29.07.2014

Canada - Heavy rainfall damages cherry crop

It’s only the third day of the cherry harvest for orchardist Erin Beulah, but instead of picking the fruit, she’s keeping a watchful eye on the weather.“Rain is pretty disastrous for cherries. They’re quite a fragile fruit,” says Beulah.Rain fell hard and fast in the south Okanagan Wednesday and Thursday.When cherries absorb water, it causes the skin to split. That’s why growers attempt to get the rain off the fruit immediately.Thursday morning, Beulah’s family hired a helicopter to hover over the cherry trees, working like a massive blow dryer.Beulah paid $1200/hr. It isn’t the cheapest solution, but she believes it is the most efficient to save her crop.But as soon as the chopper left, it started to rain again.“It’s pretty damn heartbreaking. It doesn’t get worst than that,” says Beulah.As it continues to rain, helicopters are on standby.She will hire another chopper to dry the fruit when the clouds break. She believes it is the only way to salvage the many months of labour.Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

29.07.2014

Africa - Niger develops a national database on floods

Through the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, the National Mechanism for Prevention and Management of Food Crises and Disasters has developed a database on floods thanks to the financial support of the Italian Cooperation and the collaboration between the Institute of Biometeorology of the National Research Council of Italy, the Polytechnic University of Turin and the National Meteorological Service of Niger.The initiative "Adaptation to climate change, disaster prevention and Agricultural Development for Food Security" (ANADIA Niger) is financed by the Italian Cooperation, the Institute of Biometeorology of the National Research Council of Italy, the Polytechnic University of Turin and the National Directorate of Meteorology of Niger and is realised in collaboration with the Coordination Unit of the Early Warning System and Disaster Prevention and the Directorate of Water Resources of Niger.ANADIA Niger aims to develop methodologies and tools to assess flood risk, to support planning at different decision making levels, to increase the resilience of local communities and to develop a greater capacity for forecasting and response. In this context, the development of a floods database will contribute to a more effective decision-making in terms of assessment, prevention and risk reduction and a better understanding of the processes and impacts of flooding.In Sub-Saharan Africa the impact of extreme events is more catastrophic than elsewhere because of the vulnerability of the populations who are the most exposed to natural disasters. Land degradation (deforestation and soil erosion), cultivation of marginal land, dependence of rainfed agriculture on climatic hazards increase the risk that extreme events can develop into natural disasters.The creation of a nationwide database on floods represents a basic tool to backup, manage and capitalize historical flood data, to locate events and support flood risk assessment process.Source - http://www.preventionweb.net/

29.07.2014

Aon Reports 2014 Disaster Losses About 50% Than 10 Year Average

Insured losses from global natural disasters during the six-month period ending June 30, 2014 reached $22 billion. That compares to $27 billion in the first half of 2013 and is approximately 19 percent below the 10-year average of $27 billion, according to Aon’s Impact Forecasting.The firm said about 55 percent of insured losses occurred in the United States, 23 percent in Europe, and 19 percent in Asia.Total economic losses from global natural disasters during the same six-month period reached $54 billion compared to $95 billion in 2013. The latest economic loss figure is almost 50 percent lower than the 10-year (2004-2013) average of $106 billion, Impact Forecasting reported.Around 39 percent of global economic losses sustained during the first half of 2014 were covered by either private or government-sponsored insurance programs, slightly above the 10-year (2004-2013) average of 30 percent, highlighting that a greater proportion of disaster losses occurred in regions with higher insurance penetration.“Despite some well documented natural disaster events during the first half of 2014, our data show that losses from both an economic and insured perspective were each below their recent averages,” Steve Bowen, associate director and meteorologist within Aon Benfield’s Impact Forecasting team, said. “However, a relatively quiet first six months does not mean a similar trend will continue throughout the rest of the year.”The severe thunderstorm peril was the costliest disaster type, accounting for 32 percent of the economic loss and 46 percent of the insured loss during the period, and comprising mainly hail and wind events in the U.S. and Europe, according to the report.In order of size, the five largest economic loss events in the first half of 2014 were Japan winter weather in February ($6.25 billion); Southern and Eastern European flooding in May ($4.5 billion); Brazil drought from January to June ($4.3 billion); U.S. drought from January to June ($4.0 billion); and severe weather in Europe in June ($3.5 billion).In total, the first half 2014 comprised seven separate billion-dollar insured loss events, with four occurring in the U.S., two in Europe, and one in Asia.Looking ahead to the second half of 2014, Bowen said the third quarter historically is the costliest for natural disasters and is primarily driven by the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season.“While the pending El Nino is likely to limit the overall number of storms in the basin, it would only take one major landfalling event to quickly make 2014 an above average year for losses – and history suggests that it is just a matter of time before the U.S. endures another major hurricane,” Bowen said.Source - http://www.claimsjournal.com/

29.07.2014

USA - Crops Improve Despite Isolated Flooding

The corn and soybean crop continued to improve this past week, despite the crop damage from excess rainfall/flooding in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin last week. Yes, I did say the crop improved last week, you Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin producers!That's because the improvements in other states more than offset the declines in your states such that nationally the crop did improve in yield potential slightly last week. What is scary for bears is that with sunshine and time, even the crop conditions in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin can improve significantly in the weeks and months ahead. That's why the old adage 'rain makes grain' is so powerful, and why we were reluctant to get bullish in the isolated flooding that was taking place last week.As for last week, the crop conditions released yesterday indicated a 2% decline in crop condition ratings to 74% G/E in corn, but the yield model suggested a .24 bu/acre yield increase to 163.9 bu/acre, well above trend of 159 bu/acre and indicating 'rain makes grain' is a true adage in spite of damage to Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin last week.Soybean crop conditions also declined just 1% to 72% G/E, but the yield model still increased .12 bu/acre to 44.8 bu/acre, above trend at only 44.02 bu/acre. So we have an above-average corn and soybean crop in the field, and it continues to improve despite the crop damage in isolated areas last week. Headlines (crop damage from weather) do not always mean averages, as the yield potential improved despite the headlines written about crop damage last week in the U.S.Even winter wheat yield potential improved last week; with crop conditions steady at 30% G/E, the yield model improved .39 bu/acre to 45.74 bu/acre (but we did lose two data years in the model making it less reliable). That is vs. trend yields of 47.7 bu/acre, so we still have a below-average winter wheat crop despite improvement last week. Winter wheat is now 33% harvested vs. 31% on average, so despite some rain delays they are still making good progress. (Last week dried out a bit in HRW wheat territory, too.)Cotton conditions improved 2% to 53% G/E, so that is also showing improvement from last week. Soybeans are now 95% planted, still ahead of the normal pace of 94% planted at this time, with 90% emerged vs. 87% average at this time. Sorghum conditions also jumped significantly to 57% G/E, up 4% from last week. Sunflowers are 83% planted, still catching up to the average pace this week of 84% planted. Winter wheat is 96% headed, up from 94% average so the crop is developing on time. HRS wheat is 98% emerged vs. 95% normally, with conditions rated 71% G/E, down 1% from last week but still a high rating. HRS wheat is only 10% headed vs. 16% normally at this time, so development is behind normal. Oat conditions were steady last week at 64% G/E. Barley conditions, however, improved 2% to 67% G/E, with 17% headed vs. 13% average as the northwest planted early. Pasture conditions are up 1% to 55% G/E, showing that "rain makes pasture/hay" as well.Pro Ag remains bearish as the crop improved in yield potential last week, reflecting the adage that 'rain makes grain' once again. Even with a trend yield as measured by USDA, we will have a buildup of stocks to 1.7 billion bushels corn and 325 mb soybeans. Pro Ag suspects the actual planted acreage of soybeans will grow in the June 30 acreage report, and that means even larger soybean carryout. Pro Ag remains bearish grains, especially corn and soybeans, as we enter the critical July 4 time frame for crop development.Source - http://www.agriculture.com/

29.07.2014

India - Centre reduces insurance premium on cotton crop to 6%

The Union government has reduced insurance premium on cotton crop from 17.19 per cent to 6 per cent, giving relief to farmers in cotton-growing states like Gujarat and Maharashtra.Agriculture minister Babu Bokhiria along with Members of Parliament (MPs) from Gujarat had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture minister Radhamohan Singh and requested them to reduce premium on cotton crop insurance after fears of weak monsoon gripped farmers.Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel had also written a letter to the Union government in this regard."Old premium was high and farmers were opposed to this rate due to weak monsoon this year. After meeting officials from Centre, the concerned ministry had decided to reduce crop insurance premium from 17.19 per cent to 6 per cent," said Raj Kumar, principal secretary, department of agriculture and co-operation, Gujarat government.The new premium is applicable to all cotton-growing farmers across the country with immediate effect. So far premium on cotton insurance was 17.19 per cent and states were giving subsidy as per their convenience. Gujarat was giving 6 percent subsidy to farmers while the premium rate was 11.19 per cent.Gujarat agriculture minister Govind Patel said, "Cotton is the main kharif crop in Gujarat and cotton-growing farmers were worried about their crop due to deficient rainfall in the state. The state agriculture ministry and other MPs from the state met Prime Minister and Union Agriculture minister and requested them to reduce premium on cotton crop insurance."There have been some changes in insurance pattern on claiming.Regarding claim on insurance pattern, Raj Kumar said, "So far, insurance companies had to pay full claim as premium rate was commercial. But now the company will have to pay 150 per cent of premium as claim. If amount is more than this, then the state and central governments will contribute equally."As on July 21, kharif cotton sowing in Gujarat has reached 1.77 million hectares as against 2.56 million hectares in corresponding period last year. It is down by almost 35 per cent in comparison to last three year's average of 2.71 million hectares in the same corresponding period.Source - http://www.business-standard.com/

29.07.2014

USA - RFA to offer zero-interest loans for farmers in flood disaster counties

The Minnesota Rural Finance Authority (RFA) has lowered its interest rate on the Disaster Loan program to zero percent to help farmers cover the costs to repair and replace items not covered by insurance from flooding.As with other RFA loans, the Disaster Loan program will be available for farmers through their existing agricultural lenders for financing for these repairs. The loans can be used to help clean up, repair, or replace farm structures and to replace seed, other crop inputs, feed, and livestock. The loan may also be used to repair and restore farm real estate that was damaged by flooding. The RFA participation is limited to 45 percent of the principal amount up to a maximum of $50,000.The loans will be offered in the following eight counties that have been declared a disaster by the President due to flooding conditions from June 11- July 11: Chippewa, Freeborn, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Renville, and Rock.The RFA partners with local lenders to provide affordable credit to eligible farmers. Loan participations are purchased by the RFA under several programs that assist beginning farmers purchase agricultural land; finance improvements to the farm such as grain handling facilities, machine storage, and manure systems; help farmers reorganize their farm debt to improve cash flow; and, finance new livestock production facilities. Over $209 million has been invested in over 2,800 participations by the RFA in these programs.Source - http://www.minnesotafarmguide.com/

29.07.2014

USA - Farm Bill conservation compliance concerns vegetable industry

Last week, USDA notified producers of their obligation to comply with conservation regulations in order to buy crop insurance. Although this obligation was previously required for participation in a number of federal agricultural support programs, it is an entirely new mandate for the fruit and vegetable industry under the 2014 Farm Bill.The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association expressed strong reservations to Congress and to USDA as this requirement was being considered because it will affect certain producers more significantly than others, depending on the commodity they produce and the type of land they are farming. Now that it has become law, FFVA and the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance are working with USDA to provide accurate information to our industry.In Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s statement, he specifically advises that all producers must file new paperwork with their local Farm Service Agency office. “It’s important that farmers and ranchers taking the right steps to conserve valuable farm and natural resources have completed AD-1026 forms on file at their local Farm Service Agency office,” he said. “This will ensure they remain eligible for crop insurance support.”As FFVA understands it, even though permanent crops (defined as those commodities that are produced without “annual tilling of the soil”) are largely exempted from this requirement, the paperwork must still be filed in order to remain eligible for the federal subsidy under the various crop insurance programs.For those crops that are annually tilled, there may be an obligation to have a certified conservation plan in place along with other restrictions, depending on whether the land is defined by USDA as highly erodible or wetlands.FFVA will provide more information as it becomes available. USDA is planning a listening session in Gainesville on Aug. 7 to further discuss and take input from industry.Source - http://southeastfarmpress.com/

28.07.2014

Norway - Finström’s apple harvest in danger due to hailstorm

Last Saturday's hailstorm in Finström could cause substantial losses to apple growers. The extent of the damage will be determined in a few days.On Saturday afternoon, thunderstorms raged in northern Åland, accompanied by hail. Tjudö, Västanträsk and Finström are some of the areas affected."It is still too early to say how great the damage will be, but hail can have devastating effects on the apple harvest. The fruit becomes spotty and cannot be sold to stores," says Yngve Österlund, chairman of the Åland Fruit growers Association.Tjudö and Västanträsk belong to areas prone to hailstorms. "The only thing you can do is to have the plantations scattered. We have long discussed the possibility of insurance, but so far, the premiums were so expensive that it does not compensate."Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

28.07.2014

USA - Effects of storms on imported bananas still not clear

Wind storms earlier this month in banana-producing regions in Colombia are likely to affect volumes of fruit imported to the United States, but the overall effect of those storms on the market is still unclear.It was reported that about 4,500 hectares of banana plantations were destroyed in Colombia as a result of strong winds in the country's northern regions. While the storms, which started on July 9, destroyed 4,500 hectares, Colombian growers reported that the total affected area was probably closer to 16,000 hectares. While that sort of damage will likely result in less fruit available for shipment to the United States, the total effect on prices in the U.S. is still unclear.“Bananas are one of the most stable items I can think of,” said James Massari, export director for The Produce Connection in Miami, Florida. “Bananas have been the same for a while, and they've been free of many dramatic swings.” Current prices for a box of bananas from The Produce Connection currently hover between $8 and $12 per box, depending on quality. It's yet to be seen if the damage from wind storms suffered by Colombian growers will change those prices significantly.Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

28.07.2014

Chinese banana harvest destroyed by typhoon

Authorities in Nanning town, in the Zhuang du Guangxi region are trying to save a banana harvest that has been severely damaged by typhoon Rammasun.On Tuesday, over 1.6 million banana trees in Tanluo were knocked over by the storm, with financial loss at over 58 million Yuans. The Mayor of the town, Wei Shiguo, took part in the volunteer action to save damaged banana trees. Local authorities have been in contact with banks to offer loans to the banana producers that are victims of the typhoon.“This financial support will allow them to restart a plantation and actively revive their agricultural work’’ underlined Wei.Bananas are one of the most important agricultural products in the region. Tanluo used to be know as “the banana town’’.Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

28.07.2014

USA - Summer rain threatening northern Illinois farmers

Jill Beyer lost her entire carrot crop to this year’s rain. The last 3 inches of precipitation were the worst, the Winnebago farmer said. Some tugs at the carrots brought up vegetables rotted brown.Drive around, especially near the Wisconsin line, and you may find farm fields still flooded after recent rains. Accustomed to dealing with changing weather, farmers are coping. Some say they’d rather deal with too much rain rather than not enough. But it’s not the most pleasant of circumstances, especially because lower-than-normal temperatures are keeping the ground wet.“When it rains, our ground stays wet for quite a while,” said Beyer, the owner of Harrison Market Gardens. “You can’t weed mud. It has been so wet, that you’d walk along and you’d leave your boot in the mud.”Meteorologists with the National Weather Service confirm that there’s been more rain than usual. Between June 1 and Sunday, 10.5 inches of rain fell at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. That’s well above the average precipitation of 7.14 inches typical of that span. A total of 20.47 inches of precipitation had fallen through Sunday, slightly more than the norm of 19.61 inches. Last year was wetter, though, with 28.17 inches by this time in 2013.Below-normal temperatures aren’t helping either. The average for the month so far has been 68.5 degrees, compared with the norm of 73.8 degrees.Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

28.07.2014

India - Cyclone-hit mushroom farmers unlikely to get compensation

Mushroom growers of Ganjam district fear that they may not get any compensation for their losses during cyclone Phailin in October 2013.Their fear is based on information they got from the office of the deputy director of horticulture in Berhampur through an application filed under Right to Information (RTI) Act. A mushroom grower of the district, B.Narasinga Rao had filed this RTI application to know the number of mushroom cultivators, who had been affected by Phailin.In its submission of information under RTI Act, the office of the deputy director of horticulture mentioned that number mushroom cultivators affected during the cyclonewas not available in their office. Mr. Rao said it was ironical that the very department which should have kept track of mushroom cultivation and the farmers involved in it has not kept track of their losses during the cyclone. According to him, during disbursement of compensation for agricultural losses during Phalin, mushroom growers may not get any succour.Members of Ganjam district unit of Odisha Mushroom Growers’ Federation (OMGF) had met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Chatrapur during his visit to the district in December 2013 and handed over a memorandum. Through the memorandum they had alleged that although they were involved in agricultural production they were unable to avail agricultural loans at low interests.They had added that although mushroom growers had suffered immense loss due to Phailin, they had not received any support from the government for restoration of their cultivation.The mushroom growers say Ganjam district is in second place in mushroom production in the State. Before Phailin there were hundreds of mushroom cultivation units as well as 30 mushroom seed production centres in the district. They claim that around 4,000 youths of the district were involved in mushroom cultivation.Phailin had completely devastated the infrastructure of mushroom cultivation in the district.The mushroom growers alleged that after the cyclone they faced a financial crunch to restart cultivation. They were unable to avail any government assistance or loans at low interest from authorised financial institutions and were compelled to opt for personal investment or loans at high interest from private sources.They continue to demand that they should also be eligible for agricultural loans and other benefits provided to peasants by the government.Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

28.07.2014

USA - Indiana fruit crops take another weather beating

The polar vortex that plunged Indiana into a deep freeze in January has taken a toll on the state's peach crop, and an April cold snap has done the same for apples.Orchard owners are bringing in peaches from out of state and say they may have to do the same for apples this fall."It hit most of Indiana pretty bad, but things aren't as bad down in southern Illinois and Kentucky," David Byers, owner of Bedford's Applacres, told The Herald-Times. "In January, the peaches were in pretty good shape dormancy-wise, and we thought they might make it. But then it stayed cold for too long."Byers, who has owned the orchard since 1952, said he knew the prognosis was poor when he cut into about 100 buds from among the 700 or so trees just after the freeze. Nearly all were brown, not green as they are supposed to be.Some late-peach varieties survived the winter and should be available in August. In the meantime, he's brought in peaches from Georgia to sell.The apple crop also took a hit with below-freezing temperatures in mid-April after a balmy spring that encouraged the trees to bud.Byers said the April freeze killed about half the buds within hours."We lost half of our apple crop that morning," he said. "It was an early spring, weeks ahead of normal, then that cold night came, and that was the end of that."He anticipates buying apples from other states in the fall to meet customers' demands.Byers is no stranger to crop losses. In 2012, he lost all of his peaches and apples to a single cold snap; much of the state's 2,000 acres of apples and 400 acres of peaches were devastated that year when 80-degree days in March prompted many plants to bud early, only to be killed off by freezing temperatures in April.He had another bad year in 2007 because of poorly timed weather conditions.But he's looking ahead to a better year in 2015, so long as the winter cooperates."The buds are beginning to form for 2015, and we anticipate at this point it will be OK," he said. "But we've got to get through the winter to see what happens next year."Source - http://www.kokomotribune.com/

28.07.2014

Philippines - Agri losses in Bicol due to ‘Glenda’ hit P3.74B

A week after Typhoon “Glenda” hit Bicol, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has placed the damage to agriculture and agricultural infrastructure in the region at P3.74 billion, and still counting.The latest DA report released on Wednesday said the figure was a partial estimate of the losses incurred from the wrath of Glenda that brought maximum sustained winds of 150-185 kilometers per hour.Glenda entered the region on July 15 from the eastern seaboard in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate but changed direction from westward to north westward traversing the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur.The eye of the typhoon passed several towns and cities from Gubat town in Sorsogon to the island-town of Rapu-Rapu to Tabaco City, both in Albay.As if following the road going to Manila, Glenda moved northward to Camarines Sur leaving behind a trail of destruction to agriculture and infrastructure before it moved to the Southern Tagalog region.Incurring the biggest damage to agriculture in Bicol is Camarines Sur (estimated at P2.332 billion, or 62 percent of the total regional losses), the DA report said.Albay came second in damage to agricultural production and infrastructure with P830.9 million, followed by Sorsogon (P253 million), Masbate (P117 million), Catanduanes (P108 million) and Camarines Norte (P97 million).The highest damage was in coconut production reaching P1.269 billion, of which Camarines Sur accounted for P838 million; followed by Albay, P359 million; Sorsogon, P65 million; Camarines Norte, P4.648 million, and Catanduanes, P2.014 million. Masbate reported no damage to its coconut industry.Damage to other crops and livestock also ran to hundreds of millions: rice crop destroyed was at P790 million; corn, P280 million; high-value crops, P756 million; livestock, P41 million; agri-infrastructure, P392 million; fisheries, P74 million, and abaca, P135 million.In fisheries, the damage included motorized and nonmotorized fishing boats, gears, nets, paraphernalia, seaweeds, hatcheries, mangroves, fish corral, fish cages, ponds, abalones and green mussels.Source - http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/

25.07.2014

Canada - Hazy disaster aid outlook for flooded farmers

Contrary to reports last week, governments have not ruled out additional assistance through AgriRecovery for flooded Prairie farmers, an official with Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz’s office said Monday.However, it’s not officially on the table either — at least not yet.The minister’s office was busy trying to clarify reports emerging from a July 18 press conference with Ritz and provincial agriculture ministers following their meeting in Winnipeg last week.Those reports, based on comments made at the press conference, indicated AgriRecovery was not being considered in lieu of enhancements made to crop insurance and other disaster assistance programs.“Well, there are a number of programs that will address the flooding. The DFAA (Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements), PDAP (Provincial Disaster Assistance Program), the province and the federal government, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the federal government will be having discussions on what’s the best way forward in that,” Ritz told reporters.“Farmers know they are well served by the programs that are there,” said Ritz, adding improvements were made to risk management programs following the 2011 flood.“The big change between 2011 and this flood is that unseeded acres and flooded acres are now covered under crop insurance,” he said. “So it’s much more bankable and predictable and stable than waiting for an ad hoc payment under something like AgriRecovery.”However, the minister’s aide later said the minister was actually responding to a question about additional support for producers affected by multi-year losses related to one year’s flood.There are no provisions within AgriRecovery to cover multi-year losses resulting from one disaster, Ritz said. Following the 2011 flood, some Manitoba farmers saw water linger on their land, making seeding impossible in 2012. They want to be compensated for that lost year, especially where flooding was caused by diverting water away from urban centres like Winnipeg.In the past, the federal government has been adamant that AgriRecovery is not intended to pay for the same flood more than once, while provincial officials have been equally fervent in stating that discussions with the federal government are ongoing.Ritz confirmed the two levels of government are still talking. “There’s been discussions, but I wouldn’t say it’s moving very far, very fast to change that,” said Ritz.Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba’s minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, said the province will continue to discuss the issue of multi-year compensation with the federal government both for 2011 and 2014 flooding.In the meantime, the province is speaking to “a whole gamut of stakeholders” to determine the final impact current flooding will have on the agricultural sector in Manitoba, said Kostyshyn.Under AgriRecovery, there is a six-step process for determining whether a payment is warranted, beginning with the province requesting an assessment of the disaster.A joint assessment is undertaken by governments into the scope of the disaster, what producers need, what’s available through existing programs, and whether further assistance is warranted.At that point, governments determine whether to initiate a joint response through AgriRecovery.Doug Chorney, president of the Keystone Agricultural producers, said he too was under the impression governments have ruled out using AgriRecovery to offer additional assistance for this year’s flooding.“I was hoping to see that they were planning to have a robust, strong AgriRecovery program that would get producers through this difficult time, and we didn’t hear that,” he said. “I know this is going to be devastating for producers.”More than a million acres of cropland had already gone unseeded in Manitoba prior to recent flooding. Chorney estimates that an additional 3.5 million acres have now been lost to high water.“I think our numbers are solid,” Chorney said, adding he hopes that government changes its tune when it has more information about the number of acres lost.The province hopes to know the exact cost of the flood in the coming weeks.Kostyshyn said the province is working to affect flood mitigation works that prevent this kind of flooding in the future.“This kind of flooding is truly untraditional, but maybe that’s the changes to the weather patterns and maybe we have to live that as the norm,” he said.Source - http://www.manitobacooperator.ca/

25.07.2014

India - Crop insurance rates declared

The district agriculture office has issued the insurance rates for various Kharif crops considering the experience of past 3-5 years about the risk levels and productivity. Insurance can be done by both farmers who have taken crop loan and those who have not.While applying for insurance, farmer is given coverage assuming 60% loss. The premium amount per hectare of crops with this loss are Rs 602 for cotton, Rs 2756 for cotton, Rs 375 for paddy, Rs 468 for tur, Mung Rs 303, Urad 398, Jowar 295, groundnut Rs 833. This should be paid by the farmers before July 31 to the Banks.The decision in this regard was taken at meeting organized specially for this purpose by the Joint Director of Agriculture (JDA) Vijay Ghawate. The district superintending agriculture officer Archana Kadu, deputy director Ravindra Manohare and sub-divisional agriculture officer Vijay Nimje and P Dhakle were present.Last year, under national crop insurance scheme 13,655 farmers had applied and 7303 benefited from it. The money collected from insurance last year was Rs 92.76 lakh while Rs 291.91 lakh was disbursed as claims.Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/