Tru-Cape’s Bigbucks apples with the market trade name of Flash Gala are fast making inroads in South Africa and globally. Flash Gala is a full wine red-tinged improvement from the Bigbucks tree courtesy of Buks Nel, Tru-Cape’s New Variety Expert. The variety’s deep crimson skin color and its high yields have made it an orchard favorite in South Africa. Besides, its high pack out...

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) has narrowly repealed a 15-year ban on winter blue crab dredging, amid opposition. The vote on June 26, 2024 saw 5 members vote for with 4 against, to allow crab harvests from mud during winter. Lynn Kellum, VMRC’s board member who witnessed the erstwhile ban back in 2008 stated that the endorsement favors the marginalized “user group.”...

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 ($6.60)/bushel). Even with the above...

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 dramatically by mid-2024. For one,...

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 origin. This will be welcome...

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 via WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body...

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 same way they meet other...

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 July delivery closed 3.61% up...

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 Monstat, the Montenegro official data...

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 of the country’s oil palm acreage...