Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Nearly $9 Corn - How Will Livestock Producers Cope?

Continuous worries about the shortage of corn this year are driving up prices.

The USDA estimates 2012-13 average US corn prices to be in the $7.50-8.90 per bushel ($295-350 per ton) range.

This week, the International Grains Council (IGC) slashed crop forecasts as drought in the US, Russia and the Black Sea region are expected to drive global stocks of corn and grain to a new low.

World corn production is expected to be four per cent lower than last year, falling to a nine-year low.

Despite the doom and gloom, some countries are looking to take advantage of the current prices by growing and shipping more corn and coarse grains to willing buyers.

Argentina is the world's second-largest corn exporter, and some farmers there are looking to plant their 2012-13 crop early to take advantage of recent rains, as well as high prices. However these harvests are still far away.

With wheat becoming increasingly important for livestock feed, due to corn prices rising, Russia announced it was lowering its wheat export forceast by four million tons to eight million. Corn exports have been lowered to 14.4 million tons.

Experts believe that Russia and Ukraine (which is expected to export six million tonnes of wheat and 12.5 million tonnes of corn) may still curtail exports as they did in 2010.

Dry conditions are also impacting crops in several regions of India and will likely reduce production figures.

The question that remains to be answered is how will producers cope with high feed costs?

Charlotte Johnston

Note: On the 29th August 2012, 5m Publishing is relaunching TheDairySite.com and TheCattleSite.com. The new format will feature future markets and an expanding knowledge centre, along with international news, analysis and technical articles.

This Week's Feature Articles

Market Reports

 » USDA National Dairy Products Sales Report - 15 August 2012
 » USDA Cattle on Feed - August 2012
 » USDA Milk Production - August 2012
 » Irish CSO: Agricultural Price Indices - June 2012
 » United States and Canadian Cattle Inventory Down 2 Percent
 » USDA National Dairy Products Sales Report - 22 August 2012

---

Company News

BIOMIN at AGRENA 2012 in Egypt
EGYPT - This year’s edition of the poultry exhibition AGRENA was held a few days after Egypt’s first elections in almost three decades. Salman Abbas (Area Manager, BIOMIN) represented BIOMIN at this exhibition at the booth of Dakahlia – BIOMIN’s distributor in Egypt.

---

CID Lines at OKRA Show in Finland
UK - CID LINES was present on the OKRA show near Turku, Finland, through the stand of PJ FArms, our Finnish distributor.

---

Biomin.net Now Available in French
FRANCE - BIOMIN has now launched a French version of the corporate website www.biomin.net.

---

VIV Europe 2014 Kicks off Full Force
NETHERLANDS - In spring 2014, VNU Exhibitions organises its flagship-event: VIV Europe. As world expo for animal husbandry & processing, VIV Europe 2014 welcomes feed-to-meat professionals from all corners in the world in Utrecht, the Netherlands from May 20-22. The event consists of the exhibition and an extensive conference & seminar programme.

---

Orego-Stim Launches in Algeria
ALGERIA - Orego-Stim was recently launched at a trade show in Algeria by Meriden’s distributor, VAPC. Meriden staff visited Algeria to present to product to numerous vet consultants, before attending the trade show to help with the launch.

---

Pfizer Supports Efforts of US Farmers, Ranchers Alliance
US - US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) announced that Pfizer Animal Health has joined USFRA, becoming the first animal health company member of USFRA's Premier Partner Advisory Group.

---

Global Dairy Cattle Industry News

United States

 » Farmers Persevere Through Drought
 » Low-Interest Emergency Loans Available
 » CME: Cattle in Feedlots as Expected
 » Get Creative with Feed Options
 » Despite Heat, Milk Production Increases
 » Rationing the 2012 US Soybean Crop
 » Comment Period Open on Renewable Fuel Waiver
 » California Dairies Buckle Under Feed Costs
 » Should Products Made with GM Ingredients be Labelled?
 » California Slaughterhouse Suspended for Abuse
 » Identifying Common Sources of Campy Infections
 » FDA Approves Pulmotil, Rumensin Feed Combination
 » Study to Assess Emissions Impact of Corn Ethanol
 » Watch for Fall Armyworms
 » Weekly Roberts Market Report
 » Missouri Hay Listings Add New Forages
 » Coalition Pushes Congress to Pass Farm Bill
 » USDA Announces More Help for Livestock Producers
 » Changes to US Ethanol Fuel Policies Unlikely

Ireland

 » Target Retailer Margins to Pay Fair Milk Price
 » Global Dairy Markets Recover, Good News for Prices
 » Losses Increase as Weather Deteriorates
 » Five Reasons Why Milk Prices Must Rise

Australia

 » Brewer's Grain Reduces Methane Emissions in Cattle
 » FMD: Measures to Protect the Economy

United Kingdom

 » Northern Irish Hopeful for Milk Auction Rise
 » Rise in Incidence of Blackleg Cases in Scotland
 » Livestock 2012: Minister to Open Event
 » Arla to Meet with Farmers to Discuss Milk Crisis
 » New President for Yorkshire Ag Society
 » The Risks of Gypsum in Animal Bedding

Canada

 » Livestock Species and Diet Influence Manure
 » Meeting the Greatest Global Farming Challenge
 » Research to Replace Antibiotics in Livestock Feed
 » Wastewater Treatment for Nova Scotia Farm
 » Herd Reductions Could Reduce Grain Demand
 » Testing Cattle for BSE

New Zealand

 » Record End-of-Season Export Quarter for Fonterra

European Union

 » Future Developments in the Milk Sector

Russian Federation

 » Russia Bans Swiss Cattle After Schmallenberg

Global

 » Coming Soon: New Info, New Look, New App

Philippines

 » Govt Proposes 2013 Agriculture/Fisheries Budget

China

 » Prices of Farm Produce Keep Rising

That's all for this week!

Ed.