Agroinsurance

GM corn to be grown in Europe: EU due to approve cultivation of pest-resistant maize despite fierce opposition

Eurocrats are due to rubber-stamp the cultivation of the first genetically modified crop in nearly two decades, despite the opposition of 19 countries. A new pest-resistant maize will be approved for commercial planting by the European Commission in the coming months. It will be the first GM crop to be given the go-ahead since 1998, and only the second to be commercially grown in Europe.Eurocrats are due to rubber-stamp the cultivation of the first genetically modified crop in nearly two decades, despite the opposition of 19 countries. A new pest-resistant maize will be approved for commercial planting by the European Commission in the coming months. It will be the first GM crop to be given the go-ahead since 1998, and only the second to be commercially grown in Europe. Critics say that tampering with the genes in crops to create ‘Frankenstein foods’ could damage natural ecosystems or even affect human health. Yesterday the representatives of 19 governments tried to block the development in the EU General Affairs Council. But because of complex voting rules, it was not enough to stop the approval.Now the application for commercial planting will go to the unelected European Commission, which is legally obliged to approve it. David Lidington, Britain’s Europe Minister, voted in favour of the application - one of just five country representatives to do so. Four abstained. Under EU rules each nation is given voting points depending on their population sizes. To block the application the representatives of roughly 75 per cent of European population needed to vote against - but only 52 per cent did so.The British Government is fiercely in favour of GM food, despite strong consumer concerns. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said last month that Europe risked ‘becoming the museum of world farming’ if it continued to oppose GM technology. Of the maize proposal, he said: ‘If approval is granted, as it should be based on the scientific evidence, then it will be the first GM food crop authorised for planting by the EU for 15 years. ‘Delays and blockages have been politically-motivated rather than based on evidence.’ The new crop - called Pioneer 1507 and developed by DuPont and Dow Chemical - is unlikely to be grown in Britain because the insects it has been bred to resist do not live in the country. European Health Commissioner Tonio Borg said extensive research had shown the crop, whose developers first applied for authorisation in 2001, was safe.DuPont Pioneer said in a statement that the EU had ‘a legal obligation to itself, to its farmers and scientists and to its trade partners’ to support the approval of safe new agricultural products. EU authorities have only ever approved two other GM crops for commercial cultivation - a different maize and a potato. The potato was later blocked by a court. Campaigners last night said the European Commission should not approve the development - despite rules which oblige it to do so because not enough countries had voted to block it. Greenpeace agriculture policy director Marco Contiero said: ‘The Commission cannot ignore the scientific, political and legal concerns voiced by a large majority of countries, by two thirds of the European Parliament and supported by most EU citizens. ‘The European Court of Justice would very likely overturn an authorisation of this GM maize in a legal challenge, as it did with the latest Commission approval of the Amflora GM potato. ‘The Commission must learn from its mistakes and stop breaching the rules that help ensure the safety of what is grown in Europe.’ Emma Hockridge, head of policy at organic campaign group the Soil Association, said: ‘Recent research by the EU’s own safety authority has shown that the GM maize poses a risk to certain species of butterflies and moths. ‘GM crops do not benefit farmers, consumers or the environment; only a handful of seed and chemical companies.’Liz O’Neill, director of GM Freeze, said: ‘Pioneer 1507 maize is unnecessary and unwelcome. Despite 13 years in the application process, there are still too many unanswered questions about its impact on the natural environment and potential harm to human health. ‘Now that 19 European nations have given a clear signal that they do not want Pioneer 1507 grown on their doorstep, we sincerely hope that the European Commission upholds that view by rejecting DuPont’s application.’ Source - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ GM corn to be grown in Europe: EU due to approve cultivation of pest-resistant maize despite fierce opposition

Россия - Угрозы повреждений посевов морозами в I декаде февраля не было

South America - Market eyes improving weather

South America - Market eyes improving weatherSouth American (SAM) weather has improved significantly over the past week, with a turn from warm/dry in southern production areas of southern Brazil and Argentina to a cool/wet forecast for the coming two weeks. That is a major change in the forecast for SAM at a critical time in their development, especially since January was warm and dry for Argentina. The last half of January was also warm and dry for southern Brazil, and continued for a week into February as well. But now SAM weather forecasts remain cool and wet for the coming 14 days that will likely lead to an improvement in crop conditions in southern South America. South American (SAM) weather has improved significantly over the past week, with a turn from warm/dry in southern production areas of southern Brazil and Argentina to a cool/wet forecast for the coming two weeks. That is a major change in the forecast for SAM at a critical time in their development, especially since January was warm and dry for Argentina (causing a cut in Argentine production). The last half of January was also warm and dry for southern Brazil, and continued for a week into February as well. But now SAM weather forecasts remain cool and wet for the coming 14 days that will likely lead to an improvement in crop conditions in southern South America, especially Argentina and southern Brazil. There will remain a small pocket of dry weather in east-central Brazil, but the rest of the country will enjoy nearly perfect weather for filling soybean pods. Overall, that is negative the market as weather is turning back to more ideal for South America at a critical time. This is likely to lead to further hikes in Brazilian production, and will likely end the cuts to Argentine production estimates so that overall SAM production estimates will probably grow in future reports. In Monday's USDA February report, they raised SAM soybean production 0.5 mmt by hiking Brazil production 1 mmt and lowering Argentina's by 0.5 mmt. As we had said in the last month, northern Brazil production conditions have been ideal with cool and wet weather, while southern Brazil and Argentina had some crop stress that likely hurt yields. In soybeans, USDA agreed and raised the SAM production prospects. In corn, though, USDA left Brazil corn unchanged at 70 mmt, but dropped Argentine corn by 1 mmt to 24 mmt for a net cut of 1 mmt. That was friendly the corn market, but it pressured soybeans along with the improving SAM forecast. USDA's U.S. changes to S/D table included hikes in exports of 150 mb corn, 50 mb wheat, and 15 mb soybeans. That cut corn and wheat ending stocks like amounts (which was friendly), but USDA hiked soybean imports 5 mb and cut residual 10 mb to leave ending stocks there unchanged. World corn ending stocks were cut likewise as U.S. numbers, while soybean ending stocks were hiked 0.6 mmt (about the SAM increase in production), while wheat was cut 1 mmt. Overall, that left the soybean market 6c lower Monday, corn down 1c, and wheat up 7-13c. The market focus continues to be on South American weather as it should be this time of year, but also is focused on the demand picture for U.S. exports. Lately they continue to be outstanding, which is why USDA took the liberty of raising U.S. export projections in the February report. This continues to play out in the market, with ending stocks of corn being reduced again to below 1.5 billion bushels, back down to below the five-year average of stocks/use ratios. That is supporting corn prices, and the upside daily reversal formed in the January report day continues to provide support to the market. Corn prices continue to rise on this base of technical support, and that is bullish the market. Source - http://www.agriculture.com/

Philippines - P415,552 for crop losses

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist released P655,911 in crop insurance to 24 rice farmers and their multi-purpose cooperative in San Enrique town, Negros Occidental, recently, Ma. Alona Abang, Agriculturist II, said yesterday. The aid was released through the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program and the Weather Adverse Rice Area, Abang said. She also said P82,547 was given to 18 individual farmers through NFUCIP while P10,618 was distributed to six farmers through WARA. Meanwhile, P562,746 was given to the San Enrique Multi-Purpose Cooperative, also through WARA, she said. NFUCIP, that was launched in August in 2010 by Secretary Proceso Alcala, already covers damage to crops in previous months. Abang said the crop insurance offers protection to farmers against losses from plant diseases, pest infestation, and natural calamities, reduce the impact of damage from calamities and attain food security and agricultural productivity. Aside from crop insurance, farmers also have free health care benefit through the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program, Abang added. Source - http://www.visayandailystar.com/The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist released P655,911 in crop insurance to 24 rice farmers and their multi-purpose cooperative in San Enrique town, Negros Occidental. The aid was released through the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program and the Weather Adverse Rice Area. Also P82,547 was given to 18 individual farmers through NFUCIP while P10,618 was distributed to six farmers through WARA. Meanwhile, P562,746 was given to the San Enrique Multi-Purpose Cooperative, also through WARA. Philippines - P415,552 for crop losses

Brazil’s record harvest: grains, soybeans, and cattle to see interesting 2014

Brazil is bullish on its agriculture. That’s the message on Tuesday from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, marking the start of the 2013-2014 harvest season. The ministry anticipates a record year for Brazilian agriculture and the agribusiness sector. The ministry forecasts a record harvest of 90 million tons of soybeans, which could help it overtake the U.S. as the world’s top soybean producer. The 193 million tons of projected harvested grain also moves Brazil closer to the ranks of the world’s top food producers, a circle dominated by the U.S., China and India, among others. For Brazil’s massive agribusiness industry, gross domestic product could grow 4 percent in 2014 to about 1 trillion Brazilian reais ($416 billion). If that projection is met, the sector’s GDP will have grown 34 percent in 10 years, according to the Brazilian government. That business accounts for 23 percent of the country’s economy now. The sector exported goods (including meat, soybean and maize) worth $99 billion last year, or more than 40 percent of all Brazilian products sold to other countries. But bumper Brazilian harvests could flood global markets and dampen global commodity prices, even as Brazilian exporters see better sales. Large grain harvests in South America and the U.S. should pressure prices by the second half of 2014, London’s Capital Economics wrote in a note on Tuesday. “We are not anticipating that prices will plummet again, as they did over the last year,” wrote Tom Pugh, their commodities economist. “But we do continue to expect ample supply to pull prices down gradually.” The drag on prices comes despite strong rising demand for grain. Global oversupply of agricultural commodities has been a key theme for investors and analysts early this year, though uncertain weather in Brazil has boosted commodities like coffee. “We’ve seen the big influence of weather in the cattle markets, dairy markets and grain markets recently,” Brazil’s Scot Consultoria analyst Rafael Ribeiro told IBTimes. “Hot temperatures and lack of rainfall are important factors for soybean and corn.” Brazil has seen the hottest January on record in some of its most productive regions, with scarce rain. That has sparked abrupt price swings for some grains and led to revised production forecasts. Initial estimates for soybean production have been revised anywhere from 10 to 15 percent downwards, to 40 to 50 percent less, depending on the region, according to Ribeiro. That highlights the uncertainty traders face when forecasting grain prices, which depend heavily on fickle weather patterns. Brazil’s official Conab agency cut its grain harvest projections in a report on Tuesday, and its March report may show further downward revisions, said Ribeiro. Meanwhile, influential investors like Dennis Gartman have said they are bearish on Brazilian soybeans. “There’s going to be a huge increase in the amount of acreage planted in soybeans. And it will come out of cotton, it will come out of corn,” said Gartman at a New York commodities conference in September 2013. “You want to look into the 2015 crop year. I think you want to be short of 2015 beans, long of 2015 cotton.” Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was on hand on Tuesday to celebrate the coming harvest. She highlighted government investment and credit for the sector, touting this year’s plan as the most comprehensive ever. “For this season, we have committed 136 billion reais,” said Rousseff. “If we spend more, we´ll have more.” Source - http://www.ibtimes.com/Brazil’s record harvest: grains, soybeans, and cattle to see interesting 2014Brazil is bullish on its agriculture.That’s the message on Tuesday from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, marking the start of the 2013-2014 harvest season. The ministry anticipates a record year for Brazilian agriculture and the agribusiness sector. The ministry forecasts a record harvest of 90 million tons of soybeans, which could help it overtake the U.S. as the world’s top soybean producer.

USA - Snow and cold not a problem for strawberries - and bugs

At least the recent spate of wintry weather is good for strawberries. If there is any upside at all to the extended snow and cold, it is that the snow acts as a blanket to some plants, including strawberries. But the extension office is concerned about blackberries and peaches in this area. Plant insulation might be one of the few upsides to this year's colder-than-normal temperatures and snow. Corn farmers might look forward to possibly fewer corn rootworms this summer; however, homeowners won't see any real reduction in household pests.At least the recent spate of wintry weather is good for strawberries. If there is any upside at all to the extended snow and cold, it is that the snow acts as a blanket to some plants, including strawberries. "The snow helps things that are low to the ground," says Elizabeth Wahle of the University of Illinois Extension office. But Wahle said the extension office is concerned about blackberries and peaches in this area. "What we usually see are the crops that we want to keep are the ones that are the most sensitive," she said. Plant insulation might be one of the few upsides to this year's colder-than-normal temperatures and snow. Corn farmers might look forward to possibly fewer corn rootworms this summer; however, homeowners won't see any real reduction in household pests. Weeds -- plants most homeowners may want to die off -- are "well-adapted" to the area's conditions, and are likely to re-emerge in the spring, she said. For homeowners with a peach tree or blackberry plant, Wahle recommended putting some kind of shelter over the plant, but admitted there just isn't any easy way. Any plant rated as hardy in this part of the country is going to be fine, Wahle said. For others, it's hit or miss. "It's the nature of plants; you just accept that you don't get a crop every year." Wahle said that a hard frost after plant buds or flowers start to emerge is more detrimental to the plant, and more likely than February's cold to prevent production of flowers, berries or nuts this year. Is the cold detrimental to insects? Not necessarily. "The two-word answer is, 'It's complicated'," said Richard Levine, program manager at the Entomological Society of America. Think of it this way, he said: Alaska and Minnesota are known for extrememly cold winters, and also for mosquitoes. "Even if cold does come and knock out 50 percent of the population, these things lay a lot of eggs," Levine said. Insect populations can bounce back pretty quickly, even if more than half are wiped out." Michael E. Gray, an entomologist at the University of Illinois, said crop pests handle extreme cold in two ways: They migrate southward or they hibernate, usually underground. Either way, most are protected. Gray said the corn rootworm, a big threat to corn production, lays eggs 4 to 8 inches deep in the soil, or even deeper. The cold might kill some corn rootworm eggs that are more shallow, but those laid deeper are probably safe. That said, Gray "would anticipate some egg mortality." Temperatures recently have not been normal, according to Mark Britt of the National Weather Service. Typically, early to mid February has highs in the low- to mid-40s; and lows in the mid-20s. Friday's high was 20 degrees, and single-digit lows returned Monday. By the end of February, the normal high is 50 degrees, he said. The cold is coming straight here directly from the North Pole, Britt said, between a high-pressure area in the West and a "deep trough" in the East. Those two things combine to make a path for the cold dry air to blast "across the pole, into Canada and across the United States." "We need spring to occur," Britt said, or a breakdown of the current weather pattern to a "flat" pattern that allows air flow from west to east. The bright spot for Wahle is apple trees: "We have an apple crop so far," she said. So far, that is, because Wahle is concerned that once spring comes, the plants will bloom and then be hit with a killing frost. "I'm not trying to borrow trouble," she said, "but we're only halfway through winter." Or, 39 days until the first day of spring, to be exact. Source - http://www.bnd.com/USA - Snow and cold not a problem for strawberries - and bugs

Canada - Crop insurance yields changes

Canada - Crop insurance yields changesImprovements to the program for 2014 include a pilot program to provide yieldloss coverage for corn in the east central and southeast areas of the province. In addition, the establishment benefit feature has also been expanded to include coverage for corn at $65 per acre. For the first time, durum and barley will be eligible for yield trending. Yield trending recognizes agronomic advancements and increases a producer's historical yields, which improves coverage. Also new in 2014, crop insurance will include a bee mortality insurance pilot program. Additional program enhancements include increasing the base grade for flax.Details of the 2014 crop insurance program were announced Monday by federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart. Improvements to the program for 2014 include a pilot program to provide yieldloss coverage for corn in the east central and southeast areas of the province. In addition, the establishment benefit feature has also been expanded to include coverage for corn at $65 per acre. For the first time, durum and barley will be eligible for yield trending. Yield trending recognizes agronomic advancements and increases a producer's historical yields, which improves coverage. Yields for durum will increase 8.6 per cent and barley yields will increase 3.5 per cent, on average. Yield trending will also continue on canola, fall rye, winter wheat, hard red spring wheat, hard white spring wheat and oats. This feature has resulted in the average coverage for canola increasing by nearly 20 per cent, oats by 15 per cent and hard red spring wheat by 10 per cent. Also new in 2014, crop insurance will include a bee mortality insurance pilot program. The program will cover loss of bees over the winter as a result of naturally occurring causes that are beyond the control of producers. Additional program enhancements include increasing the base grade for flax, adding field peas to the contract price option and expanding the number of crops eligible for vegetable insurance. Crop insurance enhancements made in previous years, such as expanded coverage for soybeans, the unseeded acreage benefit and yield cushioning, will also continue in 2014. Crop insurance is being made easier for producers to use online by launching a new online system called CropConnect. CropConnect provides crop insurance customers the flexibility of completing their business online, from a home computer or mobile device, including adding land to a contract, filling out forms, calculating their premium and coverage levels, reporting production data and filing claims. Crop insurance coverage for 2014 is $162 per acre, on average, the fourth-highest coverage in program history. Crop insurance premiums for 2014 average $7.47 per acre, a 25 per cent reduction from 2013. The lower coverage and premium is largely the result of lower forecasted crop prices in 2014-15. Source - http://www.leaderpost.com/

Australia - Dramatic drop in crop production tells story of drought

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce is using a new crop report from a Federal bureau to gently push his case that primary producers in Queensland and New South Wales need urgent assistance. The latest report from national experts at the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, or ABARES, found Australia's summer crops - including sorghum - hard hit by drought and "poor conditions". Nationally, grain sorghum production is to fall by 36%, rice by 22% and cotton by 8%. The grain-sorghum industry in Queensland is worth more than $300 million, with crops stretching from St George in the south west, across the Darling Downs and through Central Queensland. In Western Australia, the outlook for winter crops appears strong although again, NSW is forecast to cop a 14% hit to production while Queensland's fall will be closer to 20%. The Nationals minister Joyce said the ABARES report "provides a stark insight" into what producers were facing. When crops struggle in summer, sometimes a profitable winter crop helps cushion the impact for growers. Mr Joyce said plenty of producers were now struggling all year round. "Our hearts really go out to those families doing it tough this year," Mr Joyce said. "In many cases their commitment to Australian agriculture isn't measured in years, but in generations. "The value of that commitment is clear in the long term. "We need to ensure that it is not broken in the short term." Mr Joyce and the Nationals have been pushing Cabinet to support more help for producers reeling from unyielding drought conditions, particularly in parts of Queensland and NSW. Source - http://www.gattonstar.com.au/The latest report from national experts at the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, or ABARES, found Australia's summer crops - including sorghum - hard hit by drought and "poor conditions". Nationally, grain sorghum production is to fall by 36%, rice by 22% and cotton by 8%. The grain-sorghum industry in Queensland is worth more than $300 million. In Western Australia, the outlook for winter crops appears strong although again, NSW is forecast to cop a 14% hit to production while Queensland's fall will be closer to 20%.Australia - Dramatic drop in crop production tells story of drought

USA - Mysterious pest threatening billion-dollar Texas crop

A tiny bug that has mystified Texas farmers and agriculture researchers is threatening to eat a big hole in the state's economy. According to a news release from Texas A&M University, the insect of unknown origin - which measures about 1/16 inch - is poised to inflict big damage to the billion-dollar Texas grain sorghum crop. "For now, we're calling this pest the sugarcane aphid," Raul Villanueva, an entomologist with A&M's AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, said in the release.A tiny bug that has mystified Texas farmers and agriculture researchers is threatening to eat a big hole in the state's economy. According to a news release from Texas A&M University, the insect of unknown origin - which measures about 1/16 inch - is poised to inflict big damage to the billion-dollar Texas grain sorghum crop. "For now, we're calling this pest the sugarcane aphid," Raul Villanueva, an entomologist with A&M's AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, said in the release. It was first seen last year, but researchers don't know if it's new or if it just switched hosts, from sugarcane to grain sorghum, Villanueva said. Grain sorghum in Texas is typically used in cattle feed. It's a relatively inexpensive crop and easier to grow than cotton, the release said. Now, there's no approved control for it, although an insecticide called Transform WG was found effective against it, Villanueva said. The Texas Department of Agriculture has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for an emergency exemption to use Transform WG on grain sorghum, the release said. Researchers are also considering using the insect's natural enemies, such as ladybugs, lacewings and sweat flies, Villanueva said. But sugarcane aphids reproduce so fast, these biological controls may not be effective, he said. The sugarcane aphid was first detected in 1977 in Florida, where it stayed until 1999, when it showed up in Louisiana. It was well established in the two states but didn't cause major crop damage, according to the release. Suddenly last year, the sugarcane aphid was discovered in grain sorghum in the Beaumont area, as well as other parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Mexico, Villanueva said. It quickly caused severe damage in all these areas, he said. "In some fields, crops were completely wiped out," he said. This year, Texas is expected to have an especially large sorghum crop, with some growers switching to it because of drought and good grain prices, the release said. Statewide, the grain sorghum crop is worth $974 million to growers, with a total economic impact of $2 billion, according to Luis Ribera, an AgriLife Extension agricultural economist in Weslaco. Source - http://www.chron.com/USA - Mysterious pest threatening billion-dollar Texas crop

South American Soybean Harvest Seen Lower by Oil World on Heat

Soybean production in South America may be as much as 5 million metric tons less than previously expected because of damage from hot, dry weather in Brazil and Argentina, Oil World said. Production on the continent may be 3 million to 5 million tons less than most analysts were anticipating four to five weeks ago, the Hamburg-based researcher said, without providing a new forecast for total South American output.Soybean production in South America may be as much as 5 million metric tons less than previously expected because of damage from hot, dry weather in Brazil and Argentina, Oil World said. Production on the continent may be 3 million to 5 million tons less than most analysts were anticipating four to five weeks ago, the Hamburg-based researcher said, without providing a new forecast for total South American output. Oil World said in a report released Jan. 28 that the soybean harvest in the top five South American producers would be a record 158.8 million tons, 9.6 percent larger than the prior year. “Unusually dry and hot conditions have resulted in partly irreversible damage in several parts of Brazil and Paraguay,” Oil World said. “In Argentina, it was partly too dry during the past four to six weeks and has now become much too wet in parts of the major production belt, creating local flooding and jeopardizing soybeans and other crops.” Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade, the global benchmark, climbed 3.8 percent last week, the biggest weekly gain since August, amid concerns about South American output. The oilseed slid 8.3 percent last year on the outlook for record global production. Crops in Brazil, the top soybean exporter, experienced heat stress primarily in the state of Goias, as well as parts of Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais and Parana, while weather has been too dry in Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo and Bahia states, Oil World said. The country’s total soybean production may be 2 million to 3 million tons smaller than most analysts expected four to five weeks ago, it said. The researcher last month pegged Brazil’s crop at a record 89.5 million tons. Argentina’s Crop Output in Argentina, the second-biggest South American producer, may be between 53 million and 54 million tons, less than earlier estimates of 54 million to 55 million tons, according to the report. Oil World said it cut its forecast for Paraguay’s crop to 9 million tons. That compares with an estimate of 9.3 million tons in the report released Jan. 28. South American soybean exports were “comparatively small” in January at about 551,000 tons, while shipments probably will accelerate this month, Oil World aid. Brazil may export as much as 2.7 million tons in February, compared with 1 million tons at the same time last year, while analysts are waiting to see if infrastructure bottlenecks delay some shipments, it said. In Argentina, farmers are holding soybeans as a hedge against currency depreciation, selling only 3.1 million tons of their new crop so far, the smallest forward sales in more than 10 years, Oil World said. Farmers still haven’t sold about 8 million tons of soybeans from last year’s harvest, it said. “The lack of significant selling pressure from Argentina and the alarming reduction of soybean stocks in the U.S. would be supportive for the global soybean and soya meal markets in the near to medium term,” Oil World said, adding that it sees “considerable price pressure unfolding only once supplies start outpacing demand, allowing stocks to recover in the producing and importing countries.” Source - http://www.bloomberg.com/South American Soybean Harvest Seen Lower by Oil World on Heat

UK - Jersey Royal potato planting suspended by heavy rain

UK - Jersey Royal potato planting suspended by heavy rainSustained heavy rain and poor weather conditions has put the planting of Jersey Royal potatoes on hold. The crop, which was worth nearly £30m to the island in exports last year, depends on an early harvest to maintain its value. Heavy rain has left fields far too wet for the sowing of seed potatoes. Jersey's main benefit was the fact it was able to get potatoes out earlier then parts of the UK, but any delay reduced their "exclusive window" and increased competition for shelf space.Sustained heavy rain and poor weather conditions has put the planting of Jersey Royal potatoes on hold. The crop, which was worth nearly £30m to the island in exports last year, depends on an early harvest to maintain its value. Heavy rain has left fields far too wet for the sowing of seed potatoes. William Church from the Jersey Royal Company said he expects there to be repercussions for farmers' profits later in the year. "It has been a very wet couple of weeks, it has disrupted planting, we normally plant from the beginning of the year to the end of March," he said. "The knock-on effect is that around the beginning of May, when we expect to have more potatoes exported, we will have to work with what we already have. "We do have a couple of hundred staff standing around not doing much at the moment waiting for a full day of dry weather to dry out the fields so we can plant again." He said it would put farmers behind schedule, but that they were able to get a number of royals planted throughout January. Mr Church said Jersey's main benefit was the fact it was able to get potatoes out earlier then parts of the UK, but any delay reduced their "exclusive window" and increased competition for shelf space. "The potato price comes down the later you get in the season, in the UK they produce cheaper potatoes than we do so we have to beat them on timing." There was a drop in the number of Jersey Royals exported in 2012. The number of Jersey Royals sold or exported fell from 30,890 tonnes in 2011, worth £30.8m, to 28,600 tonnes in 2012, worth £28.6m. In 2013, the harvest was delayed until May due to cold weather and heavy snowfall. Mr Church said: "If a farmer gave up after something goes against him then you would never have anyone farming." Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk/

USA - Drought begets early start to California wildfire season

SAN FRANCISCO — California’s worst drought in decades is feeding what may become a devastating wildfire season, one that is starting about five months early. Extremely dry conditions have sparked 487 wildfires so far in 2014, compared with only 2 for the same period a year ago, according to the state Forestry and Fire Protection Department, known as Cal Fire. Potential power failures, home losses, lost tourism dollars and crop damage could jeopardize the world’s 10th largest economy as California struggles to emerge from the deepest recession since the 1930s. “Having this occur statewide is unprecedented, certainly in my career,” Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott, who started out as a firefighter almost 30 years ago, said in a telephone interview last week. “We anticipate the potential for a very long and sustained fire season throughout the rest of the year.” Fires could damage critical power lines and cause blackouts, disrupt water supplies and destroy sensitive ecosystems, said Bill Stewart, a forestry specialist at the University of California at Berkeley. Last year, prolonged dry conditions led to the third-largest fire in California’s history. The “Rim Fire” shut power lines and hydroelectric generators, charred parts of Yosemite National Park and threatened the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir watershed, which supplies 85 percent of the drinking water to San Francisco. Fires could even pose a risk for the state’s $22 billion wine industry. In 2008, smoke from smoldering wildfires in Mendocino County contaminated crops of pinot noir grapes, said Bill Pauli, a grower and general partner of Yokayo Wine Company in Ukiah, Calif. “Some wines had the odor of someone who had been standing next to a barbecue,” Pauli said in a telephone interview. “It was not a good situation and we all hope it doesn’t happen again.” Source - http://www.pressherald.com/USA - Drought begets early start to California wildfire seasonSAN FRANCISCO — California’s worst drought in decades is feeding what may become a devastating wildfire season, one that is starting about five months early. Extremely dry conditions have sparked 487 wildfires so far in 2014, compared with only 2 for the same period a year ago, according to the state Forestry and Fire Protection Department, known as Cal Fire. Potential power failures, home losses, lost tourism dollars and crop damage could jeopardize the world’s 10th largest economy as California struggles to emerge from the deepest recession since the 1930s. “Having this occur statewide is unprecedented, certainly in my career,” Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott, who started out as a firefighter almost 30 years ago, said in a telephone interview last week. “We anticipate the potential for a very long and sustained fire season throughout the rest of the year.” Fires could damage critical power lines and cause blackouts, disrupt water supplies and destroy sensitive ecosystems, said Bill Stewart, a forestry specialist at the University of California at Berkeley. Last year, prolonged dry conditions led to the third-largest fire in California’s history. The “Rim Fire” shut power lines and hydroelectric generators, charred parts of Yosemite National Park and threatened the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir watershed, which supplies 85 percent of the drinking water to San Francisco. Fires could even pose a risk for the state’s $22 billion wine industry. In 2008, smoke from smoldering wildfires in Mendocino County contaminated crops of pinot noir grapes, said Bill Pauli, a grower and general partner of Yokayo Wine Company in Ukiah, Calif. “Some wines had the odor of someone who had been standing next to a barbecue,” Pauli said in a telephone interview. “It was not a good situation and we all hope it doesn’t happen again.”

USA - Deep Freeze 2014 poses problems for Ohio Farmers

USA - Deep Freeze 2014 poses problems for Ohio FarmersThe bitterly cold winter is making things tougher for Ohio growers - and that could translate to higher food prices later in the year. The sub-zero temperatures have caused Ohio wine-grape, blackberry and peach growers to lose much of this year's crop. The value of the crops lost to the cold weather hasn't been determined. Laboratories are analyzing grapevines, blackberry canes and strawberry plants for damage. And, of course, the winter is not over yet.The bitterly cold winter is making things tougher for Ohio growers - and that could translate to higher food prices later in the year. The sub-zero temperatures have caused Ohio wine-grape, blackberry and peach growers to lose much of this year's crop. The value of the crops lost to the cold weather hasn't been determined. Laboratories are analyzing grapevines, blackberry canes and strawberry plants for damage. And, of course, the winter is not over yet. Mitch Lynd, owner of Lynd Fruit Farm east of Columbus, tells the newspaper that he likely lost most of the fruit on his 3,000 peach trees when temperatures fell well below zero. Local consumers could end up paying more, but global competition tends to keep prices down. Source - http://www.wfmj.com/

UK soil crisis hitting crop yields, warns expert

British soils are reaching crisis point and it isn’t being helped by the shortage of soil scientists, says Shane Ward, the first director of the Soil and Water Management Centre. He outlines how the centre can help reverse this Challenges for UK farmers Why does soil and water management warrant greater attention? Soil is the fundamental basis of farming and you can argue that nothing can happen without it. But there is a growing problem and many don’t realise its  seriousness. The trigger was the step change in agricultural mechanisation about 20 years ago. You just have to look at tractors and machinery, they have greatly increased in size and we now we have “super tractors” and “super combines”. They are not just heavier, these machines have “bigger boots”. Manufacturers and farmers believed they could go anywhere with the modern flotation tyres, but this is simply not true and soils were being damaged. The technology lulled farmers into a false sense of security because they could not see the damage. But all they were doing was pushing the compaction problem further down.It’s not just the increased weight, there is a timeliness aspect. Back when tractors were smaller and tyres narrower, you saw them sink into the soil and you kept off. But flotation tyres mean you can still travel and subject soils to loads in unsuitable conditions, without any real visual signs of damage. It’s all about machine management, but the new generation of farmers are less focused on soil having been sold the concept that modern flotation tyres prevent soil damage. This has been exacerbated by the collapse of drainage systems that have not been maintained and are coming to the end of their life. What are the implications and costs of this damage? The damage to soil is reducing their capability for good drainage and it’s obvious that you get soil pans and structural damage from repeated damage over the years. I have no doubt that it is reducing crop yields, as well as contributing to increased disease and pest carryover between seasons, because wetter soils are more conducive to pathogens and pests. Blackgrass also tends to favour wetter soils. Also, you have to ask the question of flooding given the wet weather seen in the past two years. A lot of the recent flooding problem is due to urban sprawl and the run-off from hard concrete areas. But you have to consider what impact these “concrete soils” are having and whether we would see as much flooding with better draining soils. The extent infiltration is being impaired is not known, but UK farmed soils are definitely not as free draining as they used to be. This is resulting in more run-off with more water entering watercourses and increasing the risk of floods. There are also concerns on nutrient and soil run-off. Soil research Are you concerned about the declining number of soil scientists? Soil scientists hold the key, but there are fewer of them right across the universities and research centres in the UK. This is not peculiar to the UK – it has happened right across the western world over the past two decades. There has also been the loss of key research organisations, such as Silsoe Research Institute which was a world leader in soil and vehicle interactions. The result is a large reduction in the number of soil scientists and facilities at a time when more were needed, with the trend to larger machinery.This combined with damage to soils is leading to a soil crisis. It is a wake-up call and this is why we established the Soil and Water Management Centre at Harper Adams University, Shropshire. Soil and water management centre What is the role of the centre and who is it aimed at? It is a centre of excellence aimed at helping UK farming make the most of its two most precious assets. It is not just about research, but also a central source of existing information and advice, it offers practical soil and water management education and training and co-ordinates farm-based workshops and demonstration projects. The centre was established in 2012 by 10 industry partners (GrowHow, Challenger, Vaderstad, Agrii, BASIS, Michelin, Cooperative Farms, Agco, Interagro and NRM) and the Rothschild Foundation; and is closely linked with industry. It also offers benefits far beyond the farm gate, including retailers in relation to food quality, local authorities and water companies in relation to catchment management, agronomists and farmers, and ultimately the public – effectively anyone who is affected by farming. Research is a key part and there is a team of 20 academics at Harper Adams University. This comprises of a small core of soil scientists, with the rest being engineers, crop researcher and agronomists overseeing projects with a soil and water element. For example, in the past some projects would have no soil and water element, often being ignored, but this is no longer the case. For example, technology projects looking at irrigation cannot ignore the implications on soil.How will the centre benefit farmers? Through the conduct of high-quality research of direct relevance to farming – we place particular emphasis on linking in to the farming community and its practitioners. We are developing a website allowing subscribers access to information including practical advice, the latest research findings and discussion forums. This will be launched later this year. What is your role at the centre? My main role is to establish the Soil and Water Management Centre at Harper Adams University. It will focus on soil and water management and there are five key themes. Water: Its use and management in farming, such as irrigation and vegetable crop quality.Vehicle-soil interaction: This includes how to operate machines in the most efficient way to minimise soil damage, such as tyre types and pressuresSoil chemistry and biodiversity: This covers nutrients in soil and the use of pesticides and bio-fumigationSmart systems and big data: This relates to data capture, transmission to cloud, storage and analysesSustainable agricultural systems: Ensuring agricultural production systems are sustainable in the medium and longer terms, and take into account the impact of farming on the soil and environment. Solutions What are the possible solutions that the centre is investigating? We have a range of ongoing trials and are also seeking further funding, such as under the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme as well as funding from levy boards such as the HGCA.Controlled traffic farming (CTF) is one possible solution and we have an ongoing project here at Harper looking at the long-term effects: plots that will initially run for 10 years, and probably much longer. Reducing machinery size is not an immediate option and CTF may offer part of the solution. There is also ongoing work looking at tracks versus tyres and their impacts on crop production and soil structure. How do you see the centre fitting in with wider efforts such as the government’s Agri-Tech strategy? Looking further beyond, we are developing a UK network of the key soil and water research players. Under the Agri-Tech programme, there is £90m being spent over five years for a number of centres. Harper Adams is working on the establishment of the UK Agri-Soils Innovation Centre (ASIC) with seven other partners (Cranfield University, Reading University, University of Nottingham, James Hutton Institute, John Innes Centre + University of East Anglia, Rothamsted and ADAS). It will include an Innovation Gateway, giving the industry direct access to the national capability in this research area. Benefits will include a “one stop shop” to the UK’s soil-water research capability; also, avoiding duplication of efforts and facilities and bringing together resources in terms of buildings, equipment and intellectual capability. It will enable a strategic UK-wide approach to agri-soil research. I see this network resulting in the UK once again being a world leader in soil and water research and innovation. The combined group complements each other and has a combined staff of 500 (crop scientists, engineers and agronomists), 20 being soil scientists. It will also include a strong industry partnership, merging the UK research capability in agri-soil research with the needs of the industry. The capability and impact of this national centre will be far greater than the sum of the capacity of the individual members. This is a major development for UK agri-food industry – a world first. It will also help us in bidding and getting involved in international research projects. The aim is to have it up and running in 2014. Source - http://www.fwi.co.uk/British soils are reaching crisis point and it isn’t being helped by the shortage of soil scientists, says Shane Ward, the first director of the Soil and Water Management Centre. He outlines how the centre can help reverse this. Soil is the fundamental basis of farming and you can argue that nothing can happen without it. But there is a growing problem and many don’t realise its  seriousness. UK soil crisis hitting crop yields, warns expert

USA - Extreme weather hurting fruit crops

USA - Extreme weather hurting fruit cropsMARION — School schedules, roads and driveways haven’t been the only victims of this winter’s subzero temperatures and frequent snowstorms. While they may or may not be shivering in their boots, local fruit farmers face an uncertain and potentially bleak harvest later this year.Shamrock Vineyard could lose 70 percent or more of its grape crop this year, owner Thomas Van Creasap estimated Monday.MARION — School schedules, roads and driveways haven’t been the only victims of this winter’s subzero temperatures and frequent snowstorms. While they may or may not be shivering in their boots, local fruit farmers face an uncertain and potentially bleak harvest later this year.Shamrock Vineyard could lose 70 percent or more of its grape crop this year, owner Thomas Van Creasap estimated Monday. “Yeah, it’s going to be bad,” Creasap said, trudging through snow up to his calves to inspect grapevines near the driveway at his Waldo-area operation on Rengert Road. “This December the vines never really seemed to harden properly,” he said, referring to the early subzero weather that arrived in the Marion area and the rest of Ohio before the soft tissue of green vines became hard wood to protect against winter weather. “When you have that, the vines don’t get that slow, steady cool-down. ... Then when you get the cold weather, it really wreaks havoc out there.” At Lawrence Orchards south of Marion, owner George Lawrence ventured to guess the extreme cold may have damaged much of his peach crop, but was less certain about the impact on apple trees. “My guess is we probably lost a little bit,” Lawrence said. “I’m sure there’s some bud damage. ... It would have to be pretty significant to affect too much of the crop at this point.” Apple trees have five buds, which he said means that he could have four out of five buds damaged and “still have a crop,” although damage typically is spread out unevenly, ruining all five buds on an apple tree shoot while only damaging two or three on another. “I’m not worried,” he said. “Concerned? Probably. My bigger concern is peaches. Peaches are a little more tender. It may be an interesting year for peaches. ... It’s still up in the air. There is potential for damage on peach trees. That’s my bigger concern because if there’s damage to the tree it’s going to take a lot longer to get my crop back.” Creasap said he recently raised the prices of two wines produced at Shamrock, the first increase in four years, to attempt to offset rising operations costs and to compensate for weather-damaged grapes. “You‘ve still got to prune, maintain and spray,“ he said. “You just might not have any fruit, but it doesn’t matter if you’re producing or not — you’ve still got to prune.” He said damage to this year’s crop in Ohio will show up in next year’s wine output, as this year’s wines were made with last year’s grapes. He said consumers could see a price increase of about $1 for a bottle of wine due to the severe winter weather. “The cost of materials, bottles and cork, are going up for us,” he said. “Nothing gets cheaper. ... That being said there are going to be price increases. You have to be delicate. You don’t want consumers to run away. We’ve been blessed. We’ve got great consumers that really support us and embrace us.” He said if Shamrock runs short of its own grapes, it purchases other Ohio grapes for sale, never going outside of the state for its product because it promises its customers Ohio table wine. Finding grapes from other vineyards in Ohio will be difficult because of the damage caused by the cold particularly to the European varieties wineries sell. “It’s going to be pretty devastating throughout the Midwest,” he said. Source - http://www.marionstar.com/