Ukraine is launching a three year pilot project, initiated
by International Finance Corporation (IFC), to improve quality of grain in
Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kirovohrad and Poltava regions.They don’t mention how they will do this but it will be interesting to hear the announcements should they make any.
Russian milk production is up 1.9% this
year compared to the same period last year to 12.7mmt according to the Ministry
of Agriculture who then go on to say the average milk yield is 4,976kg per cow, up 192 kg (4%) but fail to mention how long the lactation of
that cow is.
Russian pig production is also up, this time by 13.5%
in live weight compared to the same period last year and amounted to more than
2.8 million tons while, Rusagro, one of
Russia’s largest agri holdings, announced the construction of new pig-breeding
complexes with the combined capacity of 45,000mt live weight.
Russia has also just opened a large-scale distribution and
logistics centre for fertiliser, machinery and plant protection products in
Krasnodar Krai.
The International Grains Council (IGC) gave nothing to farmers
when they published their latest forecast for 2016/17 total world grain, up
8mmt on previous year at 2,077mmt, due in part to a larger Black Sea wheat
crop.
Property agents Brown & Co have opened an office in
Romania expanding their influence in Eastern Europe saying the country could be
one of the most lucrative farmland markets of the future.
Egypt confiscated 18,000mt of Russian wheat at one of their
ports this week, not for ergot as you might expect given their stance on that
touchy subject but for insects.
Animal nutrition company Nutriad, analysed 73 wheat samples
from across Poland and found 70% were contaminated with DON and 30% with ZEN
and HT2-toxin adding more weight to the argument that this year’s wet season has caused
quality issues right across Europe and the Black Sea.
The latest USDA weather update for Ukraine and western
Russia reported cooler weather with widespread rain and snow.
This week saw us try our hand at flying a drone across some wheat in central Russia, which we hope to be doing more of during next years crop tours, you can see the footage here.
Next week and I’m off to the UK’s CropTec show, the
essential technical and business event for arable and mixed farmers, which will
be packed with innovative features and content, apparently. Drop me a line if you want to meet up for a pulled pork
roll.
Right then, where is my tweed jacket, checked shirt, chino's and brogues?