Agriculture

• Tuesday, October 6th 2009 - 11:33 UTC

  Dairy farmers’ cow protest in Brussels, which is divided over milk policy

  

  Hundreds of farmers protested Monday in Brussels to put pressure on European Union (EU) agriculture ministers meeting to discuss low milk prices. The talks came after weeks of protests across Europe, with farmers dumping milk stocks and withholding supplies at what they see as uneconomic prices.

• Friday, October 2nd 2009 - 17:08 UTC

  Farmers to meet next Monday with Argentina’s new Agriculture minister

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner took the oath on Thursday to lawmaker Julian Dominguez at the helm of the newly created cabinet post of Minister of Agriculture, Fishing and Livestock, one of the more conflicting areas of her administration.

• Friday, October 2nd 2009 - 09:18 UTC

  US Congress agrees 350 million USD for small dairy farmers

  

  The United States Congress has agreed to provide 350 million US dollars to struggling dairy farmers following a compromise during negotiations on a 23.3 billion USD agriculture bill.

• Thursday, October 1st 2009 - 05:22 UTC

  Argentina creates new Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Food

  

  Argentina has officially created the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Food, which previously worked as a secretariat of the Production Ministry. The decision of the Kirchner couple administration to raise the status of the Agriculture Secretariat to a ministry comes amid tensions with farming leaders who are protesting the government's farming policies.

• Thursday, September 24th 2009 - 11:50 UTC

  Beef export peak forecasted in Argentina for 2009

  

  Argentine exports of refrigerated beef reached 34.923 tons in August equivalent to 131.2 million US dollars, according to official data provided by Senasa (Animal Health National Service).

• Thursday, September 24th 2009 - 11:45 UTC

  Chile’s fresh fruit exports hit by weak international markets

  

  Weak international markets led to a 6% drop in the value of Chile’s fresh fruit exports this past 2008/2009 season, reported Fedefruta President Rodrigo Echeverría this week in Santiago.

• Thursday, September 24th 2009 - 05:09 UTC

  Uruguayans will consume 86 kg of meat per capita this year

  

  Uruguayans beef consumption per capita in 2009 is expected to reach 58 kilos and 86 kilos of all types of meat according to the latest estimates from the National Meat Institute (INAC).

• Tuesday, September 22nd 2009 - 12:48 UTC

  Uruguayan farmers demand fewer taxes and less Mercosur commitments

  

  Uruguay’s main agriculture show ended Sunday with a record number of visitors and harsh criticisms for the government: Farmers complained bitterly about the ballooning fiscal expenditure, taxes and demanded a broadening of horizons beyond Mercosur.

• Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:26 UTC

  Reflecting recession, Argentina’s foreign trade dropped by 40% during August

  

  Argentina's August trade surplus dropped 48% from the same month a year ago to 1.16 billion US dollars as exports sank, the government said on Friday. Imports fell by 37% during the month to 3.25 billion, while exports dropped by an even bigger 40% to 4.40 billion USD due to lower prices and reduced volumes, particularly by the drought-hit farming industry.

• Thursday, September 17th 2009 - 13:32 UTC

  Chilean dairy farmers call for protection from Argentine imports

  

  Chilean dairy farmers requested President Michelle Bachelet to speed the implementation of the provisional safeguard clause to help contain the import of Argentine powder milk and cheese. The safeguard clause means imposing a 31% tariff on dairy imports.