Bogota | Reuters –– Colombia will suspend aerial fumigation of illegal coca plants in light of a number of studies linking the herbicide involved to cancer, a move that marks the end of a decades-long strategy in the country’s fight against drug trafficking. Spraying coca leaves, which are used to make cocaine, has been a […] Read more
Colombia calls off aerial coca spraying
Minnesota bans bird exhibitions over avian flu
Minneapolis | Reuters –– Minnesota officials on Friday banned all bird exhibitions in the state this year, including at the Minnesota State Fair, in response to an outbreak of avian influenza that has affected farms around the Midwest. Exhibitions at fairs, swap meets, exotic sales and petting zoos must not include birds for the rest […] Read more
JBS CEO says Brazil close to exporting fresh beef to U.S.
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazil is “closer than it had ever been” to exporting fresh beef to the U.S., the CEO of Brazilian meat packer JBS SA said Thursday, adding he expects shipments to start later this year. The Brazilian agriculture ministry expects a formal announcement on meat exports to the U.S. when President […] Read more
U.S. sees El Nino as near-certain to last through summer
New York | Reuters — The El Nino climate phenomenon is almost certain to last through the Northern Hemisphere summer, the U.S. weather forecaster said, raising the chance of heavy rain in the southern U.S. as well as South America, and scorching heat in Asia that could devastate crops of thirsty food staples like rice. […] Read more
Dutch goat’s cheese gets protected EU status
Brussels | Reuters –– A type of Dutch goat’s cheese can now only be produced in the Netherlands after the European Union said on Tuesday it had registered it as protected, awarding it the same status as Greece’s feta and Italy’s parmesan. “Hollandse geitenkaas” is a semi-hard cheese prepared in a similar fashion to the […] Read more
U.S. seen approving Brazil fresh beef imports
Sao Paulo | Reuters –– Brazil’s agriculture ministry said on Friday the U.S. is likely to approve imports of Brazilian fresh beef this year, after President Dilma Rousseff visits Washington in June. Brazil, the world’s top beef exporter, is already a steady exporter of cooked beef that appears in items such as canned corned beef […] Read more
Trans-Pacific ministers’ meeting set for May 26-28
Mexico City | Reuters –– A ministerial meeting aimed at working toward a deal for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact has been set for May 26-28, the head of Chile’s trade body said on Thursday. “The meeting is agreed, from the 26th to the 28th of May,” said Andres Rebolledo, head of the […] Read more
Iowa declares state of emergency over avian flu
Reuters — Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared a state of emergency on Friday due to a rapidly expanding avian flu outbreak. State agriculture officials on Friday announced four more poultry farms — a million-bird commercial egg laying operation and three turkey farms — have initially tested positive for an H5 strain of the virus. “While […] Read more
China pledges $11B to support grain farmers
Beijing | Reuters –– China will give a total of 57.8 billion yuan (C$11.26 billion) to grain farmers as part of efforts to deepen rural reform, promote modern agriculture and raise incomes for farmers, state news agency Xinhua said. The total includes 14 billion yuan in direct subsidies, while 20.4 billion yuan will go to […] Read more
Dow to sell AgroFresh for $860M in asset-sale drive
Reuters — Dow Chemical said it would sell its AgroFresh unit, which makes chemicals that keep farm produce fresh, for US$860 million as part of a plan to divest less-lucrative units. The company said it was selling the business to Boulevard Acquisition Corp., a blank-check company formed by investment firm Avenue Capital Group. Philadelphia-based AgroFresh […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
