Argentina may create a state body to control local cattle and grains prices, a move that would deepen the government's longstanding feud with farmers, newspapers reported on Saturday. The new entity, which would buy and sell agricultural products on a scale large enough to influence prices, could be announced as soon as Sunday.
When left-leaning President Cristina Fernandez was to address Congress, according to unidentified government sources cited in the reports. The new system would fall short of an all-out nationalisation of the cattle and grains markets, which government sources said was under consideration on Friday. Argentina is the world's No 2 corn and No 3 soybean exporter and a major provider of beef.