Weed Killer App

Glyphosate, the world’s herbicide of choice, may be a victim of its popularity While debate continues over the pros and cons of planting sugar beets genetically modified to be “Roundup Ready” [see A Time to Plant, a Time to Sue], it appears that nature has done some...

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Biofueled Ag Trade

USDA 10-year agricultural projections concede major role to ethanol and biodiesel The US Department of Agriculture just released its long-term forecast for the farm sector. USDA Agricultural Projections for 2011-20 cover sector indicators, commodities,  and trade. Key...

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Type Casting?

Corn ethanol is cast as a culprit in rising food prices (again) A Financial Times report from the Commodity Markets Council annual meeting (this week in Palm Beach) notes that Dodd-Frank financial system reforms top the list of worries for the commodities futures...

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Sugar Rush

A U.S. federal court ruling is a global market changer Global sugar supplies were already tightening because of the Russian drought, Pakistan’s floods, and weather delays at the ports of top exporter Brazil, when a potentially huge hit to U.S. stocks emerged from the...

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Fresh Outlook

U.S. imports will include more fresh veggies and, especially, fruit The U.S. Department of Agriculture current Long-Term Projection foresees U.S. agricultural import values rising to US$106 billion in fiscal year 2019, compared with US$79.3 billion in 2008. Strong...

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More than Granola

Organic foods claim a bigger share of grocery carts The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a weekly market report on organic fruits and vegetables in April, acknowledgement that natural and organic foods now claim a big share of the mainstream U.S....

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