Promoting
traditional seeds
In yet another
rare occurrence, a school dropout, Jayaraman, has made a name in preserving
several paddy seeds.
Last week, we saw how individuals
across the country have been doing sterling work in preserving many of
the rice varieties that are native to our country. Jayaraman is one of
them.Mr. Jayaraman, who dropped out of school when he was in Class VIII, is now
an organic farming crusader. A native of Adirangam village in Tiruvarur
district, Tamil Nadu, Jayaraman has worked tirelessly to promote the cause of
preserving native paddy seeds.
Seeing the enthusiastic work of
Jayaraman, a NRI Narasimman, (also a native of Adhirangam) donated nine acres
of his land for crop cultivation and a building to organise training programmes
for the farming community.As the Cauvery Delta districts are predominant with
paddy cultivation, his initial interest was in organic rice production. Later,
he realised that the coastal districts are prone to the climate variations and
every year farmers faced problems either with flood or cyclone.
Identifying varieties
After four to five years of
tireless work, he was able to find 15 traditional paddy varieties in 2004 and
cultivated in the farm with the aim of multiplying the traditional seeds and
making it available to more number of farmers. In 2005, he organised
a first ever traditional paddy seed festival in the farm by an
individual. That year, he distributed two kg of traditional paddy seeds of
15 varieties to more than 300 farmers. With the overwhelming
responses to the seed, festival has motivated him to organise traditional paddy
seed festival every year and also increase the traditional paddy varieties
every year.
Apart from this, he is involved
in organising safe food campaign in schools and colleges, consumer forums like
Rotary club and Lion’s club on the health impacts of chemicals used in
agriculture. He has delivered talks in more than 300 schools and colleges and
is also helping the farmers to form Farmer’s Club.He was invited by the Philippines
Government to give a talk at the International Rice Research Institute on his
work and mission.
(M.J. Prabu is The Hindu’s
Agriculture correspondent. He writes the popular Farmer’s Notebook. Write to
him at prabu.mj@thehindu.co.in)
Snap: Nel Jayaraman displaying a traditional seed variety.
Photo: D.Gopalakrishnan
Source with thanks: http://www.thehindu.com/in-school/sh-science/1/article6700401.ece
Fin Min asks states to clear CCL dues
before seeking loans for foodgrains
Custom
Milling paddy means the paddy purchased/procured by the procuring agencies,
including FCI and given to the rice mills for milling. Rice procurement through
Customed Milled Rice (CMR) mode is increasing steadily. Procurement through CMR
route ensures payment of MSP to farmers and avoids chances of irregularities in
procurement through Levy route.As farmers are being benefited through direct
procurement by State agencies and this has also resulted in availability of
huge stocks of rice in central pool, the levy percentage is decided to be up to
25% of total holding of the stock.
Moreover, there will not be
any adverse effect on the overall procurement of rice in the country by
reducing the limit of levy upto 25% from 75% of levy obligation earlier as it
does not reduce the quantum of Central Pool. This is because procurement is
also done through CMR route which is steadily growing. During
the current year 2014-15, the government has allocated additional 27.82 lakh
tons of rice and 2.04 lakh tons of wheat for additional BPL families and 27.61
lakh tons of rice and 8.98 lakh tons of wheat for APL families. 6.01 lakh tons
of rice and 6.83 lakh tons of wheat have also been allocated to the states for
natural calamities, festivals, additional requirement under TPDS.
Source with thanks: http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/fin-min-asks-states-to-clear-ccl-dues-before-seeking-loans-for-foodgrains-114121800456_1.html
Rice ‘strawlage’ researchers, growers
working out the kinks
Capital Press
Published:December 16, 2014 11:28AM
TIM HEARDEN/CAPITAL PRESS
Doug Parker stands on his ranch west of Williams, Calif. He hosted
a workshop Dec. 15 exploring different ways for preparing rice straw for use as
animal feed.Ranchers, rice growers and University of California Cooperative
Extension researchers are still fine-tuning their methods for preparing rice
straw for use as an affordable cattle feed. The use of "rice
strawlage" has been popular this fall as the cost of other feed has
remained high.
WILLIAMS, Calif. — The use of rice straw as an affordable feed for
livestock has proven popular this fall, but growers and University of
California researchers are still working out the details of preparing it.Some
have encountered unexpected obstacles, such as the inexact science of measuring
how much moisture is in the straw and high winds that make tarping the straw
bales difficult, researchers said.But growers in the Sacramento Valley have
come up with plenty of their own ideas and work-arounds. For instance, Doug
Parker, a rancher and rice grower west of here, started applying molasses to
the straw to hold it together and make it more palatable for cattle.Parker also
rigged a baling machine he said can make up to 220 rice bales of rice straw an
hour.
“I think the molasses worked out fairly cheap to do. The material
was about $4 a ton,” said Parker, who hosted a UC Cooperative
Extension-sponsored workshop on his ranch Dec. 15 to discuss preparation of the
straw. “I think it’s at least going to add some protein and some taste for the
cows.”UC farm advisors reached out to growers this summer to promote converting
their rice straw into “strawlage,” a feed that the scientists say is on a par
with a low-quality alfalfa. The advisers said the straw would be a good
alternative for livestock producers confronted with feed shortages because of
the drought.
“They love it because they can digest it,” Smith said. “When you
let it dry ... the cows will just spit it back at you. (With “strawlage”), all
we have to do is worry about mold and get the right moisture when we’re
baling.”Sites, Calif., rancher Lady Bug Doherty’s family has fed dry straw to
cows but never tried treating it as the UC scientists advise, she said. So she
came to the workshop to learn how it’s done.“Probably treating it like they do
would be good,” she said. “We just put it out for the cattle. If they can’t get
anything to eat, they will eat it.
”Of course, growers and UC advisors who advocate the use of
“strawlage” are themselves still learning how to do it, said Glenn Nader, a
Yuba City, Calif.-based UC livestock advisor.“I think it’s still in that
infancy. We’re still trying to figure it out,” he said, adding that growers
who’ve maintained moisture at 26 percent and used proprionic acid have avoided
combustion even without tarping.“I think it’s catching on,” Nader said of
“strawlage”. “People have had barns burn down and they’re worried about high
moisture. It’s just something they’ve got to get comfortable with.”
http://www.capitalpress.com/20141216/rice-strawlage-researchers-growers-working-out-the-kinks
Rice cultivation
in east India is ‘net carbon sink’
Rice cultivation through flooded cultivation method, often seen
as a source of methane emissions, which contribute to global warming, does not
release carbon into the atmosphere, a study by the Central Rice Research
Institute (CRRI), a premier body under the ministry of agriculture, has stated.
Instead, the study has said the tropical low land submerged ecosystem in mainly
eastern India is a ‘net carbon sink not a carbon source’.
The low land flooded rice ecosystem has the capacity to store
carbon in soil and can behave as net carbon sink, the study says. “Carbon inputs
in rice field through photosynthesis, biomass and organic carbon added as
manure exceed output, making paddy cultivation in eastern regions as carbon
sinks rather than carbon emitters,” Pratap Bhattacharya, a senior scientist at
CRRI told FE.The findings of the study is expected to help agricultural
scientists in fixing climate responsibility.
http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/rice-cultivation-in-east-india-is-net-carbon-sink/19986/
Eat Well: Rice is nice
within limits
The January issue of Consumer
Reports — which has a trustworthy reputation for consumer product testing and
research — features “The Truth About Gluten.”+ A quinoa dish that can be a side
dish or serve as the main event. As I read the story, I didn’t find a many
surprises: A very small percentage of the population actually has celiac
disease, which requires avoiding gluten; a gluten-free diet is not more
nutritious and is not a weight loss program — you might gain weight; and it’s
more expensive to buy gluten-free foods.
What caught my eye was what happens
when you increase the consumption of rice, a popular food in gluten-free diets.
It can increase your consumption of arsenic.“That’s why I and other gluten-free
authors recommend using a wide variety of grains,” said Carol Fenster, a
Denver-based cookbook author who has celiac disease. “Other good grain options
are bulgur, barley and faro, as well as gluten-free grains like amaranth,
buckwheat, millet and quinoa.”According to the story, “anyone who eats rice
needs to be aware that they may be exposing themselves to inorganic arsenic, a
carcinogen. But people who avoid gluten need to be especially alert because so
many gluten-free products contain rice.”
Here’s the deal. Arsenic is
naturally a part of the earth’s crust and is available in two chemical forms:
inorganic and organic (which can be less toxic). The report explains that rice
tends to absorb arsenic more readily than other plants. Research in 2012 by
Consumer Reports found that various forms of rice have different levels of
arsenic.White basmati rice from California, India and Pakistan and sushi rice
from the U.S. on average have half of the inorganic arsenic amount of most
other types of rice. Brown rice, considered by many to be a more nutritious
choice, has 80 percent more inorganic arsenic than white rice.
That’s because the chemical is on
the outside of the kernel and is polished off when it is processed to be white.
The article doesn’t recommend writing off brown rice because it does have more
nutrients than white rice — just be picky about where it is grown. Look for
brown basmati from California, India or Pakistan because it will have less
inorganic arsenic.Parents who have made a gluten-free diet choice and consume a
lot of rice products should heed Consumer Reports’ recommendations for
children.
“Children should rarely eat hot
rice cereal or rice pasta,” the story says. “Our analysis found that those
foods can have much more IA (inorganic arsenic) than our 2012 data showed. Just
one serving of either could put kids over the maximum amount of arsenic they
should have in a week. Rice drinks are also high in arsenic, and children
younger than 5 shouldn’t drink them instead of milk.”There’s much more
information in the article as well as a list of recommended gluten-free foods
that Consumer Reports tested.
In response to Consumer Reports’
investigation, the USA Rice Federation issued this statement:
“Research conducted by the Food and
Drug Administration and U.S. rice industry shows arsenic levels found in
U.S.-grown rice are below safe maximum levels established this year by the
World Health Organization. Studies show that including white or brown rice in
the diet provides measurable health benefits that outweigh the potential risks
associated with exposure to trace levels of arsenic. The U.S. rice industry is
committed to growing a safe and healthy product; we continuously test our crop,
and research ways of reducing the already low levels of arsenic found in rice
even further.”
The FDA issued this statement:
“The FDA’s ongoing assessment of
arsenic in rice remains a priority for the agency. Last year, the FDA released
what we believe to be the largest set of test results to date on the presence
of arsenic in rice and rice products, and we are planning to release a draft
assessment of the potential health risks associated with the consumption of
arsenic in these same foods. Until that review is completed, the agency
continues to recommend that consumers, including pregnant women, eat a well-balanced
diet containing a variety of grains. Parents should feed infants and toddlers a
variety of grains as well, and consider options other than rice cereal for a
child’s first solid food.”
Published studies and ongoing FDA
research indicate that cooking rice in excess volumes of water — five to six
times that of the rice — and draining the water can reduce the arsenic content,
though it might also reduce the rice’s nutritional value.Based on the currently
available data and scientific literature, the FDA advises consumers to:
•Eat a well-balanced diet. All
consumers, including pregnant women, infants and children, are encouraged to
eat a well-balanced diet for good nutrition and to minimize potential adverse
consequences from consuming an excess of any one food. This advice is
consistent with the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has
long stated that parents should feed their infants and toddlers a variety of
foods as part of a well-balanced diet.
• Vary your grains: Rice, rice
flour or brown rice syrup are present in foods as diverse as cookies,
gluten-free pasta, teething biscuits and beer. The FDA requires food companies
to list a product’s ingredients by weight from most to least abundant, and the
agency encourages consumers to check the ingredients. Like rice, other grains –
such as wheat, barley and oats – are nutritious grains that consumers can eat
to help vary their diet. Parents seeking to diversify their infant or toddler’s
diet can limit the number of servings of rice cereal per week and use cereals
made from other types of grain.
• Consider diversifying infant
foods: The FDA recognizes that children routinely eat rice products and that by
tradition many infants are fed rice cereal as their first solid food. According
to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is no medical evidence that rice
cereal has any advantage over other cereal grains as a first solid food and
infants would likely benefit from an array of grain cereals.
Source with thanks: http://gazette.com/eat-well-rice-is-nice-within-limits/article/1543160#j4xgQRD1f9ufCIMe.99
Glycaemic index is irrelevant for most
healthy people
·
The GI diet debunked: Glycaemic index is irrelevant for most
healthy people - so it doesn't matter if you eat white or wholewheat bread,
scientists claim
·
Glycaemic index is a measure of how quickly foods containing
carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels in the bloodstream
·
High GI foods like bananas and pasta are thought to be 'bad' for
the heart and may increase the risk of suffering diabetes
·
But new study found little evidence to support these claims
Scientists have long warned of the dangers of eating foods high on
the glycaemic index amid fears they increase a person's risk of heart disease
and diabetes.But a new study has revealed evidence to the contrary - debunking
the GI diet for those who are healthy.The glycaemic index is a measure of how
quickly foods containing carbohydrates, such as fruits, cereals and baked
goods, raise glucose levels in the bloodstream. Those that cause a sharp
spike in blood sugar levels over a two-hour period are said to have a high
glycaemic index.While those that don't cause the big rise have a low glycaemic
index.
Conventional wisdom says that high glycaemic index foods like
bananas and pasta are 'bad' for heart health and may increase the risk of
developing diabetes.
+2
A new study by researchers at Harvard School of
Medicine and John Hopkins University of Medicine has found little evidence that
foods high on the glycaemic index are 'bad' for your heart health and increase
a person's risk of diabetes. The GI measures how quickly carbohydrates raise
blood sugar levels
But the new study, carried out by scientists at the Johns Hopkins
University of Medicine and Harvard School of Medicine in Boston, claims to have
found little evidence to support these claims.
Professor of medicine at John Hopkins Medicine, Lawrence Appel,
said the results 'surprised' the team.
'We did not detect any clear benefits of the low glycaemic index
diets on the major risk factors for heart disease, and we found no evidence of
benefit for diabetes prevention,' he said.
He added: 'The evidence has been inconsistent that low glycaemic
foods help people lose more weight or keep it off.'In looking at the causes of
obesity and ways to control it, a narrow focus on the glycaemic index seems to
be unwarranted.'
FROM HIGH TO LOW EXAMPLES OF FOODS
ON THE GI INDEX
Low
GI foods
New potatoes
Spaghetti
Brown rice
Sweet potatoes
Instant noodles
Wholewheat bread
Hummus
Sponge cake
Lentils
Chick peas
Frozen green peas
Tomatoes
Onions
Apples
Medium
GI foods
Croissant
White pita bread
Wholemeal rye
Honey
Digestives
Blueberry muffin
Ice cream
Mango
Bananas
Beetroot
Basmati rice
Cous cous
Gnocchi
Baked potatoes
High
GI foods
Instant white rice
French fries
Mashed potato
Tapioca
Short grain white rice
White bread
Bagel
French baguette
Scones
Rice cakes
Parsnips
Pumpkin
Watermelon
Dates
Each diet contained the same number of calories, but those
calories came from foods that were either high or low in carbohydrates, and
high or low on the GI scale.The volunteers ate their main meal with
researchers, and took home their next two meals.After five weeks on their
assigned diets, they were switched to a different one.'A higher glycaemic diet
would have more bananas and instant oatmeal,' said Professor Sacks. 'A lower
glycaemic index would have more dried apricots and steel cut oats.'
Get back to the basics that most people already know.
Don't drink sugar-sweetened drinks. Try to eat fruits, vegetables and whole
grains. Try to avoid sweets, salt and foods high in saturated and trans fats.
Professor Lawrence Appel at John Hopkins University of
Medicine
The scientists tested the volunteers' blood pressure, sensitivity
to insulin, and levels of 'good' high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol,
'bad' low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides - fat
molecules in the blood stream that play a role in heart health. The
results revealed the low GI diets did not lower blood pressure or LDL
cholesterol, and did not improve insulin resistance. They showed
little difference between high and low glycaemic index foods, the authors said.
Professor Sacks said it is likely people's bodies can handle
variations in food on the GI index, even if they are overweight and are already
having problems with insulin resistance. He said: 'I guess it just works
normally in most people,' adding the glycaemic index should be studied among
people with type 2 diabetes, which is also commonly known as adult-onset
diabetes. Women made up 51 per cent of the study's volunteers, and
African-Americans made up 52 per cent, so the results have broad relevance, Professor
Appel said. He advised: 'Get back to the basics that most people already
know.'Don't drink sugar-sweetened drinks. Try to eat fruits, vegetables and
whole grains. Try to avoid sweets, salt and foods high in saturated and trans
fats.'People who follow these principles will reap the benefits.'
+2The scientists' aim was to determine if foods'
glycaemic index influences a person's heart health and risk of diabetes.
Apples are said to be low GI while bananas are higher on the index
Professor Sacks said existing studies suggest there may be a
benefit for people with diabetes, but there needs to be more
research. Dr Robert Eckel, who wrote an editorial accompanying the
new study, said
the study's message is that the glycaemic index is not that
important if a diet is already heart healthy.
'If you're eating a heart-healthy diet, glycaemic index is not
important to consider,' said Dr Eckel, a past president of the American Heart
Association and a professor at the University of Colorado.
''I think the emphasis needs to be on the overall diet pattern,'
he said.
Professor Sacks said people who want a good overall diet should
look toward Mediterranean-style diets or the Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension (DASH) diet, which emphasizes vegetables, fruits, fat-free dairy,
whole grains, fish, poultry, nuts and vegetable oils.The study was published in
the Journal of the American Medical Association.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2877315/The-GI-diet-debunked-Glycaemic-index-irrelevant-healthy-people-doesn-t-matter-eat-white-wholewheat-bread-scientists-claim.html#ixzz3MIEUutow
Tandoori marinade gives shrimp a kick
By John Broening
I like assertive, spicy, acidic marinades for animal proteins,
but I'm always a little nervous about using them. When you use a marinade made
with vinegar, wine, beer, citrus juice or yogurt, when the marinade starts to
break down the texture of the meat, it dries it out, giving the exterior an
unpleasant, cooked texture.The point at which this begins to happen is
difficult to gauge, and usually has something to do with the amount of acidity
in the marinade, the size and density of the animal protein and a few other
complex factors.
My solution is to use a big-flavored marinade that's applied at
the last minute. I like Indian tandoori marinades, which are usually made with
a combination of yogurt and spices, and I've found them to be an ideal coating
for shrimp, which usually needs a flavor boost.The marinade lends flavor to the
shrimp and also gives it an appealing caramelized crust. Tossing the cooked
shrimp in a mixture of sesame seeds, lime juice and cilantro gives it an
additional punch.Serve this Tandoori-style shrimp as an appetizer over greens
or as an entree over basmati rice.
Tandoori-style Shrimp
Serves four as a small entrée or large appetizer.
Ingredients
1 cup Greek yogurt
Grated zest of 2 limes
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon Madras Curry powder, toasted
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon water
1 pound shrimp (16-20) peeled and deveined with tails still
attached
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
Directions
In medium-size mixing bowl,
whisk together the Greek yogurt, lime zest, honey, salt, curry powder, 2
tablespoons of the canola oil and the water. Heat a griddle or a grill pan over
medium heat and coat with the remaining tablespoon of canola oil.Working
quickly, grab each shrimp by the tail and coat well in the marinade. Place on
the griddle or grill pan and cook about 2 minutes on each side . Remove to a
clean mixing bowl and toss with the sesame seeds, lime juice, cilantro and
additional salt if necessary.Serve immediately.
http://www.denverpost.com/food/ci_27142266/tandoori-marinade-gives-shrimp-kick
Obama Calls for New Cuba
Policy: U.S. Rice Industry Gains are
Possible
Fidel Castro samples U.S.
rice at the 2002 Havana International Trade
Fair. WASHINGTON, DC -- President Obama announced today that he is updating the
U.S. Cuba policy, including reestablishing diplomatic relations between the
countries after more than 50 years, and promoting travel and commercial
opportunities between the two countries.Central to the President's initiative
is a new approach to banking, allowing U.S. and Cuban banks to have direct
relationships."The changes to banking are very important because they will
significantly reduce red tape and costs associated with doing business with
Cuba," said Betsy Ward, president and CEO of the USA Rice Federation. "Since the mid-1990's USA Rice has taken
leadership among commodity groups in calling for an end to the economic and
travel embargo on Cuba, so we're encouraged by today's announcement."
Ward said her organization has long maintained
that the "embargo was not on Cuba, as they could source rice and other
products from around the world, but rather on the rice growers in the U.S.,
whose own government cut them out of one of the world's top markets, just 90
miles from our shores.
" She added that USA Rice is also a founding
member of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC), a group dedicated to
lifting the embargo. "USA Rice was the first U.S. group of any kind to
exhibit at the 2001 Cuba International Trade Fair, the first such participation
in any Cuban trade fair in more than 40 years," said USA Rice's Marvin
Lehrer. "This historic action,
taken under extraordinary and difficult circumstances, was among those cited by
the Government of Cuba as a motivation in making the first purchase of U.S.
rice since 1961 and garnered worldwide media attention."
CEO Betsy Ward meets with
Cuban Ambassador earlier this year. Sales rose steadily reaching 176,631 metric
tons in 2004, representing about 30 percent of Cuba's import needs. Since then, imports fell and no sales have
been made since 2008 - due to further U.S. government restrictions on
definition of "cash in advance" and banking terms with Cuba. As a
major consumer and importer of rice, and once the largest market for U.S. rice,
Cuba is uniquely positioned to once again become a major market for the United
States, which offers easy logistics for exactly the type of rice Cubans
demand. "Today's announcements are
good news for the Cuban and American people," said Dow Brantley, an
Arkansas rice producer and chairman of the USA Rice Federation. "We'll be looking for ways to tap into
potential markets there to help people on both sides of the equation."
"As we wait to see what
the long term political implications of this decision are, today's announcement
is an important step forward towards establishing a valuable new market for
U.S. agriculture," said Representative Ted Poe (R-TX). "Easing trade restrictions to take
advantage of the high demand for rice in Cuba would provide a new market that
would benefit rice farmers in Texas and around the United States." "While this appears to be an early
Christmas present to rice farmers and the people of Cuba, banking restrictions
will need to be completely liberalized in the future for free and unfettered
trade to take place," added Ward.
Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458
Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation
|
CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Agriculture's
Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough
rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting
marketing loan-gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable
to the 2014 crop, which became effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time
(ET). Prices are unchanged from the previous announcement.
This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:
The next program announcement is scheduled for December 24. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation
|
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice
Futures
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation
The Return
of Rain
distributed by noodls on 16/12/2014 13:54
California Rice Commission
16/12/2014 | News release
By Tom Butler
This time of year, there is a Rice Outlook conference
involving the six states that produce rice. And for most of the California attendees,
the top activity for the three days was to watch the weather back home. We had
left for the conference after some welcome rain the week previous, and now
there was prom
ise of more. A lot more. More than we received in all
of 2013.And while the storm wasn't as "epic" as it was hyped to be,
it was a welcome change. The five inches of rain filled rain gauges, helped the
decomposition of the remaining rice straw in the fields, and filled bypasses
and flood plains along the river.It's always a reminder how quickly it can
change from dry to sloppy, and that we still have a long way to go, but it was
nice to actually drive around during the rainy season and actually see rain.
Also, after the water short year, it's a stark reminder as you watch the excess
flow into the bypass, and eventually away without being stored, that further
improvements are needed in our storage capabilities.
As for now though, we, the wildlife and the quivers
will take the rain.
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm. When he's not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family. http://www.noodls.com/viewNoodl/26290311/california-rice-commission/the-return-of-rain?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+December+17%2C+2014&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email#sthash.MRrhMQRb.dpuf
More about Tom: Tom Butler farms rice with his father, Steve, in Sutter and Yolo Counties. Tom is the fourth generation of his family to farm. When he's not on the job, the University of Nebraska graduate enjoys swimming, water polo, hunting and spending time with his family. http://www.noodls.com/viewNoodl/26290311/california-rice-commission/the-return-of-rain?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+December+17%2C+2014&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email#sthash.MRrhMQRb.dpuf
Ann Arbor startup FarmLogs lands
$10-million investment
FarmLogs,
which now counts 15% of U.S. farms with at least 100 acres as customers, landed
an investment from an influential group of venture capitalists that will allow
the company to double its staff of 20 employees in the first half of 2015.
Columbus, Ohio-based Drive
Capital, Ann Arbor-based Huron River Ventures, Chicago-based Hyde Park Venture
Partners and San Francisco-based SV Angel pooled funds to help FarmLogs
expand.The company also lured an investment from Sam Altman, president of Y
Combinator, the famous Silicon Valley tech accelerator that has generated a
steady stream of high-tech entrepreneurs.Jesse Vollmar, CEO and co-founder of
FarmLogs, said the company plans to maintain its headquarters in Ann Arbor and
continue growing. He said the firm has room to grow at its office on the second
floor of the Kerrytown Market & Shops building adjacent to the Ann Arbor
Farmers Market.
The company has grown rapidly
from a nondescript 600-square-foot office above a cafe on Liberty Street, where
it was based 18 months ago with about eight employees.Its application gives
farmers the ability to input data into a computer or mobile device to track the
performance of their crops, follow commodity prices, monitor weather and record
information to comply with federal regulations.FarmLogs says that its customers
sell more than $12 billion in crops annually and are scattered across all 50
states and 130 countries.
"FarmLogs is starting to
become this trusted brand and something farmers all across the country are
starting to rely on, which we're really proud of," Vollmar, who grew up on
a farm, said in an interview. "We exist to make farmers more
profitable."After initially charging for the service, FarmLogs made the
software completely free."We have plans to launch some premium features in
the future that people can choose to subscribe to if they like," Vollmar
said. "The existing core product will always remain free."
As friends at
Unionville-Sebewaing Area High School in Sebewaing, Mich., Vollmar and
co-founder Brad Koch formed a software consultancy called Aedis IT, which
helped pay their tuition at Saginaw Valley State University, where they
graduated in 2011.After a stint as students in the Y Combinator accelerator in
early 2012, they founded FarmLogs after identifying a need for a sophisticated
but simple digital solution in the farming community where they grew up. They
located their new company in Ann Arbor to take advantage of the wealth of tech
talent in the halo of the University of Michigan.
The endorsement of the firm's
technology by Y Combinator's Altman, in particular, could fuel more interest in
the company."I'm a huge fan of Jesse and FarmLogs, and they have the
opportunity to build a very important company," Altman said in a
statement. "Jesse has a focused vision combined with relentless execution.
I think improving agriculture is one of the most important challenges in the
world, and I'm excited to be involved."The investment reflects one of the
largest venture capital investments in a Michigan software company in years. In
2013, 40 Michigan companies landed venture capital, but only 25% of the capital
was devoted to information technology companies.
Vollmar said FarmLogs would use
most of the investment to add to its team."Investors look for momentum and
they can clearly see that we have incredible momentum," Vollmar said.
"I believe we're truly inventing the future of farming."
Contact Nathan Bomey:
313-223-4743 or nbomey@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @NathanBomey.
(Photo: ROMAIN BLANQUART)
Source with thanks: Detroit Free Press
UVAS
conference on livestock inaugurated: Pakistan to export surplus wheat: Bosan
December 17, 2014
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar
Hayat Khan Bosan said on Tuesday that Pakistan has surplus wheat and looking
for markets to export surplus wheat. He expressed hope that the wheat output
target will be achieved. Bosan said that in the global market prices of wheat
and rice were decreasing while in Pakistan prices of wheat and rice were high
because in our cost of production is high in the country. He said that in order to discuss the issue of high cost of
production he was calling the meeting of chief ministers of all four provinces
within a month.
He also said that he will talk to the FBR regarding dumping duty
on the import of milk. He was talking to media persons after addressing the
opening session of the two-day conference on Livestock and Dairy Development on
the role of social sector and rural community organized by the University of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore in collaboration with the Helping
Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD) and Pakistan Agriculture Scientists
Forum. Bosan said the government has decided to give a direct subsidy of
Rs 5,000 per acre to rice growers. A committee has been formed on the directive
of the Prime Minister and it will discuss how to reduce the cost of production
of different commodities, he added.
Responding to a question, he said "wheat target will be
achieved this year with the grace of Almighty Allah and we have sufficient
wheat in stock as well". The government would focus on the recommendations
and issues highlighted for bringing improvement in the livestock sector and
after the 18th Amendment in the Constitution the responsibilities of the
provincial governments have also increased as the powers have been transferred
to them, he added. The Minister said the government
will try to implement the recommendations of the conference in letter and
spirit.
Earlier addressing the ceremony Federal Minister for National Food
Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said that the livestock sector
has the capacity of generating gainful employment in the rural population,
particularly small farmers and women. The urban population growth increase in
per capita income and export opportunities are fuelling the demand of Livestock
and its related products. The development of livestock at rural level is
constrained by low productivity per unit animal, prevalence of livestock
diseases, poor management, nutrition and vaccination.
The federal government has always been supportive to the livestock
sector in providing most enabling environment for its growth and expansion.
"I am sure with the collaborative effort of all stakeholders the livestock
sector will be able to perform at their maximum potential during the year. He
urged the private sector to initiate awareness programs for the small livestock
farmers regarding vaccination and improved husbandry practices in livestock
production.
In his opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Talat Naseer
Pasha said that for the growth of dairy and red meat sector "we need to
provide market pull to our livestock farmers as well as supportive of the
farming communities in disease control and enhancement of feed resources and
other inputs. "
Our dairy sector is hitting badly by zero duty on the import of
skim whey milk powder whenever there are lower world milk prices, these powder
are dumped in our markets, which affect our dairy farmers. These days the milk
prices are gone down to $2,200 per ton due to ban on import of dairy products
by Russia. China can be potential source for export of meat and its products.
We need to initiate school milk program and provide an egg a day to our
children to attract them to schools and improve their health and solve the
issue of malnutrition and as well as provide market to our dairy and poultry
farmers."
He also mentioned the role of UVAS in the development of livestock
sector and related sector. He said the Punjab government has approved
establishment of a new university named "Cholistan University of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences" in Bahawalpur and the Punjab government
had already allocated 1,000 acres of land in Bahawalpur for the purpose and it
was being established with the collaboration of two Turkish universities,
"Selcuk University" and "Ankara University".
Source with thanks:Business
recorder
Dunklin
recognized with conservation award
The award was presented during
the annual Rice Awards luncheon held last Monday at the 2014 USA Rice Outlook
Conference.
By USA Rice Federation
Posted Dec. 15, 2014 @ 11:11 am
LITTLE ROCK —
USA Rice Producers' Group Conservation Committee
Chairman Leo LaGrande recognized George Dunklin's leadership and contributions
to U.S. agricultural conservation with the presentation of the fifth annual USA
Rice Federation Distinguished Conservation Achievement Award. The award
was presented during the annual Rice Awards luncheon held last Monday at the
2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference."It is the USA Rice Federation's
privilege to present this award to George Dunklin," LaGrande said. "George
has been farming rice for 34 years, is a past commissioner of the Arkansas Game
and Fish Commission, has been active in Ducks Unlimited for 31 years and has
recently been elected to become the organization's 42nd
president.""Farmers are, by definition, conservationists," said
LaGrande. "As we continue to see farm policy evolve, we realize
conservation and coalition-building is front and center. And USA Rice's
partnership with Ducks Unlimited is a perfect example of this new model
emphasizing agriculture's role in preservation of natural resources."The
historic stewardship partnership between USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited was
formed in 2013 so the groups could work collaboratively to conserve critical
natural and economic resources. Earlier this year, the partnership submitted
their first national Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) proposal
outlining the planning, design, and installation of conservation practices on
working rice lands. RCPP approval is scheduled to be announced by year's
end.
Facts
elusive for some U.S. consumers when it comes to rice
Some consumers don’t know what
rice looks like when it’s growing in the field. Some don’t know that rice is
grown in the United States. And some associate rice – and all
commercially-grown U.S. crops – with GMOs.As hard as this information might be
for U.S. rice farmers to swallow – especially the part about GMOs since no
commercially-grown U.S. rice is GMO – those are attitudes that turned up
frequently in a series of focus groups conducted by the USA Rice Federation
last summer.“It’s important to remember when you’re looking at this that we’re
there to get opinions; we’re not there to get facts, particularly if their
opinions all have a very fleeting relationship to the truth,” said Michael
Klein, vice president, marketing and communications for the USA Rice
Federation.
Klein was setting the stage for a
presentation on the findings of the focus groups conducted in five U.S. cities
for the Federation. Klein delivered the focus group opinions at the USA Rice
Outlook Conference in Little Rock Dec. 9.The cities – Little Rock, Sacramento,
Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Chicago and Philadelphia – were selected to represent
different segments of the U.S. population: a rural and agricultural area such
as Little Rock; an urban and rice-growing area such as Sacramento; an
environmentally-conscious area, Portland; and two highly urbanized areas,
Chicago and Philadelphia.The Federation “teased” the audience with a couple of
sound bites from the groups earlier in the Outlook Conference. A video clip in
which focus group members tried to imagine what rice looks like – “does it grow
on a vine?” drew a lot of head-shaking in one audience.
Family farmers
Klein said the groups, which
consisted of 10 to 12 persons drawn at random from each area, expressed
near-universal admiration for farmers.“’Farmers are hard-working, farmers are
necessary, they feed us, they appreciate everything that farmers do’ were some
of the comments we received in Little Rock and in Chicago,” said Klein. “But
there’s a catch. Their respect is reserved for family farms, not for corporate
farms.
“We’re glad they like family
farms because we think, well, that’s us, we’re family farms,” he said. “But
that’s not what they think. They think family farms are being pushed out by
corporate farms. Corporate farms are taking over, and family farms are few and
far between.”What did members of the focus groups know about rice farming?
Almost nothing, says Klein.
“In each of the focus groups
except one, they assumed that all of their rice came from China,” he noted.
“India and Thailand were also mentioned, but, for the most part, it’s China.
The exception to that was Sacramento where rice farming is very heavy in the
Sacramento River Delta.”The group in Sacramento was more knowledgable about
farming, particularly because of the water issue in California. “Everyone knows
that water is used for rice,” he noted. “There was a sense that there might be too
much water used for rice. But they were knowledgable which may be an indication
the CRC (California Rice Commission) is doing some good in the state.
Come and get it
“We got the sense walking around
the city that ‘we’ll let the farmers have all the water they need. If there’s
any left, we’ll drink it, and if there’s any left after that, the guys from LA
can come up and get it.”In Portland, only a few hundred miles away, the
sentiment was totally different. “Suspicion; it’s a totally evil plot, that
sort of thing,” said Klein. “You know we use the word flooding, and people
associate flooding with Noah and a lot of water. That might be something we
want to think about.”Some focus group members believe that hot, humid weather
is needed to grow rice, “and they didn’t think we had any weather like that in
the United States,” said Klein. “So that’s one of the reasons they think most
rice comes from China – that type of weather is prevalent there.”
One Portland participant, a chef,
said he would never serve rice grown in the United States,” said Klein. “The
only rice he would serve customers was rice that he knew was grown in a small
village in southeast China. He was very opinionated, very misinformed and very,
very passionate about his misinformation.”When the focus group leaders talked
about gains U.S. rice farmers have made in significantly reducing their crop’s
environmental footprint, the reaction was positive initially. Then the
questions took a different turn.
“Is it hybrid rice from genetic
engineering?” a focus group member from Chicago asked. “This isn’t logical
unless they’re using some sort of GMO,” said a group member from Portland. “I
think it’s attributed to GMO. Monsanto,” said a Little Rock participant.
Two defenders
“There were only two people in all
of the groups who came to the defense of GMOs and said they weren’t necessarily
bad,” said Klein. “They weren’t really excited about it (GMOs). They seemed to
be resigned to it.”On the other hand, when the group members were informed that
U.S. rice contains no GMOs, the atmosphere changed with some members applauding
and a female member of one group pumping her arm in a “yes” gesture to express
their approval.Klein said the Federation took away several messages from the
focus groups. One is that it needs to emphasize that rice farmers are family
farmers and that few corporations run rice farms in the United States.
“We need to talk about our family
farms and that our crops are locally grown, which might differentiate us from
some other crops,” he said. “Some people may use the term family-owned
businesses, but I would say family farms.”Another is the GMO issue. For now,
the rice industry should take advantage of the no-GMO rice message. It also
should begin now to figure out how to address the GMO or Frankenfood problem
before genetically-engineered rice becomes available.
Another is conservation. “Even
the guy who wouldn’t support U.S. rice could see the connection between rice
farming and conservation,” Klein noted.Group members also liked the Grown in the
USA Rice label and said they preferred to buy products grown and made in this
country. “One participant said she wouldn’t buy rice from another country
because she didn’t like the chemicals they put on it and the fact they had
their children out picking their rice.” For more information on U.S rice
producers, visit http://www.usarice.com/.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/facts-elusive-some-us-consumers-when-it-comes-rice
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
A comprehensive daily commodity market report for Arkansas
agricultural commodities with cash markets, futures and insightful analysis and
commentary from Arkansas Farm Bureau commodity analysts.
Noteworthy benchmark price levels of interest to farmers and
ranchers, as well as long-term commodity market trends which are developing.
Daily fundamental market influences and technical factors are noted and
discussed.
Soybeans
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
1069
|
964
|
|
New Crop
|
1069
|
1044
|
|
|
||
Riceland Foods
|
|
||
|
Cash Bids
|
Stuttgart: 1032
|
Pendleton: 1032
|
|
New Crop
|
Stuttgart: 994
|
Pendleton: 999
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soybean Comment
Soybeans saw marginal gains today. Strong demand remains
supportive but prices are feeling pressure from large supplies. Current
forecast look very favorable for South American soybean production and we could
see another record crop. This would likely push global stocks even higher,
currently global stocks are forecast up more than 30%. as the demand is not
forecast to keep up with production.
Wheat
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
628
|
538
|
|
New Crop
|
593
|
568
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wheat Comment
Another strong day in wheat as the market remains focused on the
Russian situation. Russia is already tweaking its export program in an effort
to slow exports from the country. While this is supporting prices now, longer
term it will likely have less of an affect as global supplies remain ample to
meet demand. Larger supplies in EU and other countries are forecast by the USDA
to offset the declines in Russia, this knee jerk reaction by the market to the
Russia situation should top soon and prices move back to $6.
Grain Sorghum
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
486
|
368
|
|
New Crop
|
496
|
496
|
|
|
||
Corn
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
406
|
381
|
|
New Crop
|
416
|
391
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corn Comment
Corn prices closed higher today. While the gains were good
today, one would hope that some of the bullish news today would do more to
support corn prices: Vilsack announced China has approved Viptera, ethanol
production was a record 990,000 barrels last week, and Ukraine reportedly
defaulting on 20% of corn sales to China. While prices have strengthened in
recent weeks, we could see prices come under pressure soon as declining
soybeans have improved the price ratio and could encourage more corn planting.
Larger acres would put pressure on prices and limit upside potential in this
market.
Cotton
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cotton Comment
Cotton posted gains today. March has been unable to hold above
resistance at 61 cents, and has moved back to the middle of the consolidation
range. Support is the contract low of 58.53. The monthly supply/demand report
held a mixed bag. Domestic production was cut by 474,000 bales to 15.923
million. However, that number was overshadowed by record-setting world ending
stocks of 108.08 million bales.
Rice
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Long Grain
Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
1160/cwt
|
|
Long Grain
New Crop
|
- - -
|
1134/cwt
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice Comment
Rice ended higher but traded in a narrow range above support,
which for January is around $12 and for March near $12.26. Resistance on any
rebound will be $12.86 ½ for March. Burdensome world stocks continue to limit
the upside potential. The domestic supply/demand estimates were unchanged in
the latest report except for a 1 million hundred weight increase in exports
that carried directly over into a 1 million cwt. Decrease in ending stocks.
Average farm prices were lowered by 20 cents on either end, with the estimate
now standing at $14-$15 per cwt.
Cattle
|
Futures:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Live Cattle:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Feeders:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arkansas Prices
Conway Livestock Auction
Pocahontas Livestock Auction
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City - Weekly Weighted Average Summary Wednesday
Cattle Comment
Cattle prices closed lower again today. This weakness maybe a
signal for producers to sell some of those cows they were holding onto. Prices
have seen sharp losses of between 10 and $20 in most months, which will be
difficult for prices to recover from.
Hogs
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hog Comment
Shell Eggs
National Turkeys
Delmarva Broilers
Source with thanks: www.arfb.com
NFA opens
importation of 187,000-MT rice
Under the MAV omnibus importation
program, importers would only be allowed to import high quality rice varieties
such as glutinous rice, Jasponica, Basmati and other special and aromatic rice
varieties.Regular rice with five percent brokens, 10 percent brokens, and 15
percent brokens may also be imported under this program.
Business ( Article MRec
), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
All NFA-licensed importers may
apply to import under this program starting Dec. 28, 2014 until Jan. 31, 2015.
All imports must arrive on or before Feb. 28, 2015.The complete list of
requirements may be found at the NFA website.Interested importers must submit
to the Grains Marketing Operations Department-Foreign Operations Division of
the NFA a letter of intent together with all the documentary
requirements.Corporations and cooperatives interested to participate in the
program must designate, through a board resolution, an authorized
representative to act on behalf of the corporation or cooperative during the
application process.
Farmers’ organizations must present
an original certificate of good standing from the government agency where it is
registered such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform
or National Irrigation Administration. They must likewise authorize a representative.
The Philippines has agreed this
year to increase the volume of rice that could enter the country under the MAV
to 805,000 MT from 350,000 MT in exchange for the extension of its special tax
treatment on rice by the World Trade organization (WTO).For now, the country
still implements the old MAV scheme under which, 187,000 MT may be of omnibus
origin while 163,000 MT should be of country-specific origin. Under the country
specific program, rice may only be imported from the following source countries
with the respective allocations: Thailand (98,000 MT), India (25,000 MT), China
(25,000 MT) and Australia (15,000 MT).
Food security chief said Francis
Pangilinan said the NFA Council would review and make recommendations on the
enforcement of the country’s commitment with the WTO.“The NFA Council imports
committee created last August has been tasked to review and make
recommendations regarding out WTO commitments. We will await their
recommendations,” he said.
Source with thanks: www.gov.ph/.../nfa-releases-guidelines-for-importation-of-187000mt-un.
Mekong Delta Rice Exports May Hit 5.85
Million Tonnes This Year
CAN THO, Dec 17 (Bernama) - Mekong Delta's rice exports
are likely to reach 5.85 million tonnes worth US$2.9 billion this year, Vietnam
News Agency (VNA) reported.The latest figures are unchanged from last year,
said the Steering Committee for Southwestern Region.As of Tuesday, the region
exported 5.6 million tonnes of rice and is projected to ship another 250,000
tonnes for the rest of the year.Asia and Africa account for 83 percent of
Mekong Delta's rice export market.Other export destinations are the US, Europe
and Oceania.
Iran’s 8-month wheat imports up
67%
On Line: 15 December 2014 19:12
In Print: Tuesday 16 December 2014
The
country imported $1.02 million worth of rice in the first eight months of
current Iranian year, showing 36.3 percent drop compared to the same period
last year.Traders say that Iran is stepping up its grain import activity. In
recent years, it has imported around 5 million tons of the staple, but sources
estimate the current requirement at up to 6 million tons. Iran’s annual
wheat production is forecast to reach 13 million tons by the end of 2014, a
one-million ton fall from the previous year’s estimated figure, according to
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) latest Crop
Prospects and Food Situation Report.The report says Iran’s annual rice paddy
output is expected to hit 3 million tons in this year, with 100-ton rise from
the figure estimated for 2013
Source
with thanks: www.tehrantimes.com/.../120292-irans-8-month-wheat-imports-up-67
Asia rice
markets subdued; India prices ease on weak rupee
By Reuters | 17 Dec, 2014, 04.23PM IST
BANGKOK: Rice prices were little changed in Thailand and Vietnam as buying declined ahead of
year-end holidays, traders said on Wednesday, while prices in India edged down after its rupee currency
sank to a 13-month low. "It's almost New Year so the market is
quiet," a Bangkok-based trader said of trade in Thailand. "It is like
this every year...the market tends to go quiet as companies close down."
The Indian rupee hit 13-month lows on Tuesday as markets in the region tumbled on fears over the health of the global economy. "Due to a slight drop in paddy prices and a weak rupee, exporters are reducing prices," said B V Krishna Rao, managing director of Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd, a leading Indian exporter. Indian 5 per cent broken rice was quoted at $390-$400 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) at Kakinada port, against around $405 FOB last week. "Since Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan are quoting lower prices, Indian sellers have no choice but to follow them. Right now Indian exports are subdued, but from mid-January exports will pick up," Rao added.
The price of Thailand's benchmark 5 per cent broken rice has
remained within the range of $410-$415 a tonne FOB since it first eased from
$420 in mid-November. It was quoted at $413-$415 on Wednesday. Thailand's
government has about 17 million tonnes of rice in stockpiles and only a tenth
of it is of standard export quality, according to the latest audit. The stocks
were built up under the previous government's rice-buying scheme and has kept
pressure on the global market.
In an effort to sell off those stockpiles, the government will sign an
agreement to sell rice to China on Friday, Arkom Termpittayapaisith, deputy
minister of transport, told reporters on Wednesday. Details of the deal have
not been made public. The government will also open a tender to sell 400,000
tonnes of rice on Monday.
Vietnam's
rice market was also quiet due to the approaching holiday season with the 5 per
cent broken grade quoted at $390-$395 FOB on Wednesday, against $390-$400 last
Tuesday. "No one trades much at the year end," said a Vietnamese
trader for a foreign company, adding that Chinese buyers had used up their
quota for imports allowed this year.
Source with thanks: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/commodities/asia-rice-markets-subdued-india-prices-ease-on-weak-rupee/articleshow/45548571.cms
NACC urges prosecutors to protect witnesses
in rice case
Published: 17 Dec 2014 at 06.19
Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong
National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Tuesday asked
the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) to help protect witnesses involved in
the probe into former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's role in the
rice-pledging scheme. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) set its
sights on breaking the Yingluck government's rice-purchase programme even
before the May 22 coup, and continues to press hard for prosecution of the
ex-premier and some of her cabinet ministers. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljiak made the demand at a
joint meeting between the NACC and the OAG Tuesday.The committee, set up on
Sept 4, was intended to work on the case amid uncertainty about whether to
indict Ms Yingluck for her alleged failure to stop losses under the scheme. The
attorney-general says work by the NACC on the case is not strong enough to
support indictments.Mr Sansern called on Attorney-General Trakul Winitnaiyapak,
who led OAG representatives at the meeting, to defend plaintiffs, including the
anti-graft commission itself, from counterclaims.
He said witnesses, including officials involved in the
investigation, need to be protected because they often face parallel lawsuits
filed by the defendant. Such lawsuits are aimed at deterring witnesses from
testifying.Mr Sansern said the NACC also wanted the attorney-general to help
set the direction of investigation. He suggests the office help with probes
rather than wait for NACC reports to be complete. That should help reduce the
problem of incomplete reports or gaps in procedure, he said. The NACC was ready
to address the opening of Ms Yingluck's case before the National Legislative
Assembly on Jan 9, he said
Thanks with source: Bangkok post
Rice millers’ problems to be
solved on Dec 29’
PATNA: Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on
Wednesday said the longstanding problems of the rice millers would be solved at
the entrepreneurs (udyami) panchayat scheduled for December 29. Speaking at a conference of Bihar state rice
millers association at the S K Memorial Hall, Manjhi promised to solve their
problems instantly, but finance minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said the
announcements with financial implications can't be implemented instantly. The CM said he solved the problems of homeguards
and the policemen on a single day and gave instant instructions to the officers
regarding their longstanding demands. He said Bihar has 3,000 rice mills, yet
the state imports rice from Punjab and Haryana.
"The government proposes to procure 24 MT of
rice from next year against 18 lakh MT this year. The state food corporation's
godowns have the storage capacity for only 11 MT. This has to be
increased," the CM said. He asked the industrialists to create job
opportunities in Bihar itself so that local youths do not need to go outside
Bihar in search of employment. He assured government assistance to the
entrepreneurs. Industries minister Bhim Singh said an investment of Rs 8,000
crore was made in industries in Bihar and Rs 6,000 crore of that were in food
processing units. Former minister Jagdanand Singh said only Biharis could
improve the status of Bihar.
It was
unfortunate that Bihar had to import rice and wheat from Punjab and Haryana
though its fields were rich in production but needed assured irrigation, Singh,
a former water resources minister, said. Jagdanand said the government did not
procure a single kg of rice this year. Sudhakar Singh, president of the millers'
association, submitted a 9-point memorandum to the chief minister. He said the
millers would cooperate with the state government in procurement and storage of
foodgrains.
He said
the government miserably failed to meet the target of procuring 30 lakh tonne
of rice. Bihar is getting 20 lakh tonne of rice annually from the central pool
and importing 20 lakh MT from Punjab and Haryana, he said. He said the millers
had been fighting for survival for the past three years. He feared the rice
mill industry will collapse and it would result in the collapse of agro economy
of the state.
Source with thanks :http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Rice-millers-problems-to-be-solved-on-Dec-29/articleshow/45553894.cms
5 ways U.S.-Cuba relations are about to change
12:53 p.m. EST December 17, 2014
The American contractor, who has been held in Cuba on espionage
charges for five years, is finally headed home. (News, USA TODAY)
President Obama is announcing a major overhaul of U.S.- Cuba
relations, the biggest shift in the two nations' diplomatic posture since the
severing of ties in 1961.Here are five key steps in Obama's announcement, from
a White House summary:
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
"The President has instructed the Secretary of State to
immediately initiate discussions with Cuba on the re-establishment of
diplomatic relations with Cuba, which were severed in January 1961."In the
coming months, we will re-establish an embassy in Havana and carry out
high-level exchanges and visits between our two governments as part of the
normalization process."
EXPANDED TRAVEL AND TRADE
The administration is broadening use of existing categories of
allowable travel, including for family visits, professional meetings and
"support for the Cuban people." The announcement also includes step
to increase commercial flights to Cuba.The administration is also increasing
commercial trade in both directions. "Licensed U.S. travelers to Cuba will
be authorized to import $400 worth of goods from Cuba, of which no more than
$100 can consist of tobacco products and alcohol combined."Items that will
be authorized for export include certain building materials for private
residential construction, goods for use by private sector Cuban entrepreneurs,
and agricultural equipment for small farmers."
A view from Old Havana's Hotel Sevilla includes the tree-lined
boulevard known as Paseo del Prado.(Photo: Laura Bly, USA TODAY)
LARGER REMITTANCES
For families in the U.S. sending cash back to Cuba,
"remittance levels will be raised from $500 to $2,000 per quarter for
general donative remittances to Cuban nationals (except to certain officials of
the government or the Communist party); and donative remittances for
humanitarian projects, support for the Cuban people, and support for the
development of private businesses in Cuba will no longer require a specific
license."
EXPANDING CUBAN INTERNET
Cuban President Raul Castro talks during the plenary session of
the XIII America's Peoples Alliance summit in Havana, Cuba, on Dec. 14, 2014.(Photo: Alejandro Ernesto,
European Pressphoto Agency)
TERRORISM REVIEW
(Photo: File photo by
Charles Tasnadi, AP)
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