Agriculture & Softs Commodity Reports

Agriculture and Softs Commodity Reports

BlackRock ETF Landscape: Latin America Industry Review

London, March 2010

BlackRock has just published its Latin America Industry Review Year End 2009 report. This report is a review of the Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) listed globally.

Testimony Of CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler Before The House Committee On Agriculture Subcommittee On General Farm Commodities And Risk Management, March 3, 2010

Washington, 3 March 2010

Good morning Chairman Boswell, Ranking Member Moran and members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for inviting me to testify regarding the implementation of changes to the Commodity Exchange Act contained in the 2008 Farm Bill. I am please to testify on behalf of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). I will focus my testimony today on three principal issues: the CFTC’s use of existing authorities to fulfill our mission, the need for additional authorities to oversee the over-the-counter derivatives marketplace and the need for additional resources to best protect the American public.

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State of Food & Agriculture: FAO

Rome, 18 February 2010

FAO report analyzes the rapidly changing global livestock production: Livestock contribute 40% of the global value of agricultural output and support the livelihoods and food security of almost a billion people. Rapidly rising incomes and urbanization, combined with underlying population growth, are driving demand for meat and other animal products in many developing countries.

Scientists complete draft sequence of soybean genome

London, January 2010

A team of researchers from the United States has developed the first draft sequence of the soybean genome, an achievement that will help scientists gain a better understanding of one of the world's most important crops. Soybean is a major source of protein for food and animal feed: from tofu to soy flour, meat substitute and soy milk. It is also used to produce much of the world's cooking oil and as an important source for biodiesel. Like other legumes, the crop is also crucial for its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil.

Brazil expects bumper soybean crop

Washington, January 2010

The United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reports that Brazil's 2009-2010 soybean harvest is predicted to be a record 65 million tons or 14% higher than last year's figures. Mato Grosso and Parana, top largest producing states, are expecting bumper crops.

USDA forecasts record corn crop; futures tumble

Wahsington, 12 January 2010

The U.S. Agriculture Department bumped up its estimate for 2009 U.S. corn production to a new record on Tuesday, shocking traders who anticipated a decline after a difficult harvest.

High tea prices

Rome, 22 December 2009

Tea prices reached record levels this year but should ease in 2010 as weather patterns returned to normal in the main tea-producing regions of Asia and Africa, FAO said.

Agrimarkets Comment: Outlook for 2010

London, 22 December 2009

Macquarie assess the market outlook for 2010 for corn wheat and soybeans. Their outlook is bearish for wheat and soybeans while neutral to slightly bullish corn out to the 2010/11 season. Assuming normal weather, Macquarie forecast the continuation of a stock-building trend for soybeans and wheat, while corn production must increase into 2010/11 to avoid world ending stocks falling to historically low levels.

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By Kona Haque

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Geithner: Testimony to Senate Committee on Agriculture

Washington DC, 2 December 2009

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner: Written Testimony Before The Senate Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition And Forestry - Hearing On OTC Derivatives Reform And Addressing Systemic Risk.