07.02.2019

Uganda - 75,000 farmers insured with satellite data in 2018, SUM-Africa project sets new target for 2019

Smallholder farmers in Uganda are increasingly vulnerable to risks associated with changing weather patterns. The SUM-Africa project, supported by the G4AW program of Netherlands Space Office (NSO), provides satellite based drought index insurance to protect these smallholders. This week the Ugandan Agro Insurance Consortium (AIC) and the Dutch company EARS signed a long-term contract to continue the delivery of this service. The AIC provides the insurance and EARS, lead partner in the Sum-Africa project, provides the satellite-based drought index. Agricultural index insurance products are linked to an index, such as temperature, rainfall, crop yield or evapotranspiration, rather than actual loss. Daily information from satellites, enables independent and continuous monitoring of climatic conditions for crop growth. This information is used by insurance companies for risk assessment, insurance pricing, and for pay-out calculation. Because insurance companies no longer need to visit the farmer to assess their loss and determine payout, transaction costs are much lower. Insured farmers are more likely to get a loan, enabling them to invest in improved input that boost their resilience to climate change and increase their food production and income. The Sum-Africa consortium consisting of eight African and Dutch partners, now rolls into its fifth year and starts operating on a commercial basis. An increasing number of farmers are being insured, with some 75,000 farmers insured in 2018. Sales numbers are expected to double over the next 2 years. This is possible with AIC continuing to reach out and insure new farmers. AIC Technical Manager Munyaradz: “The secret to success in providing microinsurance products is minimizing the costs of the product offering together with the right product design. With G4AW support we have been able to access the right products from EARS and with our combined efforts we have proven the viability of Agricultural insurance in Uganda. From here we will continue to improve our services and to grow in scale.” At the same time EARS takes care for rapid and independent monitoring and loss detection via satellites. Joost van der Woerd, SUM-Africa Project Coordinator, explains: “Satellite tech is only part of the story. Our success so far is based on local actors -AIC foremost- with understanding of Ugandan realities and access to the right players in the agri-market”. An important contribution is made by the Ugandan government in the form of a premium subsidy. Government support underlines the advantages of agricultural insurance. It shows trust in satellite technology to provide reliable and scalable solutions, ultimately to benefit large numbers of smallholders across Uganda. EARS and partners continue to provide innovative insurance solutions for more ‘Climate smart agriculture’ across Africa. Source - https://africanews.space

07.02.2019

Europe - French, German farmers destroy crops after GMOs found in Bayer seeds

Bayer said on Wednesday that farmers in France and Germany were digging up thousands of hectares of rapeseed fields after traces of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) banned for cultivation were found in seeds sold by the company. GMO crops are widely grown across the world, but they remain controversial in Europe, where very few varieties are authorised for growing and some countries like France have completely outlawed their cultivation, citing environmental risks. Checks by the French authorities during the autumn showed minute quantities of GMO seeds, estimated at less than 0.005 percent of the volume, in three batches of rapeseed seeds sold under the Dekalb brand, Catherine Lamboley, Bayer's chief operating officer for France, said. Dekalb was previously a Monsanto brand before the U.S. company was taken over by Bayer last year. The GMO found, which is a rapeseed variety grown in Canada, is not authorised for cultivation in Europe, although it is allowed in imports destined for food and animal feed, Lamboley said. Bayer issued a product recall but some of the seed had already been sown, representing about 8,000 hectares in France and 2,500-3,000 hectares in Germany, which are in the process of being dug up, Bayer said. It was not yet known what caused the contamination of the rapeseed seeds, produced in Argentina in a GMO-free area, Lamboley said. "We decided to immediately stop all rapeseed seed production in Argentina," she told Reuters in a phone interview. Bayer's Argentine rapeseed seeds were destined for the European market and represent 12 percent of its rapeseed supply for France, the company added. Bayer declined to estimate the overall cost of the GMO contamination but said it will offer compensation of 2,000 euros (1,757.19 pounds) per hectare to affected farmers, suggesting a payout of around 20 million euros in France and Germany. The compensation reflected the loss of rapeseed fields this season and the fact farmers would not be able to grow the crop next either as a precaution to avoid re-emergence of the GMO strain, Lamboley added. The order to destroy some crops is another blow for European rapeseed growers who had already cut sowings sharply due to dry weather. However, the area is small compared to the total French winter rapeseed area, which the farm ministry in December forecast at 1.23 million hectares. The corresponding German crop area is seen at close to 1 million hectares. Source - https://www.euronews.com

07.02.2019

Japan - Swine fever spreads; gov't warns of 'extremely serious' phase

Japan's swine fever epidemic is spreading, with local authorities in five central and western prefectures saying Wednesday they are struggling to contain the highly contagious virus that was first reported in September. "We are facing an extremely serious situation," farm minister Takamori Yoshikawa told a meeting at his ministry in Tokyo while instructing officials to take thorough countermeasures. The ministry also set up a special task force in Gifu Prefecture to step up containment efforts. Spreading from farms in Gifu, the hog cholera virus was newly detected by prefectural and local authorities at farms in neighboring Aichi as well as in Osaka, Shiga and Nagano prefectures. The total number of pigs to be culled at affected farms is expected to reach 15,000. "It worries me that we don't know how the disease is spreading," said a pig farmer in Iida, Nagano Prefecture. "The only thing we can do is to thoroughly manage hygiene." The disease does not affect humans even if meat from an infected animal is consumed, but it is fatal to pigs and boars. Around 130 wild boars in Gifu and Aichi prefecture have tested positive for infection despite experts' initial assumption that it would not spread among the animals, which typically do not live in large herds. Although there is a vaccine to counter classic swine fever, using it could prevent Japan from regaining its World Organization for Animal Health status as a CSF free country, hindering Japan's plan to expand pork exports. The organization already suspended Japan's such status after the outbreak in September. Yasuhiro Ozato, a senior vice farm minister, expressed reluctance to use the vaccine, saying, "We will seek to resolve this by sticking to hygiene control standards." The Aichi prefectural government began culling around 6,600 pigs at a farm in the city of Toyota with the help of the Ground Self-Defense Force, while banning shipments from six other farms located within 10 kilometers. The farm in Toyota had shipped pigs to six facilities in Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, Mie, Shiga and Osaka prefectures since January, but the ministry has not detected the virus in Mie. The farm in Toyota reported to the Aichi government on Monday that pigs were showing symptoms of infection, including loss of appetite, and the prefecture detected the hog cholera virus in five pigs the following day. Detailed tests by the central government confirmed the infection on Wednesday. The Aichi government said the farm in Toyota shipped pigs to a Nagano Prefecture farm Tuesday morning even after noticing hog cholera symptoms among them as prefectural authorities suspected another illness and did not stop shipments. Of the 80 pigs brought to the farm in Miyada, Nagano, 79 were found to have been infected with the virus, according to the Nagano prefectural government. A man involved in pig farming who lives near the Toyota farm said, "There was a vet at the company (managing the farm). I thought they were taking thorough preventive measures." Hog cholera was detected at a farm in the city of Gifu in September, the first such discovery in Japan since 1992. The country declared the virus eradicated in 2007. Source - https://japantoday.com

06.02.2019

India - Adopting AI in agriculture eases the risk of changing patterns

It is one of the marvels of human innovation but artificial intelligence (AI) offers tough competition for us. The days of speculating rain and sunshine may soon fade with artificial intelligence’s capability to predict right conditions with precision to an extent. It comprises one of the basic aspects of precision agriculture (PA) promoted even by the government to boost productivity and in turn, farmers’ income. AI-based sowing advisories lead to 30 per cent higher yields as Microsoft, in collaboration with ICRISAT, developed an AI Sowing App powered by Microsoft Cortana Intelligence Suite including Machine Learning and Power BI. The app sends sowing advisories to participating farmers on the optimal date to sow without them installing any sensors in their fields or any additional cost; all they need is a phone capable of receiving text messages. The performance of AI on the fields has prompted NITI Aayog, to start a pilot project on precision agriculture using AI in 10 districts from seven states: Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Moisture Adequacy Index (MAI) May Bring Significant Change The AI mechanism calculated the crop-sowing period by gathering and analysing the historic climate data spanning over 30 years, from 1986 to 2015 and decided a Moisture Adequacy Index (MAI) to determine the optimal sowing period. MAI is the standardized measure used for assessing the degree of adequacy of rainfall and soil moisture to meet the potential water requirement of crops. The daily rainfall recorded and reported helped to calculate the real-time MAI while the future MAI is calculated from weather forecasting models which are downscaled to build predictability and guide farmers to pick the ideal sowing week. The International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a non-profit, non-political organization initiates ten sowing advisories and they disseminated among the farmers until the harvesting was completed. These advisories contained essential information including the optimal sowing date, soil test-based fertilizer application, farmyard manure application, seed treatment, optimum sowing depth, and more. In tandem with the app, a personalized village advisory dashboard provided important insights into soil health, recommended fertilizer, and seven-day weather forecasts. This is a major shift from the traditional practices where for centuries; farmers had been using age-old methods to predict the right sowing date for crops like cotton. Mostly, they would choose to sow in early June to take advantage of the monsoon season, which typically lasts from June to August. However, the changing weather patterns in the past decade have led to unpredictable monsoons, causing poor crop yields and loss to the farmers. Pest Attack Prediction Fosters Better Planning Creating a pest attack prediction model again leverages AI and machine learning to indicate in advance the risk of pest attack. Common pest attacks, such as Jassids, Thrips, Whitefly, and Aphids can pose serious damage to crops and impact crop yield. To enable farmers to take preventive action, guidance on the probability of pest attacks would be helpful. Farmers will get predictive insights on the possibility of pest infestation which will help them to plan, adopt pre-emptive measures and reduce crop loss due to pests. All this will certainly contribute to double the farm income. The measure to indicate the risk of pest attacks based on weather conditions and crop stage in addition to the sowing advisories is a help long overdue. Shifting weather patterns including an increase in temperature, rapid changes in rain patterns and levels, and groundwater density can affect farmers; especially those who cultivate unirrigated lands and depend a lot on rains for their crops. Leveraging the cloud technology and AI to issue advisories for sowing as well as predict pest control and commodity pricing is a major move towards creating increased income for the farming community.

06.02.2019

The global burden of pathogens and pests on food crops

Crop pathogens and pests reduce the yield of agricultural production, causing substantial economic losses and reducing food security. Yet, their global burden and their variation over time and among different agroecosystems remains poorly quantified. New research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, by a collaboration between the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Cornell University, Penn State University, University of California, Davis and the University of Twente has documented the losses associated with 137 pathogens and pests in five major food crops—wheat, rice, maize, potato and soybean—worldwide. Precise figures Crop pathogens and pests (P&Ps) constitute a burden to food production worldwide. Plant diseases and pests are frequent causes for crop losses – losses in quantity or in quality of harvests – irrespective of the agrosystems, whether in small-scale, diverse, single-cycle, "traditional" agriculture, or in large-scale, genetically uniform, monoculture-based, "intensive" systems. Yet, while P&Ps are widely considered an important cause of crop losses, and sometimes a threat to food security, precise figures on these crop losses are very hard to produce. Estimating losses is difficult for two reasons. One is because P&Ps are integral parts of the human-made agrosystems, in which they have co-evolved with crops over millennia. As a result, the effects of P&Ps in agriculture are very hard to disentangle from the complex web of interactions among factors at play within agrosystems. The second is due to the sheer diversity of P&Ps, which includes viruses and viroids, bacteria, fungi and oomycetes, nematodes, arthropods, molluscs, vertebrates and parasitic plants. This diversity means that the quantification of losses on an individual pathogen or pest basis, for each of the many cultivated crops, is a daunting task. Addressing the problem During the 10th International Congress of Plant Pathology held in Beijing in 2013, the recently created Crop Loss Subject Matter Committee of the International Society for Plant Pathology (ISPP) decided that a survey on P&P losses among crop health experts should be conducted. This worldwide online survey was conducted with the support of the ISPP between Nov 1, 2016 and Jan 31, 2017, reaching over 2,500 members of the ISPP, along with nearly 100 specific crop health experts of several organisations, including CGIAR institutes and Rothamsted Research. Using a very simple online questionnaire, the authors collected almost 1,000 responses from 219 crop health experts on five major food crops (wheat, rice, maize, soybean, and potato) in 67 countries. These five crops provide about 50% of the global human calorie intake and the 67 countries represent a substantial fraction (84%) of the global production of these five crops. Losses are substantial and they vary across food security hotspots The "global burden of pathogens and pests" documents losses associated with 137 P&Ps in wheat, rice, maize, potato and soybean worldwide. At a global scale, the authors estimate that the range of losses are 10.1–28.1% in wheat, 24.6–40.9% in rice, 19.5–41.1% in maize, 8.1–21.0% in potato, and 11.0–32.4% in soybean. The study also provides loss estimates to individual P&Ps for these crops globally, as well as in several global food security "hotspots". These hotspots are critical sources and/or sinks in the global food system: North-West Europe, the plains of the US Midwest and Southern Canada, Southern Brazil and Argentina, the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia, the plains of China, South-East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The results highlight differences in impacts among crop pathogens and pests and among food security hotspots. But they also show that the highest losses appear associated with food-deficit regions with fast-growing populations, and frequently with emerging or re-emerging pests and diseases. Information to support action to address chronic and emerging crop pathogens and pests Quantification of crop losses provides a measure of past advances and a benchmark for future progress in crop health management. Our results provide a basis for research and policy prioritisation of crop health management. Some P&Ps occur chronically – meaning they occur regularly and over large areas. For chronic P&Ps, efforts to deliver more efficient and sustainable management tools, such as resistant varieties, are needed. Some P&Ps are emerging or re-emerging and are associated with recent large increases in losses in specific food security hotspots. For emerging or re-emerging P&Ps, urgent action is needed to contain them and efforts to generate long term solutions, such as varietal resistance, need to be undertaken rapidly. Source - https://phys.org

06.02.2019

Australia - How to reduce the risk of summer pneumonia

Summer temperatures in the southeast states of Australia can hit 40C or more, then drop dramatically and rapidly as cold fronts roll in. These temperature extremes are a challenge for people and beasts alike. One common finding during summer, particularly in young stock such as weaners, is pneumonia. The disease can be difficult to identify in livestock because early signs are subtle — a reduced feed intake and mildly increased breathing rate. It’s even harder to pick up in sheep in full wool because it is more difficult to see weight loss. Early symptoms can rapidly progress to severe pneumonia with the animal struggling to breathe, which can lead to death. On some properties it can be a big problem, particularly in recently weaned animals. It’s impossible to control the summer weather, but there are steps you can take to reduce the potential of summer pneumonia. The key environmental influences that exacerbate the problem are dust, flies, animal stress, unbalanced diet and inadequate shelter for livestock. BREATHE EASY When an animal inhales dust, hairlike cilia that line the windpipe help move the dust and mucous out of the body. This system can be overloaded if there is too much dust, allowing bacteria to get deep into the lungs and cause summer pneumonia. It is a good idea to water livestock yards with a sprinkler to reduce dust when animals are being handled, or handle stock in yards immediately after rain. Move stock in early morning or late afternoon, when temperatures are lower, to reduce overall stress and to avoid having them in yards in full sun. LOW STRESS How and when you handle livestock has a big impact on their stress levels and this in turn affects their immunity and ability to fight disease. Handling livestock quietly and calmly reduces their overall stress. Droving animals slowly, rather than driving them quickly, and keeping use of aggressive dogs to a minimum will also help minimise stress. If livestock don’t have adequate shade in paddocks this can cause stress and increase chances of respiratory disease. If hot weather is forecast, stock should be in paddocks with adequate trees, shrubs or shelters to provide shade to help reduce temperature. SWAT TEAM Controlling flies can reduce transmission of diseases between animals. There are a range of options available to reduce fly impact on livestock, including chemical products that can be applied to cattle or insect trapping devices on farm. Each farm’s needs are different, so speak to a vet to discuss strategies and products suited to your property. HEALTHY DIET An animal’s diet plays a key role in maintaining their immune system — minimum levels of particular vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, D, E and selenium, along with adequate fibre in the diet for gut health are important in immune system function. The most important parts of the diet to get right are energy and protein. But macronutrients supply important components for immune system function, particularly important when feeding a concentrate diet over a few months. HYDRO POWER Access to water is also crucial. Animals need sufficient quality and quantity to maintain health. If you use bore water during summer months it’s worthwhile testing quality to make sure it doesn’t contain too much salt or have other impurities. Make sure troughs have adequate drinking space and volume for the number of stock in a paddock. Check dams to make sure stock can access water without getting stuck. PREVENTIVE CARE For some species, such as cattle, vaccinations against both viral and bacterial causes of summer pneumonia are available. However, for sheep there are no current registered vaccines. Be vigilant for the following symptoms: eating less, an increased temperature, losing weight, at later stages an elevated breathing rate and eventually obvious difficulty in breathing and increased lung sounds. Monitor stock closely following changes in weather. If you believe your animals may have pneumonia, contact your vet as soon as possible. The animals require quick treatment, usually with antibiotics, to improve their chances of survival. Source - https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au

06.02.2019

Poland - Blueberry season faces big challenges

A regular blueberry season may no longer be a thing in Poland, as the seasons seem to be shifting as a result of climate change. This is a challenge that must be faced, along with increasing costs and a decreasing availability of labor. For the Polish Berry Cooperative, it seemed as if the blueberry season was everything but normal. Dominika Korarzewska claims climate change had an effect: “The season started really early, about three to four weeks earlier than it normal does. Unfortunately this meant that we had fruit at the same time as a number of other European countries, including Serbia and Portugal. These countries in turn had a later season than usual. Due to the early start we also finished earlier; on some farms things ended at the beginning of August. With climatic change now evident, we think the concept of a ‘regular season’ may no longer be valid.” The volumes in 2018 were similar to the volumes in 2017, however the challenges were a lot bigger than before, says Korarzewska. “The shift of the season was a big challenge in 2018, but an even bigger one for the future is the growing cost and decreasing availability of workers. This will affect margins in the short term, but in the long term it will require Polish growers to take strategic decisions like replacing old varieties, or focusing on quality even more, rather than on quantity.” The challenges keep on coming, as Brexit is another point of worry for Polish exporters. “The UK is still the biggest Polish export market, with Germany following suit. In terms of exports; Brexit and the ensuing uncertainty that we are now facing is actually another big challenge. We believe that the issues related to customs and phytosanitary controls of fruit entering the UK may have a huge impact on the market. If it doesn’t this year, then it definitely will in the future.” With the UK becoming a more difficult market, the Polish Berry Cooperative is exploring opportunities elsewhere: “We would like to strengthen our presence on South-East Asian markets, hence together with growers from Spain and Portugal we launched European Berry Growers, the largest entity of this kind in Europe. Together, we can offer fruit to Asian markets practically year-round,” says Korarzewksa. “But we can also increase our market share as Polish growers by focusing on providing consistent quality throughout the season. Increasing the production under tunnels or rain sheds seems crucial here. Optical sorting is also key to providing high quality and it is definitely the future of the blueberry market.” The Polish Berry Cooperative will also be attending Fruit Logistica in Berlin. They are bringing some muscle to make an impression: “This year, together with TopChef and MasterChef finalists we want to show how Polish cuisine can become slimmer and lighter through the use of blueberries. We feel that it is our responsibility as growers to support the key health trends. Fruit Logistica is definitely the place to be for any major fruit supplier. We meet a lot of existing and potential clients and are able to see the most important trends in the industry.” Korarzewska concludes. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com

06.02.2019

India - Karnataka seeks Rs 2,064 crore drought relief for rabi season

The Karnataka government on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the central government seeking a relief assistance of Rs 2,064.30 crore to drought-hit farmers in the ongoing rabi season. The state revenue minister R V Deshpande called on Home Minister Rajnath Singh and apprised him about the severe drought prevailing in the southern state. State Agriculture Minister Shivashankar Reddy was also present in the meeting. Submitting a memorandum seeking Rs 2,064.30 crore central assistance for drought-hit farmers in the rabi season, Deshpande requested the minister to consider releasing higher amount for those affected due to drought during the kharif season as well. It may be noted that the Centre had released Rs 949.49 crore to the state government against the demand of over Rs 2,400 crore to provide relief to farmers who incurred crop loss during the 2018 kharif season. "The amount released to the state for the kharif-drought was less because it was calculated as per the previous guidelines. Whereas for Maharasthra, higher amount has been provided based on the new norms," Deshpande told reporters after meeting the central minister. Earlier central drought guidelines provided for relief amount for crop loss of up to 33 per cent incurred in the state, while new norms allow for crop loss up to 50 per cent, he said. "We have asked the Centre to release additional amount for kharif-drought based on new drought guidelines," he added. According to the state government, Karnataka -- which faced drought during the kharif season of the 2018-19 crop year (July-June) -- has declared 156 taluks out of 176 in 11 districts as drought-hit during the rabi season as well, incurring an estimated crop loss of about Rs 11,384.47 crore. The drought hit areas are located in north interior Karnataka which account for nearly 90 per cent of the total rabi area in the state. As per the official data, the rabi crops were sown in 27.89 lakh hectare this year as against 31.80 lakh hectare in the year-ago. About 3.91 lakh hectare is unsown. The state government informed the Centre that the water level in reservoirs has depleted and it has decided to use existing water for drinking water purpose as the first priority. It also demanded the Centre to release payment dues of over Rs 1,000 crore under the MGNREGA scheme. Source - https://www.moneycontrol.com

05.02.2019

USA - Unexpected deaths of livestock reported in areas impacted by Hurricane Michael

Farmers are still monitoring the impact of Hurricane Michael on their livestock. There have been reports of unexpected animal deaths in areas impacted by the storm - including southeast Alabama, Georgia and Florida. A post on Facebook from a farm in Georgia raising questions about the deaths of animals has been shared over 4,000 times and has over 900 comments with farmers sharing their stories. Jamar Ivey, president of the Houston County Chapter of the Alabama’s Cattlemen’s Association, says a cattleman contacted him about losing one of his cows three weeks ago. He says while cattlemen expect to lose older cows during the colder months - this death was unexpected. “She was a rather young cow. It started with paralysis, and she kinda went down from there,” Ivey said. Other veterinarians who serve the Wiregrass also reported receiving calls about animal loss since the storm. Dr. William Terry of Hartford Veterinary Services and Supply says he’s had about 20 producers contact him about their livestock getting ill - particularly their stocker cows. Dr. Robert Syfrett of South Park Veterinary Clinic in Dothan spoke to WSFA 12 News by phone. He was headed to talk to a cattleman in Georgia who had experienced livestock loss since the storm. “They’ve had some issues since about two weeks after the storm,” Syfrett said. He says some of the animals in this case have dealt with a blood parasite passed along through ticks - noting the hurricane knocked down fencing for the animals, and they may have been bitten in an area they wandered into. Syfrett says pinpointing the main cause of the livestock deaths after the storm will be hard, but he does believe whatever it is was triggered by Michael. “It could be anything, that’s the thing. It’s not going to be one thing,” Syfrett said. “Some of this they’re not going to see the full effect until months to years down the road.” Ivey agrees the causes are varied. He says other possible reasons could be pneumonia from the cattle standing in wet, muddy rain soaked fields or eating bad hay. “The biggest thing I think it probably is is all this rain we’ve had since Hurricane Michael. The ground is wet, real saturated," Ivey said. "The hay is wet that we’ve been feeding. The cows are having to stand in a lot of mud. You run a little bit of caution for pneumonia. It’s colder weather. It’s wet. They’re susceptible just like people are.” Ivey doesn’t believe it’s an epidemic or something to be alarmed about for cattlemen but said something you should monitor if you have livestock. We did reach out to the state veterinary clinic to see if we could get more information on the impact. Source - http://www.wsfa.com

05.02.2019

Ukraine - Reduced production of millet groats

In September-October of 2018/19 MY, large-scale enterprises of Ukraine produced 3.3 thsd tonnes of millet groats, a decrease of 11% compared with the same period last season (3.8 thsd tonnes). At the same time, in September 2018 the production gap with the figures of September of the previous season totaled 6% only, then in October 2018 the figures already totaled 14%. The reduction of millet production in Ukraine became the main reason for the situation development. APK-Inform analysts estimated the general harvest of millet in the current season at 79 thsd tonnes, down almost 7% compared with the previous season. Also, APK-Inform reduced the estimations of food consumption of millet in 2018/19 MY by 16% compared with last season — 32 thsd tonnes only, or 30% of the total supply, and 49% of the forecasted domestic consumption. Source - https://www.apk-inform.com

05.02.2019

Romania - Elevated air temperatures provoke winter crops to resume growing

Elevated air temperatures persisted in Romania last week (on average 2..4°С warmer than normal). The mean daytime air temperature varied within 0..+12°С. In the southeast, the thermometer showed +15°С on January 30. Precipitation occurred almost everywhere as rain and sleet (10-15 mm during the week), replenishing soil moisture and easing drought. Because of elevated temperatures, some winter crops in the south resumed growing. Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net

05.02.2019

Global sugar deficit in 2019/2020 seen at 1,36 million tonnes

The world sugar market is on course for a shortfall of 1,36 million tonnes, analyst Green Pool said on Friday in its first forecast for the 2019/2020 season. It also trimmed its projection for the global surplus in 2018/2019 to 2,64 million tonnes from a previous forecast of 3,6 million tonnes. There was a surplus of 19,6 million tonnes in 2017/2018, it said. Green Pool said it is “unusual” for the global sugar market to swing back to deficit after only two surplus seasons, but noted last year’s sharp drop in prices to below production costs curbed output. «(The) size of the 2017/2018 crop year surplus...was so big that it was bound to force change quickly», — Green Pool said. The expected shortfall in 2019/2020 is mostly due to expected output reductions in Thailand, Pakistan and India, it said. Green Pool pegged India’s 2019/2020 production at 29,5 million tonnes. «(We) anticipate that there will have been lower planting due to some dry weather post-monsoon in 2018, — Green Pool said, — Exports are lagging and stocks will undoubtedly finish the year high, continuing to pressure the government and mills». The country’s 2018/2019 production was seen at 33,5 million tonnes, down slightly from a previous forecast of 34,1 million tonnes. Output from Brazil’s centre-south cane region is expected to rise to 29,6 million tonnes in 2019/2020 from an expected 26,6 million tonnes in 2018/2019. This marks a recovery from this season’s sharp decline, although drier-than-usual weather in December and January could dent production. «This adds an element of risk to the 2019/2020 crop, and perhaps also to the final figure for 2018/2019», — Green Pool said. Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net

05.02.2019

Pests destroy around one quarter of crops

Pests and pathogens are an integral part of agriculture. They’ve been around since mankind has been growing crops, coevolving with agricultural plants. However, that’s not to say that we can’t do anything to fight them. Different methods have been employed, with varying degrees of success. But before we can talk about large-scale campaigns against pests, we first need to understand the big picture. This is exactly where the new study comes in. Serge Savary, a researcher working at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, and colleagues, took on the gargantuan task of measuring global crop losses caused by pests and pathogens. They focused on the five most popular crops: wheat, rice, maize, potato, and soybean. Together, these crops make up almost half of mankind’s calorie consumption. They found that at a global level, pets destroy: 21.5% of wheat crops; 30% of rice crops; 22.5% of maize crops; 17.2% of potato crops; and 21.4% of soybean crops. This type of data is extremely valuable, especially as standardized information is difficult to compile across different regions and crops — and there is little in the way of good news. All in all, almost one-quarter of this food is completely lost — and to make matters even worse, the highest losses are associated with regions with fast-growing populations and which are already struggling with malnutrition. These are also areas frequently hit by emerging or re-emerging pests and diseases. Researchers hope that their work will serve as a guideline for policymakers and farmers alike. At a global scale, if we want to be able to feed the world, we need quick and efficient interventions in these areas. There’s also another problem, a common culprit: climate change. It’s clear that climate change will affect plant-pathogen interactions, but it’s much less clear in what way. While they did not study this directly, Savary and colleagues quote another study, which ultimately concludes that “climate change will bring, above all, surprises.” Quite likely, they won’t be pleasant surprises. Source - https://www.zmescience.com

05.02.2019

USA - Agriculture experts search for alternatives to storm-damaged crops

Hemp and hops are being promoted among alternatives for crops wiped out by Hurricane Michael in the eastern Panhandle. Glen Aiken, director of the University of Florida’s North Florida Research and Education Center, said Monday the need for alternatives has grown as farmers in an eight-county area suffered most of the estimated $1.5 billion hit to the state’s agriculture industry in the October storm. But Aiken, in addressing the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the first step is convincing growers and ranchers about what could be best for their fields, particularly those in the timber industry, which accounted for more than $1.28 billion of the losses. Timber operators face the prospect of decades before new trees mature. “We’ve got to get something going on these properties that are generating some income,” Aiken said. “And to do it, farms are different, farm operators are different, the more risk they’re willing to take, the chances are we can generate more income off that land.” Along with the timber damage, Aiken said tomato and cotton crops were a near total loss as they were both close to harvest. Meanwhile, cattle deaths were significant and because of damaged fencing it took weeks to round up and return surviving animals. “These growers are in a serious bind,” Aiken said. “They’re asking for our help, and we’re trying to give it to them.” A workshop for farmers on management strategies, particularly for those in the timber industry, has been set for Feb. 12 in Blountstown, about 50 miles north of Apalachicola. Aiken said that hemp, which has been promoted by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, has multiple uses, including medicinal cannabidiol, as a high-quality fiber for rope and clothing and even as food. “I know of an entrepreneur in Kentucky that processes hemp sausage,” Aiken said. “It’s hemp and pork combined. I had some. It’s not the best sausage I’ve ever ate, but it wasn’t too bad, either.” Hops also has a number of uses, but primarily could serve the state’s craft breweries, which have increased from 66 in 2013 to 243 in 2017. Other alternative crops include olives, some hardier citrus varieties, such as satsuma, and lupines, which produce an oil that can be converted to biodiesel and a high-protein meal. Hurricane Michael made landfall Oct. 10 in Mexico Beach and then caused billions of dollars of damage in heavily rural areas as it roared north into Georgia. Source - https://www.heraldtribune.com

04.02.2019

Overview global table grape market

The situation in the European table grape market has been quite challenging. Because of the large volumes supplied by Peru, German, Dutch and French traders have at times had to deal with extremely low prices, especially at the beginning of the season. In the meantime, the market has been picking up slowly in several countries. Prices in Italy are also low, mainly due to the disappointing quality. For Spain, these are interesting times, because its grapes have recently gained access to the Chinese market. North America has made the switch to imports after an abundant Californian season, while the production in Australia and China is in full swing. South Africa has had a difficult season, but hopes for a good end. Italy: Quality problems due to exceptional weather conditions Italy is the second largest grape supplier in the world, only behind China. At the moment, the production amounts to about a million tons. The fruit comes mainly from Puglia and Sicily. In Puglia, the season has mostly been characterized by low prices, unexpected weather conditions and a substandard quality. Many growers have had to deal with rot, and these problems are largely attributed to climate change. In Sicily, the season started well, but unfortunately, that didn't last. Many growers had to deal with bursting grapes at the end of the season, which had an impact on sales. Italian consumers prefer small and average bunches. Netherlands: Light at the of the tunnel for difficult table grape market The grape market did not have a prosperous start in 2019. According to Dutch importers, there was still supply in the market before Christmas, and large volumes have also arrived afterwards. Peru was mostly responsible for this, with no less than 100% greater volumes than last year. In the past month, the situation has been really good for Red Globe grapes. Due to the good demand from Asia, Peruvian exports of this variety were reasonably low. South Africa had 12/13% more production, and Brazil, where the season is about to end, has had 15% more production. This resulted in promotional campaigns in the German retail channel, with stunt prices of 99 cents. In the meantime, the shipments from South Africa have slowed down somewhat. India expects a 15% higher yield this year. Although the market conditions are not very favorable at the moment, they are expected to start improving for the white seedless grapes from India in the second half of February. Normally, the Indian season lasts until mid-May. Temperatures have been a bit low in the last two weeks. The great difference between night and day temperatures will very likely have an adverse effect on the grain size of the later varieties. In the last four weeks of the season, the size of the grapes will thus be on the smaller side. France: The Ralli is a positive exception in a tricky market The supply is high on the French market. "Almost all white grape varieties and origins are currently available. South Africa, Peru and Namibia are shipping large volumes of Victoria, Regal Seedless, Sugraone and even Thompson. There are also still some French muscat grapes on the market, but that campaign is nearing its end," says a trader at Rungis. Almost all varieties, both white and blue, are sold for a price per kilo of about € 1.80 in the case of caliber L and € 2 per kilo in the case of caliber XL. According to the trader, the quality is good, but the consumption is lagging behind. The bad winter weather has also been causing difficulties. The only positive exception to the low prices is the blue Ralli grape. "This one is easily sold for over 1 Euro more than the other varieties, with € 3 per kilo for caliber L and € 3.20 per kilo for caliber XL. This variety is easy to sell. It is crunchy and sweet, and besides the Crimson, no other variety comes even close in terms of taste. What also makes a difference is that the Ralli volumes are very limited. "The Red Globe is still widely available in France, but other seedless varieties, such as the Crimson and the Sweet Celebration, are slowly taking over the market. Germany: The market has left the worst behind "We are certain that the worst part of the white grape season has already been left behind," says a German importer. "The market situation is now slightly better, probably thanks to the marketing campaigns carried out by major retailers, who have a 50% share of the German market. Therefore, if they have promotions, sales increase considerably. "The supply of white grapes from South Africa is decreasing because the harvest is already over in the most important production areas. Most other African producers have switched to the cultivation of blue seedless varieties," explains the trader. "We expect the first shipments from India in week 9 or 10. Until then, the market for both packaged white grapes and those sold in bulk will slow down." Prices are having to climb from an extremely low level, but they are increasing consistently. "For white grapes, prices have improved over the past few weeks, both on the free market and in the framework of existing programs. Unfortunately, the prices for blue grapes are still under pressure." "We still expect large volumes from South Africa, and hope that the supply from Peru will have stopped by that time. South Africa expects a big harvest. That fruit should come our way in late February / early March." Despite the concerns, the importer expects that actions in the retail channel will give red grape sales a boost. "If this is indeed the case, the market could recover within a few weeks." While the volumes from traditional producing countries have not risen significantly, Peru has tripled its export volumes to Europe. This caused some oversupply on the market. Australia: Above average volumes For 2018-2019, the total Australian production is estimated at 200,000 tons. Of these, 130,000 tons are intended for export (65%) and 70,000 tons for the domestic market (35%). The production for export is expected to increase by 20,000 tons this season. A grower from Victoria says that several heat waves have been recorded across the region in the last week, with temperatures rising to 45 degrees Celsius. There has also been less rain than normal throughout the year. Despite the weather conditions, an above-average year is still expected in terms of volume. Japan and other Asian regions remain the most important export destinations for Australian grapes. A grower says that "we have to make the best of the heat waves. Because of the extreme weather, our grapes have an exceptional taste. They have the right balance between sweet and sour, and we deliver a fresh product thanks to the short journey. The consumer knows this, and is prepared to pay more for Australian products." China: Limited shelf life; stable market for Xinjiang In 2018, the quality of Chinese grapes was not ideal. The main reason for this is the fact that there was a lot of rain during the harvest season in several important production areas, which took a toll on the grapes. The fruit has consequently had a limited shelf life, making it unsuitable for long-term storage. The Chinese grapes currently on the market come from Xinjiang. These are high quality grapes and there is a stable market for them, with little changes in terms of prices and export volumes compared to last year's season. The grapes are mainly exported to Asian countries and Russia. The grapes hit the market in November and will remain available until the end of February. Many grapes are also imported into China. At the moment, imports are a little higher because of the upcoming Chinese New Year, as imported fruit is more popular at that time. Spanish grapes have only recently gained access to the Chinese market, so there are not yet many Spanish grapes available, but Chinese importers are interested in them. Furthermore, seedless grapes are becoming increasingly popular. South Africa: Difficult season with positive end The season has ended in the earliest South African production areas. It has been a difficult season. The Orange River region started late, and the sizes of some varieties did not meet the requirements of the Chinese market, meaning fewer grapes were exported for Chinese New Year than the sector had hoped for. The smaller Olifants River region has also had a difficult time, mainly due to drought. Last year, several growers cut off their vines. As a result, the region has supplied little or no volumes this year, and the effects of the drought are still visible. In Hex and Berg, the harvest started around the New Year, right on time. The peak in the blue grape supply has yet to be reached, especially in the case of the Crimson Seedless, Red Globe and Autumn Royal. By the end of week four, more than half of the packaged volumes had been shipped. The ranking of most important destinations is topped by the European market, followed by the United Kingdom and Canada. Some called the Canadian market the welcome surprise of the season. This week, the South African Table Grape Industry predicted a positive end to the season. North America: Californian season is coming to a close The Californian season is coming to a close with perhaps the largest production volume ever. The volumes have been about 5% higher than last year. The quality has been good, too. This large production is mostly due to the good weather conditions, but also to the planting of new varieties and the use of more efficient cultivation systems. The season has gone well. In addition to the good supply, the demand has also been high; however, the import taxes in China created new challenges, including the opening of new markets. There have been major price swings this season, depending on the variety and quality. Rising costs, taxes and the expansion of varieties and growing regions have also occasionally caused some financial setbacks. With the end of the Californian season in sight, the US is currently importing from Chile and Peru. The shipments from Peru have been arriving to America since the end of December. Before the New Year there was still a lot of Californian product on the market, leaving little room for the grapes from Peru. The situation has improved considerably since then. In January, the market for Peruvian grapes was even more stable than it has been in other times. This is partly due to Peru having exported large cargoes to destinations outside the US, also taking advantage of the situation on the European market. Exporters say that the volumes from northern Peru are running out, and that the production is now switching to the more southern growing areas. The harvest also continues in Chile. The marketing of blue seedless varieties is coming to an end with late varieties such as the Timco and Allison, which are produced in Vallenar and Copiapo. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com

04.02.2019

USA - Extreme cold raise the price of wheat

Powerful cyclone with strong frosts and winds covered the territory of the United States from North and South Dakota to Maine. In Minnesota, the temperature broke the record 1800 and dropped below 50C. In Chicago the night temperature fell to -27C, which was at least since 1985. On Wednesday at the wheat site in the USA was influenced by the failure of the tender in Egypt. However, prices were supported by cold weather which can cause damage to winter crops and the decline of the dollar caused governmental crisis and the slowdown of the American economy. March wheat futures rose: 0.73 $/t to 184,54 $/t for solid winter HRW wheat in Kansas city 1.19 $/ton to 209,99 $/t on a firm spring HRS wheat in Minneapolis. 1.29 $/t to 189,87 $/t for SRW soft winter-wheat in Chicago On the Euronext investment funds increased long positions in wheat futures 10155 lots last week 18221 lots that helped net long positions reached to rebound from last week's eight-month low. March futures for milling wheat on Euronext remained at 205,75 €/t or 236,51 $/t The Demand from buyers remains low, so prospects for the export of European wheat is not yet clear. Argentina is increasingly supplying wheat to the market of Algeria, therefore, only the reduction in prices of French wheat to improve its competitiveness. Turkey has acquired 292,5 thousand MT of wheat with protein 13.5% price 260 $/MT CFR, and Jordan next week will hold a new tender to purchase wheat. Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net