Country News
Europe: The EU harvested 28.5 MMT of barley this year, down just 4 percent from last year’s huge crop, of which 9 MMT is expected to reach malting quality, down around 5 percent from a year ago. As a result prices are expected to stay weak. (Reuters)
Europe: European farmers will not be growing Syngenta’s newest corn seed technology as the company announced that it has withdrawn its applications for their approval by Brussels. In short, the company sees no pathway forward for commercially using genetically engineered corn in Europe. (Bloomberg)
Russia: Jack Watts of the UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board says that if grain prices rise, the ruble stays weak and Moscow keeps its tax on wheat exports, Russian farmers will shift to plant corn instead. (Dow Jones)
Vietnam: Lacking adequate fueling stations and support from the government, five of seven ethanol production plants have been forced to close. Kien Chinh of ethanol maker Tung Lam says the effort now is to get farmers to grow sweet potatoes as feedstock to produce ethanol. (Vietnam News Service)