Chicago | Reuters — U.S. derivatives regulators are revising their proposal to limit the positions that traders can hold in commodity markets to make it easier for some hedge funds and banks to keep large trades. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission wants to allow financial firms to count their market positions separately from subsidiaries if […] Read more
U.S. regulators revise proposal on commodity position limits
Iran cancels import duties on wheat, barley
Dubai/Moscow | Reuters — Iran has canceled import duties it imposed on wheat and barley in July, according to an official document seen by Reuters on Tuesday. The document said the import duties ended on Sept. 6 for wheat and on Aug. 22 for barley. It gave no reason for the cancellation. The Iranian government […] Read more
Mosaic cuts potash output as demand slumps
Reuters — U.S. fertilizer company Mosaic Co. said Monday it would cut potash production and maintain its reduced phosphate output pace, lowering its outlook for sales. Delayed fertilizer purchases in Brazil and North America have weakened markets, along with volatile currency and equity markets and lower crop prices, Mosaic said in a statement after markets […] Read more
Deal would let southern California buy surplus water from Nevada
Reuters — A US$45 million deal that would let southern California’s biggest water agency access a major supply of water that would normally go to southern Nevada won approval on Thursday from the Southern Nevada Water Authority. The board of the Metropolitan Water District, a wholesaler that supplies public utilities in heavily populated southern California, […] Read more
JBS to expand in processed foods, eyes Europe
Sao Paulo | Reuters –– Brazil’s JBS, the world’s largest beef exporter, is looking to enlarge its processed foods operations and expand in Europe, CEO Wesley Batista said in an interview with Valor Economico published Friday. The company, which in recent months has made billion-dollar acquisitions in the U.K. and U.S., is also looking to […] Read more
China to stockpile corn during 2015-16 at lower price
Beijing | Reuters — The Chinese government will continue its controversial corn stockpile policy during 2015-16 and will start to stock the grain from farmers at a lower price compared with last year, government bodies said in a statement late Friday. Beijing will pay 2,000 yuan (C$414) per tonne to farmers in the northeast, the […] Read more
Russia defends crop data reliability
Moscow | Reuters –– Russia’s agriculture ministry defended the reliability of its crop data on Thursday, after a farmers’ lobby said regional officials were pressuring farmers to report bigger grain crops to the ministry than they actually harvested this year. The ministry said its numbers, compiled by its regional departments which send “operational information” to […] Read more
France bolsters ban on genetically modified crops
Paris | Reuters — France is to use a new European opt-out scheme to ensure a ban on the cultivation of genetically modified crops in the country remains in place, it said on Thursday. The European Union’s largest grain grower and exporter has asked the European Commission for France to be excluded from some GM […] Read more
Russian farm lobby says crop reports artificially high
Moscow | Reuters — Russian regional officials are pressuring farmers to report more grain crop than they actually harvest this year, the head of farmers’ lobby the Grain Union said on Tuesday. Arkady Zlochevsky said the difference between the actual harvest and the declared figures was not significant. However, his comments could be troubling for […] Read more
Experts call for less waste and less meat
Kale or steak? Change in diet key to UN plan to end hunger by 2030
Rome — In trendy, hipster London or New York, it’s all about juicing, vegan diets and snacking on kale crisps. Thousands of miles away, in Nairobi or Bogota, the middle classes are more likely to reach for roasted goat or a juicy steak. Later this month, world leaders are set to endorse a U.N. goal […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
