Iloilo defers cacao, coffee planting project

THE Iloilo provincial government’s P10-million cacao and coffee planting project, scheduled for launch by the end of February, might be moved to a later...

Soybean rallies on supply worries amid Argentina drought

TO UNDERSTAND WHY soybean meal is the best-performing commodity so far this year, talk to Ariel Striglio, a 52-year-old farmer in Argentina’s Santa Fe...

Rail crunch leaves oil, wheat shipments stranded on Canada’s prairies

A SHORTAGE of rail cars in Canada is leaving grain and oil shipments stranded on the prairies, sending crude prices plummeting and leaving farmers...

DoT banks on farm tourism to expand visitor arrivals

By Maya M. Padillo, Correspondent DAVAO CITY — The Department of Tourism (DoT) is making a push for more farm tourism destinations around the country to...

Valentine’s chocolate buzz comes just as cocoa supplies tighten

JUST AS AMERICANS rush to load up on chocolates for Valentine’s Day, the global cocoa glut is finally starting to ebb. Cocoa futures in New...

No go-ahead for NFA to import rice despite low inventories

THE National Food Authority (NFA) said on Wednesday that despite a decline in its rice inventory, the economic managers who control imports do not see an...

Agriculture, manufacturing agreement signed with Turkey

THE PHILIPPINES and Turkey have signed two memoranda of understanding (MoU) on investment in agriculture, manufacturing and services during the first Joint Committee on...

Facial recognition for cows is latest Cargill-backed technological idea

CARGILL, Inc. is backing an Irish start-up that uses facial recognition software to help increase the productivity of dairy cows, the latest move by...

ADM said in advanced talks to buy commodity trader Bunge

ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND Co.’s (ADM) in advanced talks to acquire commodity trader Bunge Ltd., a deal that could spell the end for a company independent for...

Brazil court suspends export of live animals for slaughter overseas

A BRAZILIAN JUDGE has suspended export of live animals for slaughter, citing concerns that they are transported in cruel conditions. Exports can only restart when...

S. Korea market expansion eyed for poultry, fruit

THE PHILIPPINES is seeking to export more poultry, fruit and vegetables to South Korea, diversifying away from the leading products like pineapple and mango. Philippine...

Study to test rapid detection of mango fungal diseases

A FIELD STUDY to test methods for rapidly detecting fungal diseases in the Carabao mango will run for three years, led by the Polytechnic...