Agriculture

As of last Thursday, Brazil’s soybean planting for the 2024/25 season has reached only 0.9% of the total expected area, according to agribusiness consultancy AgRural. This marks an increase from 0.06% the previous week but is still significantly lower than last year’s 1.9%. The state of Parana is leading the planting efforts, benefiting from recent […]

Coceral, the grain trade association, has significantly revised its estimates for the 2024 grain crop in the European Union and Britain, lowering the forecast from 296 million tons in June to 280.3 million tons. This represents a nearly 5% decrease compared to 2023, largely attributed to adverse weather conditions affecting crop yields across the region. […]

China is currently experiencing a significant surplus of milk due to declining birth rates and a sluggish economy, which have led to reduced demand for dairy products. Despite efforts by the government to boost the dairy sector, including promoting consumption and encouraging farm expansions, the results have been counterproductive. Milk consumption per capita in China […]

Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region has declared a state of emergency due to heavy rains that have adversely affected winter crops during their critical sprouting phase. This declaration brings the total number of Siberian grain-producing regions under emergency conditions to four, including Tomsk, Novosibirsk, and Kemerovo, which had previously announced similar measures. Collectively, these four regions contribute […]

Grain shipments from Argentina are facing significant challenges as major inland river ports near Rosario report near-record low water levels in the Parana River. This drop is attributed to a severe drought upstream in Brazil, leading to increased shipping costs and extended transport times for soy and corn exports. The Parana River, which is crucial […]

Rio Tinto has announced the launch of seed farms in Australia to investigate the viability of Pongamia seed oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel. The mining giant has partnered with Midway, a local woodfiber processor, to manage the planting and maintenance of these farms. Pongamia, a tree native to Australia, produces seeds that can […]

India is contemplating the relaxation of restrictions on non-basmati rice exports, according to Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra. This consideration comes as the country’s rice inventories have significantly increased. In 2023, India imposed various export curbs to stabilize local prices, a strategy that has continued into 2024, particularly ahead of the general elections scheduled for April […]

The European Commission announced on Friday that EU member states can enhance the financial support they provide to farmers. This decision comes in response to farmers’ protests earlier this year, which highlighted issues such as low incomes, cheap food imports, and burdensome regulations. Starting in October, member states will be allowed to pay higher advances […]

Chicago wheat futures increased on Friday, nearing a two-month high, driven by concerns over escalating tensions in the Black Sea region due to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The most active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) rose by 1.9% to $5.89-1/2 per bushel. This uptick follows Ukraine’s accusation that Russia used […]

Argentine farmers are expected to increase their soy planting area for the 2024/25 season due to challenges faced by the corn crop, primarily caused by dry weather and concerns over disease spread by the leafhopper insect. The Rosario grains exchange reports that the soy planting area is projected to reach 17.7 million hectares, a 7.5% […]