Russian company sells shares, land access

Reports say Russian grain processing firm Pava is seeking Gulf region investors via a share sale. The sale is hoped to raise 100 million euros by granting access to valuable farmland.
The funds would be used to invest in technology and triple the company’s farmland. This move would circumvent Russian law that prevents foreign investors from owning farmland.
The deal could allow Gulf investors to use 1.24 million acres of Russian land to increase their food supplies.

Survey shows US farm income down

Rabobank conducted its Farm & Ranch survey to gauge farmers' confidence among target regions in the U.S. Its research found less than 5% of farms saw an improvement in income this year, a drastic downturn compared to the same time last year when 25% saw better year-over-year income.
"U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to take a consistently conservative position when anticipating future performance, irrespective of the recent market volatility," said John Ryan, president and CEO for Rabo AgriFinance.
Higher input costs continue to be the most frequently mentioned economic challenge facing U.S. farmers. Three in five farmers rank it the primary factor that has contributed to their economic challenges. Additionally there is an increasing concern regarding reduced demand (55%) and weather conditions (57%). Nearly all surveyed (94%) are concerned about price fluctuations.