Archer Daniels takes early lead in fight for trade war spoils
CHICAGO -- Agricultural commodities trader Archer Daniels Midland Co. has so far weathered the U.S.-China trade war better than rival Bunge Ltd with a more conservative trading strategy, diversified crop sales and limited exposure to Brazil’s currency swings.
Court rules against Smithfield Foods unit in North Carolina case
A FEDERAL JURY in North Carolina has awarded $473.5 million to six residents near a North Carolina hog farm run by Murphy-Brown LLC, a unit of U.S. pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc., after they sued the company over management of the animals.
DowDuPont ‘defers’ field trials to seek sale of GM corn seed in India
NEW DELHI -- DowDuPont, Inc. has told India it is putting off trials needed for approval to sell a genetically modified variety of corn, taking a cue from U.S. rival Monsanto that has also pulled a similar application due to intellectual property concerns.
LGUs reluctant to propose irrigation projects — PRDP
DAVAO CITY -- Many farm areas around the country stand to benefit from an irrigation system, but proposals from local government units (LGUs) are thin on the ground, an official of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) said.
Domestic sugar output can fill US quota — SRA
THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said that the Philippines has sufficient output to supply the raw sugar cane export quota allocated by the US amid worries over domestic shortage for bottlers.
2G ethanol overcoming technical glitches, seen competitive with oil at $70 per barrel
SAO PAULO -- Second-generation ethanol production is overcoming the technical difficulties that had slowed its development and is now seen as commercially competitive with oil prices near $70 per barrel, industry representatives said on Thursday.
India milk powder exports to surge on subsidies, dampen global prices
MUMBAI -- A massive milk glut in India could hit international prices for dry milk powder after government subsidies aimed at supporting local farmers look set to spur a ninefold surge in exports, industry officials told Reuters.
Iowa, wary of aid, trade wars, still turns out for Trump
DUBUQUE, IOWA -- Iowa farmers criticized President Donald Trump’s $12-billion farm aid package and worried about trade wars impacting their business, but many still turned out to support him on Thursday during a visit to the top corn-producing state.
Preference for sustainable supply chains growing — researcher
COMPANIES need to heed a growing consumer preference for sustainable practices that help raise the incomes of the small businesses supplying them, an Erasmus University researcher said.
Mapping technology being touted to develop mussel farming industry
THE Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and the University of the Philippines (UP) are seeking to develop the mussel farming industry using geolocation technology.
Suedzucker CEO sees sugar market normalizing
THE CEO of Suedzucker, Europe’s largest sugar refiner, said on Thursday trading conditions remain tough but that he sees potential for a recovery in depressed global sugar prices.
As wheat harvest heads to parched north, Europe braces for more losses
PARIS -- Europe’s grain market is bracing for more downgrades to the size of this year’s wheat crop as harvesting reaches the northern regions that have been worst hit by exceptional drought and heat since spring.