Author: Timothy Wahome (Timothy Wahome)

Wheat
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Global wheat prices bow to harvest pressure

Global wheat prices retreated early July 28, 2024 at the Chicago Board of Trade amid harvest gains in the Northern Hemisphere. At 02:06 GMT, the strongest wheat contract in Chicago fell -0.2%  to trade at $5.78 per bushel.  In comparison, the price in Europe gained by 1.57 Euro ($1.68) to trade at 227 a tonne (6.17 Euro...

Beef Cattle
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Optimism climbs in the Aussie beef sector, survey shows

The Aussie beef sector is recovering, with the latest producers’ survey showing 34% of respondents expecting positive outcomes for 2024. In the April 2024 assessment known as Beef Producer Intentions Survey, producers’ optimism soared by 23% from the 11% of November 2023. Incidentally, the conditions in November when predictions of an El Niño drought threatened cattle livelihoods have changed...

The Murcia grape marketing season starts in Spain 
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The Murcia grape marketing season starts in Spain 

Southeastern Spain’s autonomous Murcia grape region has kick-started its table grape marketing season beginning mid-June, 2024. Data by Apoexpa Spain on Murcio Diario shows that Murcio will contribute 75% of the national table grape crop in 2024.  While countrywide production could reach 300,000 tonnes, Murcia’s will hit 230,000 tonnes, with the region doubling as the main export...

Naartjie citrus
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WTO panels to review South Africa-EU citrus dispute

For the first time, South Africa has called for two WTO panels to review a lengthy citrus dispute with the European Union (EU). This happened after the two trade sides failed to come to an amicable agreement on two infections that affect citrus.  Hence, on June 24, South Africa fielded the request for panel arbitration...

Climate tax in Denmark sets a world precedent 
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Climate tax in Denmark sets a world precedent 

Starting 2035, Danes will pay 300 krone ($42.96) per tonne of CO2  emissions on their farms, in the world’s first climate tax. For a starter, the levy will be 120 krone ($17.18) per tonne of emissions during the transition period between 2030 and 2035.  In that grace period and from 2035 proper, landowners will pay carbon tax the...

The coffee harvest in Brazil swings global prices  
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The coffee harvest in Brazil swings global prices  

The ongoing coffee harvest in Brazil has recently occasioned a fall followed by a sharp rebound in world coffee prices. On June 24, 2024, global prices spiked after an earlier drop following news of increasing dryness in Minas Gerais. This state in southeast Brazil supplies 30% of  national Arabica. September Arabica  deliveries edged 5% up even as Robusta for...

Milk
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Montenegro’s milk consumption reclaims 2nd place globally

Montenegro’s milk consumption now ranks 2nd globally at an annual equivalent of 349 liters per person, according to 2024’s FAOSTAT data. Driving this consumption are exclusive Montegrin milk products such as cheese, butter-like skorup and cream, alongside fluid milk. This consumption is at odds with falling cattle numbers, now at a consecutive five-year depreciation in the Balkan country. According to...

Crude palm oil imports loom in Indonesia
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Crude palm oil imports loom in Indonesia

Indonesia faces a crude palm oil (CPO) import challenge if it is to meet its 2045 production goal of 92.4 million tonnes. According to Hadi Sugeng, the Secretary General of the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI) in a Majalah Hortus report, a 27.1 million-tonne annual deficit looms. Hadi cited 40% or 6.57 million hectares...

George Washington’s cherries live on past Virginia’s modern cherry season
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George Washington’s cherries live on past Virginia’s modern cherry season

The Virginia cherry season may soon be over but personal George Washington’s cherries live on at his Mount Vernon residence two centuries after the first American president’s death. An archaeological revelation on June 18 showed well-preserved bunches, baffling plant specialists. Archaeologists who have been working on Mount Vernon’s cellar since 2023 found 35 intact glass bottles,...