Agriculture across the globe

21 October 1999



Agriculture across the globe

• NZ sheep farmers aim for denim and kimono markets
  
  
  A New Zealand wool marketing organisation has announced the development of a mid-micron wool which can be used to make denim and Japanese kimonos.

• Zambias organic opportunity
  
  Organic production offers Zambia good opportunities to generate foreign exchange, the director of Export Board of Zambia has told a conference.

• 2003 EU entry date disappoints Hungarian opposition
  
  
  Hungarian opposition politicians blame the government, as a provisional EU entry date is a year later than hoped.

• PACCAR Inc takes 14% stake in Rush Enterprises
  
  Rush Enterprises, which operates John Deere dealerships and a farm superstore, has announced that PACCAR Inc has bought 14% of its common stock.

• 
  ‘Blue tongue disease’ kills Bulgarian sheep
  
  Some 1,320 sheep in Bulgaria have died of an African virus dubbed “blue tongue disease”.

• 
  South Africa-EU deal finally signed
  
  Four years of often bitter wrangling finally brought results when South Africa and the EU signed a trade, development and co-operation accord.

• 
  Banks fund New Holland acquisition of Case
  
  Chase Manhattan and Credit Suisse First Boston extend $2.4 billion credit to New Holland. Proceeds from the deal will help fund New Hollands acquisition of Case Corp for $4.3 billion in cash.

• Harsh weather devastates Ukrainian harvest
  
  
  Ukraine blames bad weather and the legacy of Soviet mismanagement for the worst harvest in 10 years.

• EU wants Seattle talks to go beyond agriculture
  
  Next months World Trade Organisation talks in Seattle must not focus simply on agriculture and services, European Union international trade commissioner Pascal Lamy has announced.