Addressing growing criticism over conditions for workers who use machetes to chop down sugarcane for ethanol, Silva called on plantation owners to meet with cane cutters and the government to discuss the humanization of working conditions in the sugarcane fields. SignOnSanDiego.com > News > World -- Silva: Improve conditions for sugarcane cutters in ethanol industry. Addressing growing criticism over conditions for workers who use machetes to chop down sugarcane for ethanol, Silva called...

Weather remains the only real news out in the corn market, but it is the worst kind of news because it can change everyday, even every couple of hours. Welcome to wild weather markets where if you are lucky, you can make a lot of money, but is it worth the risk? The corn market is still a demand market and as we have seen the last couple of weeks with the export sales, there is value down at these prices and you will find customers willing to step out and buy much lower markets. Welcome to...

Scattered and often heavy rainfall the past two weeks has dramatically improved field crops that were close to showing signs of stress after a dry month of June. In contrast, Kamenz said the recent rainfall here has helped produce some of the best crops in the province, barring those in isolated areas that have been hit by hail. Timely rain across eastern Ontario has allowed producers to feel a little better about the prospects of their crops considering some other areas of the province...

One expert says corn is a leaky crop and allows fertilizers to drain into waterways where it causes fish-killing algal blooms and other environmental problems. The study projects at least a half-million acres in corn planted in the next few years. A report released yesterday examined the ethanol-driven surge in corn planting and how that crop will affect the bay. It also said the government should promote research and development of alternative crops that pollute less for biofuel...

A barrel of crude oil briefly reached an 11-month high on Tuesday, then retreated as some traders collected profits and gasoline futures fell back. Lead surged nearly 4 percent on the LME to another record high after the world's second-largest lead refiner, Doe Run co., announced sharp production cutbacks at a Missouri refinery that suffered an explosion on Friday, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report. In early trading, gold prices climbed as high as $668 an ounce as the dollar...