Agriculture

Thursday, July 26th 2012 - 09:10 UTC
Mercosur farmers support Paraguay and call for harmonic relations in the group

The suspension of Paraguay and the intent to incorporate Venezuela to Mercosur represent a threat to the regional integration process, said the Mercosur Federation of Rural Associations, Farm, currently meeting in Santiago de Chile.
Tuesday, July 24th 2012 - 06:02 UTC
Researchers test with GPS-sheep how they react and flock to avoid predators

Instead of fleeing randomly when faced with a predator, sheep attempt to bury themselves within their flock, new UK research has shown. The theory that animals moving in groups retreat towards the centre of their flocks if a predator appears, have been tested in the past.
Monday, July 23rd 2012 - 09:09 UTC
Brazil moves into Ghana with 96million dollars loan for small farmers

Ambassador to Ghana, Irene Vida Gala announced that Brazil has plans to make available a 96-million-dollar loan facility to boost small-scale and rural farming in Ghana to help increase food production and subsequently improve the country’s bread basket.
Thursday, July 19th 2012 - 20:43 UTC
Argentina’s top agro-show opens with strong criticism of government farm policies

The head of the Argentine Rural Society (SRA) Hugo Biolcati blasted the national and provincial governments economic policies towards the agricultural sector during his opening remarks at the inauguration of the 126 annual edition of the entity’s exhibition held at La Rural pavilion in Palermo, Buenos Aires City.
Thursday, July 19th 2012 - 18:17 UTC
US worst drought since 1956 sends soybeans and corn skyrocketing

The commodities soy and corn’s prizes sky rocked on Thursday thanks to the severe drought that has been punishing the United States heartland. Soy and corn were being sold at record high of 638.89 dollars/ton and 320.26 dollars/ton respectively.
Thursday, July 19th 2012 - 07:01 UTC
Monsanto plant in Cordoba will produce corn seed for 3.5 million hectares

US agrochemical giant Monsanto will direct most of a 365 million dollars investment in Argentina to a corn seed factory in the central city of Cordoba, the local government there has announced.
Tuesday, July 17th 2012 - 20:35 UTC
Uruguay’s 2011/12 rice harvest reaches 1.4 million tons with 7.850 kilos/ha yields

Uruguay’s area to be planted with rice in the coming 2012/13 season is estimated at 179.000 hectares, slightly down from the 181.400 of this year, according to the country’s Department of Agriculture Statistics (DIEA) and based on a poll following the 2011/12 harvest.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 23:55 UTC
Drought stretching across US threatens economies of farming states and food prices

A worst-in-a-generation drought from stretching across the United States is damaging crops and rural economies and threatening to drive food prices to record levels. Agriculture, though a small part (1.2%) of the 15.5 trillion dollars US economy, had been one of the most resilient industries in the past three years as the country struggled to recover from the recession.
Saturday, July 14th 2012 - 00:26 UTC
Brazil’s 2012/13 soybean crop in place to dispute the US supremacy

Next season, 2012/13 Brazilian soybean growers could be in place to jump from the world's No. 2 producer and dispute the US first place. Brazil's 2012-13 soybean production is expected to rise 25% from this season’s drought-punished, to 83.1 million tons.
Friday, July 13th 2012 - 06:44 UTC
Argentine 2011/12 soy harvest 20% lower than previous year because of dry-spell

Argentina's 2011/12 soy harvest has come at an expected 39.9 million tons, but 20% lower than the previous year's crop after a Pampas dry spell dashed early-season hopes of bumper crop, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said on Thursday.