Agriculture

• Thursday, October 1st 2009 - 05:22 UTC

  Argentina creates new Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Food

  

  Argentina has officially created the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Food, which previously worked as a secretariat of the Production Ministry. The decision of the Kirchner couple administration to raise the status of the Agriculture Secretariat to a ministry comes amid tensions with farming leaders who are protesting the government's farming policies.

• Thursday, September 24th 2009 - 11:50 UTC

  Beef export peak forecasted in Argentina for 2009

  

  Argentine exports of refrigerated beef reached 34.923 tons in August equivalent to 131.2 million US dollars, according to official data provided by Senasa (Animal Health National Service).

• Thursday, September 24th 2009 - 11:45 UTC

  Chile’s fresh fruit exports hit by weak international markets

  

  Weak international markets led to a 6% drop in the value of Chile’s fresh fruit exports this past 2008/2009 season, reported Fedefruta President Rodrigo Echeverría this week in Santiago.

• Thursday, September 24th 2009 - 05:09 UTC

  Uruguayans will consume 86 kg of meat per capita this year

  

  Uruguayans beef consumption per capita in 2009 is expected to reach 58 kilos and 86 kilos of all types of meat according to the latest estimates from the National Meat Institute (INAC).

• Tuesday, September 22nd 2009 - 12:48 UTC

  Uruguayan farmers demand fewer taxes and less Mercosur commitments

  

  Uruguay’s main agriculture show ended Sunday with a record number of visitors and harsh criticisms for the government: Farmers complained bitterly about the ballooning fiscal expenditure, taxes and demanded a broadening of horizons beyond Mercosur.

• Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:26 UTC

  Reflecting recession, Argentina’s foreign trade dropped by 40% during August

  

  Argentina's August trade surplus dropped 48% from the same month a year ago to 1.16 billion US dollars as exports sank, the government said on Friday. Imports fell by 37% during the month to 3.25 billion, while exports dropped by an even bigger 40% to 4.40 billion USD due to lower prices and reduced volumes, particularly by the drought-hit farming industry.

• Thursday, September 17th 2009 - 13:32 UTC

  Chilean dairy farmers call for protection from Argentine imports

  

  Chilean dairy farmers requested President Michelle Bachelet to speed the implementation of the provisional safeguard clause to help contain the import of Argentine powder milk and cheese. The safeguard clause means imposing a 31% tariff on dairy imports.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 20:34 UTC

  Uruguay farm-land sales down but prices pick up again

  

  Farm land sales in Uruguay during the first half of 2009 dropped, but the average price for the hectare actually increased 25% compared to the same period a year ago, according to the latest release from the Ministry of Agriculture Statistics Office (DIEA).

• Monday, September 14th 2009 - 09:01 UTC

  Father of the Green Revolution and Nobel Peace Prize dies in Texas

  

  Norman Borlaug, the man known as the father of the Green Revolution in agriculture, died in Texas aged 95. Prof Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for agricultural innovation and the development of high-yield crops.

• Saturday, September 12th 2009 - 11:51 UTC

  Paraguayan farmers anticipate record soy crop for this season: 7 million tons

  

  Paraguayan soy bean farmers estimate that this year’s crop (2009/2010), which begins to be planted at the end of the month, could reach a new record close to seven million tons given the good climate prospects and producers enthusiasm.