Brazil Delays Announcing Coffee-Price Support Measures

  SAO PAULO--Brazil's agriculture ministry will announce by Wednesday measures

to prop up coffee growers' incomes, the minister said Monday.

  The ministry last week said it would hold a press conference Monday to unveil

the measures.

  Agriculture Minister Antonio Andrade told reporters waiting for the press

conference to start that the ministry needs more time to consult on prices,

offer no other details.

  In the past, the government has offered growers options contracts that let

growers sell their beans to the government at a set price.

  The government also has paid subsidies to growers who sell beans at

government-monitored auctions, though a ministry spokeswoman said last week

that path has been ruled out this time.