03.06.2019

India - Nagaland takes measures to save maize crop from pest attack

With the Fall Armyworm (FAW) affecting maize cultivation in Nagaland, the horticulture department has started taking measures to mitigate the problem, officials said. The department has also decided to carry out a survey to estimate the quantum of damage caused by the pest attack, they said. Out of the 11 districts in the state, the crop has been affected in Kohima, Dimapur and Phek, the deputy director of department of horticulture, Dr Moa Walling, said here on Saturday, on the sidelines of an awareness campaign and training for mitigation of FAW. As an allied agriculture department, the horticulture department is concerned about the effects of FAW on maize cultivation throughout the state, he said. The district horticulture officers, field staff and farmers are being trained to control the menace by using Nimbecidine EC, an insecticide, he said. They are also being trained to use pheromone traps to fight the pest, he added. He said preventive measures have to be taken after dark since the pest can travel a distance of 100 km in a single night. "This pest infestation has devastated the maize fields in the neighbouring states and Nagaland is also not far from suffering the same fate, if we do not take immediate action against it," the Deputy Director of the horticulture department, S Senka Jamir, said. The advisor for the horticulture department, MLA Mhathung Yanthan, while addressing the trainees asked the respective district officials not to remain insensitive to the menace as the pest is affecting not only maize but other plants, including the cash crops. Maintaining that FAW has the potential of causing widespread damage, Yanthan asked all to take the responsibility to curb the spread of the pest for the general welfare of the maize farmers in the state. Farmers, facing problems due to the pest attack, can contact the district horticulture offices for support, the Principal Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, M K Mero, said. Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

03.06.2019

Italy - Bad weather damages orchards on the Sele plain

A report drafted by Confagricoltura Salerno explains that the incessant rain of the past few days and the heavy hailstorms compromised 80% of the peach, plum, nectarine and apricot open-field orchards in the south of the Sele plain towards Eboli. Giovanni Mellone, an entrepreneur from the Sele plain, reported that "kiwifruits were heavily damaged and blossoming was scarce, so orchards will not be very productive. Some apricot cultivars either did not produce or experienced delayed ripening, and stone fruit ripening was delayed in general. This summer campaign will not be one of the best, as there were will be gaps alternated with moments where the market will be saturated." Other entrepreneurs explain that, luckily, not all areas were hit by the hailstorms, but also that a lot of the produce was lost due to the lack of anti-hail nets. "Cracking is a very widespread phenomenon. In addition to compromising the produce, the alternating cold and hot temperatures drive demand down, as consumers do not feel ready for summer fruit when they still have to put the heating on in the evening. We hadn't seen anything like this in the past 40 years." The melon situation is drastic, as the cold temperature stops the fruit from growing and causes damages. In addition, demand is practically non-existent. The orchards near waterways are in dire condition: too much water is causing root asphyxia. The damage caused by the incessant rain will also show itself in the medium term. Confagricoltura Salerno is currently trying to assess the damage. Protected crops (with nets and greenhouses) are doing a little better, but representatives from the organization are still asking the government to declare the state of natural disaster. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com/

31.05.2019

USA - Hurricane, cold winter damages early blueberries; but late crop is promising

Both Nelson and Morris blueberry farms in Bridgeton have had a rough start on the year, losing major portions of their crop to cold weather, a clogged canal and -- ahem -- a certain famous September storm. But blueberry lovers have good news too: the late crop coming in is looking just fine. Nelson Blueberry Farm at 211 Blueberry Lane is celebrating its 80th year of operation by climbing out of the damage done by Hurricane Florence -- and more. The farm took hits from just about every direction. First there was the storm surge that brought briny water into the blueberry grove. That wasn't too bad, owner Debbie Gustafson said: the resulting flooding was too brief to seriously damage the crops. But what the wind, rain and surge did the iconic metal building from which Nelson boxed, sold and shipped berries was a different story. "The wind took the back of the building off," she said, depositing the roof in the Shell Station property across the road. "The whole building shifted off its foundation," while 13 inches of floodwater ruined much of what was inside. The owners of the land the building was on refused to insure it, she said and so Gustafson had to replace it out of her own pocket. The new building is on her own land; in fact it is on the same footprint where the home she grew up in once stood. As to the storm's direct on the crop, "the berries actually started blooming out," she said. "The leaves should not have started coming back until the spring." But Gustafson did lose about an acre's worth of trees. "The (crop) in front of Food Lion lay in water for probably three months," she said. That was flooding rainwater flowing off NC 55, and wasn't briny, but three months under water killed the blueberry bushes there. "The water on 55 don't go nowhere," she said. According to Gustafson, the water is supposed to drain into the Duck Creek Canal, but that canal is clogged from years on inattention and beaver dams. "It hasn't been cleaned out since 1955 when they dug it," she said. Finally, there was the cold winter. "Frost, freeze; bees didn't pollinate because it was cold and wet and windy in April," she said. As a result, the early crop "is probably about 10 percent of the crop that I usually have." Gustafson said she has enough berries to sell locally, but pick-your-own customers are frustrated. "People want a lot of berries and don't understand why you're not open," Gustafson said. "It's because we have no berries." Down the road a half a mile, the Morris Blueberry Farm is dealing with a bad early crop of its own. "We've got 85 to 95 percent damage to our early crop," farm manager Shannon Register said. Morris, that has long run on an honor system for its pick-your-own crop, said she is currently letting people come and pick if they wish -- "There are some out there," she said of the early crop, "but you kind of have to pick through it." In other words, grab a bucket but expect to spend some time if you want to fill your bucket up. While the Nelson bushes were flooded only briefly, Register said her fields had nowhere to drain. And so nearly all the bushes sat in briny water for days, killing or damaging many plants. Then came the frost that Gustafson had already spoken of. "The bushes were already stunted from the storm," Register said, "and when the freeze came it burned some bushes." While the Morris barn also took some damage, it wasn't destroyed in the storm. Still, for this year they are packaging and selling from the barn that stands in the pick-your-own section. Both farmers say the late crop will help make up for the disaster of the early crop. Growers plant different varieties of blueberries: for Gustafson, the early berries are from a "High Bush" variety, a plant that, while it produces an early crop, is more delicate and easily damaged. The second crop comes in with the Rabbit Eye variety -- the same variety, she said, that you can pick up at a garden center. "My late berries, I have a very good crop on," she said. Register said that Morris, too, will "have enough late berries to satisfy everybody." Both expect their late crop to be ready for picking the first week of June. Source - https://insurancenewsnet.com/

31.05.2019

USA - Spring 2019 trade aid and crop insurance options for farmers

The ongoing trade war and slow planting progress have created uncertainty and stress for farmers across the Corn Belt. Insurance deadlines are rapidly approaching, but critical details of some programs have yet to be announced. Here’s a closer look at the options Midwest farmers have to consider this spring, the risks, long-term costs, and what details are still unknown. In the coming days farmers will have to choose between planting and accepting USDA trade aid payment or making a prevent plant insurance claim, managing their field differently than planned, and possibly receiving disaster assistance. 2019 MARKET FACILITATION PROGRAM USDA has announced up to $14.5 billion has been set aside for direct payments to farmers as part of a second Market Facilitation Program (MFP). Producers of the following crops are eligible: Alfalfa hay Barley Canola Corn Crambe Dry peas Extra-long staple cotton Flaxseed Lentils Long grain and medium grain rice Mustard seed Dried beans Oats Peanuts Rapeseed Safflower Sesame seed Small and large chickpeas Sorghum Soybeans Sunflower seed Termperate japonicac rice Upland cotton Wheat Farmers of these crops will be paid based on a county rate, no matter what crop they plant in 2019, as long as it gets planted. Prevent planted acres are not eligible for MFP. Neither the county rates nor planting deadline has been announced by USDA. Payment or eligibility limits for this new round of trade aid have not been announced. Most USDA farm subsidies limit farmers to a maximum of $125,000 apiece, and people with an adjusted gross income above $900,000 are not eligible. Pig and dairy farmers may also benefit from MFP payments, but details are sparse. USDA says, “Dairy farmers will receive a per-hundredweight payment on production history.” So far it is unknown what span of production history USDA will be considering or what the payment rate is. Hog producers will be paid based on their inventory, but the time frame and rate has not been announced for that either. Note, these payments will be broken up into three parts. It is not clear if the county rates will be the same for all three or if the three parts will be divided evenly. The first round “will begin in late July/early August as soon as practical after Farm Service Agency crop reporting is completed by July 15.” The second and third rounds will be evaluated as market conditions change and trade relationships evolve. They are not guaranteed. USDA says, “If conditions warrant, the second and third tranches will be made in November and early January.” Many analysts are optimistic this combination of events will cause commodity prices to rise. Coupled with MFP payments, this may have you leaning toward planting. Be sure to factor in the longer-term consequences of planting in less than ideal conditions if you decide to plant. AGRONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF PLANTING Each pass of equipment through a field causes compaction, but on heavily saturated soils like many states in the Midwest are seeing now, long-term effects on the soil and plant emergence increases. While farmers put pen to paper during these rainy days and weigh their late-planting options, “mudding it in” may be one of the last resorts and should be carefully considered. SHORT- AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS Farmers out in the fields planting through the wet soils will see the effects right away. Dave Nicolai, Extension educator at the University of Minnesota, says, “If the field conditions are too wet, you’ll get compaction, a poor seed bed, the soil may have more clods, you’ll experience poor seed to soil contact, and the stand will suffer because of that.” Compaction can cause an increase in soil’s bulk density (organic matter, pore space, and soil minerals), which restricts root growth of plants. As roots struggle to penetrate compacted soil, they may not develop properly and will be less able to take up water and nutrients, which can then result in nutrient deficiencies in the crop. Yield loss at the end of the season is estimated around 10% to 20% due to compaction during planting. The effects of compaction are also felt long after one growing season. Compaction causes damage to the soil structure, which means less organic matter is available to plants. Compacted soils also retain water longer and are slower to warm up. HOW TO MANAGE COMPACTION IN THE FIELDS To mitigate compaction during planting, some farmers are switching out tires for tracks on planters and going out into the fields with less of a load. While that may mean more trips and time, it could make a huge difference in the health of the soil. In addition, limiting traffic on the fields by using the same wheel tracks for passes will also help limit the total area of compaction. After this season, it will be important to consider conservation practices like cover crops to increase organic matter and reduced tillage to help lessen the long-term effects on the soil, especially as tillage can increase compaction just below the tilled zone. Finally, make note, if you elect to plant and apply for the MFP payments, the lower yields you may achieve this year due to delayed planting or adverse weather conditions will be factored in to your Actual Production History (APH) for crop insurance purposes and could lower your crop insurance pay out should you need to make a claim for many years into the future. LATE AND PREVENTED PLANTING INSURANCE In Iowa, the late planting period for corn is June 1 through June 25. Soybean late planting is June 16 to July 10. In this window of time, coverage is reduced 1% per day and drops to 55% for corn and 60% for soybeans. Note that as of 2018, your farm may be deemed “practical to replant” if you plant within 10 days after the late planting date. If you have Revenue Protection insurance, your revenue guarantee will vary based on the following factors. Know what each of these variables are specific to your operation if you are penciling out your options. Type of insurance APH Level of coverage Unit coverage: Enterprise, Optional, or Basic The flow chart from Iowa State University Extension below depicts the series of decisions a corn or soybean farmer must make for prevented planting or replanting. Regardless of the choice, it is important to regularly communicate with your crop insurance agent. Each time you talk to him or her, make note of the date and what you understood.

31.05.2019

India - Heavy rain destroys banana crop in Anantapur

Sudden downpours in Anantapur city and several places in the district brought much-needed relief for citizens as the mercury fell below 40°C on Wednesday, but motorists faced a tough time as major junctions like Saptagiri Circle, Srikantham Circle, and Gandhi Bazaar were inundated. Several mandals in the district received rainfall ranging from 63 mm in Bukkarayasamudram, 58 mm in Peddapappur, 57 in Raptadu and 37 mm in Singanamala to 30 mm in four mandals, and above 20 mm in another five mandals. Several other mandals recorded 10 mm or above. The temperatures, however, rose to above 40°C on Thursday afternoon. Banana plantations in several acres in Bukkarayasamudram, Raptadu and Narpala mandals of the district were damaged with heavy gales and rain that started at 3 a.m. on Thursday. In all, 15 hectares of plantation are estimated to be damaged and 35 farmers have suffered loss. On Thursday afternoon, Chennekothapalle and Narpala received 6 mm of rain. Farmers of Bukkarayasamudram have appealed to the Horticulture Department to conduct a survey on the crop loss and ensure that compensation is paid by the government. Farmers said they witnessed inundation in their fields for the first time in several months. Source - https://www.thehindu.com/

31.05.2019

Pakistan - Mango season delays in country

According to a recent paper, Pakistan growers are facing a delay in the mango season due to the effect of climate change on the mango harvest. Unseasonal rains and hailstorms, along with a longer winter, are said to have caused these changes. Harsh winds and hailstorms caused many unripe mangoes to fall from trees prematurely, while the longer winter prevented other harvests to ripen on time. Mangoes are one of the staple fruits of Pakistan. The summers are incomplete without crates of mangoes making their way into every household and lighting up the surroundings with its fragrance. Moreover, the King of the Fruits is also a major export item. Previously, Pakistan exports fell due to the presence of bugs that were found in some crates, following which the EU and the US limited their imports. However, despite the tough competition by Indian mangoes, the fruit still stands out in the international market as it sells for a higher price due to the quality.An article on states that given the impact of climate change, Pakistan growers need to analyse the impact of our actions and carelessness towards the environment.Source - https://www.freshplaza.com/

31.05.2019

Colombia - The country must control HLB

The Huanglongbing disease (HLB) of bacterial origin affects the different types of citrus fruits, such as lemon, orange, grapefruit, and tangerines. After affecting the leaves and fruits, the sick tree begins to lose its vitality and then dies. The HLB disease has affected citrus fruits from all over the world, spreading at a high speed from China, where it was discovered. The most effective method to eradicate it so far is to uproot the affected trees and eliminate them to prevent the disease from spreading. In 2015, the disease was discovered for the first time in Colombia in several citrus crops in La Guajira. Due to its rapid spread and the slow action of the competent authorities, the crops were affected in such a way that now, four years later, there is no citrus production in this department. The most affected region in Colombia is the Caribbean Coast, where five departments have already declared a phytosanitary emergency (La Guajira, Magdalena, Atlantico, Bolivar, and Cesar). The region could have prepared for the arrival of this bacterium, but when the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) proposed in 2013 Latin American countries, including Colombia, implemented a regional strategy for the management of the HLB in the region to contribute to the sustainability of the citriculture, the National Government only implemented the strategy in the country, a serious mistake that is now being paid by the agricultural sector. Since then, Mexico has invested in the fight and timely detection of this disease, with successful results. The Ministry of Agriculture and the ICA failed Colombia's citrus industry by not applying in a timely manner the strategies suggested by the FAO for the containment of Huanglongbing of citrus fruits, and they continue to fail by not having an effective prevention, eradication, and surveillance strategy, via the creation of regional control areas, ARCO, that allow the monitoring of the insect vector of the HLB, to prevent it form spreading. The citrus sector has asked the National Government to officially underline the urgency of this emergency so that the citrus crops that still haven't been affected are protected and the country can continue exporting its citrus to other markets, such as the US. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com/

30.05.2019

China - Drought in Yunnan to damage crop yield

Persistent drought in southwest China's Yunnan Province has affected about 1.04 million hectares of crops this year, the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs said Tuesday. Yunnan has seen about 358,067 hectares of crops seriously damaged, and the severe drought has killed 166,67 hectares of crops. The province has seen less precipitation and higher temperature since spring due to global warming and El Nino, said the province's meteorological department. The drought is ongoing and estimated to cause more damage. Source - https://reliefweb.int/

30.05.2019

USA - Crop insurance options for farmers affected by flooding or excess moisture

USDA’s Risk Management Agency reminds producers who have federal crop insurance coverage and are unable to plant a crop because of flooding or excess moisture to contact their crop insurance agent to discuss available prevented planting options. Crop insurance agents can discuss available options on when and how to file a claim related to prevented planting. Eric Bashore, director of RMA’s Billings Regional Office, urges producers who are unable to plant their crop by the Final Planting Date or who need to replant acreage to contact their crop insurance agent. Producers who are prevented from planting because of an insurable cause of loss must provide notice within 72 hours after the Final Planting Date if they do not intend or are unable to plant the insured crop within any applicable Late Planting Period. Prevented planting is a failure to plant an insured crop by the Final Planting Date designated in the insurance policy’s actuarial documents because of an insured cause of loss that is general to the surrounding area and that prevents other producers from planting acreage with similar characteristics. To qualify for a prevented planting payment, the affected acreage must be at least 20 acres or 20 percent of the crop acreage in the insured unit. Prevented planting is not available on area insurance policies, such as Area Risk Protection Insurance. Prevented planting options Several options are available for producers unable to plant a crop by the Final Planting Date because of an insurable cause of loss. A producer may: 1. Plant the insured crop during the Late Planting Period with a reduced guarantee; 2. Not plant a crop and receive a prevented planting payment; 3. Plant the acreage to another crop after the Late Planting Period ends and receive a reduced prevented planting payment; or 4. Plant a cover crop and receive a full prevented planting payment provided that the cover crop is not hayed or grazed before Nov. 1, or otherwise harvested at any time. Replant payments may also be available for land that was planted and does not have an adequate stand. Contact your insurance agent if you believe acreage should be replanted. Producers must receive written permission from the insurance company to replant, abandon or destroy a crop. Source - https://www.hpj.com/

30.05.2019

Canada - Saskatchewan bugs to watch for in 2019

The 2018 pest survey results for Saskatchewan look like good news for the 2019 season. Grasshopper, pea leaf weevil and diamondback moth populations were all low in 2018. Large numbers of Bertha armyworm moths were caught in the Outlook and Watrous areas, but these do not necessarily predict 2019 populations. Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture integrated pest management agrologist Carter Peru, who is responsible for co-ordinating pest surveys in the province, shared the 2018 survey results. Bertha armyworms Bertha armyworm populations raise some concern. In 2018, 238 sites were monitored for the pest, and the results show higher numbers than 2017. “A large amount of moths were caught in the Outlook and Watrous areas,” said Peru. “We think the cycle might be coming out of the low end and we could see higher numbers next year.” Bertha armyworm normally follows a cycle of outbreaks that ranges from five to eight years. The last major outbreak was in 2013. “It’s also important to note that the maps we produce weekly from early June until early August, monitor the adult male moths, which actually don’t cause the damage to crops,” said Peru. “It’s the larval stage that has to be scouted before producers decide to spray an insecticide.” Pea leaf weevil Pea leaf weevil populations in 2018 were a lot lower than they were in 2017. There was some higher feeding damage in the southwest corner of the province, but it was not significant in other areas of the province. The lower number in 2018 compared to 2017 might be due to environmental conditions, said Peru. Dry conditions can reduce pea leaf weevil populations due to the negative impact on eggs and larvae. Grasshoppers The pest survey map also shows very low populations of grasshopper for 2019. Some 1,200 sites were monitored for the survey in 2018. “For the grasshopper survey map, the techniques used to smooth transition lines can affect values in localized areas,” Peru added. “Therefore, the map should be used for regional analysis only.” Diamondback moths Diamondback is another insect to monitor for in 2019. Diamondback moths arrive in Saskatchewan on southern U.S. winds, but the pest does not overwinter in significant numbers in the province. “This means that diamondback moth populations cannot be predicted based on past years of surveillance,” said Peru. To help monitor, the Ministry sets up pheromone traps and counts moth population arrival and abundance. Updates are provided on the Ministry’s website regularly, so this is a tool that producers can use to be more aware of diamondback populations and risk of crop damage. Scout for diamondback larvae regularly, said Peru, especially in July and August when larvae can cause the most damage to crops. Count the number of larvae per square metre. In immature and flowering canola, the economic threshold is reached at 100 to 150 larvae per metre squared. At the pod stage, it’s between 200 to 300 larvae per square metre. “Economic thresholds depend on a variety of factors, including the cost of spraying and the price of canola,” said Peru. Peru cautions growers to scout regularly and often for all insect pests, said Peru. Environmental greatly impacts populations, so be sure to pay attention to changing conditions. “Bertha armyworm, diamondback moth, pea leaf weevil and grasshopper populations are no exception to this,” said Peru. “There’s always potential for localized outbreaks.” “Even though our results show lower risk, it’s still very important to scout,” he concluded. Source - https://www.grainews.ca/

30.05.2019

France - A difficult spring for fruits and vegetables

Late frost, a half-mast sun, cooling northeast winds ... the unfavourable weather conditions for agriculture followed one another this spring. "We had seven complicated nights in mid-April when the trees were in bloom and the weekend before the ice saints. Plums were not properly pollinated. On the other hand, mirabelliers, pear trees, cherry trees were saved. As for apple trees, they have not been impacted at all," explains a farmer from Lorraine. In order to fight against the elements of nature, producers had to put in place protections such as plastic blankets, candles, straw bale fires. Others had to forget about their harvest like Cédric Brylka from Domaine de Beaucerf in Ventron where his currants were roasted by the cold. Thanks to crop diversification, this producer will be able to compensate for his losses: "The impact of a late spring is not the same at all. Overall this year nothing catastrophic, even if some trees have suffered enormously at altitude. We can harvest rhubarb or acacia and elder flowers for processing into fruit wine or brandy," he says. The fateful moment to realize the losses is the time of harvest: "The most critical period is still the time of harvest. Last year, it started at the end of July and lasted eight weeks without a drop of rain [...] It is too early to have an idea of future volumes, but at this stage we can plan a correct campaign," explains Renaud Noël, commercial manager of the Mirabelle plum producers' cooperative Vegafruits, in Saint-Nicolas-de-Port. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com

30.05.2019

Poland - Frost damage may cause up to 85% reduction in apple harvest

For some of the Polish apple farmers, the season is setting up to be a disaster. After two periods of heavy frost preceded by a dry period with hardly any rain, large chunks of the apple crops have been destroyed. Although the produce is already considered an actual apple, the fruit has dropped from the tree too early and is not suited for consumption. Mohamed Marawan of SaraFruit said: “We have a lot of problems with the apple crops right now. When the frost hit Poland, we tried to protect our apples with spray that would protect them against the freezing temperatures. This did not result in the saving of our produce though. For my own farms, we’re losing about 85-90 per cent of the harvest. Some trees will only give us four apples, so there is no way farmers can make a profit. Prices will be exceptionally high and most of the apples will probably be used for the local market, rather than for export. We don’t know what the farmers will do to keep themselves afloat, but we’re trying to protect the apples that we do have from sickness to the best of our abilities.” Anna Litwin has had experience in the apple trade for many years and also sees a devastating season ahead: “Although the regions close to me, Warka, don’t have it as bad as others, we still believe that about 30 to 40% of the harvest will be wasted. However I’ve heard from other regions losing between 80 and 95 per cent of their crops. The Gala and Champion varieties have minimal losses, while the Ida Red and Golden varieties are the big losers. Poland is a huge apple producing country though, so I’m sure we’ll have some produce left for export. But it’s going to be a very difficult season for apple growers.” “After the second wave of frost hit us, we were optimistic. Of course there were going to be damages, but we sprayed the fruit with chemicals to protect them from further damage and everything seemed fine. However now we see the fruits have fallen from the tree. Our farms are located in the center of Poland. Some of the farm-owners I’ve spoken with claim they have lost 100% of their crops. Insurance companies are assessing the damages, however it’s not that bad everywhere. There are quite a few farms where crops are still available. Our assessment is that Poland will have about 40% of the crops surviving, where the rest is too damaged. It’s a sad sight to look at the orchards as it is very hard to even find a couple of apples.” said Emilia Lewandowska, sales manager for Fruit-Group. For some exporters it is still unknown what the damages will be. Timur Almaszy, export manager of Bart-Ex trade expects to have a full damage report in a week or two: “Until we get that damage report we are guessing at best. Of course we’re going to have losses, but whether we’re talking about 20, 30 or even 40% is very hard to say. Other regions might have it a lot worse than us, as we are located in the East of Poland.” The NFO reports a minimum harvest for Polish apple growers. Miroslaw Maliszweski is the president of the Association of Polish Fruit Growers, he also thought the damages of the frost would be manageable: “We see now that the trees are dropping the fruits in large numbers. Our information shows that the harvest won’t just be significantly smaller than last year, but also less than the annual average and smaller than the previous frost pestered season in 2017.” Source - https://www.freshplaza.com/

29.05.2019

India - Agri reforms 2.0: Continuity in income support and workable agri-marketing policies are called for

In the latter part of its first term, the Modi government had made the agri sector its prime focus, rolling out a series of reforms such as e-NAM and the price deficiency payments scheme to deal with farmers’ distress over falling prices. Finally, the Centre, taking a leaf out of States such as Telangana and Odisha, introduced income support, indicating a paradigmatic shift in the direction of farm support policy. With income support being permissible under the WTO, it would now be possible to reduce the scrutiny over ‘producer support subsidies’. In its next tenure, issues of overproduction may continue to pose challenges to the Centre. As a statistical analysis by BusinessLine (May 27) points out, farming has become drought-resilient, with food and horticulture output rising since 2015-16, despite a succession of below-normal or deficient monsoons. The output of milk, fish and eggs have increased sharply over the last decade. However, farmers’ income has not improved in the absence of demand and more so, a supply chain that can ensure viable farm gate prices while reaching the produce in time to the consumer. Hence, agri-marketing reforms need to be foregrounded, going beyond the e-NAM initiative. Measures to promote self-sufficiency in crucial crops such as pulses from a nutritional point of view need to be kept up. Pulses are a big plus for soil fertility and for their low water requirements. The sharp spurt in horticulture output should be sustained by improvements in marketing channels as well as in crop insurance. It is possible to introduce product differentiation in crop insurance schemes. Despite record-high food production, policy mis-management has seen agri imports growing at 9.8 per cent CAGR in the last five years while exports growth has been muted at 1.1 per cent CAGR. Institutional reforms such as creation of farmers’ producers organisations can help in breaking credit, logistics and marketing bottlenecks. It should also be ensured that all States implement the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestocks Marketing Act, 2017, and encourage investments in agri-processing. Doing away with APMC yards, without anything to take their place, is not a good idea as Bihar’s experience has shown. Cold storages need more attention than ever before with rising horticulture potential. The state of food processing parks needs to be reviewed.Subsidies for paddy and cane in rainfed regions, such as free electricity, have led to inappropriate crop choices. The Centre must adopt a holistic approach towards water management and agriculture. Haryana’s incentive scheme for shifting away from paddy is worth emulating but there are few signs that the Centre is thinking along these lines. Finally, very little can be achieved by just increasing the MSP. While the Centre obviously can’t revive food demand or prices globally, it can certainly come up with long-term policies on exports and imports that help producers deal with non-tariff barriers. The Centre is on the right track in its farm policies; its policy mix needs to be fine-tuned. Source - https://www.thehindubusinessline.com

29.05.2019

USA - Damages from hailstorm estimated ‘in the millions’

On Monday, State Farm sent a team of claim specialists to the Danville area, six of whom are drone pilots and will be using the technology to help in their assessments of roof damage, said Heather Paul, a public affairs specialist. “We can get the drone up and see detailed damage, take high-resolution photographs of that damage and download it to a tablet to show the customer and contract,” she said, adding there will still be times when a drone can’t be flown due to trees or other reasons, and an adjuster will have to go up on the roof. Some area farmers, who are already frustrated with wet weather that’s delayed planting, are dealing with hail damage to their crops. Kelli Lyons, of Midwest Agri Credit, said she knows of two in the area whose soybeans had actually emerged. “Unfortunately, they got hit with hail pretty hard,” she said, adding one is her brother, Doug Kirk. Kirk said he and his business partner, Greg Emmert, had half of their crop in, including about 260 acres of beans in a field between Catlin and Georgetown. “From our perspective, this is a crop that had absolutely 100 percent yield potential,” he said, adding the beans were planted in late April and two inches tall. Kirk, Emmert and co-worker Dan Todd took shelter in a large machine shed, “holding our hands over our ears” because the sound of hail pelting the metal building was deafening. When they emerged, they saw it had damaged 30 to 35 percent of the field. “To see that was an absolute disappointment,” said Kirk, who said it’s too late in the season to replant. Kirk said the hail also damaged the roofs on all of their buildings and several vehicles and high winds took down a couple of trees. Danville damage report Just a block south of Mike’s Grill, Toyota of Danville also suffered widespread damage, said General Manager Bob Oltean. He said hail damaged aluminum panels and siding on the building and likely the roof. And “every single vehicle that was on the lot was damaged,” he said, adding there were about 300 new and “previously enjoyed” vehicles, and all require some type of body work, whether it’s to the body or windows. The vehicles are still for sale “in any condition the customer would like to purchase them with safety items like headlights and tail lights repaired,” Oltean said, adding they can get them at a discount and make the repairs themselves or let the dealership make them. Since Saturday, he added, his business has gotten 80 deposits from customers wanting to buy some of the vehicles. Oltean said he will work with Toyota to replenish the inventory. “We also appreciate the outreach from fellow dealerships in the area, offering us undamaged units,” he said. Like Sherer, Oltean — who was driving home from Chicago when the storm hit — said he’s just grateful that his roughly 48 staffers, as well as customers, who took cover in a vault or inner hallway, weren’t injured in the storm. Source - https://www.the-independent-news.com

29.05.2019

Philippines - Law promoting private sector partners for farmers, fisherfolk signed

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law promoting partnerships between farmers, fisherfolk and the private sector. Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11321 (Sagip Saka Act) on April 17, a copy of which was released by Malacañang on Monday. The new law institutionalized the Department of Agriculture’s Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Program, which refers to the comprehensive set of objectives, targets and holistic approach in promoting the creation of enterprises involving agricultural and fishery products. The program will make use of science-based technologies in the identification and prioritization of agricultural and fishery products that will be covered. Partnerships or alliances between farmers and fisherfolk and the private sector may be formed to improve market access of producer groups, according to the law. The criteria for the selection of private sector partners include commitment to enter into a marketing contract or a buy-back agreement with their producers’ group and must be willing to provide technology transfer. Private sector partners must have the financial and organizational capability to undertake the proposed enterprise and have established and actual experience in implementing the proposed enterprise. They may also provide or donate equipment, machinery, and other forms of assistance to farmers and fisherfolk engaging in enterprise development. The DA shall issue the guidelines and qualification requirements in recognizing private sector partners of the program. The forms of assistance under the program are the following: 1) improvement of production and productivity, including agricultural extension services, skills development, provision of production inputs, equipment, facilities, and infrastructure for production and post-production activities; 2) improvement of producers’ and enterprises’ access to financing in the form of credit grants and crop insurance; 3) provision of access to improved technologies through research and development; and 4) provision of business support and development services, particularly in the areas of access to markets, marketing, and networking. Areas covered by the program are the following: 1) agricultural and fisheries production, including processing of fisheries and agri-based products and farm inputs; 2) acquisition of work animals, farm and fishery equipment and machinery; 3) acquisition of seeds, fertilizer, poultry, livestock, feeds and other similar items; 4) procurement of agricultural and fisheries products for storage, trading, processing and distribution; 5) construction, acquisition, and repair facilities for production, processing, storage, transportation, communication, marketing, and such other facilities in support of agriculture and fisheries; 6) working capital for agriculture and fisheries graduates to enable them to engage in agricultural and fisheries related economic activities; 7) working capital for long gestating projects; 8) agribusiness activities which support soil and water conservation and ecology enhancing activities; and 9) credit guarantees on uncollaterized loans to farmers and fisherfolk The law grants tax exemptions to organizations donating real and personal properties to farmers and fisherfolk. It also mandates the creation of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Council that will oversee the implementation of the program. The body will be headed by the Agriculture Secretary. Other members include representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Finance (DoF), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), national organizations of farmer and fisherfolk cooperatives or associations and the agriculture, food, restaurant and business sectors. Source - https://www.panaynews.net/

29.05.2019

USA - The corn crop insurance date looms as wet weather continues to stall planting

June 5 is the last corn plant date for Ohio producers to have full coverage on their crop insurance in place for 2019. After June 5, producers will lose 1% of coverage each day for corn planted after this date. The late plant period for corn will end on June 25. Much talk has already taken place in recent days as prevent plant options are thoroughly reviewed to see the best option for this year. Early May saw market talk of corn acres switched to soybeans. U.S. prevent plant corn acres could set a record this year. Why? Producers are extremely reluctant to switch those corn acres to soybeans with November CBOT soybeans mid-May falling below $8.50, which translates into fall delivery soybeans below $8 at the vast majority of Ohio grain facilities. The thinking is: “Why would I plant soybeans only to lose more money if weather is not a threatening factor this summer?” Some have already suggested soybean prices this fall could easily drop below $7. The world is awash in soybeans, easily obvious when you remember the US soybean ending stocks on August 31, 2019 is very close to one billion bushels. South America soybean production has been strong this spring. Soybean imports into China have fallen below those of last year. In addition, with the African swine fever in China still running rampant, China’s soybean imports could fall further. The lack of the U.S./China trade deal could jeopardize U.S. soybean sales already on the books. If demand continues to fall, U.S. exports could slip even lower in the months to come. USDA projected the ending stocks at 995 million bushels as exports were lowered 100 million bushels from the April report. Grains rallied mid-May after making new contract lows for soybeans and wheat. The low corn planting progress of 30% along with a wet planting season to date and a continued wet forecast played key roles in pushing corn 30 cents higher in just one week on May 17. Already at that date, market talk was suggesting reduction of 3 to 5 million corn acres and a 3- or 4-bushel lower corn yield due to late planting. Hints of lower corn production anywhere from 300 million bushels to one billion bushels also helped push corn to levels not seen much this spring. The rally, which started mid-May, was a supply-led rally. Those rallies are extremely difficult to trade as they can end as abruptly as they began. Conversely, demand driven rallies can gain steam and last far longer than anyone imagined. As I conclude this column mid-May, the Midwest weather forecast into early June calls for more of the same with above normal rainfall expected. As the corn supply from 2019 production looks to shrink as detailed above, keep in mind usage could also be shrinking as well. Record corn production from South America has the potential to be exported to current U.S. customers. Source - https://www.ocj.com/