UN FAO projects lower grain production in 2009-10; weather, lower planting are culprits

In Italy, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is projecting a reduction in global grain production from 2008’s record harvests due to smaller planting and poor weather. The FAO projected that there would be a 496 million metric tonne carryover into the 2009/10 planting seasons after high productivity in 2008. Dry weather in Asia and Argentine drought as well as lower planting volume of US and European winter wheat are cited as factors.

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