Price of cotton on the rise

Bargain clothing chains like Primark, New Look and Peacocks may have to raise their prices to cope with a hike in the cost of cotton. Many crops across Asia have been destroyed by floods, resulting in cotton prices rising to their highest level for 15 years - and 50% more than they were this time last year. http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/15743868

Drought causes worst wheat harvest for 30 years

The National Farmers Unions says this year's wheat harvest is likely to be the worst for 30 years. The dry spring is being blamed for the drop in yields. The figures are based on a survey of farmers, who also say the winter oilseed rape harvest is likely to be poor. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13793805

Higher food prices are here to stay

The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2011-2020 says that a good harvest in the coming months should push commodity prices down from the extreme levels seen earlier this year. However, the Outlook states that over the coming decade real prices for cereals could average as much as 20% higher and those for meats as much as 30% higher, compared to 2001-10.

http://www.anforme.co.uk/blog/?p=2262

Wheat worries in Russia

Poor grain harvests around the world, and especially in Russia, have seen a steady rise in prices. The loss of production after wildfires in Russia and Ukraine have prompted an export ban.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11202745

Joint supply - the by-products of pigs

This is no porky pie - a new TED talk looks at the many by-products made possible from different parts of a pig. Before the sausages have sizzled on your grill, you have already made many pigs! And on the journey to work you’ll come across pig products in concrete and the brakes used on trains.......in total over 185 products are associated with the raw materials from our livestock friends

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/joint-supply-the-by-products-of-pigs/