Agriculture

• Tuesday, March 26th 2013 - 21:55 UTC

  Argentina’s tax office targets main grain exporters; demands 951 million dollars in alleged arrears

  

  Cargill Inc. and Bunge Ltd. are among grain exporters that allegedly owe the Argentine government 951 million dollars in taxes and won’t be eligible for a reduced interest rate under a payment plan unveiled by the government this week.

• Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 08:22 UTC

  FAO first wheat forecasts for 2013 anticipates second largest crop on record

  

  First forecasts for the 2013 wheat harvest point to production increasing to 690 million tons, 4.3% up on 2012. This would be the second largest crop on record, according to the latest issue of FAO quarterly “Crop Prospects and Food Situation” report. The production hike is expected mostly in Europe, driven by increased plantings in response to high prices and a recovery in yields in some countries, notably the Russian Federation.

• Thursday, March 7th 2013 - 06:33 UTC

  US soy exports with a price edge over Brazil plagued with logistical shipment problems

  

  US farm officials forecast a tough autumn battle between Brazilian and US soybean exports, as Brazil attempts to make up for a poor start to 2012-13, with shipments hurt by logistical hiccups. US Department of Agriculture staff in Brasilia, while cutting their forecast of the Brazilian soybean crop to 82.5m tons, stood by a forecast of soybean exports of 39m tons for 2012-13, report agrimoney.

• Thursday, February 28th 2013 - 01:50 UTC

  Argentine soy bean crop despite late rainfall expected to reach 48 million tons

  

  The Rosario Chamber of Commerce estimates Argentina’s soy production at 48 million tons, which is 9.4% below the 2012/13 harvest estimate of January, 53 million tons, mainly because of a prolonged drought which extended from early December to mid February.

• Wednesday, February 27th 2013 - 05:38 UTC

  Environmentalists in Argentina manage to suspend Monsanto corn-seed drying facility

  

  Another setback for Monsanto in South America: the Argentine province of Córdoba justice system ordered the suspension of the construction of a corn seed-drying facility in the district of Malvinas Argentinas, 14 kilometres outside the capital city of Córdoba.

• Tuesday, February 26th 2013 - 07:42 UTC

  Monsanto legal battle on Roundup Ready patent expected to reach Brazil Supreme Court

  

  Monsanto Company announced plans to file an immediate appeal of a recent ruling by a single judge of the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice, relating to the company's request for term correction of a patent covering its Roundup Ready soybean product.

• Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 01:22 UTC

  Brazil/Russia agree to increase trade and cooperation in agriculture and defense

  

  Brazil and Russia signed several agreements in different fields geared to increase trade and to advance in defense, energy and agriculture cooperation, including the purchase of Russian anti aircraft missile batteries on condition that Moscow agrees to transfer technology.

• Thursday, February 21st 2013 - 04:45 UTC

  Brazilian soybean farmers oppose contract with Monsanto to end royalties’ dispute

  

  Brazilian farmer groups are opposing a contract that Monsanto the world’s biggest seed company is offering farmers to end a dispute over royalty payments on its genetically modified soybean seeds. Monsanto is trying to resolve uncertainty over its ability to collect fees on its new Intacta soybeans, which it is scheduled to start selling in Brazil during the next growing season.

• Tuesday, February 19th 2013 - 05:18 UTC

  Brazil heading for record crop of 185 million tons of grains, anticipated Rousseff

  

  Brazil this year will harvest the largest grain and oilseed crop in the country’s history, which could reach 185 million tons, according to an announcement from President Dilma Rousseff during her weekly radio message.

• Monday, February 11th 2013 - 22:56 UTC

  Following EU horse-meat guidelines, Falklands removes potentially affected products

  

  The European horse-meat scare has reached the Falkland Islands but the government has stated that local retailers have voluntarily removed potentially affected products from their shelves and “there is nothing to suggest a safety risk to consumers who may have eaten affected products”.