Around the crop circles

The ABCA has developed the Guide to provide factual, science-based information to contribute to a more informed national discussion about agricultural technologies.

THE crowd at the Global Grains conference in Singapore was abuzz with two potentially massive agribusiness deals featuring Asian businesses.

Singaporean-based Temasek Holdings, through its wholly owned subsidiary Breedens Investment has put in a bid for Singapore’s largest agribusiness Olam, valued at $2.1 billion.

Temasek is an investment management business keen to increase its exposure to agriculture.

Meanwhile, Chinese state-backed grains business has put in a bid for 51pc of Dutch-based Nidera, which has a presence in Australia through its PentAg Nidera business.

IN SPITE of the winter cropping season yet to start, there have been reports from the Australian grain trade that farmers are locking in new crop prices, keen to take advantage of wheat prices in excess of $300 a tonne port.

Most analysts have said $300/t acts as a pricing catalyst that gets growers to consider forward contracting grain.

Others, however, are taking a more conservative line, spooked by some climate models which are pointing to a return to El Nino conditions.

IT IS likely the Indian government will issue tenders for the export of a further 500,000 tonnes of wheat to take advantage of good prices on offer at present

The tenders are likely to be issued before mid-April to take advantage of the risk premiums inspired by the Ukrainian crisis.

India has emerged as a big exporter of wheat in 2013, selling over 7.5 million tonnes of wheat altogether, primarily to Middle Eastern and African markets.

AUSTRALIAN pulse producers now have the opportunity to market their lupins to India as human consumption grade, following a market access win.

Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce described the agreement on import conditions for Australian lupins for human consumption with India as a very significant milestone for Australian producers.

Grains Industry Market Access Forum (GIMAF) executive manager Tony Russell, access to Indian markets will be especially beneficial in Western Australia, the largest producers of lupins.

“Lupins have been one of Australia’s longstanding priorities in terms of new market access. This is a great outcome for the industry,” Mr Russell said.

The deal is currently for split lupins, although Mr Russell said work would be done to get it done for whole lupins also.

GRAINCORP has put together the first bulk shipment of faba beans for export in over a decade.

The parcel of 21,000 beans, loaded in a hold in a ship also carrying wheat, will go to the Middle East.

The shipment will leave from Portland and has been accumulated from Victoria and South Australian product.

With good demand from the Middle East and high prices, other pulse marketers have attempted to put together bulk shipments of faba beans but have run into logistical problems.

CANADIAN-based Agrium is set to sell some of its Canadian retail assets from its Crop Production Services business to burgeoning US co-operative CHS. As part of the deal, 16 retail agronomy locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan will become part of the Country Operations division of CHS.

THE Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) will hold two forums in Horsham on April 8 and Adelaide on April 10 to discuss with growers the end use requirements of customers.

The Adelaide conference will be at the Waite Campus of Adelaide University and the Horsham event at Grains Innovation Park.