Drought Meeting Deluge Dims Brazil Soybean Production
Brazilian soybean and corn production estimates have been lowered because of regional issues of drought and excessive rains. Brazil’s agricultural bureau, Conab has revised its soybean production forecast for 2013/14 down to 85.4 million tons, from an estimate of 90 million tons last month. Corn production estimates for the country have be
Read moreAustralia Tightens Rules on Foreign Investment in Agricultural Land
Despite the fact that data from the Australia Bureau of Statistics shows that approximately 99% of farm businesses, and approximately 90% of farmland in Australia are Australian-owned, beginning in March, Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board will examine all agricultural purchases valued in excess of A15 million (US$11.7 million). The
Read moreBrazil Steps up Position in Global Beef Market
As the rebounding and expansion of the U.S. cattle herd stalls and global demand for beef increases, Brazil is responding by intensifying its beef production industry over the next decade. Brazil’s feedlot capacity is on pace to more than double to 4.5 million head in that time period, enabling the country to produce more than 9 million head
Read moreUkraine On Pace to Unseat Brazil as World’s Second Ranked Corn Exporter
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kiev bureau is forecasting Ukraine will ship 20 million tons of corn for 2014/15 – an amount within 5,000 tons of last year’s record shipments, and 3.5 million tons above the official USDA estimate, although this estimate could be revised after the release of the World Agricultural Supply and Deman
Read moreStudy: Climate Change is Suppressing U.S. Soybean Yields
A newly published study of non-irrigated soybean yields states that climate change has cost U.S. soybean growers approximately $11 billion because of unrealized potential yield over the past 20 years. U.S. farmers have increased soybean yields by a third of a bushel per acre over that time period, or 0.8% per year because of the adoption of hi
Read morePredicted Slowdown in U.S. Wine Consumption
After two decades of growth, John Gillsepie of Wine Opinion is bucking the general trend, releasing a report stating that based on generational changes and economic indicators that are mimicking those of 1993, (the last time the wine industry saw a decline in sales), the U.S. wine industry could be approaching a turning point. Based on surveys
Read moreInsight Investment Hires Head of Farmland Investment
Insight Investment has appointed former global head of strategy and business development at Olam International, Shankar Athreya, to fill its new head of farmland investment position. Mr. Athreya will work closely with David Beca, head of farmland management, and will report to Reza Vishkai, head of agriculture at the firm. Mr. Athreya will wor
Read moreIt’s Pork Over Beef in America for First Time Since 1952
For the past 20 years, chicken has been the most produced meat in the U.S. followed by beef. But as the U.S. hog herd rebounds from the devastating effects of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDV), and consumer demand increases, pork production climbed 4.6% in 2015 to a record, and is surpassing beef production for the first time since 1952.
Read moreRwanda Welcomes $500 Million Agricultural Investment From Buffet Foundation
Rwanda has a current economic growth rate of 8%, which the country aims to increase to 8.5% next year with significant support from agriculture, after impressively rebounding from civil unrest and genocide. Last year Howard Buffet’s Sequoia Farm Foundation announced a 10-year plan to invest $500 million to transform the country’s agricultu
Read moreSouth Africa Plants Record Soybean Area as Oilseed Demand Rises
South Africa farmers are planting the country’s biggest area of soybeans on record as demand for soy climbs. Soybeans are taking acreage away from corn, as growers will sow 620,300 hectares (1.53 million acres) – a surprising increase of 23%, as corn acreage will decline by 1.2% according to the Crop Estimates Committee. Soy demand in the
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