Typical headlines from AP, Reuters, Bloomberg business summaries: Famine may persist in North Korea Soybeans could fall on Brazilian weather Natural gas falls on anticipation of warmer winter weather Heavy November rain to delay Brazil cocoa mid-crop China wheat - Drought sparks import speculation Fiji sugar crop again hit by severe flooding January rain reduces Iran drought threat - USDA UK potato sowing delayed by heavy rain for 2nd year, BPC says Cold front expected in German crop regions Coffee falls; ample supply outweighs earthquake worry Drought threatens 1999 Mauritian sugar production ... US science group calls for action on climate change WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - A leading group of U.S. scientists called on Thursday for continued efforts to curb man made carbon emissions despite scientific uncertainties about the causes and impacts of climate change. The Council of the American Geophysical Union released a statement calling for enhanced international research on climate change. But it said science could not be the only guide on society's response to changing world temperatures and seemingly erratic weather patterns. ``AGU recommends the development and evaluation of strategies such as emissions reduction, carbon sequestration, and adaptation to the impacts of climate change,'' the council statement said. ``AGU believes that the present level of scientific uncertainty does not justify inaction in the mitigation of human-induced climate change and/or the adaptation to it.'' The statement drew a sharp response from groups opposed to Clinton administration's policies on global warming and a warning that the AGU declaration would be used by proponents of government mandates, like those contained in the international Kyoto climate change treaty negotiated in late 1997. The Kyoto Protocol framework calls for industrial nations to cut heat-trapping emissions from burning fossil fuels by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels in the years 2008-12. The United States signed the treaty last November, but details of how the agreement would work have not been decided. President Bill Clinton has not submitted the treaty for Senate ratification due to opposition from Republicans, and some Democrats. The Competitive Enterprise Institute, a free market, ``limited government'' group, said the AGU had ``betrayed science and embraced politics'' in announcing its position. ``In rendering a policy judgment favourable to the Clinton-Gore administration, the AGU statement has crossed the line separating science from advocacy,'' said Paul Georgia, research associate for the CEI. The AGU, which represents some 35,000 members, was also criticised for issuing an opinion from its leadership even though the rank and file had not signed off on the position. AGU's statement emphasised the uncertainties about what should be the proper response to the global warming phenomenon, noting the inherent complexities of the climate system. ``The increase in global mean surface temperatures over the past 150 years appears to be unusual in the context of the last few years, but it is not clearly outside the range of climate variability of the last few thousand years,'' the AGU said. The group said evidence suggested the ``close coupling'' between atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate change. AGU added that public concern over rising temperatures was warranted, noting it could lead to not only warmer weather, but increases in rates of precipitation and evaporation, rising sea levels and changes in the biosphere. The Global Climate Coalition, a business and trade group opposed to the Kyoto treaty but in favour of voluntary actions to battle climate change, said the AGU position verified their concerns that more knowledge is needed on the issue. Small U.S. banks ask Congress for billions in year 2000 farm aid WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Small U.S. banks urged Congress on Thursday to spend more money in the fiscal 2000 budget to fix the safety net for farmers with expanded crop insurance, market loss payments and other aid. The Independent Bankers Association of America said the extra funding was essential to help U.S. farmers survive another year or two of expected low commodity prices and depressed exports. President Bill Clinton is scheduled to unveil his budget proposal for fiscal year 2000 on Monday. Congressional aides and industry analysts said they expect the proposal to have only $100 million or so included in extra funding for crop insurance. Last October, lawmakers rushed to put together an emergency package with a record $6.9 billion package of help for farmers. The bankers' group, which represents mostly small and community banks, said Congress should not wait until the last minute again to help farmers. ``We believe Congress and the administration should pursue several courses of action early this year to enhance the farm safety net without eliminating the planting flexibility in the current farm bill,'' Bill McQuillan, president of the bankers' group, said in a letter to the chairman of the Republican- controlled House Agriculture Committee. The bankers did not specify how much additional funding would be necessary to pay for the farm assistance. But a spokesman for the group said it was likely to take ``several billion dollars.'' ``It looks like these market conditions will continue and perhaps worsen,'' the spokesman for the Independent Bankers Association of America said. ``Congress will not want to go through an emergency aid kind of exercise every year.'' During the winter months, lenders review farm borrowers' operations and cash flow before deciding to extend credit for spring planting. The equity of many U.S. farmers has crumbled during the past few months because of low world grain prices, a sharp drop in pork prices, and weather and crop disease damage. The bankers' group recommended Congress look at the following measures to improve the farm safety net: Improve crop insurance and other risk-management tools; Provide additional market-loss payments; Clamp down on unfair trade practices, such as Canada's Wheat Board and other state trading enterprises; Increase funding for Farm Service Agency loan programs; Increase food aid donations to other nations; Use the Conservation Reserve Program on a limited basis to reduce overproduction and target disease-stricken areas, and Eliminate estate taxes and expand Subchapter S tax relief eligibility, and review the direction of the Farm Credit System.
