This week’s commodities plunge has done little to dent concerns of continuing food price inflation, as grain prices held up better than most and fundamentals for the highly weather-sensitive sector are unchanged. Grain traders have had their eyes glued to weather forecasts rather than economic data, as heavy rainfall slows planting in the U.S. Corn
Commodity storm leaves food concerns intact
Equipment Sales Tell Farm Story
Farm machine sales are showing a divide in French agriculture, with grain growers stepping up investments after a price rally but struggling livestock farmers still holding back, a Deere &Co. manager said. Crop farmers were being much more careful, however, in choosing products after experiencing a market surge in 2007-08 followed by a downturn, Jean-Francois
New French Farm Leader Brings Change In Style
Plans to develop contracts to cushion price swings between French cereal and livestock sectors show how farmers can play a more active role in the food industry and not rely solely on public subsidies, the head of France’s main farm union said. France’s cereal and livestock sectors have agreed on the outline of such supply
French Farmers Turning To Renewable Energy
An increasing number of farmers will try to claim a share of France’s renewable energy sector to help cope with farm price volatility and counter environmental criticism that has tarnished their rural image. Solar, wind and biomass energy are taking off in France in the wake of national and European energy targets. Farmers see them
Tougher Times Loom For EU Livestock Farmers
Cattle and pig farmers in the European Union, squeezed by rising feed costs and low prices, face real prospects of herd cuts and more restructuring. Soaring grain prices, fuelled by a drought in Russia that has led to a grain export ban, have triggered hikes in animal-feed prices that mean many producers are operating at
FMD Outbreaks Under Control
Japan and South Korea are controlling outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in animals and there is no particular risk of an international crisis, the head of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said. OIE director general Bernard Vallat said both countries had applied appropriate measures to control the outbreaks and OIE did not see
Paris ChampsÉlysées Turned Green Field By Farmers
French farmers transformed the most famous avenue of Paris, the Champs-lysées, into a giant strip of farmland on May 24 in a bid to generate public enthusiasm about a sector they say faces an uncertain future. The two-day event, timed to coincide with a holiday weekend, attracted huge crowds for its first day amid summer-style
Agriculture Can Meet Long-Term Food Demand
Agriculture has the scope to meet soaring global demand for food by exploiting potential for higher yields and expanded farmland in certain regions, a Societe Generale analyst told Reuters March 18. Achieving large gains in farm output would however take several years and this time lag could bring renewed tensions in food supply in the
Rice Market Skewed By Government Moves
Unpredictable government intervention in the rice sector is adding to volatility in a thinly traded market and could lead to new price swings in what is a staple food in much of the world. Rice is a politically sensitive crop as a daily essential in much of Asia and Africa, and a price spike in
OECD Agree To Reinvest In Food Chain
“Some fluctuations are normal (but) these wild swings are unacceptable.” – NIKOLAUS BERLAKOVICH Farm ministers from the world’s richest countries said Feb. 27 they would study price volatility and look at ways of boosting innovation as part of efforts to help agriculture meet food and environmental challenges. But the gathering of members of the Organization
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
