British dairy farmers have continued an exodus this year which has seen their numbers halved in the last decade and turned the country into a liquid milk importer, an industry leader says. Lyndon Edwards, chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF), said 14 farmers a week were still leaving the industry due
Britain Turns To Imports As Dairy Farmers Quit
Bacteria Could Transform Ethanol Sector
A compost bacteria bred by a British company could be set to transform both the profitability and environmental credentials of the U. S. ethanol industry. “The application of our technology results in the greening of corn ethanol,” Hamish Curran, chief executive officer of TMO Renewables Ltd. said in an interview Sept. 15. The company provides
Weak Pound Revives U. K.’S Ailing Livestock Sector
Aweak pound has revived Britain’s ailing livestock sector, boosting prices and helping restore profitability despite the global economic downturn, industry sources said April 8. “Exchange rates are having a tremendous impact on our markets at the moment. From around October the vast majority of producers have been above the line (making positive margins),” said Mick
FAO Says Grain Prices Could Rebound
Stocks of agricultural commodities remain low and prices could start to rise again if there is an earlier-than-expected economic rebound, Alexander Sarris of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said March 12. “Stocks are not very big now. They still have to be built up… If all of a sudden demand turns out to
EU Farm Export Refunds Seen Unlikely After 2013
The European Union will use export refunds (subsidies) as an emergency measure to support agricultural prices until 2013 but must then find new mechanisms, a leading official with the European Commission said March 11. If world prices are lower than internal support levels, the EU refunds the difference to exporters. “I personally don’t see that
EU plan may increase global food problem
The challenge of meeting soaring global food demand may be made more difficult by European Union proposals which could ban some fungicides, Britain’s chief scientist said Nov. 12. The European Union may change to a hazard rather than risk-based approach, which effectively means crop chemicals could be banned if they are dangerous at any dosage.
Europe wheat area to stay high
European farmers look to have little option but to stick with wheat as they plant crops for harvesting next year with only a marginal decline in area seen despite a sharp drop in prices. Farmers were quick to plant more wheat when prices soared last year, with area in Britain climbing 13 per cent, but
Breeding seen key in greener farming revolution
Crops must be bred to resist insects and drought rather than relying heavily on pesticides and irrigation, Britain’s chief scientist said Oct. 6. This will become increasingly important in order to counter the effects of climate change, John Beddington told Reuters. “I think the role of genomics is enormous whether it is the GM (genetically
USDA economist sees slowdown in food inflation
Food price inflation may decline slightly in the next year but is likely to remain above projected long-term levels, U. S. Department of Agriculture chief economist Joseph Glauber said Oct. 6. “We are probably looking for food price inflation to come down but not much for this next year,” he told Reuters after speaking at
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
