Country News
China: Agriculture Minister Han Changfu says that corn production next year will be reduced by 666,667 hectares, which will be on top of the 2 million hectare reduction in 2016. (Bloomberg)
Effective May 1, Heilongjiang, the largest corn producing province in China will ban GMO crops, including the processing and sale of imported GMOs. (Bloomberg)
Both Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces will cut the highway tolls normally charged for trucks carrying corn. (Reuters) while China railway had earlier announced increased transport of corn to stabilize prices. (Bloomberg)
China National Grain and Oils Information Center says that rising sorghum prices are likely to reduce imports after the first of the year. (Bloomberg)
South Africa: White corn futures rose the daily limit for a second day as dry weather and a two-week forecast of more of the same threatens domestic production. (Bloomberg)
South America: Escalating projections about the size of the coming year’s corn crop is pressuring prices lower. Meanwhile, Brazil’s corn exports were up last week but are still not on a fast-enough pace to meet USDA’s prediction. (Agrimoney; Various)