Country News
Argentina: Sales of fertilizer are up 3.9 MMT this year and farmers have increased their purchases of advanced-technology corn seed as they prepare for crop sowing to start in September. (Reuters)
Brazil: Endrigo Dalcin of the farmers’ group Aprosoja says that abundant production and a lack of storage is causing large amounts of corn to be stored outdoors in piles. Storage capacity is half the amount recommended by the UN’s FAO. The weather is dry now but rains will come later this year and the inadequately stored corn will become subject to rot, pests and rodents. (Bloomberg)
China: The National Meteorological Center reports that rain in north China last week eased the drought and likely improved the output prospects for some of the corn planted in the region. Some areas could even exceed last year’s totals, but the latest estimate from China’s Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates is that adverse weather will reduce corn production this year by -1.2 MMT for an overall production total of 210.7 MMT. (Bloomberg)
EU: The European Commission reports that the ample supply of grains and low prices automatically triggered import duties. An import duty of €5.16/MT will be applied to maize, sorghum and rye. (Bloomberg)
Kenya: The National Biosafety Authority announced that field trials will begin for biotech corn and cotton. The government had announced a ban on all GM crops in 2012 but a review of their safety led a task force to recommend approval on a case-by-case basis. (Business Daily Africa)