climate report in April predicted increasing disruptions worldwide including ever drier conditions around the Mediterranean, central and eastern Europe. May 11, 2007 BONN, Germany Rains are reviving parched European crops and cargo ships are plying the Rhine fully loaded for the first time in a month but worries remain that global warming is skewing the continent's weather. Wheat prices are down from recent peaks after rains in many regions although the association of German beer brewers...

Physical rubber prices in producing countries were high, indicating a delay in production resumption after the wintering season, when rubber trees yield less, Okubo said. May 24 (Bloomberg) -- Rubber futures in Tokyo, the global benchmark, rose for a seventh day on a decline in Japan's crude rubber stockpiles and speculation strong demand for tires in China and the weaker yen may help prices test the 300 yen level. The benchmark contract has so far gained 2.7 percent this week after rising...

The team comprising the Additional Secretary in the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Mr Vivek Mehrotra, and nominees from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will visit mandis in the State to "get a first-hand picture of the situation and take appropriate action", official sources told Business Line. The team comprising the Additional Secretary in the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Mr Vivek Mehrotra, and nominees from the Ministry of...

Corn, wheat, cocoa and coffee prices have all risen strongly in recent months, suggesting consumers will face an extended period of more expensive food. This year, corn and wheat prices have reached their highest levels for a more than a decade, while coffee prices have hit an eight-year high and cocoa has risen to a four-year high. Predictions for higher prices come in spite of expectations that global grain production will rise 6.2 per cent to a record 1. Coffee's strength has been...

In its weekly update, the agency also said the crop is progressing at about the normal pace, with 88 percent of the wheat headed compared with 94 percent last year and 89 percent for the five-year average. Fifteen percent of the wheat showed moderate to severe insect infestation, with aphids and armyworms the primary pests in stressed wheat. Slightly less than 40 percent of the crop shows no damage from freeze, and 82 percent has no damage from wind. Ninety-two percent of the planned crop...

The annual wheat harvest could begin in parts of the state next week. A harvest of 161 million bushels would mean the state has had one of its best crops in recent years. He estimated that about 10 percent of Oklahoma's wheat crop suffered damage from that freeze. Paul Campbell, the Plains Partners Co-op location manager, said some of the crop has been lost because of diseases and damage caused by worms and insects, but that he expects this year's crop to be better because "last year was a...