Feb 7 (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $1 billion in pilot projects that promote farming, ranching and forestry practices that cut greenhouse gas emissions or capture and store climate-warming carbon, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told Reuters. The agency is due to announce the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program later on Monday. […] Read more
Stories by Karl Plume
Farming for the climate: Off-season ‘cover’ crops expand as U.S. growers eye low-carbon future
CHICAGO, Jan 4 (Reuters) – Illinois farmer Jack McCormick planted 350 acres of barley and radishes last fall as part of an off-season crop that he does not intend to harvest. Instead, the crops will be killed off with a weed killer next spring before McCormick plants soybeans in the same dirt. The barley and […] Read more
U.S. farm co-op CHS to pay members to enroll in Bayer carbon farming program
Nov 3 (Reuters) – Agricultural seeds and chemicals supplier Bayer AG is expanding its carbon farming program to members of U.S. farm cooperative CHS Inc., boosting incentives for members to participate in the program, the companies said on Wednesday. The agreement will make it easier for CHS’s 75,000 farmer-members to enroll in Bayer’s Carbon Program, […] Read more
Dollars in the dirt: Big Ag pays farmers for control of their soil-bound carbon
WINNIPEG, Manitoba/CHICAGO, Oct 25 (Reuters) – The biggest global agriculture companies are competing on a new front: enticing farmers to join programs that keep atmosphere-warming carbon dioxide in the soil. Fertilizer producers Nutrien Ltd and Yara, agribusiness giant Cargill Inc, and seed and chemical dealers Corteva Inc and Bayer AG are paying growers for every […] Read more
ADM, Bunge to post solid results despite Hurricane Ida disruptions
CHICAGO, Oct 25 (Reuters) – Global agribusiness companies Archer-Daniels-Midland Co and Bunge Ltd likely turned in solid third-quarter earnings despite weeks of suspended export shipments at the top U.S. grains outlet after Hurricane Ida, analysts said ahead of earnings releases this week. Both companies benefited from good oilseed and corn processing margins and readily available […] Read more
Cargill launches U.S. carbon farming program for 2022 season
Sept 15 (Reuters) – Global commodities trader Cargill Inc. said on Thursday it is launching a carbon farming program for the 2022 season that will pay growers for production practices that lower emissions and capture more climate-warming carbon in soils. Cargill’s RegenConnect program will use soil sampling, farm data and remote sensing to estimate the […] Read more
Hurricane Ida damages Louisiana grain terminal, disrupts exports
CHICAGO, Aug 30 (Reuters) – Hurricane Ida damaged a grain export elevator owned by global grain trader Cargill Inc, and rival shipper CHS Inc warned on Monday its grain facility may lack power for weeks after the storm tore though the busiest U.S. grains port. Cargill said its Reserve, Louisiana, terminal, one of two the […] Read more
US$19 billion agricultural aid program for COVID-19
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Friday announced a US$19 billion relief program to help U.S. farmers cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, including $16 billion in direct payments to farmers and ranchers and mass purchases of produce, meat and other products. “American agriculture has been hard-hit, like most of America, with […] Read more
Coronavirus disrupts China meat imports, food supply during pork shortage
CHICAGO, (Reuters) – Coronavirus is disrupting meat shipments to China as the country faces a shortage due to an outbreak of a fatal pig disease, Tyson Foods Inc and U.S. agricultural groups said last week. An outbreak of African swine fever, which infects only pigs, has decimated China’s herd, pushing Chinese pork prices to record […] Read more
Bunge profit tops estimates on strong South American agribusiness results
CHICAGO, (Reuters) – Agricultural commodities trader Bunge Ltd reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as rising crop prices boosted farmer sales in South America and swelled margins in its large agribusiness segment, sending shares up more than three percent in pre-market trading. But uncertainty about global trade and demand for Bunge’s food and feed […] Read more
