Brazil heading for a record crop of 100 million tons of soybeans

Bimini1002016-03-03T17:16:00-05:00

As the soybean harvest gets under way in Brazil, analysts are having a clearer picture of whether the forecast record-setting crop will hit the century mark of 100 million tons despite hot and dry weather in Mato Grosso and northeastern Brazil as pods set and fill. Growers planted nearly 4% more land to soybeans than last season. With slightly above-average yields, that would bring a crop that easily exceeds the 96.2 million tons of 2014/2015, says USDA. March is the main [...]

March 14, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...

Michelin Introduces New Ag Tires

Bimini1002016-03-10T18:05:32-05:00

Recently at the 2016 Commodity Classic, Michelin Agricultural Tires introduced the new CerexBib tire. The tire is a part of the very-high flexion class of agricultural tires for handling bigger and heavier farm equipment. Designed specifically for large combines and grain carts, it has a greater ability to flex under increased loads than a standard radial. CerexBib, now available at Michelin Ag tire dealers in the U.S. and Canada, offers the following features: Operation at a lower pressure Improved traction in all conditions Enhanced [...]

March 10, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...

Sosucam selects CASE IH for its Cameroon sugar cane plantations

Bimini1002016-03-03T17:11:49-05:00

Case IH has chosen Sosucam for its Cameroon sugar cane plantations in a bid to drive growth in Africa’s sugar cane sector The AutoTracker helps to reduce cane losses. (Image source: Case IH) Case IH contributes to 70 per cent of the employment in Africa, with the firm producing a total of 350,000 tonnes of sugar every year. “The PUMA 225 CVT tractors and the Austoft Sugar Cane Harvester just met all the requirements we needed for our farming project,” said Arnaud Marrier [...]

March 9, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...

Micro-irrigation for horticultural crops

Bimini1002016-03-18T18:51:22-05:00

Micro Irrigation was designed and developed to secure and sustain crop growth in arid and semi-arid environments and greenhouses where water is always at a premium Micro-irrigation requires substantial initial investment and also a long learning curve which makes the system particularly appropriate for high value horticultural crops including fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and ornamentals. Installation of micro irrigation brings many advantages for farmers and growers but some disadvantages too. Advantages and disadvantages Micro-irrigation will generally use less than half the volume of [...]

March 7, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...

Olam and InVivo to develop animal feed solutions in Nigeria

Bimini1002016-03-03T17:06:14-05:00

Global agri-business entity Olam International Limited and InVivo Animal Nutrition & Health have signed a consulting agreement to develop expertise in animal feed production in Nigeria Olam and InVivo NSA will jointly develop solutions and products in the animal feed sector. The agreement, which is for two years, will involve technical assistance and sharing of expertise to jointly develop solutions and products in the animal feed space. The knowledge transfer between the two companies will help develop solutions, formulate animal feed, characterise [...]

March 3, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...

African farmers can boost food security by attracting bees, says FAO study

Bimini1002016-03-03T17:02:32-05:00

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) released a new study that for the first time shows the positive impact bees have on crop yields as they move from flower to flower to fertilize plants The FAO study indicated crop yields were much lower in farming plots that attracted less bees during the main flowering season. According to the FAO, bees may have a vital role to play in improving production levels for around two billion smallholder farmers worldwide and [...]

March 1, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...

Entire country affected by drought, report reveals

Bimini1002016-02-25T17:24:07-05:00

By Annelie Coleman The devastating drought experienced by South Africa last year could be expected to put consumers under great pressure for the foreseeable future, according to a report from the University of the Free State. The report, dealing with the drought’s impact on the local economy, was compiled by Prof Johan Willemse and Frikkie Mare. Although good, widespread rains were reported in the second half of January 2016, this would not go a long way to mitigate the effects [...]

February 24, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...

World cereal stocks are set to end 2016 seasons at 642 million tons, higher than they began.

Bimini1002016-02-16T21:16:54-05:00

Weather patterns associated with El Niño are sending mixed signals about the early prospects for cereal crops in 2016, especially in the Southern Hemisphere, according to FAO's Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, released on Thursday. 2016 crop prospects have been “severely weakened” in Southern Africa, and a 25% cut in wheat production in South Africa now appears likely. Conditions for the crop are generally favorable in the Russian Federation and the European Union, but winter plantings declined in the United [...]

February 22, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...

Portucel revises investment to US$3bn in Mozambique forestry project

Bimini1002016-02-16T21:12:53-05:00

Portugal’s pulp and paper company Portucel has increased its forecast investment in a major forestry project in Mozambique to US$3bn from US$2.5bn The 40,000 ha of eucalyptus is a small portion of the 356,000 ha to which Portucel has the land rights for 50 years. According to a Portucel Board member, the firm hopes to plant 40,000 ha of eucalyptus in the central provinces of Manica and Zambezia. This revision in investment, he elaborated, has been made due to the technological advances in [...]

February 18, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...

Tata subsidiary to increase exports of pulses from Tanzania

Bimini1002016-02-16T21:10:31-05:00

Tata Africa Holdings (Tanzania) Ltd has plans to increase exports of pulses to India Tanzania will export pulses initially, followed by other essential food commodities. The company, a subsidiary of Tata International, began exporting pulses from Tanzania around a year and half ago. So far, has achieved an export volume of 5,000 tonnes of pulses and now plans to scale up the business, mainly because India experiences a shortfall. Tata Africa Holdings (Tanzania) Ltd executive director Ajay Mehra said, “We are now [...]

February 16, 2016 Uncategorized Comments OffRead more...