• El Nino Probable by July for MDA as Temperatures Warm in Pacific El Nino Probable by July for MDA as Temperatures Warm in Pacific

    An El Nino weather pattern, which can parch Australia and parts of Asia while bringing rains to South America, will probably develop by July, according to forecaster MDA Weather Services. The chances of El Nino emerging later in the northern hemisphere summer are 75 percent, said Donald Keeney, senior agricultural meteorologist at Gaithersburg, Maryland-based MDA.

    Mar 20, 2014

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  • Ethanol Leads Gains Among Commodities Amid Rail Car Shortage Ethanol Leads Gains Among Commodities Amid Rail Car Shortage

    Ethanol futures jumped to a nine-month high, gaining more than 24 other commodities today, amid a shortage of rail cars and a decline in U.S. inventories. Prices have risen 42 percent in 2014. Producers are being asked to pay a “fat” premium of as much as $3,000 to reserve a rail car, the primary mode of transport for the fuel, said Steve Wagner, a market analyst for CHS Hedging Inc.

    Mar 19, 2014

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  • Raizen expects up to 10 pct loss in Brazil sugar cane crop Raizen expects up to 10 pct loss in Brazil sugar cane crop

    (Reuters) - Brazil's 2014/15 sugar cane crop that has started early crushing in the south will suffer losses on average of 5 percent to 10 percent from recent dry weather this year, the Chief Financial Officer of Raizen, Pedro Mizutani, said on local TV. Speaking at an agricultural event televised by the Bioenergy Producers Association (Udop) on Wednesday, Mizutani said rains have returned in March to the cane-growing area of center-south Brazil but the risk will be rains in May and June.

    Mar 19, 2014

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  • Sugar price to revive - after seasonal spring dip Sugar price to revive - after seasonal spring dip

    Sugar prices may extend their decline for now, undermined by seasonal factors, but will reward the long-term investor, Standard Chartered said, voicing "deep concerns" about prospects for Brazil;s cane harvest. The bank forecast New York raw sugar futures averaging 17 cents a pound in the April-to-June quarter, a little lower than futures are factoring in, forecasting that demand will prove constrained by consumers' reliance on inventories built at cheaper prices.

    Mar 18, 2014

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  • Sugar Drops Most Since 2012 as Brazil Rains Improve Crop Outlook Sugar Drops Most Since 2012 as Brazil Rains Improve Crop Outlook

    Raw-sugar futures capped the biggest weekly slump in more than a year as increased rainfall eased the outlook for production losses in Brazil, the world’s biggest grower and exporter. In the first 10 days of March, about two-thirds of growing regions in Sao Paulo, the largest producing state, got as much as 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of rain, more than double the amount from Feb. 18-28, according to Commodity Weather Group. More showers will reach the cane belt in the next six to 15 days, as the moisture reduces crop stress, said Joel Widenor, the director of agricultural services at the Bethesda, Maryland-based forecaster.

    Mar 16, 2014

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  • Cargill deal helps secure Mackay sugar mill's future Cargill deal helps secure Mackay sugar mill's future

    A north Queensland sugar mill's strategic partnership with one of the world's largest commodity companies is being described as a successful move in helping guarantee the sugar industry's future.

    Mar 13, 2014

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  • MSF Sugar plans to expand MSF Sugar plans to expand

    MSF Sugar in the state's southern cane region has applied to lease 10,000 hectares of state-owned land north of Maryborough to grow more cane, boost mill throughput, and create jobs.

    Mar 12, 2014

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  • Sugar prices ease, amid talk of 'limited' demand Sugar prices ease, amid talk of 'limited' demand

    Sugar prices eased amid talk of higher values encouraging the release of extra supplies, at a time when demand in the key market of Brazil has proven "limited", with buyers viewed as having ample supplies.

    Mar 11, 2014

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  • Funding drought curbs Australia's Funding drought curbs Australia's "food bowl to Asia" ambitions

    (Reuters) - Australia's lofty ambitions to become a "food bowl" for a rapidly growing middle-class in Asia are in danger of falling at the farm gate due to the country's harsh, drought-prone climate and a lack of investment in agricultural innovation.

    Mar 10, 2014

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  • PH sugar industry to survive, says exec

    BACOLOD, Philippines—“We are not afraid of 2015, we are confident that the Philippine sugar industry will survive,” Francisco Varua, president of Philippine Sugar Millers Association and Philippine Sugar Research Institute (Philsurin), said on Monday.

    Mar 9, 2014

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