oilseeds, however prospects for the rest of the year are not too clear given abundant crops worldwide which will have an impact on prices.
Brazil expects second best crop this year with 145.1 million tons
Brazil will harvest a grain crop of 145.1 million tons this year, a volume very close to the record 145.8 million tons of 2008, said the government’s statistics office, IBGE on the basis of February field data.
Brazil/US WTO cotton retaliatory dispute takes off
Brazil announced Monday it would levy a total of 591 million US dollars in retaliatory tariffs on US goods under a ruling against US cotton subsidies granted by a World Trade Organization last year. However Brazil also sent a conciliatory message.
FAO calls on politicians not to confuse bio-technology with “transgenic”
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization called for greater global support and funds to be invested in biotechnology research and regretted that so many politicians “do not understand that biotechnology is far more that Genetically Modified Organisms, OGM”.
“Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb” granted protected designation of origin
UK growers of a particular type of rhubarb have hailed the decision to award it special status as “fantastic news for British food”. Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb, which is only grown in the 'Rhubarb Triangle' between Bradford, Wakefield and Leeds, joins products likes champagne and Parma Ham in having its name legally protected.
Too much rainfall threatening Argentina’s record soybean crop
Argentina’s record soybean crop may yield less than expected as continued downpours threaten to cause beans to rot and fungal diseases to spread, according to a Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange official quoted on Monday.
Abundant rainfall anticipate bumper soybean crops in Brazil and Argentina
Brazil and Argentina, the biggest soybean producers after the US, may harvest as much as a combined 120 million metric tons of the oilseed this year as rain boosts yields, Cargill Inc.’s Jose Luiz Glaser said.
Paraguay beef exports in January total 54.8 million US dollars
Chile, Russia, Vietnam and Israel were the main clients for Paraguayan beef and meat products during the month of January totalling 54.8 million US dollars, up 85% over the same month a year ago according to the latest data from the Livestock Health and Quality Service, Senacsa.
NZ dairy group in Uruguay reports improved results
NZ Farming Systems Uruguay has reported improved results on the back of better rainfall, growth in its farms, cost cutting and better milk prices.
