Agroinsurance

India - Monitoring agricultural practices

India - Monitoring agricultural practicesThe state shall decide whether wheat shall be grown this year or paddy. The state shall decide how much area will be given for which crop. The state shall decide how much of the crop shall be allowed to come to the market and how much of that shall be destroyed to prevent distress sales. The state shall also decide whether a particular agricultural area should be kept fallow or allowed to be cultivated. The state shall decide whether wheat shall be grown this year or paddy. The state shall decide how much area will be given for which crop. The state shall decide how much of the crop shall be allowed to come to the market and how much of that shall be destroyed to prevent distress sales. The state shall also decide whether a particular agricultural area should be kept fallow or allowed to be cultivated. Sounds too Orwellian, as if the great ‘Big Brother ‘ is remote-controlling the agricultural choice of its farmers! It would surprise many to know that even today countries like the USA and Europe decide the cropping pattern and the agricultural produce that goes to the market to a certain extent. Every state in India is free to decide its own policies and priorities in agriculture as it is a state subject as per the constitutional scheme of our federal system. Although there is a huge agriculture ministry in the Union Government with a large financial outlay, the centre does not have any mandatory power in deciding any agricultural policy for the states. Since agriculture is directly linked to the food-chain process and has a direct impact on the environment as well as the economy, some analysts feel that there should be certain policies for deciding the broad parameters of agricultural growth in the country. Should rain-deficient and groundwater deficient Rajasthan grow a water intensive crop like sugar cane and put tremendous stress on the scarce water resources of the state? When the natural paddy bowl states in eastern India, blessed with abundant rainfall, can meet the entire rice requirement of the economy with much less cost and some timely and proper state support, should Punjab, traditionally a wheat-growing state, be allowed to grow rice, the basmati variety? Thanks to free electricity for the farm sector in Punjab, we find excessive utilisation of ground water and salinity ingress that are fraught with grave environmental problems, which are often irreversible. Should areas in water-parched north Gujarat be allowed to grow three crops, just because electricity charges for energising the pumps are almost free? This has led to the groundwater depleting fast to dangerous levels of more than 1,000 feet. In fact, the environmental implications along with the economic considerations need to be the focus of a national debate on reformulating a new framework for our national agriculture. A group of chief ministers had made certain recommendations to this effect. Based on the environment implications and economical considerations, the country should decide which area should grow what crop in a manner that the country’s requirements, both internal needs and exports are met. Water harvesting and efficient irrigation practices should be made mandatory in order to get subsidised agricultural inputs, including electricity, so that it leads to zero wastage of water. Once advance inputs are available about the area under cultivation for various crops and the condition of the likely output before the harvesting time, the state can make much better interventions to ensure a better realisation to the farmers as well as prevent runaway price rise as it happened in case of onions recently. Since we have a federal system, how such centralised control over deciding key agricultural issues can be achieved, without ruffling the states, is a major challenge. The farming community’s interests also need to be kept in mind while deciding such principles. But such issues cannot be neglected for too long as environmental damage does not recognise federal and centre-state issues. Source - http://www.dnaindia.com/

USA - Farmers without water tear out orchards

With California's agricultural heartland entrenched in drought, almond farmers are letting orchards dry up and in some cases making the tough call to have their trees torn out of the ground, leaving behind empty fields. In California's Central Valley, Barry Baker is one of many who hired a crew that brought in large rumbling equipment to perform the grim task in a cloud of dust. A tractor operator drove heavy steel shanks into the ground to loosen the roots and knock the trees over. Another operator, driving a brush loader equipped with a fork-like implement on the front, scooped up the trees and root balls and pushed them into a pile, where an excavator driver grabbed them up in clusters with a clawing grapple. The trees were fed into a grinder that spit wood chips into piles to be hauled away by the truckload and burned as fuel in a power plant. Baker, 54, of Baker Farming Company, has decided to remove 20 percent of his trees before they have passed their prime. There's simply not enough water to satisfy all 5,000 acres of almonds, he said. "Hopefully, I don't have to pull out another 20 percent," Baker said, adding that sooner or later neighboring farmers will come to the same conclusion. "They're hoping for the best. I don't think it's going to come." There are no figures yet available to show an exact number of orchards being removed, but the economic stakes and risks facing growers are clear. Almonds and other nuts are among the most high-value crops in the Central Valley — the biggest producer of such crops in the country. In 2012, California's almond crop had an annual value of $5 billion. This year farmers say the dry conditions are forcing them to make difficult decisions. Gov. Jerry Brown last month declared a drought emergency after the state's driest year in recorded history. The thirst for water has sparked political battles in Washington, D.C., over use of the state's rivers and reservoirs. This month President Barack Obama visited the Central Valley, announcing millions of dollars in relief aid that in part will help the state's ranchers and farmers better conserve and manage water. Baker, who favors farming over politics, explained the math leading to his decision. Between now and the summer almond harvest, he would need to irrigate his orchards with scarce, expensive water and pay to have the trees pruned and sprayed. Bringing in bee hives to pollinate the blossoms costs nearly $500 an acre. That all would amount to a $2.5 million gamble, without knowing if the next couple of months will bring significant rain to the valley floor and snow to the mountains. "You'd have wrapped a lot of money up in those trees to see what happens," he said. Removing old trees is common practice. Almond trees remain productive for about 25 years, growers said. The state's almond farmers removed over 10,000 acres of trees in 2012, according to a report by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Most were past their prime. No figures are available on how many orchards farmers are removing today, said department spokesman Steve Lyle. But Alan Thompson of G&F Agri Service LLC, who leads the crew ripping out Baker's orchards, said the drought spiked his business by 75 percent. This time of year is typically slow, but Thompson, 31, said his heavy equipment operators start at dawn each day and works until sundown, removing orchards in short order. "We don't even mess around with cutting them up with chain saws," he said. "That grinder is the way to do it right there." Ryan Jacobsen, executive director of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, said he expects that almond growers will be removing trees through the spring and summer because of the drought. "I have no doubt permanent crops will be taken out because of this," he added. Tim Lynch of Agra Marketing Group said power plants in the state nearly have more wood chips from almond trees than they can handle. Lynch's firm acts as the middle man between growers getting rid of their trees and the power plants that need bio fuel to burn. The dry weather this winter has allowed growers to work in their orchards that are typically soggy, and the drought pushed them to take out trees earlier than normal, he said. The high value of almonds has caught the eye of investors in recent years, who paid top-dollar for land to plant almond orchards and cash in on the bonanza. Their value remains strong, making the decision for farmers to remove orchards difficult. William Bourdeau, executive vice president of Harris Farms in Coalinga, said he and his colleagues within the next 30 days will have to confront the hard decision about scaling back their almond orchards. They've already decided not to plant 9,000 acres of vegetables — including 3,000 acres of lettuce that would have produced 72 million heads and generated 700,000 hours of work. Next, they may rip out 1,000 acres of almonds, a permanent crop, Bourdeau said. "I hesitate to use a number that big. Unfortunately, it's going to that big or bigger," he said, still holding out hope the season will turn wet. "We're trying to limp along as long as we can." Leaving the orchards un-watered and expecting they'll somehow survive the drought is no option, Bourdeau said, because insects infest the dying trees and multiply, spreading to other orchards. Drawing well water is a bad option, he said. Their wells sink 2,400 feet below ground in his region of the Central Valley, providing water that's unhealthy and compromises the crops for years, if the trees survive at all, he said. They have considered blending well and surface water to minimize the harm. Or they can remove some almonds to direct their limited water to fewer orchards. "There's a lot of what-ifs," Bourdeau said. "There's no good decision. It's what's the least worse option." Source - http://www.redding.com/With California's agricultural heartland entrenched in drought, almond farmers are letting orchards dry up and in some cases making the tough call to have their trees torn out of the ground, leaving behind empty fields. There are no figures yet available to show an exact number of orchards being removed, but the economic stakes and risks facing growers are clear. Almonds and other nuts are among the most high-value crops in the Central Valley. In 2012, California's almond crop had an annual value of $5 billion. This year farmers say the dry conditions are forcing them to make difficult decisions.USA - Farmers without water tear out orchards

USA - Stacked Gene Traits Improve Plant Productivity under Multiple Environmental Stresses

Arcadia Biosciences, Inc., an agricultural technology company focused on developing technologies and products that benefit the environment and human health, announced the development of rice featuring a combination of fertilizer efficiency and stress tolerance traits. Field trials of rice incorporating the "triple-stack" technology, which includes nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), water use efficiency (WUE) and salt tolerance (ST), have shown substantial yield increases over conventional rice.In two years of field trials, Arcadia's triple-stack rice produced yield increases of 13-18% under various nitrogen application rates, 12-17% under water stress conditions, and 15% under combined stress. Parallel trials under salt stress in greenhouse conditions showed yield increases as high as 42%. These results clearly demonstrate the ability to combine multiple efficiency and resiliency traits to develop plants with robust performance under multiple conditions. The company is developing similar trait stacks in other crucial food and feed crops, including wheat and soybeans.As one of the world’s most widely cultivated food crops, rice plays a critical role in food security for more than half of the world’s population. In a recent report, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) predicted that maintaining food security in the face of climate change and population growth will require a combination of technologies that target broad-based yield improvement, abiotic stresses such as heat and drought, and improved nitrogen use efficiency.“Rice and wheat provide the foundation of nutrition for a very large portion of our global population,” said Eric Rey, president and CEO of Arcadia. “Our results with triple-stack rice clearly demonstrate the potential of developing crops with enhanced yield performance under a broad range of growing conditions. Considering the impact of climate instability on crop yields and food security, trait combinations such as Arcadia’s triple-stack technology will play a critical role in sustaining future generations.” About Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. Based in Davis, Calif., Arcadia Biosciences is an agricultural technology company focused on the development of agricultural products that improve the environment and enhance human health. Arcadia’s agronomic traits, including Nitrogen Use Efficiency, Water Use Efficiency, Salt Tolerance, Heat Tolerance, and Herbicide Tolerance, are all aimed at making agricultural production more economically efficient and environmentally sound. Arcadia’s health technologies and products create healthier nutritional ingredients and foods with lower production costs. Source - http://www.moneylife.in/USA - Stacked Gene Traits Improve Plant Productivity under Multiple Environmental StressesArcadia Biosciences, Inc., an agricultural technology company focused on developing technologies and products that benefit the environment and human health, announced the development of rice featuring a combination of fertilizer efficiency and stress tolerance traits. Field trials of rice incorporating the "triple-stack" technology, which includes nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), water use efficiency (WUE) and salt tolerance (ST), have shown substantial yield increases over conventional rice.

Growing a bee-friendly garden

Getting ready to pick up plants from the nursery this spring? Worried about bee deaths? You'd better think twice about the source of your plants, because you could unwittingly be hurting your bee pals. Here's the scoop: Researchers have been tracking a steady decline in bee populations, but they've been struggling to figure out what's happening. Theories have included proposals about disease, habitat disruption, and an increase in chemicals such as insecticides in the environment. Relatively recently, studies highlighted a surprising source of chemicals that hurt bees: nursery plants. Some commercial nurseries spray their plants with what are known as neonicotinoid insecticides, also called neonics. Why? Because they have massive crops to deal with, and they want to control insect pests as efficiently and effectively as possible. The fact that bees are caught in the crossfire is viewed as unfortunate, but not as grounds to stop, because the value of commercial crops and ornamental plants is so high that losing a year's worth of plants to insects would be devastating. What happens is that plants sprayed with the chemicals have residue in their nectar and pollen. The residue is fatal to bees and their colonies, and the problem is that even if you bring a plant home and treat it organically, the damage is already done: the residue is present, and bees who are exposed to it will die. The refusal to abandon neonics is heartbreaking for bees, but it's also bad news for you. Like other insecticides, neonics may pose a health risk to people, especially children, because they are still forming brain and muscle tissue. These pesticides are designed to interfere with the nervous system, so you can imagine what they do to growing brains! The European Union has already warned about these health risks as well as the problems for bee populations, and the Environmental Protection Agency has these pesticides under review for environmental safety concerns. So, what can you do? You have a couple of options when it comes to keeping neonicotinoids out of your garden. One is to buy only organic starts and plants, ensuring that pesticides haven't been used in the treatment of the plants you're buying. Be sure to ask about the conditions on the farm, and assess the risk for pesticide drift. Is the nursery right next to a commercial farm or orchard? Chances are high that pesticides are being sprayed, and some could have ended up on the organic crop, in which case your plants may be contaminated. Your second option is to buy organic seeds and start them from scratch at the start of the season. This allows you to control every step of the growing process. For many fruits and vegetables, starting from scratch is pretty easy, although you can face challenges with fruit trees, which are typically grown with grafts added to rootstock. For ornamentals, you may learn that it's cheaper and more fun to start your own plants (and to start from cuttings) than it is to get them from the nursery. Maintaining a pesticide-free garden is better for bees, the environment, and your family. Source - http://www.myfoxphilly.com/Growing a bee-friendly gardenGetting ready to pick up plants from the nursery this spring? Worried about bee deaths? You'd better think twice about the source of your plants, because you could unwittingly be hurting your bee pals. Here's the scoop: Researchers have been tracking a steady decline in bee populations, but they've been struggling to figure out what's happening. Theories have included proposals about disease, habitat disruption, and an increase in chemicals such as insecticides in the environment.

India - In this prevailing weather conditions, there is possibility of incidence of the white rust

India - In this prevailing weather conditions, there is possibility of incidence of the white rust In this prevailing weather conditions, there is possibility of incidence of the white rust disease in late sown Mustard crop. New arrivals of Mustard is rising in the mandis across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Production of Indian mustard seeds this year is expected to be around 75 lakh tonnes against 68 lakh tonnes last year.In this prevailing weather conditions, there is possibility of incidence of the white rust disease in late sown Mustard crop. New arrivals of Mustard is rising in the mandis across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Production of Indian mustard seeds this year is expected to be around 75 lakh tonnes against 68 lakh tonnes last year. Source - http://www.moneycontrol.com/

USA - Drought influences dairy farmers’ feed plans

Just as milk prices are improving, fierce competition for hay and limited water supplies to grow other feed crops have dimmed the outlook for California dairy farmers. Poor range conditions due to drought have forced many beef cattle ranchers and sheep producers to feed more hay, depleting inventories and pushing prices up for dairy farmers, Fresno County dairyman Donny Rollin said. "There's not a lot out here right now, so everybody is scrambling for the same stuff," he said. He noted that even though he has purchased hay recently, scheduling a delivery has been difficult, as busy truck drivers hustle to drop off all the loads. Tulare County dairy farmer Tom Barcellos said lack of surface water deliveries from the Friant Unit of the Central Water Project and inadequate groundwater supplies will likely force him to fallow 30 percent to 40 percent of his silage-crop acreage this summer. He said he may also have to abandon some of his alfalfa acreage in order to stretch his water supply to grow additional forage for next fall and winter. "If we don't get any rainfall, I don't know what I'm going to do, because I don't even know that the water table can sustain the wells that are going to water the cows and wash the milk barn down," Barcellos said. While a robust U.S. corn crop has helped to moderate corn-grain prices for dairy farmers, prices for other feed commodities such as soybean meal and cottonseed have continued to escalate. Now, California dairy producers can also expect to feel the pinch from local sources of feed, said Peter Robinson, a University of California Cooperative Extension dairy nutrition and management specialist. He said he expects there will be reduced availability of all feed crops if drought conditions do not improve significantly. Dairy farmers will see their production costs increase, as they look to buy feed from out of state and maybe even offshore, he added.He noted that winter wheat silage, which is planted in the fall in the San Joaquin Valley, is usually germinated by rainfall, but this year, many growers have had to irrigate to get the seeds to sprout. Because farmers probably won't want to pump much water to support the crop, Robinson said, he expects there will be less production of winter wheat this year. He said he also expects feed-crop acreage in the San Joaquin Valley to see a significant shift away from corn silage toward sorghum, a less thirsty crop. "Unfortunately, sorghum doesn't have the same nutritional value to dairy cows that corn does," he said, and that will impact milk production. Also, with water shortages to bring less cotton acreage in the valley, there will be reduced supplies of cottonseed, an important source of energy and fat in the dairy ration, Robinson noted. With cottonseed prices already elevated and expected to go higher, he added, dairy farmers may choose to feed more forage as a substitute. "But if you're also dumbing down the corn silage by converting it to sorghum, then you're going to have problems formulating rations that continue to have high milk flows," he said. "Overall, I don't think there's any way that we don't see a reduction in milk production over the summer." Rollin said he already grows sorghum as part of the feed mix for his heifers but noted that corn silage and wheat silage are still the best forages for his milking herd. Over the years, he's made use of alternative feeds such as culled fruits and vegetables, including citrus, pomegranates, peaches, onions and asparagus, as well as bakery waste. This year, he's also going to start feeding soy hull pellets, a byproduct of soybean processing. "Farmers are pretty ingenious about figuring a way to feed cattle," he said. "If there's anything of any value anywhere, it's getting gobbled up." But with orchard farmers trying to save water to keep their trees alive, Rollin said there will be fewer acres of vegetables and other row crops that have been a source of dairy feed. Barcellos, who also planted sorghum last year due to tight water supplies, said dairy farmers do not normally compete with beef cattle ranchers for the same feed, because beef producers usually have plenty of grasses on rangeland to graze their cattle and they also supplement with feeds that work well for beef cattle but not necessarily for milk production. "This time, we're going to be in a situation where if there's a bale of hay that's got a string around it, everybody wants it," he said.One feed product for which dairy farmers might be competing head on with beef producers this year is almond hulls, which are a big part of the dairy feed mixture, Robinson said. While some cattle ranchers have already begun to shrink their herds due to dry pastures and lack of available feed, Barcellos said he hopes he won't need to make reductions on his dairy. But he noted that dairy farmers will have to make those considerations if they don't have enough feed. Concern about available forage supplies may pressure some dairies to scale back their cow numbers, but higher milk prices may also drive them to increase stocking density, Robinson said. Even though Fresno County dairy farmer Steve Nash grows about 70 percent of his feed and describes his farming location as a good area for groundwater, he said he's focused on maintaining his herd and trying to pay back some of the debt he's incurred in recent years. While some dairies may be expanding to take advantage of higher milk prices, Nash said he thinks many of them will be "holding back and trying to improve their financial situation." Source - http://www.dairyherd.com/USA - Drought influences dairy farmers’ feed plansJust as milk prices are improving, fierce competition for hay and limited water supplies to grow other feed crops have dimmed the outlook for California dairy farmers. Poor range conditions due to drought have forced many beef cattle ranchers and sheep producers to feed more hay, depleting inventories and pushing prices up for dairy farmers.

USA - Epic Drought Turning California Into a Cursed State

For three straight years, a punishing drought has devastated California and much of America’s West and Southwest. President Obama visited California on February 14 to assess the severity of the drought. “California is our biggest economy [and] our biggest agricultural producer, so what happens here matters to every working American,” he said, “right down to the cost of food that you put on your table.” 2013 was officially California’s driest year in 119 years of record-keeping. According to Prof. B. Lynn Ingram of the University of California, Berkeley, it represented the most devastating drought in almost 500 years. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, almost 99 percent of California is “abnormally dry.” At least 60 percent of the state is experiencing “extreme drought,” and almost 10 percent is experiencing “exceptional drought.” Fire risk is high in many parts of the state. Seasonal firefighters worked all year round in 2013 because of this risk. As a consequence, camping has been essentially outlawed. For the first time in 54 years, the State Water Project, California’s main municipal water distribution system, announced that it would not be able to supplement water supplies to local agencies, including farmers. About 40,000 residents of 17 rural communities may run out of water within the next 120 days. Through billboards on California highways and other means, the state is asking Californians to drastically reduce their water usage voluntarily by taking “stop-start-stop-start” showers, not watering lawns and gardens during the day, sweeping driveways instead of hosing them down, flushing toilets less frequently and not refilling swimming pools. Sacramento and Folsom residents have been mandated to reduce their water consumption by 20 percent. Santa Cruz restaurants have been asked not to offer water unless customers request it. State-wide mandatory conservation measures have not yet been enforced; however, they are likely options, as Gov. Jerry Brown indicated when he declared a water emergency on January 17. The fact that California has not mandated more drastic measures state-wide does not mean the drought is not severe. Such measures are politically charged. Water districts, for example, would lose revenue. The Santa Clara Valley Water District estimates that it would lose $20 million from enforcing a 10-percent reduction in water consumption. The Los Angeles Metropolitan District says it would lose $150 million from a 20-percent reduction. “We want to save the big hammer for when we know it’s really bad,” one water district general manager said. But delaying conservation efforts now may make the rationing much worse later if the drought doesn’t break. Conditions are already really bad in California. Aquatic life has been hit hard. Fishing has been banned in most of California to protect endangered aquatic species like salmon. Meanwhile, ranchers struggling to feed their livestock have been forced to cull or sell their herds en masse. The U.S. is heavily reliant on California for much of its food; dwindling production will seriously impact food availability and prices nationwide. About 80 percent of California’s freshwater supply is used for agriculture. Farmers of annual crops are reducing the acreage of crops they are planting to match the available water supplies. Such an option, however, is not available for fruit tree farmers, whose trees and vines continue from year to year and, this year, are dying. In 2009, Ken Shackel, a tree crop expert at the University of California, Davis, observed a 50-percent reduction in yield if trees were not watered for a year. A year of normal irrigation the next year only improved yield by 10 percent. After another year of normal irrigation, yields finally returned to normal. “However bad this year [is], it will be worse next [year],” Shackel surmised for this year’s farmers. “Really bad this year means really, really bad next year.” When President Obama visited California, he announced that the federal government would give the state $183 million in aid, including $100 million for a controversial farm bill. After blaming California’s drought on human-caused global warming, the president also announced his plan to have Congress provide $1 billion for a “climate resiliency” program. The program, if passed, will fund research and infrastructure that would help in the preparation for climate disasters. Source - http://www.thetrumpet.com/For three straight years, a punishing drought has devastated California and much of America’s West and Southwest. 2013 was officially California’s driest year in 119 years of record-keeping. According to Prof. B. Lynn Ingram of the University of California, Berkeley, it represented the most devastating drought in almost 500 years. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, almost 99 percent of California is “abnormally dry.” At least 60 percent of the state is experiencing “extreme drought,” and almost 10 percent is experiencing “exceptional drought.” USA - Epic Drought Turning California Into a Cursed State

Often overlooked soybean pest is biggest yield killer

Often overlooked soybean pest is biggest yield killerWhile soybean producers may never achieve total elimination of the crop’s biggest yield robber, they have an increasing number of solutions. Soybean cyst nematodes are responsible for lowering yields in virtually every field. But populations can be dramatically reduced using a mixture of management practices. Among them is a seed treatment designed to kill the microscopic roundworms before they have an opportunity to damage young roots.While soybean producers may never achieve total elimination of the crop’s biggest yield robber, they have an increasing number of solutions. Soybean cyst nematodes are responsible for lowering yields in virtually every field. But populations can be dramatically reduced using a mixture of management practices. Among them is a seed treatment designed to kill the microscopic roundworms before they have an opportunity to damage young roots. Syngenta scientist Dale Ireland, speaking at the Illinois Soybean Summite, provided tips for keeping the pests at bay. SCN infestations cause estimated losses of nearly 128 million bushels annually in the U.S. That’s more than the next five soybean-producing countries combined. “Chances are, if you’ve been growing soybeans for any length of time, you likely have soybean cyst nematode present in your field and growing in numbers,” Ireland said. “It is far and away the No. 1 pest. We ought to have it very much on our radar screen. The only thing we could do until recently is grow resistant varieties. But there are additional tools you may not be using to help you manage it.” One is a seed-applied nematicide. Syngenta recently introduced Clariva, a seed treatment comprised of bacteria that parasitize nematodes, eventually killing them. Nematodes themselves are parasitic organisms. “When you’re feeding on a soybean root, you’re limiting the genetic potential of that root system to grow in its maximum way, to take up as much moisture and nutrients as it possibly can,” Ireland said. “Secondarily, when you have soybean cyst nematode, there are indirect yield effects because you also open that root system up for other diseases to hit.” Planting resistant varieties is one method of battling SCN. That strategy comes with limitations, however. One source of resistance is used in more than 90 percent of U.S. soybeans. Other sources of resistance are manifested in seeds that are often not commercially viable, with undesirable qualities such as shattering and low standability. Rotating beans with non-host plants is another strategy for cutting down on nematode damage. Corn, for example, is not a host plant. On the other hand, some weeds — such as henbit — are. “You should consider a nematicide package. You need to seriously think about that and look into it,” Ireland said. “I’m not a sales person. As a scientist, some of this stuff is relatively new. It’s not just another cost. I see it as an investment.” Seed treatments in general offer 25 to 35 days of protection. That grants farmers a head start on controlling plant pests such as nematodes, especially on full-season soybeans. “Obviously, the earlier you plant, the longer that seed sits in the cooler and wetter soil than you would like, the greater potential return you’ll see on a seed treatment,” Ireland said. “If you’re double-cropping and have great soil moisture, those seeds are going to jump out of the ground more quickly than if you get them planted immediately after your corn. “I’m not saying that seed treatment doesn’t pay in double-crop beans, but in the scope of things you’d expect that return to be much higher the earlier that seed is planted.” Early defense against nematodes can pay off big later. Ireland pointed out that nematodes usually begin attacking plants just a few days after the radical — or primary — root first protrudes from the seed. “When that happens you affect the size of that root system, even weeks later,” Ireland said. “If you can protect that from as many pests as possible, you’ll realize a greater potential for the entire genetic potential that plant has. “It’s not rocket science. It’s the basis for reaching for reaching the greatest yield potential of a crop.” Ireland recommends that farmers take soil samples every three to five years to determine whether nematode levels are falling or increasing. “This is a condition that once you have it you can never get rid of it,” he said. “But you can reduce the numbers by rotating the non-host crops and manage the problem in your crop if you use resistant genetics and a nematicide.” Source - http://agrinews-pubs.com/

UK - Jersey potatoes hit by rainy conditions

UK - Jersey potatoes hit by rainy conditionsJersey Royal potatoes are likely to be the first casualty of the relentlessly wet start to the season. With fields on the Channel Island too wet for planting, growers are likely to lose the market window to get early potatoes to UK retailers ahead of the cheaper mainland crop, which will impact on the £30m value of the protected-origin crop to the Jersey economy.Jersey Royal potatoes are likely to be the first casualty of the relentlessly wet start to the season. With fields on the Channel Island too wet for planting, growers are likely to lose the market window to get early potatoes to UK retailers ahead of the cheaper mainland crop, which will impact on the £30m value of the protected-origin crop to the Jersey economy. Jersey Royal Company sales and marketing director William Church said some seed had been planted in January. But he added: "We have a couple of hundred staff standing around not doing much, waiting for a full day of dry weather so we can plant again." Source - http://www.hortweek.com/

USA - Warm weather bad for winter wheat crop

USA - Warm weather bad for winter wheat cropMany in the southern Great Plains are getting a respite from the winter cold, but winter wheat growers are concerned. Winter wheat is exposed and with signs pointing toward more cold coming to the Great Plains, the Midwest, the South, and the Northeast next week, that is a continuing concern especially in areas where the crop may have been coaxed out of dormancy by temperatures this week that have reached or will reach the 80s. If the wheat did respond, farmers must go out and play "lullabies" to keep the wheat sleeping until the cold returns.Many in the southern Great Plains are getting a respite from the winter cold, but winter wheat growers are concerned. "Not something we like to see. Winter wheat is exposed and with signs pointing toward more cold coming to the Great Plains, the Midwest, the South, and the Northeast next week, that is a continuing concern especially in areas where the crop may have been coaxed out of dormancy by temperatures this week that have reached or will reach the 80s," said Brad Rippey, meteorologist for the United States Agriculture Department. If the wheat did respond, farmers must go out and play "lullabies" to keep the wheat sleeping until the cold returns. The warmth has caused other concerns. "That sucks what limited moisture there is out of the soil," said Rippey. Growers in the Southern Plains need every bit of soil moisture they can since the area is still not out of the woods for drought conditions. Source - http://www.rfdtv.com/

USA - Major Winter storm impacting the Heartland

USA - Major Winter storm impacting the HeartlandAcross the Corn Belt, showers and thunderstorms are spreading from the middle Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes States. At this time, most rivers and streams remain in their banks, but the potential exists for rain- and melt-induced flooding as well as ice jams in the central and eastern Corn Belt. Meanwhile, a developing, late winter storm is resulting in a change to wind driven snow in the westernmost Corn Belt.Across the Corn Belt, showers and thunderstorms are spreading from the middle Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes States. At this time, most rivers and streams remain in their banks, but the potential exists for rain- and melt-induced flooding as well as ice jams in the central and eastern Corn Belt. Meanwhile, a developing, late winter storm is resulting in a change to wind driven snow in the westernmost Corn Belt. On the Plains, cold weather is returning. In addition, wind driven snow is falling across portions of the central Plains in conjunction with a developing storm system. As the storm begins to move into the Midwest, windy conditions are also developing on the southern Plains. In Texas, where 44% of the winter wheat was rated very poor to poor on February 16, recent warmth was not favorable for the crop. In the South, very warm, dry weather is helping to dry out soils in preparation for spring fieldwork. Some fieldwork is underway in the western Gulf Coast region, where drought remains a concern. In the West, warmth lingers in California, but near- to below-normal temperatures have returned to most other areas. Unfavorably dry weather in California, the Great Basin, and the Southwest contrasts with showery conditions from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies. A developing storm currently centered over eastern Kansas will move northeastward, reaching the vicinity of Lake Superior by tomorrow. Blizzard conditions can be expected to develop Thursday, spreading northward from Iowa. Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms accompanied by melting snow could cause flooding from Illinois into the lower Great Lakes region. On February 20-21, storm total rainfall may reach 1 to 2 inches from the central Gulf Coast northward through the Ohio Valley and into New England. In contrast, dry weather will persist into early next week from California to the southern Plains. Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day calls for below normal temperatures in parts of the Northwest and east of the Rockies, while warmer-than-normal weather will be confined to California, the Great Basin, and the Southwest. Meanwhile, near- to below-normal precipitation across the majority of the U.S. will contrast with wetter-than-normal conditions in the western Gulf Coast region, across Florida’s peninsula, and in parts of the West including northern and central California. Source - http://www.news-gazette.com/

USA - California governor announces $687 million drought package

California Governor Jerry Brown announced a $687 million drought-relief package on Wednesday to help residents, farm workers and local communities cope with a water shortage he called the worst in the state's modern history. Brown, joined in Sacramento by top Democratic state lawmakers, told a news conference the money would provide food and housing aid to those who have lost work because of the drought and expedite funding to state and local water conservation and reuse projects. The governor said he expected a bill containing the package to quickly pass both chambers of the Democratic-controlled California legislature and speed the money to drought-hit communities across the parched state within a matter of weeks. "Unlike a lot of problems we face here in Sacramento, this drought is not caused by partisan gridlock or ideology, it's caused by mother nature herself," Brown said. "This is serious. Today is a call for action." The measures, which also look to expand the recapture of storm runoff and the use and distribution of recycled water, would be paid for by voter-approved bonds and money transferred from other funds. Even as much of the United States has been pummeled by a series of snow storms, California is in the grip of a drought that threatens to inflict the worst water crisis in recorded state history. Drastic cutbacks in irrigation water could force farmers to idle hundreds of thousands of acres of cropland in a record production loss that industry officials say could cause billions of dollars in damages. California grows half the U.S. fruits and vegetables and is the top state by value of agricultural goods produced. Large-scale crop losses in the state could lead to higher consumer prices, especially for tree and vine produce grown only there. Brown has already urged Californians to reduce water consumption by 20 percent voluntarily, and irrigation districts and municipalities up and down the most-populous U.S. state Are bracing for sharp cuts in deliveries. 'DROP IN THE BUCKET'? "It is good to see the Governor and legislative Democrats step up to the plate with some funding for real needs, but their proposal is just a drop in the bucket," Republican Assembly leader Connie Conway and Frank Bigelow, Republican vice chair of the Assembly's Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, said in a joint statement. "It's clear that their approach won't make much of a dent in addressing our current drought problem until next year at the earliest, if then," they said. "More must be done to respond to the many pleas from the families, farmers and small business owners who are bearing the brunt of the extreme drought conditions plaguing our state." A spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council said Brown's proposal showed a commitment to helping communities diversify their water supplies in addition to providing emergency drinking water. "It tackles the immediate challenges we are facing as well as those will be ahead of us as California faces a drier future," said Steve Fleischli, the group's water program director. State officials have already launched a public awareness campaign, using radio spots to encourage conservation. Other measures include hiring more firefighters in the face of heightened wildfire risks. But 10 communities are at acute risk of running out of drinking water in 60 days, with the small city of Willits in the northern part of the state facing the most drastic shortages, according to public health officials. Rural communities where residents rely on wells are at particular risk because contaminants in groundwater become more concentrated when less water is available to dilute them, officials said. Last week, President Barack Obama announced nearly $200 million in aid for California, including $60 million for food banks to help workers in agriculture-related industries who have lost their jobs. Source - http://www.reuters.com/California Governor announced a $687 million drought-relief package on Wednesday to help residents, farm workers and local communities cope with a water shortage he called the worst in the state's modern history. California grows half the U.S. fruits and vegetables and is the top state by value of agricultural goods produced. Large-scale crop losses in the state could lead to higher consumer prices, especially for tree and vine produce grown only there.USA - California governor announces $687 million drought package

USA - Warm, dry weather brings strawberry crop on early, but ongoing drought a concern

USA - Warm, dry weather brings strawberry crop on early, but ongoing drought a concernWinter strawberries out of Southern California are normally an up-and-down, on-again-off-again proposition. There is generally some moderate production from mid-December through February before volume starts to build for the more reliable spring deal. But growers expect that there will ordinarily be some cold spells that slow down production and rain that disrupts the harvest from time to time during that period.Winter strawberries out of Southern California are normally an up-and-down, on-again-off-again proposition. There is generally some moderate production from mid-December through February before volume starts to build for the more reliable spring deal. But growers expect that there will ordinarily be some cold spells that slow down production and rain that disrupts the harvest from time to time during that period. Last year was an extreme example, as exceptionally cold winter weather caused what has been described by some as a disastrous season for strawberry growers in Oxnard, possibly a factor in an acreage reduction for the district this year. But this winter has been very different. Although the first week of December was cold, and there was some frost damage in some inland locations, the weather since has been ideal for strawberry growth. In fact, in most cases, the early December chill only strengthened and invigorated the plants. Since then, temperatures have ranged from normal to well above normal. In Oxnard, for example, several days in mid-January reached 85 degrees, a full 20 degrees above normal. That is bringing crops on earlier than usual. January weather was “I think … the warmest on record,” said Craig Moriyama, director of berry operations for Naturipe Berry Growers in Salinas, CA, Feb. 8. “Everything is pushed ahead,” with peak volume expected to be “earlier this year” if good weather continues. “The crop is setting up really good for March and April right now, from what we see out there.” Drought conditions in California, said by some to be the worst in a century, are a serious concern in many regards, but as of mid-February, the crops had not suffered rain damage so far this season. On Feb. 6, Oxnard saw first measurable rainfall since early November, but it was only a quarter of an inch and caused no damage to strawberries, sources said. Nor was it enough to help much. Santa Maria has been nearly as dry, but Watsonville received about two inches of rainfall over a four-day period Feb. 6-9. The AccuWeather long-range forecast Feb. 11 showed moderate to light amounts of rain off and on through March in all districts, with temperatures around normal to a little above normal. With warm temperatures and no interruptions from inclement weather, Oxnard shipments as of Feb. 9 stood at 14.6 million trays for the year, 3.8 million more than for the same period the year before, according to United States Department of Agriculture figures, the reduced acreage notwithstanding. Shipments were also up from 2012. In Santa Maria, some growers were already beginning to pick a few berries, about four weeks earlier than usual. Still, growers said in late January and early February that they did not expect to have as much volume for Valentine’s Day as the market would like. Valentine’s Day demand is so strong that probably that threshold has never been tested. While that gives a short-term boost to production by not disrupting the harvest, the potential long-term effects are causing growers great concern. “What comes with the drought is some things people don’t think about,” said Carolyn O’Donnell, communications director for the California Strawberry Commission. “In Southern California, they are harvesting already, so they are not so much concerned about plant establishment, but they usually count on a little bit of free water from Mother Nature. Not getting that means they are paying more for irrigation right now.” Growers also rely upon natural rainfall to leach salts out of the soil, something surface water and ground water irrigation don’t do, and strawberry plants are sensitive to salinity. Longer-term concerns are a lowering of the water table and, near the coast, increased saltwater intrusion and even sand intrusion into the wells. “Also interesting,” said O’Donnell, “and I heard this from a couple of growers in Ventura County,” is that unless there is occasional rainfall the plants get dusty, and that provides a favorable environment for mites. As a result, growers are “having the additional costs” of releasing predatory wasps into their fields earlier than they normally would “to keep the mites under control.” Growers are “working on ways to address those challenges,” she said. The drought is “very definitely a problem,” said Cindy Jewell, marketing director for California Giant Berry Farms in Watsonville, CA. “The growers are concerned. It is obviously very unusual not to have any rain at all” through the winter. “We are severely behind [in rainfall] which starts to factor into well water being a concern” with salt and sand intrusion into the wells. The dry weather is also “bringing pests into the field” more than is normal for the time of year, so growers are “having to apply some products” to battle the pests that they don’t usually have to use so early. Since there are limits to how much of those products can be used on a field, there is concern about whether they will be available to use later in the spring when they are typically needed. There is “a lot of uncertainty at this point,” she said. “We are in uncharted territory here.” California Giant normally hopes to go until June out of Oxnard with the strawberry harvest, but with the water uncertainty, “there is concern the season may be shorter than typical,” Jewell said. In Santa Maria, California Giant typically starts “walking the fields” in February and picking up volume in March, Jewell said Jan. 23. This year, the company had already picked its first strawberries in Santa Maria. For CBS Farms LLC in Watsonville, the Oxnard harvest started earlier than normal with good quality, according to Charlie Staka, director of sales. He expected volume to continue to increase through February and reach full production by the first or second week of March. Stuart Gilfenbain, who is in sales at Eclipse Berry Farms LLC in Los Angeles, said the Oxnard crop is off to a good start and he expects better volume than last year due to “perfect growing conditions” in contrast to last year’s “very cold” weather. “Right now, everything is A-OK,” said Louis Ivanovich, vice president of West Lake Fresh, a Watsonville-based strawberry brokerage, Jan. 23. The plants were looking good, he noted. But “if we don’t get some rain here during the season … it is certainly going to be a challenge for these growers to try to keep their plants at peak performance.” That could be even more of a problem for the summer months “as we get up here into the northern districts.” Strawberry plants are “very sensitive to the quality of the water that is used,” he said. Unless there is some rain to help “get the salts out of the soil” and also to “dilute the salinity” in the aquifers, “it can hurt production.” For the last few years, labor has been the No. 1 issue on growers’ minds, he said. This year, water is No. 1 and labor has dropped to the No. 2 concern. “Normally we don’t pray for rain during the strawberry season,” Ivanovich said. But the situation is “getting very desperate.” Source - http://www.producenews.com/

USA - Agricultural Productivity Loss Due To Soil And Crop Damage From Flooding

USA - Agricultural Productivity Loss Due To Soil And Crop Damage From FloodingThe Cache River Basin, which once drained more than 614,100 acres across six southern Illinois counties, has changed substantively since the ancient Ohio River receded. The basin contains a slow-moving, meandering river; fertile soils and productive farmlands; deep sand and gravel deposits; sloughs and uplands; and one of the most unique and diverse natural habitats in Illinois and the nation.The Cache River Basin, which once drained more than 614,100 acres across six southern Illinois counties, has changed substantively since the ancient Ohio River receded. The basin contains a slow-moving, meandering river; fertile soils and productive farmlands; deep sand and gravel deposits; sloughs and uplands; and one of the most unique and diverse natural habitats in Illinois and the nation. According to a recent University of Illinois study, the region’s agricultural lands dodged a bullet due to the timing of the great flood of April 2011 when the Ohio River approached the record high of 332.2 feet above sea level. “The floodwaters eventually drained back into the Ohio River and upper Mississippi River ultimately leaving approximately 1,000 acres of agricultural land flooded from a backup in the middle and lower Cache River Valley, which flooded the adjacent forest-covered alluvial soils and the slightly higher cultivated soils,” said U of I researcher Ken Olson. According to Olson, who has studied the effects of that particular flood extensively, these cultivated soils drained by the middle of June 2011 and were planted to soybeans. The floodwaters left a thin silt and clay deposition on the agricultural lands and crop residue when they receded. These coatings included significant amounts of soil organic carbon, microbes, and pathogens. After the coatings dried, they were incorporated into the topsoil layer of the alluvial soils using tillage equipment. “Because the flooding occurred during the non-growing season for corn and soybeans, the mixing in of sediment into the topsoil prior to planting resulted in little significant loss of soil productivity, little soybean damage, or yield reduction on lands outside the levees along the Mississippi, Cache, and Ohio rivers,” Olson said. As a result of the record Ohio River flood level, floodwaters passed north through the Post Creek cut-off, then west through the 2002 Karnak breach and into the middle Cache River valley to the Diversion to Mississippi River, which was already above flood stage so the floodwaters continued west. In late April, the Ohio River floodwaters then started to flood the towns of Olive Branch and Miller City, the Horseshoe Lake area, and surrounding agricultural lands. On May 2, 2011, the Len Small levee on the Mississippi River failed and resulted in the flooding of an additional 30,000 acres of Illinois public and private lands. Illinois agricultural statistics recorded the harvest of 4,500 fewer acres of corn and 6,500 fewer acres of soybeans in Alexander County in 2011. Soybean production was 1,200,000 bushels in 2010 but dropped to 865,000 bushels in 2011 due to flooding from both the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and crop and soil damage. The floodwaters also scoured lands in some places and deposited sand in other locations. Olson cautioned that, had winter wheat been planted outside the levees in the fall of 2010, the wheat crop would have drowned. “Illinois farmers are aware of the flooding potential, especially in the winter and early spring, so they don’t plant winter wheat on unprotected bottomlands,” he said. “Consequently, there was no crop loss outside the levees in April and May of 2011. Local floodwater in the lower Cache River Valley, south of the Mississippi River Diversion and Dike, could not flow back into the Ohio River. It was blocked by the Cache River levee on the south side and by the closed gate at the Ohio River levee. Instead, water backed up and flooded forested and agricultural lands along the lower Cache River and north of the Cache River levee,” Olson said. Olson said that the damage to the land could have been much worse. “Land use changes, diversion ditches and levees, loss of wetlands and flood-holding capacity, internal channelization of the Cache River and tributaries, and an ever-changing climate have altered the hydrology of the valley, redistributed soil from fields and ditch banks into the river, and transported tons of sediment during flooding events into both the Ohio and Mississippi rivers,” Olson said. As the 2011 Ohio River floodwater reclaimed its ancient floodway, Olson says that the extent of these hydrologic changes and their social, economic, and environmental impacts have become more apparent. “The Great Flood of 2011 lends urgency to the reevaluation and implementation of the Cache River Watershed Resource Plan completed in 1995,” Olson said. He cited nine resource concerns that were identified: erosion, open dumping, private property rights, water quality, continuation of government farm conservation programs, Post Creek Cutoff stream bank erosion, open flow on the Cache River, dissemination of accurate and timely information throughout the watershed, and the impacts of wildlife on farming and vice versa. “Most of these concerns still need to be addressed,” Olson said. “Since that plan was created, there have been additional compromises/breaches that need to be repaired. As the repair and rebuilding of the valley infrastructure is undertaken, there will need to be a significant investment of human and financial resources to reduce the impacts of future catastrophic events.” Source - http://www.redorbit.com/

Turkey - Agriculture sector hit by dry weather

Turkey - Agriculture sector hit by dry weatherThe serious threat of drought that Turkey faces due to a lack of precipitation this year is already affecting Turkey's agriculture sector, with the 2014 wheat harvest at particular risk of underperforming and possible crop failures in a number of grain-growing regions. The poor rainfall this year may see Turkey's agricultural exports down and imports up. Drought may also put employment levels in the agricultural sector, the second largest source of employment in the Turkish economy, under pressure.The serious threat of drought that Turkey faces due to a lack of precipitation this year is already affecting Turkey's agriculture sector, with the 2014 wheat harvest at particular risk of underperforming and possible crop failures in a number of grain-growing regions, according to a recent report published by the Oxford Business Group (OBG), a global publishing, research and consultancy firm. The OBG show that poor rainfall this year may see Turkey's agricultural exports down and imports up. Drought may also put employment levels in the agricultural sector, the second largest source of employment in the Turkish economy, under pressure. One of Europe's largest wheat producers, Turkey harvested a record 22.1 metric tons in 2013, according to the Turkish Statistics Institution (TurkStat). While much of this is for domestic consumption, Turkey exports to a number of countries both in the region and further afield, including to markets in Asia, with the Philippines and Indonesia among its major buyers, the report stated, adding that Turkey is an importer of some varieties of wheat, in particular durum wheat, used for producing pasta. Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers (TZOB) President Şemsi Bayraktar recently told that the lack of rain and snow has already affected grain yields, adding that farmers are looking forward to rain coming as soon as possible. “The growers are very concerned because their grain crops did not get enough rainfall in November and December,” Bayraktar said, adding that according to the information they received from TZOB branches across the country, some planted seeds failed to grow due to the lack of water. The majority of Turkey's wheat crop is planted in early to mid-winter, germinating before the coldest part of the season, then lying dormant until early spring before resuming its growth cycle, with harvests in June or early July. Given the timing of the planting, it is more dependent than most other crops on winter rains and snowfall to provide water for initial growth and then on further rains in spring to sustain growth. According to data released by the State Waterworks Authority (DSİ), the average cumulative precipitation between Oct. 1, 2013, and Jan. 2, 2014, across Turkey decreased drastically in comparison to previous years and experts are concerned because Turkey faces a serious threat of drought this year due to the lack of rain and snow. In the last three months of 2013, rainfall across the country was down 31.4 percent on average, and almost 42 percent below the figure for the preceding year. The OBG data indicate that if the spring rains follow a similar pattern to that of winter, Turkey will face problems of water shortages both in its cities and in the agricultural sector. As of mid-January, the average water storage volume in the country's dams was just over 35 percent, well below the 64 percent in the same month of 2013. The shortage of water in some parts of the country is becoming acute. Yavuz Tezcan, the head of the Ceyhan Chamber of Agriculture in the southern province of Adana, recently warned that up to half the expected harvest of 2 million tons of wheat in the Çukurova region, which accounts for some 10 percent of Turkey's wheat production, could be lost if there are no significant rainfalls in February. Tezcan added that the province of Konya, traditionally the center of the country's wheat belt, has also been affected by drought. The report also reveals that even if spring does bring significant rainfall, it may be too late for some drought-affected regions where the seed grain has failed to sprout due to dry conditions in early winter. “Turkey can increase its grain imports to cover any shortfall, but putting bread on the table will come at a price,” the report stated. Over the past year the value of the lira has dropped by around 25 percent against the dollar, the main currency for international grain sales, while the expected poor harvest will mean Turkey will not be able to rely on exports to offset these costs. Drought may also have a negative impact on inflation. A recent TurkStat figure stated that the consumer price index (CPI) registered its highest increase in 26 months in January by rising 1.72 percent over the previous month due to rising food prices amid tough weather conditions, the depreciating lira and tax hikes. Analysts expect the upward pressure on inflation to continue in upcoming months due to the continuing drought and exchange rate transitivity. The CPI outstripped previous expectations; a Reuters poll had suggested the increase would be 1.6 percent. Food prices, which have the biggest bearing on headline inflation, saw the largest monthly rise of all categories since 2003. Source - http://en.cihan.com.tr/