Motherland Monument, Kiev. (CIA.gov)

EU deal yet to bear fruit for Ukrainian exporters

Gorodok | Reuters — Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the European Union was meant to lure the bread basket of the former Soviet Union away from its longstanding ties with Russia by offering better access to the EU market. But debate about it was the spark that lit the Maidan street protests in 2013 and a […] Read more


(Europa.eu)

EU promises protesting farmers more help, no new money

Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission announced more help for the agriculture sector on Monday, following protests by farmers who say they have been hit hard by a Russian ban on Western food imports. The focus of the support package is on the dairy, pigmeat, fruit and vegetable sectors. It includes measures such as […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill to stop selling seed, inputs in Black Sea region

Chicago | Reuters –– Cargill will stop selling seeds, fertilizer and crop chemicals to farmers in the Black Sea region, as the global trader continues to cut back operations in the face of sliding commodity prices. The 150-year old company, one of the world’s largest privately held corporations, is in the middle of a restructuring […] Read more

(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. grains: Wheat rises on bargain buying

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures firmed Wednesday, edging higher on a round of bargain buying and short-covering a day after prices hit their lowest in nearly six years, traders said. Corn and soybean futures were close to unchanged for most of the day but closed in negative territory. A bearish […] Read more




(Michael Thompson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. grains: Wheat snaps rally, soy firm, corn flat

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. wheat futures fell on Wednesday on fund-driven technical selling and a proposal by Russia’s farm ministry to cut a wheat export tax, which tempered speculation about export restrictions. Corn coasted for the second straight day, while soybean futures rose on dry weather concerns in South America and southern Africa. At […] Read more


(FarmersEdge.ca)

Major investment to build Farmers Edge’s data power

Canadian precision agronomy and farm data management firm Farmers Edge plans to keep taking its services to previously underserved acres around the world, with a major cash infusion from a group of its backers. Japanese commodities trading and investment firm Mitsui, Toronto commercial real estate company Osmington and the Green Growth Fund operated by investment […] Read more

Russia said considering export duties for corn, barley

Moscow | Reuters –– Russia’s agriculture ministry is considering introducing an export duty for corn and barley, Russian news agency Interfax reported Wednesday, citing First Deputy Minister Evgenii Gromyko. “We will discuss this question,” he said. Gromyko added that the question was planned to be discussed at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, […] Read more