BRUSSELS, Feb 11 (Reuters) – European Union ministers hit deadlock on Tuesday on whether to let a new strain of genetically modified (GM) maize be grown on EU soil for human consumption, clearing the way for the bloc’s executive arm to approve the crop automatically. European Commission endorsement of insect-resistant Pioneer 1507, developed jointly by […] Read more
Stories by Reuters News Service
Australia sees greater risk of El Nino weather pattern
SYDNEY, Feb 11 (Reuters) – Australian climate models indicate an increased chance of an El Nino weather pattern emerging later this year, the country’s weather bureau said on Tuesday, raising the risk of drought and floods in some parts of the world. The forecast comes after the U.S. Climate Prediction Center last week also said […] Read more
Dean Foods warns of quarterly loss as raw milk prices rise
Feb 11 (Reuters) – Dean Foods Co, the largest U.S. dairy processor, warned it could post a loss in the first quarter due to a surprise rise in the price of raw milk, sending its shares down as much as 10 percent in early trading. The company, which sells Meadow Gold and Dean’s milk, also […] Read more
EU governments split over new GMO grain approval
BRUSSELS, Feb 11 (Reuters) – European Union ministers were divided on Tuesday over whether to allow a new strain of genetically modified maize to be grown on EU soil, handing responsibility for the decision to the European Commission, the EU executive. Nineteen states opposed approval of the insect-resistant maize, known as Pioneer 1507, developed jointly […] Read more
Fertilizer maker Mosaic sees huge N. America transport snags
Feb 11 (Reuters) – U.S.-based fertilizer company Mosaic Co , which operates potash mines in western Canada and phosphate facilities in the United States, is facing unprecedented transportation backlogs in North America, Chief Executive Officer Jim Prokopanko said on Tuesday. Frigid temperatures and heavy snow have hampered railway movement of commodities, he said on a […] Read more
Fertilizer maker Mosaic profit plunges 79 percent
(Reuters) — U.S. fertilizer company Mosaic Co. reported a 79 percent plunge in quarterly profit on Tuesday as phosphate and potash prices fell. Last summer’s breakup of the Belarusian Potash Co. caused a sharp drop in the price of the crop nutrient potash and a slide in grain prices has also weighed down phosphate and […] Read more
Farmers seen planting 11.26 mln acres of cotton in 2014
NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters) – U.S. farmers will plant 11.26 million cotton acres in 2014, up 8 percent from the previous year, as cotton grows increasingly competitive against corn and soybeans, a survey of growers conducted by the National Cotton Council showed on Saturday. That total would mark the end of a trend over […] Read more
Icy Illinois River impedes barge traffic, little relief seen
CHICAGO, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Icy waters on the Illinois River brought barge traffic to a virtual halt this week, slowing transportation of grains and other raw materials to export terminals at the U.S. Gulf with no relief expected as forecasts call for more bitter cold weather in the coming days, officials said on Friday. […] Read more
Syngenta will sell GM corn not approved by China -USDA head
By Roberta Rampton ON BOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Syngenta AG , the world’s largest crop chemicals company, has commitments to sell its entire supply of a genetically modified corn variety that is not approved by China, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Friday. Vilsack said whether or not China eventually […] Read more
Canadian dairy producer Saputo eyeing further buys
Feb 6 (Reuters) – Canada’s largest dairy producer Saputo Inc , which recently won control of Australian dairy Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company, is hungry for further acquisitions in that country, as well as in New Zealand, Brazil and the United States, Chief Executive Lino Saputo Jr. said on Thursday. Saputo gave no indication […] Read more
