THE GLOBAL MILLER | March 2011
Already one of the world’s biggest grain users, China’s appetite for corn, wheat and other farm commodities is poised to expand significantly over the next decade as the country’s people “move up the food chain,” adding more meat and dairy products to their diets, Brown said in a March 23 conference call with reporters. Read more ...
Russian livestock industry hampered by high feed costs
The US Department of Agriculture said that high feed costs are likely to hamper growth in Russia's burgeoning livestock industry this year until the new harvest reduces supply pressures. The Russian pig herd is set to grow 1.8 percent to 17.51 million animals by the end of the year, although pork production is predicted to stay flat this year compared with a 4 percent growth in 2010, according to the USDA's Moscow attaché. Also beef production is expected to be limited to 1.4 million tonnes in 2011, which is 2.4 percent less than last year, due to a sharp decline in the number of cattle. Read more ...
March 30, 2011
Crop yield improved by removing manure solids
Manure has long been used as a crop fertiliser, but the challenge of finding an efficient use of the nutrients found in manure is ever present. The ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus in manure is low in relation to the nutrient needs of most crops. Therefore, crops tend to be overloaded with manure to meet the nitrogen requirement of agricultural crops, but the excess phosphorus from the process can damage the environment. In a study funded by agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, scientists at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Center in Agassiz, British Colombia, with collaborators in Quebec City, Quebec, and Brandon, Manitoba tested the effectiveness of removing solids from dairy manure to improve yield by increasing the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio and reducing the loss of nitrogen by hastening soil infiltration. Read more ...
Feed costs cut Cal-Maine profits
Cal-Maine Foods Inc.'s earnings fell as the producer of eggs and egg products reported feed costs jumped 16 percent and selling prices eased. The owner of Eggland's Best and Farmhouse egg brands was hit by a nation wide egg recall and higher feed costs that hurt profit last year, though sales improved as prices recovered from the recession's slumping levels. President and Chief Executive Dolph Baker said retail demand remained strong and higher-priced speciality-egg sales continued to grow, accounting for nearly 24 percent of revenue and nearly 18 percent of total numbers sold. For the quarter ended February 26, the world's largest egg producer and distributor reported a profit of US$33.6 million (€23.852 million), down 2.7 percent from US$34.5 million (€24.491 million)a year earlier. Read more ...
Gambian leader aims at agro-export
The president of the Republic of Gambi, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh last week officially opened the 2011 Legislative Year. Among others he reaffirmed that the main thrust of his government is not only food self-sufficiency, but also becoming a major player in the agricultural exports market. Agriculture being one sector that has the greatest potential to provide employment for hundreds of thousands of people across all walks of life in the country, according to the president, his government is bent on eradicating poverty through this sector. Read more ...
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