Chinese Sorghum Demand Spurs U.S. Growth, Investment (Premium Content)
By: Gerelyn Terzo China is behind the rising demand for U.S. grain sorghum that has placed a premium on the crop, benefitting farmers and seed developers alike. The push for sorghum has created an industry shift that has caused farmers to reconsider their crop rotations and economists to upwardly revise their guidance
Read moreChocolate Craving in Asia as Economies Keep Growing
Although demand for chocolate in Asia is the lowest in the world, it is forecast to grow at almost twice the global rate over the next five years. As Asian economies continue to grow and middle classes gain wealth and numbers, chocolate demand in Asia is set to increase by 20% this year according to the chairman of the Indonesian Cocoa Industr
Read moreTimberland Market Accelerates as Corn Belt Land Prices Fall
Driven by a resurgence in the housebuilding sector, U.S. timberland posted returns of 6% for the fourth quarter of 2014 – the best returns since the same quarter in 2007 according to the National Council of Real Estate Fiduciaries (Ncreif). Timberland managers are capitalizing on increased domestic demand for wood as data indicates that buil
Read moreUkrainian Grain Traders Agree to Limit Milling Wheat Shipments
As the conflict with Russia escalates, Ukraine is faced with having to guard its food supplies, leading grain traders in the country to sign an agreement stating that they will control exports of wheat used to make flour. Hard limits have been set – 900,000 tons will be allowed to be exported in the first quarter of 2015, with an additional
Read moreCanadian Wheat Stocks to End 2015/16 Near Record Low
Despite increased spring planting and lower consumption, Canadian wheat stocks ending 2015/16 are forecast to be near the lowest levels on record according to the Canadian farm ministry, AAFC. The national harvest is expected to be 30 million tons – 719,000 tons above 2013 as a result of 321,000 hectares of increased planting bringing total
Read moreAvian Flu Detected at First U.S. Commercial Poultry Operation
The first case of the highly pathogenic H5N8 avian flu has been detected at a commercial U.S. poultry operation. Foster Farms, a California-based commercial turkey farm has been quarantined after the confirmation of a detected case of avian flu in its flock through routine testing after the operation experienced a spike in bird deaths. The new
Read moreGAI Insight: As the U.S. Dollar Soars in Value, Commodity Prices May Trend Lower
By Marc Davis As the U.S. dollar soared in 2014 to more than 12 percent against a selection of major foreign currencies, -- its highest value since September, 2003 -- analysts expected a corresponding decline in the prices of agricultural commodities. Historically, when the U.S. dollar gains strength, commodity prices
Read moreArgentina’s ‘Soy King’ Shift Focus From Farming to Biotech, Service
Los Grobos, one of Argentina’s leading soybean farming companies, and a leader in Argentina’s expansion in soybean cultivation over the past two decades, has cut its soybean acreage from 120,000 hectares to 50,000 hectares in just three years because of double digit inflation, strict trade restrictions, and a 35% tax on soybean exports. Lo
Read moreBrazil’s Safrinha Corn Sowings to Fall 10%
Brazil’s safrinha, or second corn crop, which has grown in production to outpace the country’s yearly ‘main’ corn crop, and which is the main source for Brazil’s corn exports, will see a 10% decline in sowing because of adverse weather conditions and downward pressure on prices. Safrinha corn acreage, which is planted on soybean land
Read moreAustralia to See Record Breaking Almond Harvest
As drought conditions continue to threaten production in California, the world’s biggest almond producing region, Australia’s almond industry is expected to see record breaking output as the country’s harvest begins in late February. The 2015 crop is forecast to be between 75,000 and 80,000 tons, surpassing the 73,000 ton harvest of 2013
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