03.02.2014

USA - Third year of drought hitting Nevada’s farms, ranches hard

Nevada’s severe drought is a tragedy unfolding in slow motion. But its effects will be far reaching — from rural communities that depend on ranching and agriculture for their existence to the prices we all pay for food at the grocery store. Nevada’s wildlife will suffer as food supplies disappear and springs dependent on runoff from snowfall fail. Wild horses will suffer from a lack of forage. Wildfires could become a major problem throughout the state, from the dry rangelands to the drought-crippled forests of the Sierra Nevada. But most of all it will be felt by the ranchers and farmers and their families, those eternal optimists who prepare the fields and grow their cattle herds every year with fingers crossed that the rain and snow will come on time. THIRD YEAR OF DROUGHT For the third year in a row, the rain and snow has not come on time. A wet winter storm hit Northern Nevada on Thursday for the first time this year but the long-term outlook remains uncertain and the window of opportunity continues to diminish. A Jan. 10 report on the snowpack in Nevada showed 62 percent of normal in eastern Nevada, but only 18 percent in the Truckee River region, 28 percent in Carson and a dismal 19 percent in the Walker River drainage. Some longtime ranchers and farmers say the current drought is the worst they have ever seen. Because of the stingy snowpack through much of the West, federal officials this past month designated portions of 11 Western and Central states as primary natural dis­aster areas. The entire state of Nevada is included because counties adjacent to those that are affected are also eligible for assistance, which comes primarily in the form of low-interest emergency loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fallon’s agricultural and ranching communities are at ground zero of the drought, along with their neighbors in Lovelock and Yerington. Some Nevada ranchers have already sold some of their cattle, primarily to their counterparts in the Midwest, where there are healthy grazing lands. The sales are mostly a precautionary move to take advantage of high cattle prices and to reduce herds if normal water deliveries don’t materialize. Alfalfa is Nevada’s largest crop, with just more than 1 million tons worth $217 million produced in 2012. Cattle and dairy cows are also important. There were 470,000 cattle and 29,000 dairy cows in Nevada in 2012, the state Agriculture Department reports. “People are starting to get nervous,” said Monte Bruck, manager of the Fallon Livestock Exchange. “We’re going to see some herd reductions. We’ve started to see some already.” PRECAUTIONS AT THE AUCTIONS The exchange has an auction every Tuesday as ranchers prepare for drought conditions this summer. On a recent Tuesday, about 400 cattle from around the state and even neighboring California were up for auction at the yard. California is getting hit just as hard in this drought. Bruck handled the auction of calves and cows, selling the animals quickly to about 50 assembled buyers. Mike Stremler had just brought in six cows for auction from his family-owned Jersey Valley Cattle Co. ranch near Austin. “We’re preparing for the worst,” he said as he fixed a flat tire on his trailer. Stremler said he is trying to hold onto his herd of 400 cattle by leasing some private pasture land near Denio near the border of Oregon. He has several U.S. Bureau of Land Management allotments to graze his cattle but is concerned they won’t be allowed on the land because of a lack of forage. “The BLM is coming Thursday to do a drive-through,” Stremler said. “If we don’t’ get any rain by mid-March we’ll be in trouble.” Stremler said he could survive the drought more easily if the BLM would do its job of managing the wild horse herds and spending a portion of the money it gets from grazing herds to make the range more sustainable as it is supposed to do. Instead the agency is managing crises, he said. BLM COULD LIMIT GRAZING BLM spokeswoman Kaitlin Godbey said there is the potential for grazing restrictions on Nevada’s public lands this year if monitoring shows resource damage would occur at permitted grazing levels. Options range from reducing livestock numbers to reducing the length of grazing periods to closing allotments. In response to the criticisms about BLM actions on range management spending, Godbey said Nevada spent $1.1 million out of $1.3 million on improvement projects in 2013, including fencing, noxious weed control, water developments, seeding areas and maintenance of existing improvements. The agency had no comment on the wild horse management criticisms. Stremler said if he had not paid for his herd already it might be tough to make it through this year. High prices now being paid help offset some of the effects of the drought, he said. Down the road from the auction yard, longtime Fallon farmer Norman Frey said he expects to receive no more than 25 percent of his water allocation this year, reducing the amount of alfalfa he can grow to a fraction of his 900 acres. “We’ll probably be out of water by July 1,” he said. LIFEBLOOD OF RURAL NEVADA Frey said many people nowadays don’t seem to understand the connection between alfalfa and food production, or the relationship between farms and the food they buy in the grocery store. Nevadans who don’t get out to the rural areas of the state very often may not know it but ranching and agriculture are one of the largest industries in the state, contributing $3.3 billion directly to the state economy, said Bob Conrad, a Nevada Department of Agriculture spokesman. The industries are the lifeblood of much of rural Nevada. State Sen. Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, is a cattleman himself when he isn’t performing his legislative duties. He said western Nevada is being hit the hardest in the current drought. Eastern areas of the state, including where he is located, are doing a bit better, Goicoechea said. “It is very scary but we’ve still got some time,” he said. Source - http://www.reviewjournal.com/USA - Third year of drought hitting Nevada’s farms, ranches hardNevada’s severe drought is a tragedy unfolding in slow motion. But its effects will be far reaching — from rural communities that depend on ranching and agriculture for their existence to the prices we all pay for food at the grocery store. Nevada’s wildlife will suffer as food supplies disappear and springs dependent on runoff from snowfall fail. Wild horses will suffer from a lack of forage. Wildfires could become a major problem throughout the state, from the dry rangelands to the drought-crippled forests of the Sierra Nevada.

03.02.2014

Canada - New insurance plan introduced for livestock producers

Canada - New insurance plan introduced for livestock producersA new livestock price insurance program will be available this spring to help cattle and hog producers in the western provinces manage price risks faced by the industry.The four-year Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) pilot is a collaborative arrangement between the federal government and the western provinces to enhance risk management options available to the livestock industry.A new livestock price insurance program will be available this spring to help cattle and hog producers in the western provinces manage price risks faced by the industry. The four-year Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) pilot is a collaborative arrangement between the federal government and the western provinces to enhance risk management options available to the livestock industry. The pilot will help livestock producers protect themselves against unexpected price declines by allowing them to purchase insurance on an insured price selected by the producer from the available coverage levels. Premiums are fully funded by producers. “B.C. livestock producers have expressed great interest in having more tools that help them manage their price risks and the B.C. government is proud to have worked with our partners to deliver a western Canadian program,” said Donna Barnett, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Pat Pimm. “Providing predictable and cost effective insurance products will help our cattle and hog producers manage their businesses and focus on longer term operations.” Alberta introduced price insurance in 2009 for its cattle and hog producers sectors. This initiative expands the Alberta program to a regional model, opening it up first to livestock producers in B.C. and Saskatchewan. Livestock producers across B.C. can expect to receive WLPIP information in March from their provincial agriculture offices. Source - http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

03.02.2014

Australia - Harvest hopes hinge on weather

Continued warm weather across Tasmania could rescue some of the State's producers from modest harvest results. Three weeks of above-average temperatures have offset a damp spring, with poppy and grass seed growers expected to benefit most from the balmy conditions, agronomist James Burbury said. Bureau of Meteorology statistics show northern areas were 0.5 degrees warmer than long-term averages in January, which meant rainfall was at a premium. "If we hadn't had this hot patch we wouldn't have been able to get the onions to mature," Mr Burbury said. He said the main bulk of the poppy crop, which was planted a month late in November because of wet conditions in late spring, would benefit from a further two weeks of heat before harvest. "It's not going to be a bumper crop by any means but some of the guys have done well considering," he said. Grass seed has exceeded expectations, with most annuals yielding 2.5 tonnes per hectare and other perennials reaching up to 4t/ha. Onions planted in August/September were "responding well to the heat", Mr Burbury said, but pea processors across the State could be searching for up to 5000t of the vegetable. "They've been absolutely terrible across the board," he said. Scottsdale producer and Simplot potato grower group head Trevor Hall said north-east Tasmania's terribly wet winter had dried up "like concrete" recently, making it difficult for potatoes to thrive naturally. "Everything is very dry, all the crops are very irrigation heavy," he said. He said potatoes, which will be harvested in late March-early April would be ok, but his fuel and electricity bill wouldn't. "Spuds tend to shut down when it gets to 25 (degrees Celcius)," he said. Further south Sheffield potato grower Nigel Long said farmers were "chasing their tails", but suggested a decent spell of weather around harvest time could prove pivotal. "We lost a few spuds during the wet in August, but we've caught up now," he said. Source - http://www.stockandland.com.au/Continued warm weather across Tasmania could rescue some of the State's producers from modest harvest results. Three weeks of above-average temperatures have offset a damp spring, with poppy and grass seed growers expected to benefit most from the balmy conditions. Bureau of Meteorology statistics show northern areas were 0.5 degrees warmer than long-term averages in January, which meant rainfall was at a premium.Australia - Harvest hopes hinge on weather

03.02.2014

USA - California will suspend water allocations due to drought

The drought in California has reached crisis proportions and worries are growing that at least 17 cities and towns will run out of water in less than 100 days unless extreme preservation measures are taken. The harsh weather leaves us little choice," said DWR Director Mark Cowin. "If we are to have any hope of coping with continued dry weather and balancing multiple needs, we must act now to preserve what water remains in our reservoirs." Aside from water carried over from 2013, State Water Project customers will get no deliveries in 2014 if the same conditions persist. Also, agricultural districts with long-standing water rights in the Sacramento Valley may be cut by 50 percent, depending on the outcome of future snow surveys. "It is our duty to give State Water Project customers a realistic understanding of how much water they will receive from the Project," said Director Cowin. "Simply put, there's not enough water in the system right now for customers to expect any water this season from the project." The state's largest reservoirs, Lake Oroville and Lake Shasta, are only at 36 percent capacity. With 750,000 acres of farmland partially depending on reservoirs like these, it is going to be one of the toughest years on record for agriculture. With water scarce, it is surely going to set up a battle between farms, cities and wildlife. "We've got to thread the needle on this, find a way to meet our water needs without it coming at the complete expense of our natural environment," said wildlife advocate Eric Wesselman with Friends of the River. DWR is holding back water flows for now to make sure the Delta isn't threatened by what's known as saltwater intrusion. Too much ocean water and species would quickly die off, and drinking water would be threatened. The drought is affecting some of the most productive farm land in the world. If crop yields go down significantly, it could affect food prices at the grocery store. We're already experiencing rising costs for beef because of a near record low number of cattle. Another hit from escalating fresh produce prices would make us all a little poorer. Source - http://www.americanthinker.com/USA - California will suspend water allocations due to droughtThe drought in California has reached crisis proportions and worries are growing that at least 17 cities and towns will run out of water in less than 100 days unless extreme preservation measures are taken. Aside from water carried over from 2013, State Water Project customers will get no deliveries in 2014 if the same conditions persist. Also, agricultural districts with long-standing water rights in the Sacramento Valley may be cut by 50 percent, depending on the outcome of future snow surveys.

03.02.2014

Australia - Severe drought met with policy void

Farmers in drought-affected areas of Australia are doing it so tough some can't afford to keep the power on, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says. At the end of a road trip through rural parts of northern NSW and southern Queensland, Mr Joyce said the dry conditions are "exceptionally severe". "They have not just missed this crop, but they missed the one before and there's no prospect of a winter crop," he told AAP from the NSW town of Walgett on Sunday afternoon. While it's far from the longest drought on record Mr Joyce said when it comes to financial support there is a "policy void after exceptional circumstances supports were removed under the previous government". "There is just no financial support for these people. They're not getting any money coming into their homes for lights and hot water, let alone labour and water and fodder," Mr Joyce said. Many landowners are in massive debt and have been holding on to the hope of rain. Lower than average rainfall is forecast for the next three months across the majority of inland Victoria, NSW and southern Queensland, the Department of Agriculture website says. "What's the solution? I haven't quite worked that one out yet," Mr Joyce said, adding that Canberra has already started rolling out assistance. "These people sit back, take a punt for our nation, scratch out an existence in the dirt, wait for rain and then hope and pray that after the rain the grass grows and the market is right. "After years of it not raining I think they have a right to say `there's a role for our nation in this process'." To give an idea of the drought's severity, Mr Joyce said "even the kangaroos are dying by the thousands". "Most Australian workers would think it's pretty unfair to be told `you'll be paid the next time it rains'. Well this is even worse, because no one sees any money until at least four months after it rains." Source - http://au.news.yahoo.com/Australia - Severe drought met with policy voidFarmers in drought-affected areas of Australia are doing it so tough some can't afford to keep the power on. At the end of a road trip through rural parts of northern NSW and southern Queensland, the dry conditions are "exceptionally severe". Farmers have not just missed this crop, but they missed the one before and there's no prospect of a winter crop. While it's far from the longest drought on record when it comes to financial support there is a "policy void after exceptional circumstances supports were removed under the previous government".

03.02.2014

India - Crop insurance to cover monsoon failure

Crop insurance scheme is being implemented as modified national agricultural insurance scheme in all the 13 blocks in Pudukottai district during 2013-14 based on the administrative sanction accorded by the Centre and approval by the State government. Under the scheme, weather-based crop insurance scheme and coconut palm insurance scheme are implemented at revenue-village-level for losses suffered due to nature’s fury. The scheme benefits tenants too and covers all food grain crops. Compensation would be granted for failure of monsoon at any stage. Pre-sowing and post-sowing losses are accounted for.Crop insurance scheme is being implemented as modified national agricultural insurance scheme in all the 13 blocks in Pudukottai district during 2013-14 based on the administrative sanction accorded by the Centre and approval by the State government. Under the scheme, weather-based crop insurance scheme and coconut palm insurance scheme are implemented at revenue-village-level for losses suffered due to nature’s fury. Compensation will be sanctioned as per the norms, according to K.M.Shajahan, Joint Director of Agriculture. The scheme benefits tenants too and covers all food grain crops. Compensation would be granted for failure of monsoon at any stage. “Pre-sowing and post-sowing losses are accounted for,” he said. The scheme provides 25 per cent of input cost as compensation as per the recommendation of the committee set up by insurance companies concerned as per guidelines. Mr.Shajahan urged the district farmers to take advantage of the scheme by contacting the block agricultural extension centres for clarifications and registering names. Referring to the condition of the standing crops, he said that the district registered 440 mm of rainfall as against the normal 790.46 mm from southwest and northeast monsoons. Poor rainfall has played havoc on crops, and the prevailing drought condition has already been brought to the notice of the State government, he said. About 72,500 hectares have been brought under paddy cultivation in the district during the season and harvest has already commenced. In order to increase the food grain production, the agriculture department has advised farmers to increase the paddy area under Navarai season in the current year. The farmers could go for pulses and millet cultivation in garden land and other areas where irrigation facilities are available. To increase pulses production, DAP 20 per cent spray recommended for sprinkler and boom sprayer in water-scarce areas , he said. Source - http://www.thehindu.com/India - Crop insurance to cover monsoon failure

02.02.2014

USA - Warm weather giving trees a false sense of spring

USA - Warm weather giving trees a false sense of springThe swings in temperatures could be a potential problem for many farmers and backyard fruit tree owners. The plentiful warm sunshine and lack of rain in January caused many fruit trees to get a false sense of spring. Some fruit trees are blossoming weeks earlier than normal in the north part of the state, which could be a problem if a hard frost hits the area while trees are blooming or carrying fruit, agriculture officials said.The swings in temperatures could be a potential problem for many farmers and backyard fruit tree owners. The plentiful warm sunshine and lack of rain in January caused many fruit trees to get a false sense of spring. Some fruit trees are blossoming weeks earlier than normal in the north part of the state, which could be a problem if a hard frost hits the area while trees are blooming or carrying fruit, agriculture officials said. “We’re five to seven days earlier on the almonds,” said Mel Machado, a field supervisor for Blue Diamond Growers, the state’s largest processor, about the Central Valley crop. According to Rico Montenegro, a certified arborist from Redding, almonds, peaches and cherries seem more susceptible to blooming early. While the blossoming trees provide plenty of spring color, the trees could be in danger if a hard frost hits, he said. “If it freezes, it’ll kill the flower,” said Richard Buchner, director of the Tehama County Farm Advisor’s office. The frost would damage the flowers, and cold weather can also damage fruit and kill fruit, he said. Ripon almond grower Dave Phippin said he’s seen an older variety in pink bud in the Valley. “Pink bud means you’re going to be blooming soon,” he said. “That’s an early old variety that’s not prevalent here.” While the state received some rain last week, the January rainfall total is woefully lacking in the Central Valley and statewide. Modesto received 0.54 inches last week, according to the Modesto Irrigation District. Since July 1, the beginning of the rainfall season, MID has recorded 2.28 inches of rain in downtown Modesto, which is below the 2.36 inches that normally falls in January. Last year, 7.91 inches had fallen by the end of January. Normal season to date is 6.84 inches, according to MID. The forecast calls for highs in the high 50s to mid 60s, with lows at or above the freezing mark of 32 degrees. Cold, wet weather this month and next could hamper crop yields. Cold and – though much-needed – rain could keep bees from pollinating the Central Valley’s huge almond crop, which normally blooms from mid-February to early March. But Machado said what actually happens remains to be seen, meaning that it’s too early to worry. “We could go down to 28 and be OK for now,” he said. “As the petals fall and the nuts come out of their jackets, that critical temperature will rise to 32, meaning we don’t want anything lower than 32 degrees.” While almonds generally bloom out earlier because they require fewer cold winter days, called chilling days, trees such as walnuts need more chilling days and won’t get fruit until April, Buchner said. Because of the warmer weather, many walnut trees have not had enough chilling hours. But since walnuts bloom later, there is still time for them to get their needed cold days. Tree owners can prepare for frost to prevent damage to their flowers and fruit, Montenegro said. If subfreezing temperatures are predicted, water misters can help raise the temperature around trees. There is a special fabric, called reemay cloth, that helps prevent frost damage, he said. Some growers use a fan or other device to create wind movement to keep frost damage down. Others put Christmas lights on their trees to raise the temperature on the branches. Buchner said orchard owners typically irrigate during a late hard frost. The water absorbs heat from the sun during the day and retains it to help warm an orchard into the evening, he said. Source - http://www.modbee.com/

02.02.2014

USA - New Farm Bill And How It Affects

USA - New Farm Bill And How It AffectsA new five-year farm bill is now heading to the senate. The White House said President Obama will sign it, if it gets to his desk. Direct payments to farmers are gone with the new farm bill, subsidies paid to farmers whether they produced crops or not. Instead, farmers will now be able to buy better crop insurance, something they say they're excited about. A new five-year farm bill is now heading to the senate. The White House said President Obama will sign it, if it gets to his desk. Direct payments to farmers are gone with the new farm bill, subsidies paid to farmers whether they produced crops or not. Instead, farmers will now be able to buy better crop insurance, something they say they're excited about. At a round-table discussion on the new farm bill today, IL-Representative Cheri Bustos said crop insurance will give farmers protection. "We have a crop insurance program that gives farmers who have to live through things like droughts and floods, it gives them some certainty that they can be successful moving forward," said Rep. Bustos. The Vice President of the Illinois Farm Bureau David Erickson applauded the proposed crop insurance changes saying there are better options, but is worried there won't be a lot of time to properly implement them. "You have to make some decision in enrollment and insurance coverages that you won't fully know the full impact of your decision if you don't know how the plans or the final rules are written for those programs," said Erickson. Erickson said he told Rep. Bustos today that there needs to be more leniency for farmers when deciding on what kind of insurance plans they want. Since the planting season is approaching quickly they may get locked into a plan that doesn't give them the right kind of coverage. Besides insurance, the farm bill also takes a first step to upgrading locks and dams. Rep. Bustos said there's $60 billion in backlog needs for them. "We need it upgraded, again, to move our agricultural products not just within the United States, but get that out to the world as well," said Rep. Bustos. The food stamp program is also taking a hit with the new farm bill, $800 million is being cut from the program nationally. But despite national cuts, Rep. Bustos said the state of Illinois didn't lose any money for food stamps. She said it actually gained nearly $200 million to help grow programs in what are called food deserts. These are areas where there is limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Iowa also will not see food stamp cuts. Source - http://www.kwqc.com/

01.02.2014

Brazil - Record heat pressures crops

Brazil - Record heat pressures cropsJanuary was the hottest month on record in parts of Brazil including its biggest city, Sao Paulo. The heat, plus a severe drought, has kindled fears of water shortages, crop damage and higher electricity bills that could drag down the economy of the country. The scorching conditions don't constitute a crisis quite yet, officials say. Weather has been mostly normal in other regions including Brazil's soy belt, where a record crop is still expected. January was the hottest month on record in parts of Brazil including its biggest city, Sao Paulo. The heat, plus a severe drought, has kindled fears of water shortages, crop damage and higher electricity bills that could drag down the economy of the country. The scorching conditions don't constitute a crisis quite yet, officials say. Weather has been mostly normal in other regions including Brazil's soy belt, where a record crop is still expected. Summer rains could return in February and March to refill reservoirs, as they did last year when similar concerns over a possible energy crisis proved to be overhyped. Still, the risks are considerable because Brazil's economy is so fragile at the moment. Any disruption to food supplies or power costs would complicate the government's ability to meet the center of its 2014 inflation target of 4.5 percent, and the region's orange and coffee crops are already showing signs of stress, farmers say. Sao Paulo's average maximum daily temperature in January through Friday was 31.9 degrees Celsius (89.4 degrees Fahrenheit), a degree hotter than the previous January record and surpassing February 1984 as the city's hottest month ever, according to INMET, Brazil's national meteorological institute. Meanwhile, a high pressure system has blocked normal tropical afternoon rains during what is usually the year's wettest month. Sao Paulo's main reservoir is now at less than a quarter of its capacity, a 10-year low. Meteorologists aren't hopeful for a change anytime soon. "This is the hottest, driest January we've ever had ... and there isn't much hope for this heat to stop in the next two weeks," said Celso Oliveira, meteorologist for Somar weather service. The weather has been so suffocating that many Brazilians have envied the so-called polar vortex causing snow and record cold in much of the United States. Some local meteorologists have speculated that the hot, dry weather in Brazil may be related to the same unusual atmospheric patterns. People with air conditioning have driven nationwide energy consumption to an all-time high this week. The strong demand, which is being met partly through increased use of thermoelectric power, means that spot energy prices are set to double in coming days to record levels beyond 800 reais ($326.50) per kilowatt-hour, three electrical industry sources told Reuters on Thursday. Those prices could trickle down to energy bills for customers and factories - a threat to economic growth already expected to be just 2 percent this year. Energy usage is expected to remain high - the national grid operator estimates a 7.1 percent increase of power usage in February compared with the same month a year earlier. "I am very worried (about the weather) and I have been for the last month," said Jose Francisco de Lima Gonalves, chief economist with Banco Fator in Sao Paulo. "It's a risky outlook without a doubt - it could affect industry." MASSIVE CATTLE DEATHS Other regions of Brazil are also suffering from extreme weather. The impoverished, less populated northeast is in its worst drought in at least 50 years, according to Funceme, the state meteorological agency in Ceara¡ state. Hundreds of thousands of cattle have died from the dry conditions, local officials say. "I have never seen a drought like this. Everything has dried up," said 85-year-old Ulisses de Sousa Ferraz, a farmer in Pernambuco state who said he has lost 50 cows. There is some good news. Electricity shortages do not appear likely for now, nor does rationing, which took a huge bite out of Brazil's gross domestic product in 2001. Average reservoir levels in the southeast and central-west regions, which account for 70 percent of Brazil's hydroelectric generation, fell in late January to 41 percent. That was well below the 58 percent average for January since 2000 but ahead of the 37.46 percent level seen in 2013, when fears of power rationing last flared. Before the government ordered power rationing in 2001, reservoirs had fallen to 31.4 percent. A post on President Rousseff's Facebook page on Friday said that because of federal investments in electrical supply over the past decade, the risk of shortages had "disappeared." Water shortages seem to be a bigger risk. Source - http://www.vagazette.com/

01.02.2014

EU wheat largely escapes damage as frost hits some areas

EU wheat largely escapes damage as frost hits some areasWheat crops in the European Union appear in generally good shape with mild conditions boosting development in France and Britain, while losses from deep frosts in parts of Germany and Poland are not expected to be significant. France, Germany, Britain and Poland are the EU's top four wheat growers, accounting for about 60 percent of the bloc's production of the grain. Wheat crops in the European Union appear in generally good shape with mild conditions boosting development in France and Britain, while losses from deep frosts in parts of Germany and Poland are not expected to be significant. France, Germany, Britain and Poland are the EU's top four wheat growers, accounting for about 60 percent of the bloc's production of the grain. In Germany, the EU's second largest wheat producer, snow cover is believed to have protected wheat from frosts as deep as minus 16 degrees Celsius in the past week, analysts said. "The really deep frosts were concentrated in east and north-east Germany including the Brandenburg region and crops in these areas seem to have sufficiently deep snow cover to survive without serious damage," one German grains analyst said. "I am taking a relaxed view of the frost impact." Warmer weather, with single digit frosts or temperatures above freezing, is forecast for Germany up to Sunday. German farmers have expanded sowings of winter wheat for harvesting in summer 2014 by 2.5 percent on the year to 3.13 million hectares, the German government said. Most of Poland's wheat has also been protected from deep frosts by snow cover in the last couple of weeks and only localised winterkill is expected, said Wojtek Sabaranski, of analysts Sparks Polska. "We have experienced some very low temperatures below minus 15 degrees Celsius recently," Sabaranski said. "In most regions of the country there is sufficient snow cover present." But snow cover is very thin in the western and south-western parts of Poland, and some local winterkill there is likely." Sparks Polska forecasts Poland's wheat area of all types for the 2014 crop will expand 5 percent from 2013 to about 2.25 million hectares as some Polish farmers are believed to have turned to wheat from rapeseed. The weather has been generally mild in France and Britain, boosting crop development. "The mild temperatures are continuing to accelerate the growth of late-sown crops, which represent about 15 percent of sowings this year," said Philippe Gate, scientific director at French crop institute Arvalis. Fast crop development in France was making up for sowing delays and reducing the risk that a rain-soaked autumn would lead to area losses, he said. Average temperatures in France in the first half of January were 3.8 degrees Celsius above the norm, according to public weather service Meteo France. In the week ahead, temperatures are forecast to remain relatively mild for the season, with lows generally above zero. Other risks for French crops were very wet conditions in some regions, particularly the south-west, which could hamper crop development, and the growth of weeds with some growers unable to apply treatment due to persistent rain. The French farm ministry in December estimated the area for the 2014 harvest at 4.9 million hectares, compared with 5 million hectares of soft wheat harvested in 2013. Conditions in Britain have also been mild and wet. "We've had a fairly mild winter which makes us a little bit susceptible if we get a very sharp drop in temperature," Jack Watts, senior analyst with Britain's Home-Grown Cereals Authority said. The HGCA has forecast wheat area in the UK will rise 22 percent for the 2014 harvest to 1.98 million hectares, rebounding from a sharp decline in the previous season when heavy rains wrecked autumn plantings. Source - http://www.brecorder.com/

31.01.2014

Russia - Cold snap could affect winter crops

Russia - Cold snap could affect winter cropsThe current severe cold snap that the European region of Russia is experiencing could affect the state of winter crops, but the situation is not critical. Arctic anticyclone moving southwards heavy snowfall, snow blizzard and eastern winds of 18-23 meters per second are forecast in the territory for the next few days. On January 30-31, frosts will get stronger to minus 20 degrees Celsius and to minus 25 degrees Celsius at some places in Stavropol Territory. Ice slick and snow drifts are reported on the roads.The current severe cold snap that the European region of Russia is experiencing could affect the state of winter crops, but the situation is not critical, the Ministry of Agriculture said. "The hard frosts could definitely impact the state of winter crops, but this will depend on the levels of snow," Deputy Agriculture Minister Andrei Volkov told journalists on the sidelines of the international agricultural conference "Where the Margin is" in Moscow on Thursday. Volkov said that the area under winter crops was lowered by nearly 1 million hectares in 2014 compared with last year. This occurred due to natural cataclysms, such as rain, which prevented equipment from entering the field on time, he said. "In these conditions, the Agriculture Ministry is going to recommend that the amount of land designated for spring crops be increased in order to compensate for the shortfall in the winter crop area," Volkov said, adding that the situation with winter crops was "not fatal or critical" and that "we will be hoping that all of this [total crop area in 2014] will even out thanks to spring sowing. We are not yet raising the alarm, but the situation is under control." He said that Russia's agriculture ministry is keeping its target for the 2014 harvest at no less than 95 million tonnes of grain. "This is the figure in the state program and the plan," he said, adding that "the harvest will nonetheless depend on environmental conditions. But that's the plan." Answering the question of whether the current state of winter crops and plans to increase the spring sowing will affect the calculations for the 2014 harvest, Volkov said: "Yes for now. But this is very preliminary." Russia's harvested 91.3 million tonnes of grain in 2013 and 70.9 million tonnes in 2012. Eight federal and regional highways were closed in southern Russia's Stavropol territory over bad weather. Traffic on highways is impossible over heavy snowfall, strong winds and low visibility. "Restriction is in effect on Caucasus federal highway from Nevinnomyssk to Mineralnye Vody and the road leading to the city of Stavropol, on Astrakhan-Elista-Stavropol federal highway and from 458th to 473rd kilometer in the Ipatovsky district," the road police noted. "Heavy snow and strong side winds do not allow snowploughs to clear the roadway timely. This may trigger road accidents and traffic jams on the roads," the road police warned. Warm-up stations were opened on Stavropol roads, rescuers were put on duty at especially hard traffic sections of the roads. The fire service has dispatched four off-road vehicles Nefaz, mobile warm-up stations are placed on Nevinnomyssk-Kursavka and Kursavka-Mineralnye Vody road, on Elista-Stavropol highway, Neftekumsk-Zelenokumsk highway and on Neftekumsk-Blagodarny highway. Mobile warm-up stations are provided with medical kits, hot tea, warm blankets and dry food rations. Stavropol weather forecasting center reported that due to the cold Arctic anticyclone moving southwards heavy snowfall, snow blizzard and eastern winds of 18-23 meters per second are forecast in the territory for the next few days. On January 30-31, frosts will get stronger to minus 20 degrees Celsius and to minus 25 degrees Celsius at some places in Stavropol Territory. Ice slick and snow drifts are reported on the roads. Source - http://voiceofrussia.com/

31.01.2014

USA - Two Years Later, the House Passes the 2012 Farm Bill

Yesterday, the House passed their final Farm Bill. In case you missed it, the saga for this Farm Bill has been fairly epic – not because of what got accomplished, but for how dysfunctional the process became. So here’s how it all worked out: the nicest thing you can say about this final Farm Bill is it’s a mixed bag. The final bill cuts the nutrition safety net for low-income families by almost $9 billion over 10 years (compared to the House version of the bill which would have cut $40 billion). It ends direct payments to commodity crop producers (payments made every year regardless of crop prices) and emphasizes subsidized crop insurance as the primary farm safety net. Missing from the final bill’s commodity section are the real reforms we need, including restoring grain reserve programs that could be used to provide stability for farmers and rein in overproduction of these commodity crops. At many points in the process it looked like the final bill was going to be a lot worse. In the final stage of the process, when the conference committee was reconciling the different versions of the bill passed by the House and Senate, you helped us tell the committee to do the right thing on a long list of topics. And we were able to stop Big Food’s attacks on important programs: Country of origin labeling – The final bill does not weaken country of origin labeling for meat. Competitive markets – The final bill does not prevent USDA from enforcing rules that protect poultry growers from abusive contract provisions used by large poultry processors. Organic – Organic programs fared very well in the final stages of the process, and the final bill contains more money for organic research and for helping new operations get certified as organic. Catfish inspection – The final bill did not end a new inspection program for domestic and imported catfish run by USDA. Food safety – The final bill does not include a provision to prevent FDA from finishing regulations on produce safety. The King Amendment – The final bill does not include the controversial King Amendment, which would have banned state governments from enacting laws that put conditions on how agriculture and livestock from other states was produced or raised. Factory farm secrecy – The final bill does not include several amendments that would have significantly reduced the disclosure of publicly available data and information on factory farms. Some other critical programs didn’t fare as well, including inadequate funding for programs for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and dairy policy that doesn’t provide basic protections for small-scale dairy farmers. The Senate is expected to pass this Farm Bill soon and the president is expected to sign it. Then, the more than two-year long process of finishing the 2012 Farm Bill will be complete. Over the past two years, tens of thousands of Food & Water Watch supporters told their elected officials what they wanted in this Farm Bill, which made the final bill better than it would have been without your input. Food & Water Watch is committed to continuing the fight for a food and farm system that’s truly fair and sustainable, transparent and healthy. You with us? Source - http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/USA - Two Years Later, the House Passes the 2012 Farm BillYesterday, the House passed their final Farm Bill. In case you missed it, the saga for this Farm Bill has been fairly epic – not because of what got accomplished, but for how dysfunctional the process became. So here’s how it all worked out: the nicest thing you can say about this final Farm Bill is it’s a mixed bag. The final bill cuts the nutrition safety net for low-income families by almost $9 billion over 10 years. It ends direct payments to commodity crop producers (payments made every year regardless of crop prices) and emphasizes subsidized crop insurance as the primary farm safety net.

31.01.2014

USA - Concerns, search for information as Farm Bill nears passage

USA - Concerns, search for information as Farm Bill nears passageFarmers, growers and agricultural professionals know the passage of major federal law impacting their livelihoods is closer to becoming a reality for the first time in more than six years, but that’s the simple part. The agricultural and nutritional assistance package will make big changes in the way many farms interact with the government, from dairy farms that will no longer be under the Milk Income Law Contract program to specialty crop growers who will have greater access to insurance under the law.Farmers, growers and agricultural professionals know the passage of major federal law impacting their livelihoods is closer to becoming a reality for the first time in more than six years, but that’s the simple part. The passage of a compromise Farm Bill is now in the hands of the Senate after a bipartisan House coalition including Rep. Chris Collins approved by a 251-166 vote Wednesday. If it passes the upper chamber — Sen. Charles Schumer said Tuesday he will to vote for it when it comes up for a vote next week, while Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said she will oppose the bill — farms will be put into a position not unlike the situation that many Americans after the passage of the federal health insurance overhaul. “(For dairy farms) it’s wait-and-see, and then figure what it means for them and what their choices are,” said Joan Sinclair Petzen, a farm business management specialist withe the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Northwest Dairy Team. “Over the coming months they’ll be seeing how it will impact their businesses.” The agricultural and nutritional assistance package will make big changes in the way many farms interact with the government, from dairy farms that will no longer be under the Milk Income Law Contract program to specialty crop growers who will have greater access to insurance under the law. Exactly how those rules and programs will work will be determined during the post-legislative regulatory process, is when the cooperative extension will be at its busiest, Petzen said, with state specialists building tools to help farms evaluate what to do with their businesses. “We know the playing field will change, but it’s not clear how it will play out until the rules are made,” Petzen said. At least for dairy farmers, they probably won’t need to access the MILC program while learning about it’s replacement. “We’re in a strong program for dairy, so the likelihood is low that the MILC triggers will kick in.” The general unclarity on how the $1 trillion in funds allocated to various initiatives will play out has some agricultural interests concerned about implementation. A program Schumer shepherded into the Farm Bill will open up to $20 million annually to encourage increased tapping of the millions of the state’s untapped maple trees, while providing grants for marketing, research and education. The intention is to better compete with Quebec, which produces more than 80 percent of the world’s syrup. Maintaining a growing but viable maple tapping industry in New York requires a balancing act, one that Lyle Merle of Attica worries could be upset by a glut of new tapping. Merle, a fourth-generation syrup producer, said the regional production and worldwide consumption provides room for growth, but he wants to ensure that efforts to expand the state’s maple industry don’t outpace efforts to grow the market for syrup, sugar and unique products like candies, barbecue sauces and mustards. “We have to be able to grow the market as we grow production,” said Merle, who chairs the New York State Fair’s Maple Center Committee. “The maple industry is working together, but our concern is to continue to have a profitable business. If we have more than we can market the price would plummet.” Merle said the state’s maple farms are benefiting from additional research funding, including clean spout technology developed at Cornell that allows tapping to begin weeks ahead of schedule without ending the season early. He doesn’t see pumping money to add to the thousands of existing tappers as helpful. “Most of the (New York Maple Producers Association) hasn’t lobbied hard for money from the federal government,” Merle said. “It’s kind of divided the industry — I tend to be on the side of not wanting a lot of government finances involved.” For vineyard owners in the Finger Lakes and Niagara wine regions, the impact of the new Farm Bill s as clear as the ice hanging from orchard branches. Wendy Oakes Wilson, the President of Leonard Oakes Estates Winery in Medina, said she’s in favor of changes that would offer crop subsidies for a greater range of specialty crops, just as apples were added a decade ago. While the conditions during budding season will have a greater effect on the cherries, peaches and plums grown in Orleans County, the fate of the coming wine grape crop is hanging in the balance right now. “Generally, we’re fine unless it gets to -5 degrees with a lot of grapes,” Wilson said. “The coldest we’ve had -3 degrees for a short period, but once it goes below that level the damage has occurred.”Wilson said adding security for upstate growers would provide much-needed relief as the temperature hovers at crisis levels, whether it’s in the winter freeze or the summer heat. “We never now what Mother Nature will throw at us,” Wilson said. “If it can perfect farm insurance and stop paying people to not to grow stuff, I’ll be happy.” Source - http://thedailynewsonline.com/

31.01.2014

USA - Mysterious pest threatens Texas’ $1 billion grain sorghum crop

USA - Mysterious pest threatens Texas’ $1 billion grain sorghum cropA tiny insect of unknown origin is posing a serious threat to the $1 billion Texas grain sorghum crop. The threat comes at a time when a lingering drought and market pressures suggest growers will plant a larger than normal crop this year. An insecticide known as Transform WG was tested and found to be effective against this pest. It is among 10 pesticides now being tested in Texas and Louisiana for their ability to manage sugarcane aphid populations.A tiny insect of unknown origin is posing a serious threat to the $1 billion Texas grain sorghum crop, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. The threat comes at a time when a lingering drought and market pressures suggest growers will plant a larger than normal crop this year. “For now, we’re calling this pest the sugarcane aphid,” said Dr. Raul Villanueva, an entomologist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco. “It was first seen last year. We’re not sure if it’s a new invasive pest or if it just switched hosts, from sugarcane to grain sorghum. But it is a serious threat to this year’s grain crop and at this time there is no proven control for it.” An insecticide known as Transform WG was tested and found to be effective against this pest, Villanueva said. The Texas Department of Agriculture recently submitted a request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve an emergency exemption for its use on grain sorghum to control the aphid in Texas. It is among 10 pesticides now being tested in Texas and Louisiana for their ability to manage sugarcane aphid populations. “We’re also looking at biological control of this insect,” he said. “It appears to have lots of natural enemies, including ladybugs, lacewings and sweat flies. But the populations of sugarcane aphids grow so rapidly, we’re just not sure how effective they will be.” Villanueva said he will supervise the evaluation of two groups of possible candidates, lady beetles and lacewings. The sugarcane aphid, about one-sixteenth of an inch long, was first detected in 1977 in Florida sugarcane. It limited itself to the Sunshine State until 1999 when it was found in Louisiana sugarcane, Villanueva said. While populations were well established, they did not cause major crop damage in either state. “But then in 2013, it was discovered in grain sorghum in Texas, in the Beaumont area,” he said. “Simultaneously, it was also discovered attacking grain sorghum in Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and other areas of Texas, including the Coastal Bend and the Lower Rio Grande Valley, as well as Mexico.” Severe damage to grain sorghum in all these areas came quickly.“In no time at all, growers started seeing dramatic reduction in yields, from 50 to 70 percent,” Villanueva said. “In some fields, crops were completely wiped out.” Besides decreasing yields, the aphid produces abundant honeydew, a sticky excrement that keeps grain from dislodging from the plant at harvest and gums up harvesting equipment. “The honeydew also attracts other insects and fungi that discolor the leaves,” he said. “Unfortunately, sugarcane aphids thrive in dry conditions and drought has been a serious issue in Texas for years.”Mild winters have also helped the aphid survive, Villanueva said, and so far this year, the weather likely hasn’t been cold enough for extended periods of time to slow them down. “Continued drought and their survival through the winter make for a forecast of serious problems from this pest in 2014,” he said. “And we should have lots of grain sorghum planted this year.” Grain sorghum is usually a lucrative crop that is relatively inexpensive and easier to grow than cotton, according to Dr. Luis Ribera, an AgriLife Extension agricultural economist in Weslaco. Most of the grain sorghum grown in Texas is used in cattle feed. “Because of good grain prices, the instability of the cotton market, and drought conditions, lots of growers in Texas are choosing to grow grain sorghum this year,” he said. “We’d expect to have well over 400,000 acres of grain sorghum in 2014, by far the largest crop grown in the Rio Grande Valley.” Ribera said the farm gate value of grain sorghum in extreme South Texas is $157 million, with a total economic impact on the area economy of $317 million. Statewide, the crop is worth $974 million to growers with a total economic impact of $2 billion, he said. Experts in the Coastal Bend are concerned about both yield decreases and the impediment the pest poses at harvest. Jason Ott, the AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Nueces County, said estimated losses from the sugarcane aphid in his area ranged between 25 and 50 percent, and as high as total losses in some fields. Overwintering aphids now being found on Johnson grass and on remnant grain sorghum in fields harvested last year leave the area susceptible to more outbreaks this year. “In addition to the well documented yield losses, we know from experience last year that the honeydew severely clogs combines at harvest,” he said. “In the Coastal Bend, where approaching storms necessitate speedy harvests, this is particularly concerning.” Dr. Mo Way, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research entomologist in Beaumont who first found the sugarcane aphid in Texas last year, said because so little is known about the pest, it’s difficult to predict the threat it poses this year. “We’re just not sure how susceptible the sugarcane aphid is to low temperatures and how many will survive the cold snaps we’ve had,” he said. “But it’s important that growers be aware and on the lookout for this pest.” Way said growers in the Beaumont area are currently working the ground to plant grain sorghum in late February. He doubts the sugarcane aphid will reduce emerging stands. “Grain sorghum seed that growers plant here is treated with a product that protects them from early season pests, and I’m guessing it may protect them from sugarcane aphid populations,” he said.Way recommends growers monitor their crops closely throughout the growing season. “We didn’t see large populations last year until the grain sorghum crop started heading, when the plant starts producing its grain. But I suspect they were there all along, because populations were so high,” he said. Way suspects growers may have actually stimulated populations of sugarcane aphids when they applied their normal treatments of pyrethroids to control the sorghum midge, small flies that attack grain sorghum at flowering. “In addition to killing off potential natural enemies, there are studies that show some pyrethroids have a physiological effect that stimulates the reproductive capabilities of certain insects related to aphids. This stimulation actually leads to unexpected increases in populations,” he said. “But we’re just not sure if sugarcane aphids will be affected this way.” Way said growers should check different areas of their fields, looking on the underside of leaves for populations of the yellowish green insects. They cause leaf discoloration, and their honeydew makes leaves shiny, attracting sooty mold to the top of leaves.“AgriLife Extension county agents are informing growers what to look for, but the bottom line is to keep an eye out for anything abnormal,” he said. “Until we can conduct more research, we’re in uncharted waters with this pest.” Web Wallace, a crop advisor and executive vice president of the Cotton and Grain Producers of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, agreed.“We just don’t know if it’s going to be a problem, but growers should be on the lookout and be ready in case it turns into a problem.” Source - http://www.themonitor.com/

31.01.2014

UN concerned over dire food crisis in Somalia

UN concerned over dire food crisis in SomaliaThe United Nations is concerned over food insecurity in Somalia, saying the impoverished African nation is likely to suffer from below-average harvest this year. In its reports, the UN Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) highlighted low rainfall and flooding as well as the devastating storm in the northeastern Puntland region as the key reasons for the poor harvest. It also underlined an alarming level of malnutrition in Somalia.The United Nations is concerned over food insecurity in Somalia, saying the impoverished African nation is likely to suffer from below-average harvest this year. In its reports, the UN Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) highlighted low rainfall and flooding as well as the devastating storm in the northeastern Puntland region as the key reasons for the poor harvest. It also underlined an alarming level of malnutrition in Somalia. “The flooding in south Somalia and other natural calamities have adversely affected food production,” said Luul Mohamud Mohamed, deputy director of Mogadishu’s Banaadir Hospital, adding, “Most of the displaced are the farmers and pastoralists and these are the same people who feed the nation through livestock and food production.” According to the UN agency, at least 870,000 people, many of them being displaced, are still in need of emergency humanitarian assistance while some 2.3 million people continue to live in a situation of fragile food security. It also said that over 200,000 Somali children under five years old suffer from acute malnutrition, saying Somalia's ratio of one in seven malnourished children is the highest in the world. The analysis from the UN agency has pointed to a nutritional improvement program implemented for displaced people in the towns of Baidoa, Bossaso, Dhusamareb, Dhobley, Hargeisa and Mogadishu. But there are still many displaced people who remain in chaotic condition such as Kismayo and Dhobley settlements in southern Somalia. Other affected areas hosting displaced people include those in Qardho of Puntland and Berbera in the breakaway region of Somaliland. Earlier this year, the UN Global Humanitarian Response appealed for nearly USD 928 million for some 3.2 million Somalis in need. Source - http://www.presstv.ir/

31.01.2014

USA - Federal food stamp cuts likely won't affect Minnesota

Last fall, amid rancorous debate over proposed cuts to the nation’s food stamps program, much was made of how the suggested cuts might hurt low-income Minnesotans. In September, the House approved legislation that would have scaled back food aid to 32,000 in the state. But those cuts did not come to pass. Here’s what happened. The proposed cuts were part of the long, frustrating debate in Congress over the far-ranging farm bill, which dragged on for nearly two years. A new agreement was finally brokered this week, and the House approved the 949-page bill.Last fall, amid rancorous debate over proposed cuts to the nation’s food stamps program, much was made of how the suggested cuts might hurt low-income Minnesotans. In September, the House approved legislation that would have scaled back food aid to 32,000 in the state. But those cuts did not come to pass. Here’s what happened. The proposed cuts were part of the long, frustrating debate in Congress over the far-ranging farm bill, which dragged on for nearly two years. A new agreement was finally brokered this week, and the House approved the 949-page bill, with quick approval expected next week in the Senate likely. The broad bill affects roughly 16 million agriculture jobs nationwide. Among its key tenets is an effort to replace direct subsidies to farmers with enhanced crop insurance, and with added new price protections. The bill also includes $8 billion in cuts over 10 years to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps – far less than the $40 billion in cuts once sought by GOP House leaders. But low-income Minnesotans will not be among those affected, because Congress achieved its $8 billion in savings by closing a heating-assistance loophole that allowed states to collect more food stamps for hungry residents – and Minnesota had never taken advantage of that loophole. So the state won’t miss that money. But that doesn’t mean food aid needs are decreasing in the state, advocates for the poor say. Other cuts to federal programs have had a lingering effect, Colleen Moriarty, with Hunger Solutions Minnesota. Some food shelf managers have said demand is increasing, not decreasing. The Hubbard County Food Shelf has had more demand but fewer donations last year, the Park Rapids Enterprise reported Wednesday. In one Minnesota county, Dakota, where more than 28,000 residents live in poverty, two nonprofits are teaming up to fight hunger, the Star Tribune reported earlier this month. And the Hunger-Free Minnesota initiative, aimed at “closing the missing-meal gap” in Minnesota by 2015, reported this week that coordinated efforts provided 49 million meals to hungry Minnesotans since it funded its first initiative in January 2012. Source - http://www.bringmethenews.com/USA - Federal food stamp cuts likely won't affect Minnesota