Commodities: Page 31

Black Sea region wheat harvests down significantly

Substantially lower-than-expected yields from harvests in Southern Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan will considerably reduce exportable surpluses from these countries and drive commodity prices even higher, according to Offre & Demande Agricole UK Ltd., a European provider of independent grain market intelligence services to the farming and agri-food industry.

Poultry, livestock coalition urges Congress to reform Renewable Fuels Standard

In response to a new economic study on the impact of corn ethanol production on food prices and commodity price volatility, a coalition of poultry and livestock groups is urging the U.S. Congress to reform the federal Renewable Fuels Standard, which mandates the amount of ethanol that must be produced annually. Conducted by Thomas Elam, Ph.D., president of FarmEcon LLC, an Indiana agricultural and food industry consulting firm, the study found that federal ethanol policy has increased and destabilized corn, soybean and wheat prices to the detriment of food and fuel producers and consumers

Heat-damaged corn crops may raise poultry prices in Delmarva

Heat-damaged corn and soybean crops in the Delmarva Peninsula (an area that includes most of Delaware and some of Maryland and Virginia) could lead to higher poultry prices in the area as feed prices are affected, according to farmers. Twenty-six percent of corn and soybean crops were poor or very poor in Maryland as of July 8, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Wheat prices could rise on US corn concerns, lowered supplies

Reduced prospects for U.S. corn production from the 2012 harvest, in addition to concern over possible reductions in wheat supplies from traditional areas such as the Black Sea due to lower yields and restrictions on exports, could result in an increase in wheat prices, according to UK-based Offre & Demande Agricole. In June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated the average U.S. corn yield at 166 bushels per acre, which combined with a record planted area of 96.4 million acres led them to forecast a potential 2012 harvest of 375.7 million metric tons.

China makes largest winter wheat purchase since 2004

China has purchased 110,000 metric tons of soft red winter wheat from the U.S., the Asian country's largest purchase of that type of wheat since January 2004 and likely due to a smaller domestic crop, according to the U.S. government. The wheat will probably be used for food, and is not expected to cut into China's U.S. corn purchases.

Tyson stops using wheat in poultry feed

Tyson Foods Inc. has stopped using wheat in its poultry feed due to prices rising above those for corn, according to reports, ending a practice that began in 2011 when wheat prices fell below those of corn for the first time in 15 years. The change in current practice, which other companies are also headed towards, could put a strain on U.S. corn supplies, which are set to drop to their lowest level in 16 years during the summer, say analysts.

Feed Production by Region

Brazil may export corn to China

Brazil is awaiting final approval to become an exporter of corn to China, adding the Asian country to a list of global customers that already includes the Middle East and various European markets, according to reports. Chinese technicians visited Brazil in March to assess the phytosanitary risks of Brazilian corn, a protocol required to open trade channels in a food commodity.

International Trade

China was net importer of corn, wheat, rice in 2011

China became a net importer of the three major grains — corn, wheat and rice — in 2011, according to China's vice minister of agriculture, who said the dependence of foreign grain must be given great attention. According to the information the Ministry of Agriculture provided, China's total import of agricultural products reached $94.87 billion in 2011, up 30.8 percent from 2010.

Canadian Bio-Systems Superzyme-CS enzyme

Canadian Bio-Systems Inc.

Superzyme-CS from Canadian Bio-Systems is an exogenous enzyme for young pigs. Superzyme-CS is an enzyme supplement designed for diets that use proteins such as soybean, canola, and peas, and grains including barley, wheat and corn..

Animal Feed Regulations & Safety

US farm groups discuss commodity, risk management programs

A group of eight prominent agricultural associations has voiced its support for the U.S. Senate’s approach to the 2012 Farm Bill, and raised several issues related to commodity and risk management programs, in a letter to the Senate Agriculture Committee. Co-signed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Sunflower Association, U.S. Canola Association and USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council, the letter commended the committee for adhering to its original proposal of $23 billion in deficit reduction.

Russia may export record wheat, corn, legumes in 2011-2012

Russia may set a record for wheat, corn and legume exports in the 2011–2012 marketing year ending June 30, according to the Institute for Agricultural Markets. The previous record for wheat shipments was 18.1 million metric tons, set in 2009–2010, but projections expect the current year to see 20 million metric tons of wheat leave the country.

US wheat, corn planting ahead of average on favorable weather

Roughly 37 percent of the U.S. spring-wheat crop was seeded and 17 percent of the corn crop was planted as of April 15, both well ahead from the previous five-year averages of nine and five percent, respectively, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report. Five percent of the spring-wheat crop was planted this time in 2011.

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