Agriculture

• Thursday, May 19th 2016 - 12:15 UTC

  Monsanto threatens to leave Argentina on a seeds' inspection dispute

  

  The seeds' multinational Monsanto Co. said it would suspend future soybean technologies in Argentina, a move that could limit output of the country’s main cash crop, after a disagreement with the government over inspections of genetically modified soybeans.

• Wednesday, May 18th 2016 - 12:07 UTC

  Argentina forecasted to increase wheat area by 25% for a 15/16 million tons crop

  

  Argentine wheat exports more than doubled in the first quarter, government data showed, as farmers rushed to sell stockpiles ahead of an expected jump in plantings spurred by the open-market policies of new President Mauricio Macri. The surge in Argentine supply is hitting an oversaturated world market and putting downward pressure on wheat prices already near their lowest levels in six years.

• Tuesday, May 17th 2016 - 06:23 UTC

  Falklands hopeful of improved relations with Argentina, Gilbert House tells BIMR conference

  

  Falkland Islands remains hopeful of improved relations with the new administration of Argentina and cooperation in the many areas of mutual interest such as fisheries and connectivity, but sovereignty of the Falklands is not for negotiation, reads the Gilbert House report to the 46th British Isles and Mediterranean Region Conference, which opened on Sunday in Jersey.

• Monday, May 16th 2016 - 21:42 UTC

  Falkland Islands' biosecurity officers thwart Argentine ant army invasion

  

  By Ross James, Biosecurity Officer for Penguin News - An Argentine army, thousands strong invaded the Falklands recently, and their arrival went unnoticed for several weeks before the alarm was raised. The Argentine Ants arrived aboard a yacht which had sailed non-stop around the world from Australia, non-stop that is until huge waves swept the singlehanded 78 year-old sailor overboard and capsized his yacht as he rounded Cape Horn. In a stroke of luck a subsequent wave righted the vessel and at the same time the sailor was able to pull himself back aboard.

• Monday, May 16th 2016 - 18:52 UTC

  April FAO Food Price Index 10% below a year ago; South America soy prospects less favorable

  

  The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 151.8 points in April 2016, up 1.1 points (0.7 percent) from March, but almost 10 percent below its April 2015 level. A relatively strong rise in vegetable oil quotations coupled with a more modest gain in international prices of cereals more than offset a decline in dairy and sugar prices.

• Friday, May 13th 2016 - 06:27 UTC

  Uruguay says beef and ethanol are included in Mercosur/EU proposals, but with no volumes or time span

  

  Uruguay's foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa said on Thursday that all agriculture products are included in negotiations for a wide ranging trade and cooperation agreement between Mercosur and the European Union. The chief negotiator for Mercosur underlined that contrary to what was announced by some media, beef and ethanol are included in the proposals exchanged on Wednesday in Brussels between the two blocks.

• Wednesday, May 11th 2016 - 09:23 UTC

  Brussels assures EU farmers that beef is out of trade negotiations with Mercosur

  

  The European Union Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, announced on Tuesday that beef will not be part of the current Mercosur trade deal negotiations. The news follows a meeting between the Commissioner and NFU Cymru, which was held on Glamorgan NFU Cymru Chairman, Abi Reader’s farm, in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.

• Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 12:09 UTC

  European farmers march in Dublin to protest trade negotiations with Mercosur

  

  European farmers took to the streets of Dublin outside the EU Commission offices to highlight the potential “sellout” of the multi-billion-euro beef industry in trade talks with Mercosur. Concerns have been rising over discussions at EU level over the impact a deal with Mercosur would have on Ireland's €2.5bn beef industry, which depends on EU markets for over 90% of its exports.

• Thursday, May 5th 2016 - 09:42 UTC

  Argentina farm exports soar in first quarter following elimination of taxes and controls

  

  Argentine farm exports rocketed 68% higher in the first quarter compared to the same 2015 period, thanks to new policies that prompted growers to sell stockpiles built up under the previous administration, the government announced.

• Wednesday, May 4th 2016 - 08:26 UTC

  Irish farmers will march against Mercosur deal at the EC offices in Dublin

  

  The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) is to protest on Wednesday May 4, in Dublin against the proposed Mercosur and TTIP trade deals. The protest will take place outside the offices of the European Commission in the Irish capital.