The harvest is almost over, and farmers gathered for the weekly market in the nearby village of Lagfaf say most of the wheat is good enough only for the animals. LAGFAF, Morocco (Reuters) - When 2007 arrived and the winter rains had still not fallen, Morocco's religious leaders led anxious prayers to avert a rural catastrophe, quoting from the Koran: The months passed but clouds scudded over the kingdom's central plains without shedding their load and in the fields near the central...

In this speech to the European Biotechnology Open day in Brussels EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson strongly defends an open European approach to biotechnology and GM food; one that prioritises strict science-based health and safety testing but which recognises that safe biotechnology has a crucial role to play in agriculture and agricultural trade both in Europe and the developing world. In this speech to the European Biotechnology Open day in Brussels EU Trade Commissioner Peter...

Moffet says dump AWB break fee or he will resign Thursday, 14 June 2007 OUTSPOKEN AWB director, Chris Moffet, has declared he will protect wheatgrowers from a multi-million dollar break fee that could come into play during the process of establishing a new grower-owned and controlled single desk manager. Moffet says dump AWB break fee or he will resign Thursday, 14 June 2007 OUTSPOKEN AWB director, Chris Moffet, has declared he will protect wheatgrowers from a multi-million dollar break...

WEMA was formed at a meeting in Melbourne of delegates from the Victorian Farmers Federation, AgForce (Queensland), NSW Farmers Federation, South Australian Farmers Federation, WA Farmers and the Wheat Growers Association, which represents growers who are AWB shareholders. STATE farmer groups have joined forces to create a grain grower-owned body to manage the single desk for bulk wheat exports. Growers unite on wheat body - Business - Business - theage.com. Growers unite on wheat body....

wheat futures are expected to open Friday's day session 3 to 5 cents lower per bushel on follow-through selling from the overnight and profit-taking after strong rallies this week, floor traders said. Southern Plains remain supportive to wheat futures as the wetness is damaging HRW wheat and delaying harvest in Oklahoma, an analyst said. Wheat is in an overbought condition after climbing to new contract highs and fresh 11-year highs for front-month contracts this week, traders said....

Congress has instead favored staple crops such as corn, wheat and rice for decades and has heavily subsidized them to promote production. Most area farmers don't get much of anything from the federal government, because they grow crops Washington considers specialty items, such as tomatoes, walnuts and winegrapes. It is the largest estuary on the West coast, providing drinking water for two-thirds of California's population and a nesting ground for many millions of waterfowl every winter....

Department of Agriculture said Thursday that farmers are reluctant to increase the size of their herds when prices for feed are rising faster than the price of milk. The American Meat Institute, which represents the nation's beef, pork and chicken producers, said that corn previously used to feed animals is increasingly being diverted to ethanol production. He said dairy farmers are paying higher prices to feed their cows as a result of ethanol production that depends on corn and other...

EST Richard Bowden - AHN Staff Writer Canberra, Australia (AHN) - The Australian Government is expected to announce today that a "single-desk" wheat export system will be retained but will give powers to allow grain growers to form their own company to exclusively manage Australia's wheat exports. EST Richard Bowden - AHN Staff Writer Canberra, Australia (AHN) - The Australian Government is expected to announce today that a "single-desk" wheat export system will be retained but will give...

Now beef producers, chicken producers, pork producers, grocers, egg producers and others are voicing fears that the skyrocketing price of corn is pushing food prices upward. The technology for producing cellulosic ethanol is still experimental, but scientists are hopeful that it will produce a higher net energy return than can be achieved by using corn. Senate is considering a separate production goal after 2015 of 3 billion gallons for advanced renewable fuels, which would exclude corn...