Agroinsurance

Africa - Agricultural insurance in Swaziland

Agriculture remains an important sector of the Swaziland economy and productivity gains in this sector are crucial for sustainable economic development.However agricultural business has always been a risky one.There is risk of loss in agriculture due to the changing weather patterns, pests, diseases and the fluctuating prices of agricultural products in the market place. Climate changes resulting in frequent and long lasting droughts; excessive rainfall,hail storms and typhoons have become a common sight all over the world including Swaziland. This in turn, affects crop production, forestry and livestock.Agricultural insurance is one tool that seeks to address these risks which are faced by farmers andthe financial institutions which provide credit for purposes of agricultural production. Agricultural insurance provides protection to the agricultural producers against losses that occur due to the calamities of nature.In the broad spectrum, agricultural insurance includesinsurance cover for crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry etc. It should be clarified though, that agricultural insurance does not in itself increase agricultural output but helps to compensate farmers for losses incurred as a result of natural calamities. In this way farmers are able to survive the season of poor harvest; repay their financial obligations on the credit facilities and are able to try again in the next season as they are not left in financial ruin.STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE IN SWAZILANDThere are two insurers offering agricultural insurance in Swaziland at present; Swaziland Royal Insurance Corporation (RIRF) and Lidwala Insurance Company. There is need to promote the use of agricultural insurance in Swaziland in order to generate positive acceptance of this financial tool which could go a long way in assisting farmers during these turbulent times. A study conducted by FinMarkTrust in 2011 on the supply, demand and regulatory framework of insurance in Swaziland, concluded that there is a large potential for agricultural insurance in Swaziland particularly in the subsistence farming sector; to act as a catalyst for sustainable agricultural production in the country.THE ROLE OF FSRA WITH REGARD TO AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE IN SWAZILANDThe primary mandate of FSRAis to regulate, supervise and develop among others, the insurance industry in Swaziland. Agricultural insurance is one of the focus areas of our drive to deepen insurance penetration. FSRA has been in the forefront in seeking to widen the insurance market, deepening insurance penetration and helping to grow the industry thereby enhancing the welfare of the nation. As a regulator FSRAseeks to achieve this by introducing and regulating microinsurance as a strategic focus area in its quest to alleviate poverty and develop the economy.WHO ARE THE KEY PLAYERS IN AGRICULTURAL INSURANCEThe connection and close working relationship between insurance companies and credit lending institutions is crucial for the success of agricultural insurance. It should be noted that agricultural insurance does not only protect farmers but it also creates business opportunities for financial institutions as they extend credit to the farmers for agricultural production. It actually becomes easier for financial institutions to provide credit to a farmer with agricultural insurance as this provides a guarantee against losses that the farmer may incur due to natural disasters.Other institutions that have a crucial role to play in the promotion of agricultural insurance in Swaziland include agricultural cooperatives, suppliers of agricultural inputs and equipment, government as well as agricultural marketing organisations. The promotion of agricultural insurance becomes possible if these institutions recognise the need to protect the farmers in whose success they collectively rely.Agricultural insurance plays a key role in stabilising the farmers’ income. Besides protecting the farmer, agricultural insurance hadrole to play in the development of the rural economy which in turn strengthen the national economy as a whole. It should also be noted that agricultural insurance is one of a wide spectrum of products and services that should be promoted in Swaziland as a catalysts for aachieving broader economic development, including microfinance and microinsurance in general.Source - http://www.observer.org.sz/

Desertification affects quarter of India's land

Twenty-five per cent of India's total land is undergoing desertification while 32 per cent is facing degradation that has affected its productivity, critically affecting the livelihood and food security of millions across the country.As much as 105.19 million hectares (Mha) of the country's total geographical area of 328.73 Mha is being degraded while 82.18 Mha is undergoing desertification.The major forms of land degradation include soil erosion ( which accounts for over 71 per cent of the total degradation) and wind erosion (10.24 per cent). The other major forms of land degradation are water-logging and salinity-alkalinity, says a government report accessed by Mail Today. In its fifth National Report on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought, the government has conceded that land degradation continues to be a major environmental concern for the country with consequent implications for sustainable development. The report has been submitted to the Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, to which India is a party.Rajasthan accounts for the most desertified land (23 Mha), followed by Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir(13 Mha each) and Orissa and Andhra Pradesh (5 Mha each). According to the report, 68 per cent of the country is prone to drought, and this will be further heightened because of the impact of climate change, particularly in dry lands."Desertification and loss of biological potential will restrict the transformation of dry lands into productive ecosystem. Climate change will further challenge the livelihood of those living in these sensitive ecosystem and may result in higher levels of resource scarcity," the report warns.Citing different government sources, the report states that 146.82 Mha of the country's total area is suffering from different kinds of land degradation, including water erosion (93.68 Mha), wind erosion (9.48 Mha), waterlogging (14.30 Mha), salinity or alkalinity (5.94 Mha), soil acidity (16.04 Mha) and other complex reasons (7.38 Mha).The degradation was the result of loss of vegetation due to deforestation, cutting beyond permissible limits, unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction, shifting cultivation, encroachment on forest lands, forest fires and overgrazing, the report - jointly prepared by the environment ministry and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education - said.Other factors leading to largescale degradation comprise "extension of cultivation to lands of low potential or high natural hazards, non- adoption of adequate soil conservation measures, improper crop rotation, indiscriminate use of agro- chemicals, improper planning and management of irrigation systems and excessive extraction of groundwater".Causes of land degradation and desertification in IndiaLand degradationLoss of vegetation due to deforestation, cutting beyond permissible limits, unsustainable fuelwood and fodder extraction, shifting cultivation, encroachment into forest lands, forest fires, overgrazing, inadequate soil conservation measures, improper crop rotation, indiscriminate use of agro- chemicals, improper management of irrigation systems and excessive extraction of ground water.DesertificationOvergrazing, over-exploitation, deforestation, inappropriate irrigation, population pressure, urbanisation, poverty, inequitable sharing of resources.DrylandComprise the hot arid regions (like in Rajasthan, Gujarat, southern Punjab, Haryana and Deccan Peninsula) or warm deserts (like Thar in west Rajasthan) as well as cold deserts (like those in Jammu and Kashmir, Lahul- Spiti and Pooh in Himachal Pradesh)DroughtCondition caused by very low or deficit rainfall usually during monsoon; is a major cause of desertification and land degradation under dryland conditions.WastelandLand that has undergone irreversible degradation.Source - http://indiatoday.intoday.in/

USA - Hail, rainfall affect winter wheat, sugarbeets, alfalfa in Montana

Some areas of Montana received heavy precipitation over the past two weeks and another round of damaging hail that impacted winter wheat, sugarbeets, and alfalfa, according to the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service Montana field office.“We had damage from a previous hailstorm to sugarbeet fields, and they had to be replanted,” said Steve Lackman, Montana State University Yellowstone County Extension agent.While the hail that damaged fields was three weeks ago, producers are still having rain events that are keeping them out of fields in the south central region of the state. Meanwhile, the city of Laurel in Yellowstone County received hail June 4.“Yesterday in Billings, we received another half inch of rain, while the Laurel area had hail,” Lackman said, adding he hasn’t had time to check out the hail damage near Laurel yet. “We have had good moisture this year. The rain has been helpful to corn and grain crops that are already in the ground.”The previous hailstorm damaged some alfalfa fields west of Billings.“With hay as expensive as it is, that could be costly. However, the producer said the timely rains on his other fields will make up for the economic shortage on the alfalfa,” Lackman said.The NASS reported there were 5.7 days suitable for field work compared to 2.2 days last year for this time period. Warm and mostly dry days allowed crop development to catch up with the five-year average of 3.5 days.According to NASS, topsoil moisture was 69 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus compared with 59 percent adequate last year and the five-year average of 61 percent adequate and surplus.Subsoil moisture was 75 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus compared to 60 percent adequate last year and surplus of 11 percent and the five-year average of 62 percent adequate.Chet Hill, North Dakota State University Extension agronomist in Williston, N.D., said producers in the Yellowstone Valley had most of their crops planted, working around rain events.Sidney received 1.29 inches of rain, while Scobey received .70 inches.According to the NASS Montana field office, the highest rainfall was received at Plentywood in northeastern Montana with 4.64 inches of rain.The highest temperature reading occurred at Broadus, in southeastern Montana, with 93 degrees and the low temperature occurred at Wisdom in southwestern Montana with 22 degrees.Dry peas are slightly ahead of schedule with 97 planted compared with 93 percent last week and the five-year average of 92 percent planted. There are 81 percent of dry peas that have emerged, ahead of the five-year average of 70 percent.Lentils are 97 percent planted, ahead of last year’s 94 percent and the five-year average of 94 percent. There are 51 percent of dry peas that have emerged, ahead of the five-year average of 70 percent.Malting barley is 98 percent planted. That compares to the five-year average of 94 percent seeded. It is emerging with 88 percent emerged compared to 96 percent last year and the five-year average of 94 percent emerged. Barley is 2 percent in boot stage.Canola is 92 percent planted, with the five-year average of 95 percent seeded. It is emerging with 65 percent emerged compared to 12 percent last year and the five-year average of 61 percent emerged.Dry beans are 82 percent planted, with the five-year average of 63 percent seeded. It is emerging with 45 percent emerged compared to 27 percent last year and the five-year average of 26 percent emerged.Spring wheat is 94 percent seeded, with the five-year average of 89 percent seeded. It is 82 percent emerged compared to the five-year average of 72 percent. Spring wheat is 1 percent in boot stage.Durum is 86 percent seeded, with the five-year average of 82 percent seeded. It is 40 percent emerged compared to the five-year average of 52 percent.Oats are 86 percent planted, with the five-year average of 87 percent. Oats are 61 percent emerged with the five-year average of 66 percent.Potatoes are 55 percent planted, with the five-year average of 77 percent seeded.Sugarbeets are 95 percent emerged with the five-year average of 82 percent emerged.Corn is 88 percent planted, with the five-year average of 89 percent. Some 67 percent has emerged compared to the five-year average of 61 percent emerged.Flax is 91 percent planted, with the five-year average of 54 percent. Flax is 50 percent emerged compared to 41 percent for the five-year average.Winter wheat condition is rated 65 percent good to excellent, compared to 68 percent good to excellent from last year and the five-year average of 62 percent good to excellent. Only 6 percent is rated poor. Some 13 percent is in the boot stage compared to the five-year average of 27 percent.According to the NASS, spring grazing conditions continue to slowly improve with 74 percent open, below last year’s 92 percent. The need to provide supplemental feed is steadily declining as pastures green up with 15 percent of cattle and 15 percent of sheep still being fed.Range and pasture conditions remain well above last year and just below the five-year average with 53 percent good to excellent compared to 39 percent and 55 percent respectively. Livestock birthing is nearing completion with 96 percent calving completed and 92 percent lambing completed.Source - http://www.theprairiestar.com/

Thailand - BAAC Completes Overdue Payments to Rice Farmers Five Days before Schedule

The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) in Thailand has completed all the outstanding payments to rice farmers five days ahead of the scheduled date of June 22, 2014.The bank had paid around 90 billion baht (around ($2.8 billion) to around 800,000 farmers, who pledged paddy rice from the 2013-14 main crop (October 2013 - February 2014) since the military junta has taken over on May 22 and prioritized payments to rice farmers.The BAAC President noted that a total of 1.69 million farmers had pledged around 11.81 million tons of paddy rice worth about 195.45 billion baht (around $6.028 billion) from 2013-14 main crop. He said the BAAC has completed payments worth 195.394 billion baht (around $6.026 billion), but payments of about 56 million baht (around $1.73 million) to a small number of farmers has been withheld owing to some documentation problems, according to local sources.He expressed confidence that the completion of payment would rekindle the Thai economy and contribute to around 0.2% additional GDP growth.The military government decided over not continuing the rice pledging scheme, which has dented the country's economy to a major extent. It has ordered the Commerce Ministry to conduct checking on the remaining rice stocks for quality and any losses.Source - http://oryza.com/

USA - Nebraska Has Storm Losses

Monday’s Storm that brought tornadoes, hail and heavy rain caused some livestock losses in Stanton County in Northeast Nebraska. County Farm Service Agency Director David Safty says there were some cattle deaths reported.Safty says those with livestock losses need to document and verify what happened and notify his office as soon as possible.Safty says if any producer had any crop loss, they should get in touch with their crop insurance agent. He says he’ll be surveying the county today to see what crop damage occurred.Source - http://wnax.com/

USA - Drought in Eastern Kansas

According to the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, yield losses from the 2012 drought caused large crop insurance payments. In 2012, higher loss ratios occurred in eastern Kansas, Missouri, central and southern Illinois, western Indiana, and western Kentucky. Many of these counties had loss ratios above 4.0. Hot, dry weather during the summer caused these areas to have large yield losses. This appears to be the center of the drought impacting the Midwest. Other areas that had loss ratios above 4.00 include an area centered around northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota, parts of southern and southwest Iowa, and parts of southern Wisconsin, northwest Illinois, and east-central Iowa.“The month of May was very dry across the region with most sites across northwestern Missouri and eastern Kansas seeing precipitation deficits of two to four inches. May is climatologically one of the wettest months of the year, but the precipitation was mostly lacking. Despite the lack of rainfall, conditions have been humid and this has helped the area from drying out more rapidly. Overall, the drought monitor depicts similar conditions to the previous weeks. Moderate drought remains mainly over eastern Kansas and Western Missouri with abnormally dry conditions further east.”These conditions greatly affect the crops grown within our state. Dry weather and droughts can cause crop damage and loss of profit for the farmers who grow them.“For the state of Kansas, through May 25, the winter wheat crop was rated as 61 percent poor or very poor. Pasture conditions were rated as 43 percent poor or very poor. Hay and other forages were rated as 35 percent short or very short, and stock water supplies were rated as 49 percent short or very short. Also, 93 percent of the corn crop had been planted.”In an Associated Press article from May 20, the conditions of crops and the drought were crop conditions are not fairing well.“The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 59 percent of the winter wheat is in poor to very poor condition. About 29 percent is listed as fair, with just 11 percent rated as good and 1 percent excellent. The agency says that with pasture grasses shortened by drought, some producers are turning cattle out to graze the failed wheat. About 86 percent of the state’s corn has now been planted, along with 7 percent of the sorghum and 32 percent of soybeans.”Due to the state’s drought situation, the Kansas Water Office has formed a Drought Operations Plan alongside the Governor’s Drought Team. Kansas law requires the Kansas Water Office notify the Governor when drought conditions are present in the state and recommend assembly of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. This team is responsible for ensuring that adequate state resources are committed to drought response in a coordinated manner.According to the Kansas Water Office, drought can have significant economic and environmental impacts. Drought can create favorable conditions for wildfires and wind erosion and the associated heat, dust and stress can all adversely affect health. There are many definitions of drought. For the purposes of this Operations Plan drought is defined as “A period of abnormally dry weather that persists long enough to produce serious economic, environmental or social impacts.”While drought is a natural phenomenon, actions taken by individuals and by government at all levels can do much to reduce its impact.Source - http://tmn.fhsu.edu/

Italy - Bad weather has cost farmers millions of euros

Italy's bad weather has cost farmers millions of euros in damages, a professional farmers' organization said Monday. "Severe thunderstorms and hail damage in many of the mature orchards are at risk of losing more than 10% of crops," a memo from the Italian Confederation of Farmers CIA said, citing losses "amounted to millions of euro".Torrential rain and hail storms have caused crop and structural damages including field flooding, mud build-up and salt erosion on Italy's farmland from Tuscany to Lazio and Puglia. Summer fruit and vegetable farmers, as well as wheat farmers in these regions, and particularly in the south, are concerned that the inclement whether will affect crop quality as well as jeopardize transport and distribution of product."Visibility chaos slows logistics and transport, and thus fresh product distribution and the access to feed and fertilizers," the memo said. Regions in south-central Italy, including Umbria, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and the island of Sardinia, were on storm alert for the rest of the week.Source - http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/

USA - Choosing the right crop insurance

Wheat, corn and soybean farmers soon should have access to information that will help them make an important one-time choice between two types of crop insurance, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., says.He’s also optimistic the U.S. Department of Agriculture can provide similar information of particular value to producers of so-called minor crops by mid July.The issue is the supplemental coverage option (SCO), which in turn affects agricultural risk coverage or price loss coverage.The 2014 farm bill requires producers to pick either agricultural risk coverage, which protects against falling revenue, or price loss coverage, which provides payments when crop prices fall below levels set in the farm bill.Farmers must choose carefully; once the decision is made, the producer is locked in for five years.That decision is affected by the supplemental coverage option, which was created by the 2014 farm bill. The SCO provides area-based coverage to supplement the producer’s individual federal crop insurance coverage.However, only crops enrolled in the price loss coverage program will be eligible for SCO; acreage planted to ag risk coverage will not.“That enters into the decision,” says Dwight Aakre, a North Dakota State University Extension Service farm management specialist. “So far, we’ve had very little information. Once it’s available, though, you’ll be able to start taking a closer look at it.”For now, it appears that farms with a substantial corn base might do better taking agricultural risk coverage, while farms that raise crops such as barley, canola and other minor oilseeds might do better with price loss coverage, he says.“But it will vary from farm to farm,” Aakre says.‘Making every effort’The Risk Management Agency, the arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the federal crop insurance program, says RMA is “making every effort to offer SCO to as many producers as possible. SCO will be available for corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, spring wheat and winter wheat in selected counties for the 2015 crop year. Program details and eligible counties will be made available in the early summer of 2014.”Hoeven says some farm groups and crop insurance companies have expressed concern that SCO might not be available for the 2015 crop year.If it’s not, farmers would be handicapped in choosing between agricultural risk coverage and price loss coverage.Hoeven says he’s pressed both USDA and RMA officials to offer SCO for as many crops and to as many producers as soon as possible.Hoeven says he’s been told that SCO will be available for most major crops, including corn, wheat and soybeans, by the beginning of July, in most counties, with the emphasis on counties that are major producers of those crops.By mid July, USDA officials expect to know more about their timetable for implementing SCO for minor crops, of which North Dakota is a major producer, Hoeven says.Source - http://www.agweek.com/

Philippines - DAR-DA insurance program protects farmers against disasters

Agrarian-reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Philippines are protected against natural calamities, as well as tragic accidents under an insurance program jointly being implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Agriculture (DA).Aside from losses incurred by farmers as a result of devastating typhoons and floods, farmers may also avail themselves of financial support through insurance coverage in case of accident.The DAR-AIP subsidized 100 percent of the ARB’s premium for rice, corn, high-value crops and livestock insurance, which has a built-in insurance for accident and death for ARBs and members of their household.The DAR-AIP was launched in 2013 by the DAR and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to provide crop insurance protection against crop losses causedEarly this year, 1,198 farmers from San Pablo and Cabagan, Isabela, received their indemnity claims to cover the losses over their rice and corn farmlands brought about by a drought that hit Isabela during the second cropping season this year.The checks amounting to P13.8 million covers 2,044.31 hectares of farmland from the municipalities of San Pablo and Cabagan.The coverage of the crop insurance starts from the date of issuance of the Certificate of Insurance Cover. This means that insurance will start from planting to harvesting and will cover the cost of production inputs plus an additional amount to cover up to 20 percent of the value of the expected yield.Just last month, 27 farmers from Sumilao received their indemnity claims from the PCIC to cover for the crop losses they incurred when tropical depression Agaton struck Mindanao last year.The checks amounting to P252,394.77 were distributed to the 27 beneficiaries who are members of the Panaw Multipurpose Cooperative from Sumilao, Bukidnon.The farmers planted corn during the last cropping season in 2013 when Agaton struck Mindanao January of that year and destroyed their crops.The DAR encourages farmers to enroll in the program, which is fully subsidized by the DAR.Source - http://businessmirror.com.ph/

USA - Forage insurance sign-up deadline in July

In spite of recent rains, livestock producers may be considering adding a layer of protection against drought loss on annual forage crops, and the deadline to sign up for that insurance is approaching, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist.The Rainfall Index – Annual Forage Insurance plan, referred to as RI-AF, is a risk policy designed to provide livestock producers the ability to buy protection against losses due to a lack of moisture, said DeDe Jones, AgriLife Extension risk management specialist in Amarillo.The sign-up deadline for RI-AF is July 15 for the fall growing season – Sept. 1, 2014-March 31, 2015, and Dec. 15 for the spring season – March 1-Sept. 30, 2015. All premium payments are due by Aug. 30, 2015.Jones said RI-AF is similar to Pasture Range and Forage Insurance, or PRF insurance, but the difference lies in the type of commodity covered. PRF covers perennial grasses such as pasture and hay, while RI-AF is strictly for annual forage crops, including but not limited to: winter small grains, such as wheat, oats, rye and triticale, and spring plantings such as sudan, haygrazer and millet.Under both insurance plans, payment is not determined by individual damages, but rather area losses based on a grid system, she said. A major difference between the two policies is that PRF allows producers to insure only a portion of their acreage, but RI-AF requires coverage on all certified acres not intended for grain production.Producers must also choose a maximum of three two-month intervals per growing season per year, Jones said. Insured acres are then spread between time periods, with no more than 40 percent of the acres placed in any interval.Coverage levels between 70 and 90 percent are available, she said. Once coverage is selected, the producer chooses a productivity factor between 60 and 150 percent. The productivity factor is a percentage of the established county base value for annual forage. Base value is a standard rate published by the Risk Management Agency for each county.The Rainfall Index determines RI-AF coverage, Jones said. This model uses National Oceanic and Atmospheric Climate Prediction Center data and a 12-by-12-mile grid system. Indemnities are calculated based on the deviation from normal precipitation within a grid for a specific period selected.Source - http://www.dairyherd.com/

Canada - Fungal infection threatens local wheat crops

A plant pathologist for the province says he’s never seen a case of stripe rust like the one found in winter wheat at an Olds cereal nursery.“This is the first report of the disease overwintering in the last decade or two. The first report I’ve ever heard of the disease overwintering in that area around Olds,” said Michael Harding, plant pathologist for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.“So the situation that’s occurring in Olds is very unique and maybe the first time.”Stripe rust is a disease caused by a fungus that affects cereals like wheat, barley and certain grasses. Symptoms include the appearance of yellow stripes that run parallel to the veins of leaves.The leaves’ epidermis then breaks open, revealing the orange fungus spores.Two Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development plant pathologists discovered the disease near Olds on June 2.Stripe rust was also reported near Lacombe and Bentley.According to Harding, there’s a chance that the disease could cause significant crop losses, especially among those that do not have genetic resistance.“In an unprotected susceptible crop, stripe rust could wipe it out. It has the capability to cause devastating economic loss to a cereal crop,” he said.Harding is urging farmers to examine their fields and spray fungicide if they find the disease.“Even if you have a resistant cultivar, you still need to scout your field to make sure the resistance is holding back the disease,” he said.That’s because genetic resistance can depend on specific environmental conditions. For example, some plants can only withstand the disease as adults and only in high temperatures, he explained.Farmers unsure if they have GMO (genetically modified organism) crops resistant to stripe rust should check the Alberta Seed Guide online, he added.This occurrence of stripe rust was found in winter wheat, which is seeded in the fall and grows in the spring. During the winter, the pathogen lies dormant before activating in the spring.“So that’s what’s happened in Olds. On some winter wheat crops there was likely some stripe rust that overwintered in a latent form in the host and in the spring when the crop began to grow again, the full-blown disease became present again,” he said.The fact that the disease is infectious adds to the problem, Harding continued.“The concern with that is, early stripe rust infections, early in the season like this can move into the spring seeded cereal crops and the earlier that the disease comes in, the more problematic it can be and more damage can be caused,” he said.Stripe rust is a yearly occurrence in southern Alberta each year. It arrives to the province because the disease is well adapted for aerial travel, mostly from the Pacific Northwest or southern U.S., Harding said.However, he’s not ready to declare this case an epidemic, saying that hot, dry weather can contain the disease.Source - http://www.mountainviewgazette.ca/

USA - Too much rain grows as threat to crop condition

US farms, many of which have struggled against drought for much of the year, may now find too much rain the biggest threat to crops, with excessive moisture blamed for a surprise decline in soybean condition.The condition of US crops remains unusually strong, US Department of Agriculture data showed, with the proportion of corn rated "good" or "excellent" as of Sunday rising by one point to 76%.That figure was in line in with investors' forecast, and with a 2010 reading which represents the best for the time of year on records going back to 1995.However, the proportion of soybeans viewed as in good or excellent health eased one point to 73%, surprising investors who had expected an increased rating, and with the decline attributed to excessive damp in some areas."Persistent strong showers and heavy rain has produced scattered areas of flooding," Gail Martell at Martell Crop Projections said.'Replants are inevitable'Indeed, in Mississippi, where the proportion rated in the top two grades fell by nine points to 61%, USDA scouts reported that "heavy rainfall" meant that crop "replants are inevitable on many acres".In the north east of the state, another scout said that "flooding has about 20% of our crop devastated," adding there "probably will be a great deal of replanting", while further south it was reported that "almost daily rain for the past three weeks has damaged stands and caused major weed problems".In Iowa, the top soybean producing state, where many areas received rains of more than six inches last week, the proportion of the oilseed crop rated good or excellent fell by 2 points, albeit to a still-high 79%.In Illinois, another major soy producer, where rainfall was "above normal", the reading fell by 4 points to 72%.SRW vs HRWThe wheat crop in Illinois, a major producer of the soft red winter wheat traded in Chicago, deteriorated too, by 7 points to 59% good or excellent."Some deterioration is noted on soft red winter wheat in Illinois and Arkansas due to rainfall," Brian Henry at Benson Quinn Commodities said, adding that "very little change" was seen in the hard red winter wheat crop currently being harvests in the central and southern Plains.The proportion of winter wheat rated good or excellent remained at 11% in Kansas, the top producing state, and at 5% in Oklahoma, where drought damage earlier in the season was particularly marked.Corn next?And, with further rain in the forecast, there is potential for corn yet to suffer, Mr Henry said, if saying that this was a "tough case" to make for now."Talk of too much moisture has been muted, but could attract more focus if the rain totals expected over the course of the next week in the northern Plains materialise," he said."Central and southern Minnesota seem to have bulls eye on it with 4-5 inches expected between now and the weekend."'Rain-maker'The growing wetness in the US agricultural heartlands "may be linked to an emerging El Niсo", Ms Martell said, noting forecasts from official US and Australian meteorologists of an at least 70% chance of the weather pattern developing."El Nino is a known rain-maker for the central US," she said."Heavy rainfall is predicted this week in the Midwest, where soggy field conditions have already developed."Warming temperatures would increase evaporation, but recurring strong showers would cause locally heavy rain."Source - http://www.agrimoney.com/

Sri Lanka - Farmers are now being compensated for the damages of their crops in the Maha Season

Sri Lanka Agrarian Insurance Board says compensations are now being paid to the farmers for the damages of their crops in the Maha Season. Director General of the Board Pandula Weerasinghe says a sum of 30 million rupees has been allocated for the North-Central province. Farmers in the Anuradhapura district have already been paid with compensations while the payments for the farmers in the Polonnaruwa district will be paid in the coming few days. A sum of 20 million rupees has been set aside to for the damages of crops in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts. 15 million rupees have been allocated for the Moneragala district.Meanwhile, farmers who have not yet been registered under the pension scheme will be able to join it from the next month. 128,500 farmers are now entitled to pension allowances. Pension allowances can be obtained from the relevant post office between 7th to the 27th of each month.Source - http://www.slbc.lk/

USA - Rough winter spells trouble for peaches

It may be almost summertime, but it was a devastating winter for some southern Illinois farmers.Those who grow peaches, in some cases, lost their entire crop.There are more than 10 orchards in Calhoun County, an area known for their peaches, and at least half of them have lost their whole crop.What does that mean for us? Fewer road side stands this summer and more expensive peaches."We might have enough to make a cobbler here and there but that's about it, we won't be able to sell any peaches on the market this year," says peach farmer and Calhoun County Sheriff Bill Heffington.He says it was the bitterly cold temperatures that damaged the crops.But 10 minutes down the road, Roy Jacobs says his peaches faired pretty well, thanks to the hill his orchard sits on."That one morning I think it got down to 20 below and right here I think we only had 16 below so that was a big difference,"Jacobs said.Because of those four degrees, he still has 50 percent of his peaches.These farmers say the loss will affect the county's economy with locals and tourists."You are just not going to have as many people coming to the county buying produce," Heffington said."These orchards hire a lot of high school kids and that's probably going to hurt," said Jacobs, who's going to have to cut his summer jobs from 10 to five this year.Heffington, who has crop insurance, says the last time he lost his whole peach crop was in 2007.He's had six busy summers since, so this summer he's taking the hint from Mother Nature."Well it's kind of like a summer semi off, I figure on doing a little more fishing this summer, relaxing," says a laughing Heffington.The farmers think the earliest we will see Calhoun County peaches at farmer's markets is mid-to-late July.Jacobs farm will be selling their peaches at farmers markets in St. Charles and Lake St. Louis.Source - http://www.ksdk.com/

USA - Harsh winter damages wheat crop

Some farmers in St. Clair and Sanilac counties lost portions of their winter wheat crop because of the harsh winter.“Sanilac County and surrounding townships around Sandusky have been hit the hardest,” said Martin Nagelkirk, Michigan State University extension educator, who focuses on wheat.“Some farms have lost up to 50 percent of their crop here while other farms across Michigan have only lost up to 15 percent.”Nagelkirk said it is the most significant winter kill in more than a decade.“What happened is that this past winter there was a significant amount of ice and water beneath the snow, which combined with the sheer cold temperatures, caused much damage to the crops,” he said.Consumers also are concerned about what damage to the wheat crop means for food prices.“If the price of one thing goes up, everything will go up,” said Shell Wrubel, owner of Chef Shell’s Restaurant and Catering in Port Huron.“If the price of wheat goes up, that will impact the price of feed for animals, so the meats we get will also be more expensive.”Farmer Dave Wronski, of Wales Township, said it’s not time to worry.“The market has not yet indicated that consumers will be impacted,” Wronski said. “But we will see as the summer progresses.”Wronski planted 160 acres of wheat last year — 25 of the acres did not survive the winter, while another 40 did not get essential nutrients in time.“It’s a bigger loss than previous years,” he said. “But financially it will probably affect us very little. We were able to put in another commodity in time — we planted corn in place of the 25 acres that were killed.”Nagelkirk said if farmers lose around 10 percent of what they planted, they tend to keep the crop. If farmers lose 50 to 90 percent, they tend to tear out the remaining crop to plant something else.“Once 90 percent is gone, it’s just more financially feasible to start over,” he said. “Many farmers will claim crop insurance to make up for the loss as well.”John Busemann, a wheat farmer in Columbus Township, was thankful to have crop insurance.“Crop insurance guarantees 75 percent of my normal yield profits,” he said.Busemann lost 30 percent of his wheat crop this year.“During a normal winter, a 10 percent loss is typically normal,” he said. “The 30 percent crop loss also represents a 30 percent financial loss as well.”Busemann said he was not able to plant any other crops because the spring was too wet.“This was the first time I have ever experienced this much of a loss,” he said. “I am just going to keep the remaining crop and see what I can get out of it.”Source - http://www.thetimesherald.com/