Agriculture

• Monday, May 17th 2010 - 05:26 UTC

  EU farmers led by France promise to lobby against concessions for Mercosur

  

  European Union Agriculture ministers will be debating Monday on the impact of Mercosur/EU trade negotiations and the overall EU farm sector competitiveness.

• Thursday, May 13th 2010 - 10:47 UTC

  US Corn Futures Rise to Two-Month High on Mounting Demand from China

  

  Corn futures rose to a two-month high on mounting demand from China, the world’s second-biggest consumer.

• Wednesday, May 12th 2010 - 07:03 UTC

  Paraguay Forecasts Record Exports of Meat in 2010

  

  Paraguayan meat sales increased 47% in value during the first four months of 2010 compared to the same period a year ago, totalling 295 million US dollars (USD), according to the country’s Food Quality and Animal Health Service, Senacasa.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 21:52 UTC

  Brazilian Rice Farmers Lobbying for Higher Mercosur Common External Tariff

  

  Mercosur rice planters will be meeting to decide a Brazilian proposal to increase the common external tariff thus preventing the introduction of rice from third countries, precisely this year when Brazil’s crop is expected to be below average.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 16:29 UTC

  EU “Grumpy” Seven Led by France Against Trade Talks with Mercosur

  

  France and six other countries expressed concern before the European Union about the competition consequences for the farm sector in the event of an agreement with Mercosur.

• Saturday, May 8th 2010 - 06:22 UTC

  Brazilian Farmers Prospect for Phosphates to Cap Fertilizer Suppliers’ Dependence

  

  Farmers in Brazil have teamed up to drill an area the size of New York for phosphate-based fertilizers, seeking to cut dependency on producers including Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) and Mosaic Co. (NYSE:MOS) after prices surged.

• Saturday, May 8th 2010 - 06:01 UTC

  Cuban Sugar Crop Worst in a Century; Brazilian Investors Could Take over Industry

  

  The current sugar harvest is Cuba’s worst since 1905, according to Communist Party daily Granma. The news comes two days after President Raúl Castro fired the minister responsible for the area amid increasing rumours that foreign investors will be invited to take over the industry.

• Thursday, May 6th 2010 - 19:34 UTC

  France Warns EC on Possible Resumption of Negotiations with Mercosur

  

  After the European Commission proposed the resumption of negotiations with Mercosur, France released a warning message to the European Commission and assured that—if the talks are reactivated—both French and European agriculture would be in danger of a potential damage.

• Wednesday, May 5th 2010 - 23:03 UTC

  European Farmers up in Arms Against Resumption of EU/Mercosur Talks

  

  France’s main farmers’ organization, FNSEA, called Wednesday on President Nicolas Sarkozy to pressure upon the European Community to impede the re-launching of negotiations for a free trade agreement with Mercosur

• Wednesday, May 5th 2010 - 05:58 UTC

  Chile Moves to Regulate and Permit Cultivation of GM Crops

  

  Chilean Agriculture Ministry José Antonio Galilea announced this week plans to introduce legislation to regulate and permit the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops in Chile.