Monsanto Commemorates Completion of Glyphosate Plant Expansion at Luling

On Friday, March 5, Monsanto CEO and chairman Hugh Grant welcomed guests to the company’s Roundup® agricultural herbicide production facility in Luling, La., to celebrate the completion of a nearly $200 million expansion just outside of New Orleans. The expansion was announced and started in April 2008 to increase production of Roundup brand agricultural herbicide. «This has been a huge project for us in scope and in terms of the financial investment. However, it is more than an investment in this plant; it’s an investment in farmers,» Grant said.

Ministry of Agriculture of Russia to support growing of wheat, sugar beet and maize

In 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation will put special emphasis on growing of three main agricultural crops: wheat, sugar beet and maize, declared Peter Chekmarev, the head of the department of plant growing, chemization and plant protection of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, on March 19.

In 2010, Ukraine to harvest 45-48 mln tonnes of grains

In the current year, grain harvest in Ukraine will total 45-48 mln tonnes of grains as opposed to 46 mln tonnes in the previous year, forecasted Nikholay Prysyashnyuk, the Minister of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine.

Ukraine's Transport Ministry extends transit discounts at the country’s seaports by the end of this year

Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine extended the discount to the ultimate flat rate payment for the loading and unloading of transit goods at commercial seaports of Ukraine until December 31, 2010, the press service of the Ministry reports.

100,000 tons of sugar may be imported

Ukraine's Agricultural Policy Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk does not rule out the possibility of importing about 100,000 tons of sugar this year to compensate for the domestic deficit.

Ukraine increased production of refined vegetable oils

The share of refined vegetable oils in the general structure of vegetable oils production in Ukraine continue increasing, declared Stepan Kapshuk, the General Director of the association Ukrolyaprom.

PepsiCo Authorizes Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

PepsiCo, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has approved an advisory shareholder vote on executive compensation that will first occur at the company’s annual meeting in 2011. Under the plan, PepsiCo’s shareholders will be able to cast an advisory vote on the overall executive compensation policies and procedures employed by the compensation committee for PepsiCo’s named executive officers.

Ukraine. Agrarian policy ministry forecasts producing 16-17mln tons of sugar beet

Agrarian Policy Ministry forecasts production of 16-17 million tons of sugar beet in 2010/2011 marketing year, Deputy Agrarian Policy Minister Ivan Demchak told a conference.

Ukraine. Late start of spring sowing. Will farmers have enough time to finish it?

Ukraine: grain stocks in Crimea lowered by 50%

In the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine), as of March 1, 2010, agricultural enterprises (except of small ones) and also enterprises, dealing with storage and processing of grains, kept 264.5 thsd tonnes of grains, down 49.6% compared to the same date of the previous year, informed the Main department of statistics in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.