Severe Weather Placing Global Food Supply at Increased Risk
Global grain stocks were already low going into 2007 when drought struck production regions in Europe, Russia, Canada, and Australia, causing a rapid increase to grain prices. In reaction, countries began to enact trade barriers to guarantee domestic food supplies, which caused prices to then double, according to a UN Food and Agr
Read moreInvestors Urged to Turn to Africa’s Agriculture as Returns from Oil Decline
African agriculture is increasingly becoming a viable asset class as returns on oil and commodity exports are seeing significant declines. Over 60% of the world’s arable land is located on the continent, 65% of the labor force is involved in agriculture, and agriculture accounts for 35% of South Africa’s gross domestic product
Read moreU.S. Farmland Sees Slowest Growth In Value In Six Years – USDA
U.S. farmland values grew at their slowest pace in six years, with some areas within the Corn Belt posting a decline in values, according to the latest report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). On a nationwide basis, farm values (including land and buildings) increased 2.4%, to an average value of $3,020 per acre
Read moreGlobal Food Prices Fall in July to Lowest Point in Six Years
Global food prices fell to their lowest point in six years last month due to a significant drop in the value of vegetable oils and dairy products offsetting increases in the value of sugar and cereals, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) food price index. The FAO food price index measures monthly values for
Read moreBrief: California’s 2015 Pistachio Crop Could Be Down By 70%
Although Arizona’s 2015 pistachio crop looks to be on pace to equal last year’s harvest, early indications are that California’s crop will be significantly down from last year. Pistachio growers are citing a combination of a shortage of chilling hours, poor water availability, and poor water quality for the expected low outp
Read moreU.S. Losing Competitive Advantage in Global Trade Without Investment in Infrastructure
The advantages that the U.S. has experienced in global trade following the World Wars due to its superior infrastructure and low cost of transportation, particularly along the Mississippi River, are rapidly evaporating according to Walter Kemmsies, chief economist for Moffatt & Nichol. However, according to Mr. Kemmsies, who h
Read moreU.S. Chicken Famers Brace for Russia’s Retaliation to Sanctions
Russia is the second biggest importer of U.S. broiler meat after Mexico, taking 8% of U.S. exports or 276,100 tons last year according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). But now U.S. poultry producers such as Sanderson Farms are looking for alternative markets after Russia threatened to ban U.S. poultry imports as trade tensions e
Read moreIntegrated Ag LP Launches Integrated Ag Labs Designed to Test New Ag Technologies
Scottsdale, Arizona-based agricultural private equity fund manager, Integrated Ag LP has announced the launch of its new Integrated Ag Labs program. The program has been created to test new agricultural technologies and foster new innovations that will advance farm practices, lower production costs, increase yields, conserve natur
Read moreChina’s Grain Production Slows, Potato Takes Spotlight
Chinese officials are looking to the potato to fill a void in the population’s diet due to persistent water problems including shortages and excessive use that have interfered with grain production. This has compromised the supply of common food items rice and noodles. China currently produces 95 million tons of potatoes each ye
Read morePacific Gold Agriculture, LLC Testifies in Support of USDA Proposed Pecan Marketing Order
Erin Steidlmayer, Managing Principal of Pacific Gold Agriculture, LLC, testified in Las Cruces, New Mexico on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) hearings in support of the proposed pecan marketing order. From July 20 – July 29, 2015, the USDA held three public hearings on the proposed fe
Read more
