Agroinsurance

USA - Southwest Michigan regional fruit report – June 9, 2015

USA - Southwest Michigan regional fruit report – June 9, 2015Last week started cool with highs near 70, warming to the upper 70s, and lows rising from the 30s to 40s and 50s. Rain showers crossed the region Sunday evening and Monday morning, June 7-8. Heavy thunderstorms stayed generally south to the Indiana border. Most of the rain was in the southern two tiers of counties and little rain fell in Allegan County and to the north. Rainfall totals ranged from 0.2 to 1 inch and averaged about 0.5 inches. Hail was reported in several areas from Sunday night’s storm. Monday afternoon thunderstorms moved through the area, dropping up to an inch of rain in a few areas. Weather Last week started cool with highs near 70, warming to the upper 70s, and lows rising from the 30s to 40s and 50s. Rain showers crossed the region Sunday evening and Monday morning, June 7-8. Heavy thunderstorms stayed generally south to the Indiana border. Most of the rain was in the southern two tiers of counties and little rain fell in Allegan County and to the north. Rainfall totals ranged from 0.2 to 1 inch and averaged about 0.5 inches. Hail was reported in several areas from Sunday night’s storm. Monday afternoon thunderstorms moved through the area, dropping up to an inch of rain in a few areas. Many soils were beginning to dry and now the topsoil has been recharged, but subsoil moistures are still low. Growers who can irrigate should be ready to do so. This week will be warmer with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. Thunderstorms and showers will alternate with sunny days this upcoming week. Rain is likely on Wednesday, June 10, Friday, June 12, and again at the end of the weekend. Precipitation totals for the year are only about 8 inches – the long-range rainfall average from January to the end of June is approximately 18 inches. We are close to normal in terms of crop development and growing degree day (GDD) accumulations. Tree fruit Recent rains were welcomed for orchards planted this year. Rose chafer emerged Monday. Obliquebanded leafroller flight has begun. Trap catch has been sufficient to establish a biofix for this insect. Egg hatch begins 400-450 GDD (base 42) after biofix, or about two weeks later. Fruit growers who suffered plant loss due to severe winter cold the past two winters should contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to document the loss. See “Relief may be available for fruit, nut and ornamental growers with winter injury” from Michigan State University Extension for more information. The largest apricot fruit are over 1.5 inches in diameter and growers are thinning the fruit. Crop potentials are fair to good, depending on variety and site. Peaches are out of shuck split and size ranges up to 1.25 inches in diameter. Redhaven harvest is predicted for Aug. 3 in central Berrien County. Foliage of winter-damaged twigs looks weak on some varieties. Fungicide treatments for rusty spot should continue until pit hardening for varieties such as Loring, Bellaire and other peaches with showy bloom that tend to be more susceptible to this disease. Bacterial spot symptoms are generally light, but should be building due to recent rains with wind. Mycoshield applications keep this disease from building up on foliage. Oriental fruit moth adult catch for first generation flight is declining. No shoot end flagging due to burrowing Oriental fruit moth larvae have been reported. Plum curculio and tarnished plant bugs continue to be a concern. Sweet cherries are 16-18 millimeters in diameter. Some trees have more than 40 percent early coloring fruit that are not dropping yet. This colored fruit is attracting birds and bird feeding on red fruit is starting to be a problem. Cherry leaf spot is the primary concern now. Cherry leaves are always susceptible to cherry leaf spot; apply protectant fungicides before rain events. Warm rains are good infection periods for brown rot and sweet cherries are susceptible to brown rot at all stages of development. Tart cherries are 11-12 millimeters in diameter. Crop potential generally still looks good. Growers should continue to protect against cherry leaf spot. Growers can use the MSU Enviro-weather forecast model for cherry leaf spot to help guide their sprays and track infection periods. Cherry leaves are always susceptible of this disease and protection needs to be maintained throughout the season. Tart cherries are moderately tolerant to copper applications that can help reduce bacterial canker and cherry leaf spot in cherries. Japanese plums are 0.875 inches in diameter. European plums are 0.75 inches in diameter. Fruit and leaf russet due to chemical phytotoxicity are common, including Captan-induced russet. Plum fruit and leaves are susceptible to bacterial leaf spot, but Mycoshield is not labeled for use on plums. Growers need to protect the current season’s growth against black knot until shoot growth ceases later in the season. Plum curculio egglaying activity should be decreasing. Apple fruits are 1.25 inches in diameter for main season varieties and 1.5 inches in diameter for summer apple varieties. Hand-thinning has begun. We are at the end of primary apple scab season with recent rains discharging most of the remaining ascospores. Secondary scab is common in some orchards and unsprayed trees are shedding infected leaves. Bright yellow cedar apple rust symptoms are also common in some orchards. Powdery mildew symptoms are scarce. New fire blight symptoms are still showing up in area orchards, but are still relatively rare. Codling moth adults were trapped as early as May 8 in some locations. Some areas had a later moth flight and biofixed during the warmer weather on May 16 and we are about 250 GDD base 50 from that biofix and in the late treatment window. MSU Extension recommends growers use the MSU Enviro-weather codling moth model to time your insecticide applications. Pear crop potential is generally good. Bartlett average 1.0125 inches in diameter and Harrow Sweet are 0.75-0.875 inches in diameter. Small fruit Grape bloom is underway in juice grapes, but not yet in wine grapes. Bloom in Concord began last Friday and Saturday. Growers who didn’t apply fungicide before Sunday’s rain will be applying materials with back action this week. During bloom, grape flower clusters are vulnerable to infection from powdery mildew, downy mildew, black rot, Phomopsis and latent infections of Botrytis, so now is the time to apply fungicides with activity against all of these diseases. See “Protect grape clusters from all major grape diseases during early fruit development” for more information. The risk increases when there is rain during bloom, especially if it is followed by a period of low evaporation from cloud cover. Rose chafers were reported Monday in Berrien County. Grape berry moths are laying eggs now and hatched larvae are feeding in grape clusters. This early in the season, the loss of berries is compensated by later berry growth. MSU Extension recommends most growers do not need to spray for grape berry moths until second generation egglaying. Wild grape bloom was around May 26 in Berrien County and June 1 in Van Buren County, varying somewhat from farm to farm. This date is used in the grape berry moth model to time insecticide applications for second and third generation egglaying. Rose chafers began to emerge with grape bloom. In wine grapes, scout in the coming weeks for potato leafhoppers, which arrive on storms and winds from the south. Usually, only severe outbreaks of these insects require treatment. Blueberry fruit are sizing well. The crop varies quite a bit from field to field. Some fields have a light crop due to winter injury to canes and flower buds. There is vigorous shoot growth from crowns of winter-injured bushes. Phomopsis cane blight symptoms are appearing. This is earlier than normal and young shoots that grew vigorously last year are hard-hit. Cherry fruitworms and cranberry fruit worms have been flying for several weeks and laying eggs on green fruit. There was a large cranberry fruitworm flight last week. Most growers have applied insecticides to control these insects and fungicides to protect green fruit from anthracnose fruit rots and stem blights such as Phomopsis. Some growers have received rain and other growers have not. With the bushes full leafed out, the demand for water on warm, sunny days will be high and growers should be irrigating. A good indicator of the water status of the bush is the amount of wilting during the day on vigorously growing shoots. Strawberry harvest is underway. Fruit size and quality is excellent. Raspberry bloom continues and blackberry bloom has begun. Avoid using insecticides during bloom. Apply fungicides when bees are not foraging on the bloom. Scout black raspberries and blackberries for signs of orange rust and remove infected plants. For growers concerned about raspberry viruses, MSU Extension has received a grant to survey for viruses. See “Assistance in raspberry virus diagnosis offered” for more information. Upcoming meetings Our next Monday fruit IPM meeting is June 15 at Fruit Acres Farms, 3452 Friday Rd, south of Coloma, MI 49038 at 5 p.m. Two Michigan pesticide applicator recertification credits will be given for these meetings. Blueberry pre-harvest meetings are scheduled in Van Buren and Ottawa counties on Tuesday, June 16. The Van Buren County meeting is in the afternoon at Beeches Golf Club, 9601 68th Street, South Haven, MI 49090, from 1:30- 3:30 p.m. The Ottawa County meeting is at Ottawa County Fillmore Complex from 6-8 p.m. These meetings will focus on managing winter-injured fields as well as insect and disease control before and during harvest and an update on food safety. Two Michigan pesticide applicator recertification credits will be given for these meetings. Source - http://msue.anr.msu.edu

USA - Texas crop report – June 9, 2015

USA - Texas crop report – June 9, 2015Central: Soil moisture, rangeland and pastures, crops and livestock were all in good condition. Several sunny days and dry weather were drying fields out, which allowed farmers to do fieldwork. Most corn was stunted and yellowed due to excessive moisture. Significant yield reductions were expected. Many producers were able to begin baling hay. Yields were excellent. Harvesting of wheat and oats was slow, as both crops were laid down by the rain and storms. Grain sorghum was maturing a lot faster than it should have. Livestock were in good condition.Central: Soil moisture, rangeland and pastures, crops and livestock were all in good condition. Several sunny days and dry weather were drying fields out, which allowed farmers to do fieldwork. Most corn was stunted and yellowed due to excessive moisture. Significant yield reductions were expected. Many producers were able to begin baling hay. Yields were excellent. Harvesting of wheat and oats was slow, as both crops were laid down by the rain and storms. Grain sorghum was maturing a lot faster than it should have. Livestock were in good condition. Coastal Bend: The weather was favorable for fieldwork and hay harvesting in a few areas. However, many fields were still saturated. Crop conditions varied greatly depending on planting date and how long the field had standing water. For the most part, crops began to recover and look decent. A few of the later maturing wheat fields were not harvestable due to the effects of heavy rains. Grain sorghum and cotton were water stressed and yellowing in areas that were slow to drain. Much of the grain sorghum was beginning to head. Producers were spraying for weeds in cotton and soybeans. Pastures were in good condition, and cattle were in great shape. East: The region finally had a week without rain, allowing soils and crops to dry out to a great extent. Rain was forecast, however, and producers were cutting hay where possible. Many fields were still too wet for farmers to enter with equipment. Subsoil and topsoil moisture was adequate to surplus. In Henderson County, floodwaters continued to rise along Cedar Creek and Trinity River. Blackberry and blueberry harvesting began. Vegetables were also being harvested, but quality was poor due to excessive rain and saturated soils. Anderson County corn and grain sorghum were a 100 percent loss, as a levee broke on the Trinity River and the crops were flooded. Diseases and insects damaged plants and crops. Area cattle markets remained strong as weather conditions improved allowing many producers into fields to work and cull herds. Cattle were in good condition. Horn fly problems increased. Mosquitoes and gnats were abundant. Far West: The weather was perfect for planting, with hot temperatures district-wide and little to no rain. Howard County cotton was 65 percent planted and 6 percent emerged. Planting continued in Upton and Glasscock counties. El Paso County onion growers were harvesting their crops. The area around the city of Coyanosa in Pecos County received two significant hail storms, resulting in crop losses of 70 to 80 percent. Any cotton that had been planted will have to be replanted. Pecan trees also received significant damage. Winter wheat was hit the hardest. North: Topsoil moisture was adequate to surplus. Temperatures rose, and humidity was high. Bermuda grass started to green up and grow after the rains let up. As topsoils dried out, producers expected to be able to start harvesting winter wheat soon. Corn, cotton and soybeans were progressing well. Livestock were in good condition, and spring-born calves were flourishing with all the green grass. Insect populations were high with several species of grasshoppers reported. Mosquitoes and flies became bothersome to livestock. Ear ticks were found on cattle. Hopkins County was declared a disaster area due to severe damage to roads, lakes and ponds from recent rains. Panhandle: Temperatures were near average for the week. Soil moisture was mostly adequate. The status of the region's cotton crop varied widely from county to county. In Collingsworth County, conditions remained dry and warm enough to allow most cotton acres to be planted. Cotton coming up looked good with the heat units received this week and the soil moisture profile being adequate. Producers will probably plant grain sorghum in acreage still covered in standing water — once it dries out. In Deaf Smith County, the cotton crop was in dire shape, with only about 1,000 to 1,500 acres planted of the 14,000 typically planted by this time of year. Other Deaf Smith County crops were in better shape, with producers catching up on corn planting and planning to start grain sorghum planting soon. Winter wheat there, however, was affected by various diseases and lost a lot of leaf area. Randall County also had drier weather, allowing producers to plant. Corn and cotton acreage will be down, perhaps 40 percent fewer cotton acres and 35 percent fewer corn acres. The drier weather in Wheeler County let producers into fields to plant cotton and sorghum, and cut and bale wheat hay. Ochiltree County corn and cotton planting was completed, as was planting of irrigated sorghum. Dryland sorghum planting was expected start soon. As for other crops, Hutchinson County producers were able to plant corn and began planting dryland crops. Rolling Plains: Fields were drying out, and wheat harvest and cotton planting began. In early reports, wheat producers were getting decent yields but seeing low test weights in the fields that survived the May storms. Cotton growers were still dealing with muddy fields and very weedy conditions. Most will probably have to use a burn-down herbicide at planting to control weeds and volunteer cotton. Pastures began to recover. South Plains: The region finally experienced several days of clear skies and warm weather. Producers raced to get cotton planted before crop insurance deadlines. Producers in some counties continued planting cotton during the seven-day late insurance time frame, while in other counties they finished planting cotton on time. Some wet spots in fields could not be planted. Corn and peanuts were in excellent condition. Scouting for armyworms began as harvesting of winter wheat started. Grain sorghum planting was ongoing. Soil moisture was excellent, and the warm weather emergence should be very good. Rangeland and pastures were in mostly excellent condition. Garza County was one of 70 Texas counties declared a disaster area due to the damage done by excessive rainfall to roads and other structures. South: The region had mild to moderately warm weather, with sunny days and scattered, light showers — all of which were favorable for planting and promoting plant growth. In the northern part of the region, cotton and grain sorghum were in fair to good condition. Wheat, sweet corn and potato harvesting was in full swing. The pace of peanut planting picked up. Producers began cutting Bermuda grass hay. The spring calf crop made good gains, and cows' body condition scores remained high. Soil moisture was mostly adequate throughout the northern counties. In the eastern part of the region, beef producers continued some supplemental feeding of protein and hay. Kleberg and Kenedy counties cotton and were in good condition. Soil moisture was generally adequate in all the eastern counties. Rangeland and pastures were in good to excellent condition. In the western part of the region, many low-lying fields still had standing water, but the moisture considerably improved rangeland and pastures. Cotton, corn, sorghum, melons and pecans made good progress. Cabbage harvesting was active. No supplemental feeding of livestock was required because of abundant high-quality forage in pastures. Soil moisture was surplus in Dimmit County and adequate in Zavala County. Range and pastures were also in good to excellent condition. In the southern part of the region, grain sorghum was maturing. Corn was in excellent condition. In Hidalgo County, citrus and sugarcane harvesting continued, and the expected yield of sunflowers was diminished by the lack of seed fill. In Starr County, hay baling and cantaloupe harvesting continued. Willacy County received another 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches of rain. Soil moisture was adequate in Cameron, Hidalgo and Starr counties, and surplus in Willacy County. Southeast: Soil moisture throughout the region varied widely, but was mostly adequate to surplus. Fort Bend, San Jacinto, Walker and Chamber counties all had 100 percent surplus moisture. Brazos County had 100 percent adequate moisture. Rangeland and pasture ratings varied widely too, but were mostly good to excellent to good, with good ratings being the most common. Much of the area had a brief respite from the continued rain. Pasture conditions improved, and producers were trying to cut hay. Fields remained soggy in places. However, in the few days of dry weather, soils dried and firmed up more than expected, which made it possible to take equipment into fields. Waller County corn leaves were turning yellow from the saturated soils, and a 30 percent crop yield reduction was expected. Ponds were overflowing. Snakes were leaving flooded low areas and making appearances on roads, in tall grasses, yards, garages and homes. In Chambers County, the final rice planting date of May 31 passed, and significant rice acreage was not able to be planted. With some drying in Fort Bend County, producers were able to spray and fertilize cotton and some sorghum. More rain was expected this week, which will be welcomed by those who had to aerial-apply granular fertilizer. Livestock were in good condition. Galveston County didn't receive any rain, but hay and forage crops were still too wet to harvest. Southwest: Conditions were the best seen in many years. Grass growth was very good, and lots of hay was being made. There were also negative aspects of all the rain, such as many producers having to rebuild fences due to floodwaters, and reduced small-grains yields. Wheat remained in poor condition, having been laid down by heavy rains and high winds. Grain sorghum was heading out and beginning to turn color. Cotton was planted and emerged. Livestock and wildlife were in good condition. West Central: Conditions were warm and humid, with sunny days that helped fields dry out and producers to get back into them. Stock-water tanks were full, and soil moisture was excellent. Cotton planting was in full swing where producers could get into fields. The pace of wheat harvesting picked up. Producers were taking the first cutting of hay, with above-average yields and excellent quality and quantity expected. Weeds were becoming an issue and growers had to spray or re-plow. Grain sorghum looked good. Rangeland and pastures were in excellent condition. Warm-season grasses made good growth due to ideal growing conditions. Livestock remained in good condition. Flies were becoming an issue. Pecans appeared to have escaped scab problems. Source - http://www.brownsvilleherald.com

India - Crop insurance for cotton, soya in Nagpur, Wardha district

India - Crop insurance for cotton, soya in Nagpur, Wardha districtThe Central government's path-breaking weather-based crop insurance scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis in Nagpur and Wardha districts. The scheme will cover two main cash crops, cotton and soyabean. As per the advisory issued by divisional joint director of agriculture, these two districts will be part of 12 districts where the scheme is being implemented in the state. Under it, in the notified area of the two districts, the scheme is compulsory for those availing institutional finance and voluntary for those not availing bank loans.The Central government's path-breaking weather-based crop insurance scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis in Nagpur and Wardha districts. The scheme will cover two main cash crops, cotton and soyabean. As per the advisory issued by divisional joint director of agriculture, these two districts will be part of 12 districts where the scheme is being implemented in the state. Under it, in the notified area of the two districts, the scheme is compulsory for those availing institutional finance and voluntary for those not availing bank loans. This is a novel crop insurance policy giving assured protection in cases of inadequate rains, unusually long dry spells damaging crops or extreme rains ruining crops. While every farmer in Wardha revenue district growing cotton or soyabean can get enlisted, in Nagpur district only farmers in specified areas can avail of it. The farmer pays half of the insurance premium, while the state and the centre share the other half. As per the advisory, the insurance premium rates are Rs2,090 per hectare for cotton in Nagpur. Of this, farmer has to contribute only Rs1,056 per ha. For soya crop in Nagpur, the premium is Rs1,254/ha (farmer share Rs752). Similarly in Wardha, it is cotton Rs2,486/ha (farmer pays Rs1,245) and for soya crop Rs1,159 (farmer pays Rs7,14). The sum assured for cotton is Rs22,000 and soya Rs19,000/ha in both districts. June 30 is the last date for registration and a farmer can approach the bank where he has his savings account. Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

France - Crop losses result in tight stock

France - Crop losses result in tight stockA recent review from the French Interprofessional Association for Olive Oil (Afidol) indicated a sharp drop in French olive oil production for the 2014-2015 season with only 2,000 tons of olive oil produced this year. Afidol estimated the total loss in France this to be 10 to 25 percent, the worst year since 1956 when severe frost damaged olive trees in the country. Some farms have increased their prices and most mills are controlling their stock. Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, one of the hardest hit of the southern olive oil production regions, showed a severe loss of 69 percent with a production of 1,031 tons.A recent review from the French Interprofessional Association for Olive Oil (Afidol) indicated a sharp drop in French olive oil production for the 2014-2015 season with only 2,000 tons of olive oil produced this year. Afidol estimated the total loss in France this to be 10 to 25 percent, the worst year since 1956 when severe frost damaged olive trees in the country. Some farms have increased their prices and most mills are controlling their stock. Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, one of the hardest hit of the southern olive oil production regions, showed a severe loss of 69 percent with a production of 1,031 tons in the 2014-15 season, compared with 3,346 tons in 2013-14. SEE MORE: Complete Coverage of the 2014 Olive Harvest The French Ministry of Agriculture announced new measures to help producers in matters of payment, taxes and loans. Afidol will also receive government assistance for pest control measures. Alexandra Paris at Afidol said: “Afidol has carried out extensive negotiations with the Ministry of Agriculture to find solutions to help producers and mills survive this difficult year. We have also developed our communication with olive producers providing more up-to-date news to better inform and guide them about caring for their olive trees throughout the year.” Some mills and domains have adapted to the shortage by reducing the quantity of oil available to their customers. Paris added, “To keep their customer happy, most mills have reduced the quantities being sold, no more than 1 or 2-liter containers. The goal is to have the oil to offer as long as possible and maybe until the next campaign. But, it will be difficult.” The National Institute for Agricultural and Sea Products known as France Agrimer, said the disastrous results were mostly due to the ravages of the olive fly disease; the mild winter, cool summer and mild autumn allowed the pests to flourish. It’s too early to predict but, like other olive growers in Italy and Spain, the French are hoping the situation will improve for 2015- 2016. They are ready to combat the fly attack, but France is experiencing a heat wave at present which could cause the tiny olives to dry and affect harvesting in October. Alexandra Paris from Afidol added: “For the next campaign, it’s too early to say what’s going to happen. The flowering seems good but harvesting is a long way away and a good crop is a combination of different factors including climate. We must be patient.” With the right weather conditions, olive oil production in France usually generates a little more than 5,000 tons. Source - http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/

USA - Continuous rain frustrates farmers, hinders crops

USA - Continuous rain frustrates farmers, hinders cropsConsistent rain through the spring — especially in May — has farmers and their crops far behind. Patches of dirt where crops failed to emerge and river-like pathways between rows of corn and beans show just how devastating the rain has been. In Columbia during May, there were 5.68 inches of rainfall , according to the National Weather Service. Normally, May has about 5 inches, though last year's total was only 3 inches. So far this month, the area has received 0.41 inches of rain, as of 7 p.m. Sunday. Consistent rain through the spring — especially in May — has farmers and their crops far behind. Patches of dirt where crops failed to emerge and river-like pathways between rows of corn and beans show just how devastating the rain has been. In Columbia during May, there were 5.68 inches of rainfall , according to the National Weather Service. Normally, May has about 5 inches, though last year's total was only 3 inches. So far this month, the area has received 0.41 inches of rain, as of 7 p.m. Sunday. Kelly Smith, director of marketing and commodities for the Missouri Farm Bureau, said, "Rain is good, and it's bad." “It’s a two-edged sword during planting season.” The relentless rain has kept farmers out of muddy fields and pushed back the planting of corn and soybeans by at least a month, according to the Missouri Climate Center. In the central district of Missouri, which includes Boone County, only 0.8 days were deemed suitable for fieldwork for the last week of May, according to a chart by the U.S. Department of Agriculture released on June 1. Five other regional districts had even fewer days suitable for fieldwork. With May's rainfall exceeding the normal monthly average, farmers are growing impatient. The average of nearly two-tenths of an inch of rain per day in May has hit soybean growers particularly hard. As of May 31, only 16 percent of the anticipated soybean crop had been planted in Missouri's central district, said Bob Garino, a U.S. Department of Agriculture statistician in Missouri. That's down considerably from the 74 percent that had been planted by May 31 last year, he said. “It’s the least progress we’ve had at this time of year for soybeans for the past 10 years,” Garino said. The window of opportunity for planting soybeans in time for them to reach maturity by fall is quickly closing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists June 20 as the deadline for planting soybeans. Although some farmers were able to plant their soybeans before most of the rain came through, other farmers still haven't been able to finish planting. “Farmers have been very patient up until probably this week,” Smith said. “Now they’re getting a little ‘growly,’ and I don’t blame them.” The optimal time for planting corn is over, Smith said. Ideally, corn had to be in the ground by the end of May. “It’s worst up in the northwest part of the state,” Garino said. Nathan Martin, a local farmer, plans to grow 400 acres of corn and 500 acres of soybeans. While Martin has been able to plant all but 50 acres of his corn, he's only planted 40 acres of soybeans — and he'll have to replant much of that. "The excessive moisture has ... drowned the crops," Martin said. "I'm going to need to replant." In 2014, Missouri farmers planted 3.5 million acres of corn for grain across the state, according to a USDA crop production summary report released in January. Missouri had 5.6 million acres of soybeans in both 2013 and 2014. Across the state, 87 percent of the anticipated corn crop had been planted by June 1, down from 99 percent last year. But simply planting the corn isn't enough to ensure a healthy yield. The rain has spoiled much of the corn crop already. The roots of corn require oxygen that they can't get when they're submerged in water. Saturated soil causes corn to grow unevenly. It becomes light-green or yellow, signifying early failure. Wheat, which is due to be harvested soon, also is suffering from the excessive rain. Garino said the next report on the status of the wheat crop is scheduled to come out on Wednesday. “It’s decent,” Garino said. “It’s not great-lookin’, but it’s OK.” Looking ahead, warmer weather and high moisture could breed plant diseases and force farmers to leave some of their acreage unplanted. What farmers really need is a good dry spell so they can finish planting, then “timely rainfall throughout the summer to keep everything moving along,” Smith said. Farmers who can't plant their entire crop can seek relief through insurance policies with the Prevented Planting program, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's risk management agency. The insurance program protects farmers from financial losses caused by flooding and other natural causes. Source - http://www.columbiamissourian.com/

Georgia - State Program launched for nut production

Georgia - State Program launched for nut productionThe Georgian Ministry of Agriculture has today launched the Nut Production State Program. Their goal is for Georgian nuts to conquer the world market and establish second place after Turkey. The cost of Georgian nuts should be closer to the price of Turkish nuts. Currently, Georgian nut export stands in fourth place on the international market, bringing in an annual 400 million GEL. The Georgian Ministry of Agriculture has today launched the Nut Production State Program. "Our goal is for Georgian nuts to conquer the world market and establish second place after Turkey. The cost of Georgian nuts should be closer to the price of Turkish nuts,” said Davit Giligashvili, Deputy Minister of Agriculture. Currently, Georgian nut export stands in fourth place on the international market, bringing in an annual 400 million GEL. "We want to create a Georgian nuts brand which will be well-known globally,” Giligashvili added. To this aim, the Nut Production State Program will develop infrastructure, train farmers and introduce the appropriate legislation. Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

USA - Fallow land and job losses in Central Valley

USA - Fallow land and job losses in Central ValleyCalifornia is facing another year of severe drought. After three dry years, many irrigation districts have exhausted their surface water reserves and groundwater levels are extremely low. These shutoffs in combination with enforced cutbacks have literally changed the landscape of the world’s most fertile agricultural region, the Central Valley. According to a preliminary study, surface water shortage this year will be greater than in 2014. Net water shortage to agriculture, after additional groundwater pumping, will be nearly 67 percent, or 1 million acre-feet greater than in 2014. California is facing another year of severe drought. After three dry years, many irrigation districts have exhausted their surface water reserves and groundwater levels are extremely low. These shutoffs in combination with enforced cutbacks have literally changed the landscape of the world’s most fertile agricultural region, the Central Valley. According to a preliminary study, surface water shortage this year will be greater than in 2014. Net water shortage to agriculture, after additional groundwater pumping, will be nearly 67 percent, or 1 million acre-feet greater than in 2014. Cropland fallowing because of water shortage is expected to increase by 33% over 2014. The drought is expected to decrease direct farm-gate revenues by 6% and groundwater pumping costs are expected to increase by 31%. Increased groundwater pumping California’s farmers make several adjustments in response to the drought. First of all, the limited availability of surface water forces farmers to increase groundwater pumping. However, increasing pumping reduces the surface water by more than 70 percent. Due to the low surface water levels, wells are yielding less while they cost the same to operate. The alternative is to purchase water at a high cost, as much as $1,400 an acre-foot. Regional crop shifting is taking place as well. Farmers try to keep their high-value crops including fruit and nut trees alive, but production of lower-value crops decreases or shifts to other areas. Contracts for processing tomatoes for instance, shifted from the Westside of the San Joaquin Valley to the Sacramento Valley (up north). Fallow acreage The Westside of the Central Valley, part of the Westlands water district, has been suffering from lower allocations than other regions. Due to the decrease in water supply, about 565,000 acres of farmland are expected to be fallowed this year, almost all in the Central Valley. Some regions that have better access to irrigation water supplies, such as the Central Coast and Southern California, respond by slightly increasing plantings. Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

USA - Heavy Rain & Hail Pound Northwestern Minnesota

USA - Heavy Rain & Hail Pound Northwestern MinnesotaEnough is enough…. more thunderstorms this weekend have left northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota water logged. Some of yesterday’s storms in the northern Valley also carried hail, larger than golf balls. This was just north of Crookston at 3:45 Sunday afternoon, besides the heavy rain, you can hear light hail smacking into the car. This morning, water was still running off the fields at Alvarado, 20 miles north of East Grand Forks. They also received some small areas of golf ball to near tennis ball sized hail.Enough is enough…. more thunderstorms this weekend have left northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota water logged. Some of yesterday’s storms in the northern Valley also carried hail, larger than golf balls. This was just north of Crookston at 3:45 Sunday afternoon, besides the heavy rain, you can hear light hail smacking into the car. This morning, water was still running off the fields at Alvarado, 20 miles north of East Grand Forks. They also received some small areas of golf ball to near tennis ball sized hail. At this point it’s not clear exactly how much damage was done to crops around Alvarado. It appears the damage was very isolated. Ransel Anderson was on his way to see his crop insurance agent today. He wasn’t sure yet, how much, if any crop damage the hail may have caused. The fields are still too wet to get in and take a good look. Source - http://www.valleynewslive.com/

India - Why crop insurance in India has come a cropper

India - Why crop insurance in India has come a cropperFarmers don’t know about it, or don’t have access to it, or find it too expensive to take it. Insurers don’t push it as they don’t make money on it. Governments have never crafted it to be the focal point of managing risk in the farming sector. As risk-management tools that work on the concept of pooling go, crop insurance is a failure, struggling for identity and ownership in the Indian farming ecosystem. According to Census 2011, India had 95.8 million farmers. But in the six farming seasons covering 2011 to 2013, only an average of 12.7 million took crop insurance. Farmers don’t know about it, or don’t have access to it, or find it too expensive to take it. Insurers don’t push it as they don’t make money on it. Governments have never crafted it to be the focal point of managing risk in the farming sector. As risk-management tools that work on the concept of pooling go, crop insurance is a failure, struggling for identity and ownership in the Indian farming ecosystem. Farmers don’t know about it or don’t have access to it According to Census 2011, India had 95.8 million farmers. But in the six farming seasons covering 2011 to 2013, only an average of 12.7 million took crop insurance. That’s one in about eight farmers. A 2012 sample survey shows such under-insurance is consistent across crops, and that lack of awareness of crop insurance and its availability are the main culprits. It does not come cheap There are three umbrella schemes in crop insurance, mostly handled by the government’s Agriculture Insurance Company of India. Even with the government meeting part of the of the premium farmers paid between 2011 and 2013 (2.7-11.7% of the sum insured), crop insurance still works out to be expensive than mature, urban segments like life insurance (0.20%) and health insurance (1-3%). Insurers don’t make money from it Even with those high premium levels, Indian insurance companies are consistently losing money on crop insurance. As a result, crop insurance, even though it is the fourth largest segment in their portfolio in terms of premium collected, accounts for only 6% of their overall R77,403 crore portfolio. This, in a country where 38% of the workforce is rooted in agriculture and about 13% of whose economic output is from agriculture. Source - http://www.livemint.com/

Colombia - Windstorm affects banana crops

Colombia - Windstorm affects banana crops In Uraba, Colombia, more than 200 hectares of banana were seriously affected by a gale. The weather phenomenon also caused significant damage to homes in the town of Chigorodó. According to the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies of Colombia, the region was already on yellow alert due to the looming drought that El Niño could cause. This implies there will be an increase in temperatures proportional to the lack of rain, which had generated alarms so that the producers took the necessary measures regarding the prevention of fires, floods and landslides.In Uraba, Colombia, more than 200 hectares of banana were seriously affected by a gale. The weather phenomenon also caused significant damage to homes in the town of Chigorodó. According to the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies of Colombia, the region was already on yellow alert due to the looming drought that El Niño could cause. This implies there will be an increase in temperatures proportional to the lack of rain, which had generated alarms so that the producers took the necessary measures regarding the prevention of fires, floods and landslides. According to estimates, there are 48,000 hectares of bananas distributed in four municipalities of Uraba, known as the Banana Axis, which accounts for more than 70% of the national production of this fruit. Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

India - Urgency for agri-reforms mounting amid drought warnings

India - Urgency for agri-reforms mounting amid drought warningsWhen the provisional estimates of GDP growth for FY15 were released last month, showing an overall GDP growth of 7.3% but agri-GDP at 0.2%, one wondered whether one should celebrate, or cry, or do both simultaneously. The reason is simple: agriculture still absorbs about 49% of the workforce, and an average household still spends about 45% of its expenditure on food. And it is not just in FY15, but during the first three years of the abandoned 12th Five year Plan, the average agri-GDP growth works out to paltry 1.7%, less than half of its target of 4%.When the provisional estimates of GDP growth for FY15 were released last month, showing an overall GDP growth of 7.3% but agri-GDP at 0.2%, one wondered whether one should celebrate, or cry, or do both simultaneously. The reason is simple: agriculture still absorbs about 49% of the workforce, and an average household still spends about 45% of its expenditure on food. And it is not just in FY15, but during the first three years of the abandoned 12th Five year Plan, the average agri-GDP growth works out to paltry 1.7%, less than half of its target of 4%. So, if agriculture is limping and farmers facing deep stress, how could one realise the grand vision of “sab ka saath, sab ka vikas”? And now the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has revised its forecast for the current monsoon to 88% of the Long Period Average (LPA), down from 93% in the first forecast—12% below LPA could mean an impending drought, almost same as experienced in monsoon of 2014, although government did not declare it officially a drought for reasons best known to them. This back-to-back drought, technically a deficit of more than 10% rainfall compared to LPA, has happened only thrice since 1900: in 1904,1905; 1965,1966; and 1986,1987. This surely does not augur well for the Modi government, and could be its mega challenge. What is it that the government can do in the immediate short-run, and also for the medium- to long-run, to put agriculture back on track and bring smiles on the faces of our farmers? The standard drill in the government is to prepare a contingency plan, asking state governments to ensure ample supply of seeds, fertilisers, and fodder; and give some subsidy on seeds, diesel, fodder, etc, if need be. To what degree it reaches the millions of farmers, varies from state to state; but the overall situation remains grim, although the central government says it is fully geared to face any problem resulting from drought. The current system of crop insurance is also patchy, time-consuming and corrupt. It needs a major overhaul, from raising the sum insured to at least 80% of expected income to using the latest technologies (digitisation of land records, satellites/drone monitoring, all-weather stations to assess damages, Aadhaar-based bank accounts to wire compensation within days of the damage, and not 6-12 months, the current practice, etc). The prime minister will have to lead this transformation of crop insurance with high priority, as he did for Jan Dhan Yojana and social security schemes, else this will remain in limbo for years and farmers will keep suffering. But the real answer to drought is developing our water resources and learning to manage them well. In reality, however, the water sector is already in deep crisis, and this is going to deepen further unless bold and urgent steps are taken to reform it. The culture of free (or highly-subsidised) water and power is depleting our groundwater fast, and surface irrigation schemes are embroiled in long delays and thin-spreading of resources due to paucity of funds. And whatever funds are allocated, a substantial part of that simply disappears like water disappears in sand, without giving any tangible increase in irrigated area. No wonder, even after spending lakhs of crores of rupees on irrigation, more than half of India’s cropped area is still rain-fed. And with climate change and erratic rainfall, this rain-fed area is exposed to high risk, and this risk is going to become increasingly intense. But, despite being water-stressed, India is a net exporter of water. One kilogram of rice uses 3,000 to 5,000 litres of water for irrigation, depending on where it is being grown. In the Punjab-Haryana belt, it inches towards the upper limit of about 5,000 litres of water for every kg of rice. In FY15, India exported more than 10 million tonnes of rice, which means anywhere from 30-50 billion cubic metres of water were exported. The story for sugar is almost similar, where 1 kg of sugar uses about 2,000 litres of water. If we have to learn how to use water more rationally, there has to be economic pricing of water and power. But none of the state governments will be willing to touch it, being a politically sensitive topic especially in a drought year. The alternative for the Centre is to put, say, a 5% tax on exports of common rice and sugar to recover a part of the subsidy that flows to these crops, and discourage exports of water-guzzling crops, and thereby restricting exports of ‘virtual water’. But our policies are perverse, subsidising export of sugar (read water)! Another key issue in a drought year is what happens to food inflation and how consumers can be protected from spikes of food prices. The fundamental principle for that is to create an all-India market for all food products, keep the taxes and levies on food items to less than 5%, compress the value-chains by allowing direct buying from farmers, and have a liberal import policy to augment domestic supplies, wherever there are shortfalls. Currently, there are ample stocks of wheat, rice, and sugar in the country. The problem is likely to emerge in the case of pulses, oilseeds and fruit and vegetables. In the short-run, liberal imports can help, but in medium- to long-run, we need to invest in raising productivity of these on per unit of land and water basis. This is a huge agenda for reforms of agriculture, and requires massive resources, from resurrecting crop-insurance to stepping up irrigation to investing in markets and value-chains. And time is running out. How will the Modi government garner enough resources to accomplish these? Humongous food and fertiliser subsidies (more than Rs 2 lakh crore a year) hold the key to this puzzle. Management of food and fertilisers hide massive inefficiencies and leakages in the system, and streamlining these through direct cash transfers can unlock at least Rs 40,000-50,000 crore a year, without giving up the objective of helping the consumers and the farmers. It is this saving which can be used to overcome various bottlenecks in agriculture. Will the Modi government have the time to focus and undertake these bold reforms? Only time will tell. Source - http://www.financialexpress.com

India - Rain deficit to hit several crops

The president government has pledged to employ all machinery at its disposal to deal with a second straight year of deficient monsoon and denied an impending distress in the vulnerable pockets of the country, but a dispassionate look at the ground situation would show there is a lot at stake. Government officials and industry executives say if the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD’s) predictions of seasonal rainfall at just 88% of a long-period average (LPA) for 2015 is proved correct, a broad range of crops, including grains, oilseeds, cotton and sugarcane, would be hit.The Narendra Modi government has pledged to employ all machinery at its disposal to deal with a second straight year of deficient monsoon and denied an impending distress in the vulnerable pockets of the country, but a dispassionate look at the ground situation would show there is a lot at stake. Government officials and industry executives say if the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD’s) predictions of seasonal rainfall at just 88% of a long-period average (LPA) for 2015 is proved correct, a broad range of crops, including grains, oilseeds, cotton and sugarcane, would be hit. It would not just spoil chances of a higher farm-sector growth in 2015-16 from a paltry 0.2% expansion in 2014-15 (a deficient monsoon season as well) but also weigh on rural wage growth, which has already been languishing at below 6% since January from the average annual growth of 15% during the 2007-13 period. What has reinforced the damaging impact of a deficient monsoon is the IMD’s prediction of the worst rainfall deficit of 15% for north-west and 10% for central India, which were worst affected by dry-spells even last year. Although the north-western regions have relatively good irrigation system, the water tables in many of these areas, especially in Punjab, are already at low levels due to the last year’s drought and excessive production of water-guzzling crops like paddy for decades. According to the latest data, water reserves across 91 reservoirs in the country were 92% of last year’s storage as of June 4, although it was still better than the benchmark 10-year average. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biggest challenge would be how to ensure fair returns to farmers in case crops fail and yet contain retail inflation within a comfortable limit of, say, 6%. Giving a push to rural demand in the absence of adequate farm incomes and stir up economic growth would be the next major challenge. The silver lining is that the farm sector witnessed a paltry 0.2% expansion last year, providing a favourable base for the calculation of national income in this sector for the current fiscal. Plus, global commodity prices, including those of edible oil, are still depressed and risks to imported inflation are limited, unlike in the last big drought year of 2009-10 when food inflation shot up to as high as 15.3%, partly due to elevated prices of imported pulses and cooking oils. The country meets roughly one-fifth of its pulses requirement and more than a half of edible oil needs through imports. The impact of the loss of rice and cotton production, too, can be mitigated by offloading official stocks, and in case of sugar, the huge stocks lying with the private sector would prevent an irrational spike in prices. However, government officials say the most damaging impact may be felt in three key crops: pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals. Irrigation facility is available only in 16% of areas under pulses, 28% in coarse cereals and 18% in oilseeds across the country (See charts). Worse, states in the north-western and central regions–as bracketed by the IMD—are among the largest producers of these items. The Reserve Bank Of India on Tuesday raised its CPI inflation forecast up by 20 bps to 6% for January 2016, significantly influenced by its higher forecast on food inflation. Although sowing is at an early stage, areas under various summer crops are down by 5.4% until June 5 from a year before, even on a favourable base as last year, too, planting was initially affected by dryspells. Monsoon hit the Kerala coast only on June 6, a day later than this year. Already a shortage of pulses has caused wholesale price inflation in this commodity to hit as high as 15.38% in April, a fourth straight month of double-digit inflation, when overall food inflation was just 5.73%. The country’s pulse imports rose to 4.5 million tonnes in 2014-15 from 3.4 million tonnes in the previous year. Crisil Research has already revised its GDP growth forecast down by 50 basis points to 7.4% for 2015-16 from 7.9%, thanks to the forecast of below-par monsoon. On the demand side, Crisil expected consumption revival to be moderate, cushioned somewhat by lower inflation and interest-rate cuts. However, an analysis of food prices during drought years since 1982-83 showed in some years–2002-03 when the NDA was in power and 2004-05–food inflation could be contained at 1.76% and 2.64%, respectively, with proper management of food stocks and paltry hikes in minimum support prices (MSPs) of crops. Experts have advised the govenrment to hike the MSPs for the current year only modestly, as has been recommended by the CACP, to keep a lid on inflation. To soften the blow to farmers in drought-affected regions, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Friday the government would offer subsidies on diesel, power and seeds. However, the diesel subsidy of Rs 10 per litre this year (If the government keeps it at last year level) and up to 50% subsidy on seeds may not be enough to bail out farmers, already stressed by a crash in commodity prices for more than a year now. According to ICRIER chair professor (agriculture) Ashok Gulati, the country needs a “contingency plan with ample supply of seeds and real-time technology, an integrated advisory for less water-intensive crops, extended agri-credit at low rates, and an affordable and robust insurance policy, which can settle farmers’ claims quickly and transfer money directly to their accounts, dovetailing the Jan-Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and mobile numbers.” However, although a new crop insurance policy would be the most urgent need of the hour to protect farmers’ income, it is being scrutinised by experts now. By all likelihood, and as the agriculture minister has said, the policy would be out only by the end of this year. In such a case, it would be impossible to insure farmers against this year’s monsoon failure, unless the government doesn’t act very fast. The minister said the government was considering improving domestic supplies of pulses through imports and asked states to place their demand of the commodity. Sources said the government could explore options of implementing special scheme for the rejuvenation of perennial horticulture crops under the National Horticulture Mission and recommending the rescheduling of crops loans and providing interest subvention on rescheduled loans in drought affected areas. However, nothing has been finalised as yet. Source - http://www.financialexpress.com/ India - Rain deficit to hit several crops

USA - California’s agricultural industry faces big losses from drought

USA - California’s agricultural industry faces big losses from droughtCalifornia’s agricultural economy is contracting. Facing another severe drought year in 2015, farmers are going to be taking more losses. According to a new study, this year California agriculture is estimated to use 2.5 million acre-feet less in water, employ 18,600 fewer people, and contribute $2.7 billion less to the state’s economy than it would in a normal water year. It estimates that farmers will fallow 560,000 acres — decisions that could have impacts on the nation’s food supply for years to come.California’s agricultural economy is contracting. Facing another severe drought year in 2015, farmers are going to be taking more losses. According to a new study, this year California agriculture is estimated to use 2.5 million acre-feet less in water, employ 18,600 fewer people, and contribute $2.7 billion less to the state’s economy than it would in a normal water year. It estimates that farmers will fallow 560,000 acres — decisions that could have impacts on the nation’s food supply for years to come. The report comes on the heels of a punishing string of 2014 losses. The study for last year tallied 428,000 fallowed acres, 17,100 lost jobs and a $2.2 billion economic loss. Yet those numbers show that last year was actually a little bit better than this year will be. “The socioeconomic impacts of an extended drought, in 2016 and beyond, could be much more severe,” wrote study authors Richard Howitt, Duncan MacEwan, Josue Medellini, Jay Lund and Daniel A. Sumner. It sounds ominous, and it is. For while California farmers have been creative and industrious in the face of this severe drought — and the report tallies many examples of how they’ve adapted — the long-term impacts of a sustained drought will be devastating for the state. For example, agriculture has relied heavily on groundwater substitutions for the water cutbacks it’s suffered from water districts. “Groundwater substitution, water market transfers and grower use of limited water for the most profitable crops are key factors buffering the economic and employment effects of drought,” write the study authors. But groundwater is a finite resource, and no one knows for sure how much the state actually has. Already farmers are pumping deeper and deeper wells as shallower ones dry up. “This study does not address long-term costs of groundwater overdraft, such as higher pumping costs and greater water scarcity,” the report warns. Also, the regional impact of all of those job losses may take some time to be felt — but having an extended period of high unemployment would be devastating to a region that already suffers from high rates of poverty. The best solution to all of this would be rain, and lots of it. There’s some hope for an El Niño event this year, but in case one doesn’t materialize, the state would be wise to start making some difficult choices. The first thing we need to learn is how much groundwater we have. With Silicon Valley so close, it’s a wonder that there isn’t a full technological effort going on to measure groundwater so that the state isn’t flying blind. Better data about this crucial resource would help guide the agricultural industry in its planting decisions — and the state in its cutback decisions. Crop plantings may have to evolve if the drought continues, too. It’s all the rage to claim that California farmers just need to stop growing water-guzzling almonds, but the global specificity of California’s soil, along with high commodity prices for certain crops, suggests these are decisions that need to be made with the assistance of economic and scientific data, not emotion. Farmers have started shifting their crops — 2014 contracts for growing processing tomatoes shifted largely to the Sacramento Valley, for instance, which resulted in strong yields. That trend may have to continue — and with less voluntary choice. Finally, the state has to consider ways to invest in job growth and opportunities beyond agriculture for the Central Valley. Many experts have observed that it would be wise for the Central Valley to reduce its dependence on agriculture and low-wage service work for employment. Doing so could bring about improvements in the health, education, and opportunities for residents. A prolonged drought may make that advice a necessity, as it’s accelerating existing trends toward lower employment in this sector. Source - http://www.sfchronicle.com/

USA - Rains ‘mixed blessing’ for Texas

USA - Rains ‘mixed blessing’ for TexasAlthough some agricultural producers in South Central Texas and the state’s Winter Garden area have suffered losses due to recent rains and flooding, many others will benefit from them in the long term, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. Though persistent rains have had a negative impact in both urban and rural parts of the region, damaging or destroying property and crops, producers should expect positive returns from future crops and livestock.Although some agricultural producers in South Central Texas and the state’s Winter Garden area have suffered losses due to recent rains and flooding, many others will benefit from them in the long term, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. Dr. Rob Hogan, AgriLife Extension agricultural economist in Uvalde, said though persistent rains have had a negative impact in both urban and rural parts of the region, damaging or destroying property and crops, producers should expect positive returns from future crops and livestock. Winter cabbage fields are especially susceptible to bacterial diseases encouraged by cool, damp weather. Onions have also been affected by the wet weather that is predicted to continue through at least May. “The amount of rain we received this spring was devastating to our onion crop,” said Bruce Frasier, president of Dixondale Farms in Carrizo Springs. “Typically we hope to get 20 inches of rain during an entire growing season, and it’s rough when you get about that much over a few weeks. I don’t think there are any vegetable crops that can withstand that much rain.” Frasier said the replenished water table may be of future benefit, but Winter Garden producers have already lost millions of dollars due to crop damage and loss. “It will take quite a while to plant and harvest enough crops to make up for those losses,” he said. “While some of the area’s producers took a pretty hard beating this year, overall I suspect the rains will ultimately be a blessing,” Hogan said. Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/