FAO's monthly food price index was stable in October, as sugar and vegetable oil prices rose to offset declines in dairy and meat prices. The Food Price Index dipped to 192.3, technically, its seventh consecutive monthly decline, but a marginal 0.2% drop from the revised September figure.
The American Soybean Association, the National Oilseed Processors Association and the North American Export Grain Association sent comments last week to the U.S. Trade Representative identifying significant barriers to U.S. exports, particularly on the trade distorting impact of Argentine Differential Export Taxes, or DETs, and the artificial advantage provided to soybean products exported from that country.
Argentine grain exports will total US$5.7 billion in the fourth quarter of the calendar year, the CIARA and CEC chambers promised on Wednesday, after seemingly successful negotiations with the government of President Cristina Fernandez that is eager to inject much-needed export dollars into the economy.
Food markets are more stable and prices for most agricultural commodities are sharply lower than they have been in recent years, according to the latest edition of FAO's biannual Food Outlook report and a new update to the Organization's monthly Food Price Index.
The 2014-2015 season’s soybean and wheat crops are on track to set records, while rice and corn look poised to be more in line with last season’s record crops, according to the International Grains Council's September Grain Market Report.
The Brazilian production of grains in 2013/2014 has reached 195.46 million tons, according to the country’s National Supply Company, Conab. The number is a 3.6% (6.8 million tons) increase compared to the previous season.
FAO's Food Price Index is a trade-weighted index that measures prices of five major food commodities on international markets: in addition to sub-indices for prices of cereals, it also tracks meat, dairy products, vegetable oils, and sugar.
Singapore based Olam International's wholly-owned subsidiary New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay will be investing 80 million dollars to establish a new dairy processing facility in Uruguay.
The European Commission opened Private Storage Aid for butter, Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP) and certain cheeses in order to alleviate the impact of Russian restrictions on imports of EU dairy products and to limit the negative effects on the internal market.
Two Australian farmers from Tasmania have found what they hope to prove is the world's woolliest sheep. Peter Hazell said he had no trouble capturing the animal, which was wandering with its vision obscured by wool in scrubland on his property in Tasmania's Midlands on Sunday.