Thursday, August 27, 2009

Breaking News-RTRS-UPDATE 3-Argentine govt criticizes farmers' strike call

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Argentina's cabinet chief criticized farm leaders on Wednesday for calling a new strike that raised concerns over exports and said the government will not back down on the partial veto of a drought-aid law.
Farmers plan to launch a one-week strike on Friday, freezing grain and cattle sales in one of the world's biggest suppliers of corn, beef and soybeans. Local livestock prices rose on Wednesday as meatpackers feared shortages.
A soy industry group in Argentina said the strike might affect some soybean shipments, though producers of soy oil and meal probably have enough stocks to ride out a week-long strike and U.S. soy futures reversed early gains.