Basel | Reuters — China made its boldest overseas takeover move when state-owned ChemChina agreed a US$43 billion bid for Swiss seeds and pesticides group Syngenta on Wednesday, aiming to improve domestic food production. The largest ever foreign purchase by a Chinese firm, announced by both companies, will accelerate a shake-up in global agrochemicals and […] Read more
China seeks food security with friendly bid for Syngenta
ChemChina said close to striking deal for Syngenta
Reuters — China’s state-owned ChemChina is nearing a deal to buy Swiss seeds and pesticides group Syngenta for around 43 billion Swiss francs (C$59.4 billion), two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The deal, for roughly 470 Swiss francs (C$649) per share, would be the biggest cross-border deal involving a Chinese buyer and […] Read more
Cruz’s Iowa victory could show Big Corn’s waning influence
New York | Reuters — U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz’s victory on Monday in corn-rich Iowa could represent a major blow to the country’s controversial biofuels program, reflecting its waning influence over politicians even in the U.S. farm heartland. Cruz, a conservative senator from Texas and outspoken opponent of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), […] Read more
U.S. grains: Fund short-covering lifts grain/soy complex
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures climbed to six-week highs on Tuesday on fund-driven buying as the grain complex shrugged off weakness in global equity markets and crude oil, traders said. But wheat futures settled flat as all three commodities pared gains by the close. At the Chicago Board of Trade, the […] Read more
Iran banning all state wheat imports
Dubai | Reuters –– Iran banned state imports of wheat for a year starting on March 20, Tasnim news agency reported on Monday, ordering officials to stop registering new purchase orders. “There is no need for wheat imports in coming year. Please avoid registering any order for wheat (imports) from this date,” Iran’s minister of […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat sags on ample global supplies
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. wheat futures closed lower on Monday amid plentiful global inventories and poor export demand for U.S. supplies, traders said. Corn and soybeans also fell as macroeconomic worries hung over the market and on some forecasts for much-needed rains in Argentina next week. At the Chicago Board of Trade, March wheat […] Read more
Workers wanted: Agribusiness sector hiring
CNS Canada — More people have applied for jobs in Canada’s agribusiness sector as of late, according to an industry researcher, but some agricultural sectors still face a critical labour shortage. “People have said that they have received more resumes this year than in previous years,” said Debra Hauer, project manager at the Canadian Agricultural […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn close strong on bargain buying
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures ended strong on Friday, rallying on month-end buying a day after cancellations of U.S. soybean sales to China sent the market to a three-week low, traders said. Corn and wheat also settled higher. CBOT March soybeans finished up 14-1/2 cents at $8.82-1/4 a bushel, rebounding after dipping to […] Read more
U.S. court upholds Enlist Duo registration
An appeals court has rejected the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) move to overturn its own registration for Dow AgroSciences’ Enlist Duo herbicide combo. The EPA in November had sought court approval to withdraw its previous registration for the proprietary glyphosate/2,4-D combination. The agency said it wanted to re-examine the product, which Enlist varieties of […] Read more
Russia now expected to leave grain tax scheme intact
Moscow | Reuters — Russia, one of the world’s largest wheat exporters, is not expected to change its current regime of taxes on grain exports, sources said on Friday, following proposals to change them. Concerns over the possibility of tougher limits on Russia’s foreign sales of wheat sent global prices to a one-month high earlier […] Read more
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