The production of key crops like cereals can be hit hard by heatwaves and droughts. In this edition of Climate Now, we are asking if scientists can uncover the secrets of the most resistant plants to 'climate-proof' our food.
When lettuce prices jumped to $10 off the back of extreme weather in New South Wales and Queensland it sent a shockwave through the nation, but some farmers in the flood zone were left relatively unscathed – because they grow under cover.
These farmers had invested extensively in cotton crop last year and got their fingers burned when pink bollworm (PBW) attack wreaked havoc on their fields. Although disillusioned with last year’s experience, they haven’t completely abandoned cotton crop this year but have certainly reduced the quantum of its cultivation.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government on 16 July approved ₹3364.06 lakh for disbursal to farmers who suffered crop loss due to heavy rains between June and October 2020.
Invasive spotted lanternflies have moved into Sussex County. Established populations of the destructive insect have been found in Georgetown, Milford, Seaford, Ocean View and Rehoboth, according to the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
The Dominican Government received funds from the EU concerning the “Banana Support Measures for the Dominican Republic” (BAM) program, for an amount of RD$322 million, to be executed by the Agricultural Bank, in coordination with the Ministries of Economy, Planning and Development and Agriculture.
Recent storm and hail activity over Western Canada has led to ‘moderate’ levels of crop damage, the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA) has reported. CCHA revealed in a release that its member companies are investigating a total of more than 1,450 claims of crop damage related to the storms which occurred between June 25 and July 02.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is calling for farmers in the state to report drought related stresses on crops and livestock. Missouri DNR’s Jennifer Hoggatt tells Brownfield the department wants to know landowners’ needs so they can open necessary resources.
Paddy farmers in Biharfear a drought and loss of their crops after the state recorded a large deficit in rainfall in the crucial first half of July. Some 80-85 per cent of paddy farmers in Bihar have prepared seedlings (known locally asdhan bichra), according to Bihar’s agriculture secretary N Sarvana Kumar.
While the very heavy rain in most parts of Kutch over the past seven days has raised the prospect of sowing of Kharif crops in large areas of the district, early rain has also caused widespread damage to date palm orchards with farmers reporting 50 per cent loss of crop.
The French corn crop is developing rapidly, with two-thirds at the flowering stage in the week ending 11 July, while harvesting continued for soft wheat and ended in most regions for winter barley.
The heatwave from three weeks ago has led to a large production of tomatoes, and thus an excess of supply on the market. But today, the situation is completely different. “We are now feeling the effect of the heatwave,” explains Cédric Leite of Mighirian Frères, a company based in Rungis.
Florida citrus growers recorded a very slight bump in orange production in the final count of the growing season, but the industry still experienced one of its most-devastating seasons in eight decades.
Due to late rain in Limpopo during March and April, instead of during the more usual rain months of January and February, as well as cool growing conditions, sweet pepper volumes on the market are lower.
Scientists have expressed fears that a new banana virus may affect the nation of Uganda in the next three years. Recent research by the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO-Mak) has revealed that the virus, which was first reported in Area district, is likely to affect the West Nile region.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday appealed to farmers of the state to get their Kharif and horticulture crops insured. The Chief Minister said in his appeal directed to the farmers that crop insurance is necessary so that farmers continue earning even in case of weather uncertainties and local natural disasters.