The Week in Agribusiness: Threats to Farming Communities Around the World

Farmers around the world are facing numerous threats against their livestock, crops and own lives. Bushfires in Australia are at a scale never seen before, potentially proving a turning point in action against climate change as fires have been linked to persistent droughts.

Tensions in the Middle East seem to have had a short-lived impact on the prices of grains, though the situation could still worsen.

USMCA has been approved by a panel in the US Senate, but plenty of criticism remains.

Ready for more? Here are the week’s headlines:

Mexico

The Union of Cane Producers predicts sugar production could go down by as much as 10 percent this year due to climate factors.

A preservation project at the border between Mexico and the US provides a fascinating example of how degraded land and water reservoirs can be restored.

Global Markets

Futures of maize, wheat and soy drop after the attack on Soleimani.

At the Chicago Stock Exchange, prices of grains remain stable.

As prices of beef rise in Brazil, JBS opens a new beef plant in the country.

Progress on Trade Deals

The US Senate Finance Committee approves the revised USMCA deal. Critics contend it will not do enough to stop climate change.

White House Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow states Phase 1 of the trade deal between the US and China is expected to be signed by January 15.

Communities Affected by Disaster

With a loss of over 10,000 heads of cattle due to bushfires, Australian farmers express their heartbreak.

Agricultural communities in northern Kenya are facing unprecedented swarms of locusts coming in from Ethiopia and Somalia.

Germany is expressing concern about African swine fever cases in Poland.