Saturday, September 19, 2015

18th September,2015 Daily global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

News Headlines...
·        Shah for announcement of spot prices of cotton, rice & wheat
·        Farmer cornered
·        IRRI warns of higher rice price
·        Vietnam to export 450, 000 tons of rice to Philippines
·        U.S. Announces New Steps Towards Normalizing Relations with Cuba
·        Rice Traders on Japan's Kyushu Island Get a Taste of U.S. Rice  
·        CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures  
·        U.S./China rice trade deal not completed
·        Bulog raises issue of possible subsidized rice shortage
·        next year
·        Kharif plantings up 1.6%, late monsoon surge to help Rabi
·        Yingluck to be asked to pay for rice scheme
·        Rough rice: Prices are steady even as exports slip
·        Despite rain shortage, kharif holding up
·        For Arkansas rice farmer, hope for sales to Cuba even as exports drop
·        Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

News Detail...

Shah for announcement of spot prices of cotton, rice & wheat


September 18, 2015
Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that the federal government should announce spot prices for cotton, rice, wheat and other crops of agriculture sector. "The Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PML-N) government is not paying attention to the agriculture sector. The government has totally ignored this sector even it has not any policy on agriculture sector," he added. The government should announce at least Rs 3500 per 40 kg spot price of cotton, the opposition leader said here on Thursday.

 He said that agriculture growth had contributed 7.9 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011-12 and now it has reduced and reached at 0.3 % of GDP. He said that the food basket of the country had been reduced. He said that the government should take bold steps to enhance the food basket of the country. "We reject the recent package for farmers announced by the prime minister without spot prices for various crops," he said. Khursheed Shah said that terrorism and corruption were major issues the country was confronting with. "The foundation of corruption and terrorism was laid in the tenure of late General Zia-ul-Haq. The terrorism in his tenure was flourished in the name of Mojahideen and Taliban," he said. 

Answering to a question, he said that the Pakistan Peoples Party didn't support Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but it supported the democracy, adding that they would support the democratic system in the future too. Answering to another question, the opposition leader said that after receiving the notice of Supreme Court regarding the resignations of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentarians, he would discuss the matter as per law and Constitution. 


http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/624:/1228241:shah-for-announcement-of-spot-prices-of-cotton-rice-a-wheat/?date=2015-09-18

Farmer cornered
September 18, 2015
After the Prime Minister’s speech about the agricultural package to small farmers, a ray of hope is seen, as the government seems well aware of the economic hardships and problems farmers are facing and felt a genuine effort from the government to reduce cost of production.Focus on small farmers was well thought of. In short, the government tried whatever it could do on the supply side, relief etc. Rs 5000 per acre package for small farmers. I feel the package will definitely help as the situation is rather bleak. The package will get the farmer to sow wheat on time with hopefully proper dose of fertiliser.

The Government’s total focus was on supply side of farmers; the market side of farmer was not addressed. How will the market behave at harvest time of paddy, which is around the corner, the initial reports are not encouraging.However after Federal Minister for Agriculture Mr. Bosan’s candid honest appraisal of the package I got worried. The government has accepted the fact that commodity prices will be low in the coming years. The Rs 5000 per acre contribution, by the government to the small farmer is to compensate, for not supporting the farmer, by buying his present crop, and not for the previous year losses.The farmer is being treated as a sacrificial animal. A soother or tranquiliser worth Rs 5000 per acre is being given so that he does not feel the pain of market slaughter at harvest time.Mr. Bosan I know you are a well wisher of farmers. Rice prices are down as Iran is not in the market. You and your government are trying to get it open but I feel more is required.

The government can convince Iran to open market on urgent basis. It is not market forces but political forces and political will that are keeping the prices down.Imran khan’s speech at Hafizabad, few days back at farmer’s convention made lot of sense. Again, in short, it managed to raise the hopes and spirits of the farming community.My suggestion, request, plea - call it what you will - to Imran khan would be to join hands with the government in finding a solution for paddy farmers’ marketable produce. A joint political delegation of government and opposition to Iran and China to open up market for rice on fast forward basis in order to get a fair price for rice farmers in the coming crop that raises his spirits, income and safeguards his livelihood.We have been losing export market share of basmati to India is our own fault. Iran, our traditional market, was gifted to India on a silver platter. Their rice trade made a killing by having a monopoly in the Iranian market. Last year, Iran stopped buying from India resulting in a price crash in other markets as Indian rice trade off-loaded their produce destined for Iranian market.

Government has given relief to rice millers very timely. Hopefully banks will give additional limits to the rice millers that will definitely help the farmer. It seems government is not going to procure rice or paddy so it becomes more urgent to focus on outside markets to open doors for Pakistani rice.My humble request to all politicians, and movers and shakers, in the government, is to please focus on export highways for rice to Iran and China for the next month and put farm to market roads, and other highways on back burner.
Now, surprisingly, the smile on farmers’ face can be brought by friendly neighbors. China is a big buyer of non-basmati rice. The crop is going to be in the market soon in a big way. As a farmer, I would like to ask for our share in the promised economic corridor. If China or Chinese traders buy now, farmers’ paddy price will get a boost. This entire issue is political, and, for the sake of the farmers, everyone needs get together and ask China and Iran to be in the market now. Political delegation - not a trade delegation - is the answer.

Iran, for a fact, is going through a severe water crisis for the last decade. While climate change is accelerating, lakes are turning into barren land in Iran. Iran is discouraging water intensive crops like maize and rice. On the other hand, we are producing water guzzling crops and have no place to export them. The government should respect grain grown from valuable water, and the long, hard toil of farmers, which will end up being exported at bargain basement prices if the government does not intervene. Trade with Iran, China, and Afghanistan will commence, but by that time, the farmer would already have sold his crop at a total loss. This has to be avoided at all costs.Iran and china will both buy and so will Afghanistan, for their local markets, as well as transit trade for Central Asian republics. The question is: When? I, as a farmer, want it now as my paddy price will get a boost. Thus the issue is of timing when the trade with our neighbors will begin.
It will require political will to find legal, diplomatic and banking solutions to trade with Iran; Legal: How to trade with Iran with the sanctions, Diplomatic: Convince Iran to open their market for Pakistani rice and reduce or waive duty, Banking: Banking channels to be opened for trade with Iran. I feel this crisis is so grave that it calls for an All-Parties Conference on how to address farmers’ issues.November should be reserved for agriculture only.The other point I want to make is that agriculture needs to be the prime focus in the next three months, and specifically, in November. During the next three months, harvest of paddy, cotton, and sugarcane will be in full swing, and simultaneously, the sowing of wheat will be taking place. This is absolutely critical for the farmer, agriculture, and obviously, for Pakistan.
I have been questioning the viability of holding elections in November since the 1980s. All these pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears, the logic being that general elections do not have any significant impact on agriculture as only a few people are involved in the electioneering process. The truth of the matter is somewhat different: In local bodies, everyone is fully involved. The similarity to hand-to-hand combat cannot be overstated: It becomes an “Izzat kaa saawal” for individuals and Biradaris. I cannot stress this enough: The elections HAVE to be postponed.We simply cannot afford another disaster at harvest time. Our sovereignty is at stake. Wheat sowing is in full swing in November and even a single day’s delay affects the yield negatively. Timely sowing with farmer having inputs at his disposal is of the utmost importance. I personally know of farmers who didn’t have the resources to apply fertilizer to their rice crop.
I would not be exaggerating to say that in my lifetime, I have never seen such a bad year for the rice farmer in particular and farmers in general. Last year the Rice farmer was first hit by disease, followed by hailstorm at harvest time. Then, to add insult to injury, he got an abysmal rate for his crop. As if that were not enough, some farmers still have to get their dues of last year from the middlemen.To recoup his rice losses, the farmer went all out for wheat sowing with full focus and vigor. Close to harvest time, hailstorms, combined with unseasonal rains, played havoc with his yield. Despite all this, the farmer persevered.

However, what really hurt was the short period and target of wheat procurement, where wheat prices stayed low before and after government intervention.On this rice crop his body language said it all: this was a reluctant rice plantation. To accurately judge the momentum of rice or wheat sowing, one can simply listen to the sound of folk music coming from the tractors when farmers plough their land at night. This was the season of silence. And yet acreage under rice is no less. There was lesser rain, but crops seem to be healthy and no disease issue has been found so far. Fingers crossed, I am hoping for a bumper harvest.In summation, at all costs, we have to avoid distress sale of the farmer.
The farmers cannot take another shock, politicians cannot afford to look bad in front of the farmer, and, most importantly, for an agrarian country such as Pakistan, the farmers cannot stand to economically lose more. The entire livelihood of the farmers is at stake. In India, we hear of farmers’ suicides. In Pakistan, farmers are already under severe mental depression.It is not yet all doom and gloom - this is a healthy problem to have: to export our surplus to neighbours. It does not take long for the tables to turn, with Pakistan having to import wheat with additional threats of blockade.I will end with a quote from a famous Nobel Prize winner:
“The only thing greater than the power of the mind is the courage of the heart.”

IRRI warns of higher rice price 


Thursday, September 17, 2015
A FOOD expert at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) sees rice prices soaring by as much as 20 percent, if the El Niño persists.“If drought or flood hit India, Indonesia and the Philippines, rice prices will go up by 10 percent to 20 percent,” said Dr. Samarendu Mohanty, IRRI’s chief economist in a briefing for agriculture ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).“The extent of rainfall disruption in El Niño watch countries – India, Indonesia and the Philippines – could disrupt the rice market in late 2015 as Thai rice stocks battle to keep the market in check,” said Mohanty.

 “So far, the market has been indifferent to the weather.”Rice prices in the last two years from 2013 to 2015 had been stable even with the El Niño last year, he said. What’s happening now is that most rice areas have been planted, some 120 million hectares already “on the ground,” he said.Dr. Matthew Morell, IRRI deputy director general for research, said 89 percent of the 640 million metric tons of rice produced each year is planted in Asia.Thai rough rice production was over 30 million tons in 2014; it’s about 4 million tons to 5 million tons less this year, Mohanty said. The harvest in India is about the same as Thailand’s.The Indian rice crop planting remains “normal,” with 35 million hectares planted right now. The progress of the Indian monsoon showed surplus rain in June but a deficit started in July. What happens in September, for which a deficit is also seen, “will decide what happens in the next few months,” Mohanty said.

Rice planting has started in Indonesia, but 90 percent of its 36 million tons of rice crop will be   planted in November-December, “so we don’t know yet what will happen,” he said. That means Thailand and India “will decide what happens in the market.”A more serious concern, he said, is that rice stocks in the five major exporters –Thailand, India, Vietnam, Pakistan and the United States –have declined in recent years. “This is more important to what’s happening as there’s a very tight rice situation,” Monhanty pointed out. If the weather affects these countries, the stable rice price in the last two years “might go up in the next few months.

”The current situation, he said, shows “tight global stocks,” a monsoon deficit in India and a drought in Thailand that has caused 3 million tons to 4 million tons in production shortfalls.“India and Thailand hold the trump card. The September rainfall will be crucial for India’s rice production,” he said. A good kharif or monsoon rice crop in India will keep the market stable but not if drought or flood affects India, Indonesia and the Philippines. “The market can go in any direction in next few months, it’s very hard to predict.” (SciencePhilippines)
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on September 18, 2015.


Friday, Sep 18, 2015, Posted at: 13:21(GMT+7)



Vietnam to export 450, 000 tons of rice to Philippines

Vietnam Food Association (VFA) has just won a contract to supply 450,000 tons of rice to the National Food Authority (NFA) of the Philippines.

(Photo:SGGP)
The NFA of the Philippines wants to purchase 750.000 tons of 25 percent broken long-grain white rice for delivery duty unpaid at US$ 426, 6 per ton.Accordingly, the bidding for the importation of 750,000 tons of rice would be from Viet Nam and Thailand.  Vietnam will supply 450,000 tons, and Thailand will provide 300, 000 tons at the same prices.The Philippines is one of the world's biggest rice importer with a total of 650,000 tons of rice under government-to-government contracts this year.Earlier, Vietnam won a 300,000 ton supply contract with the NFA, and delivered 150,000 tons to the Philippines in July.

By Cong Phien- Translated by Huyen Huong
http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Business/2015/9/115430/



U.S. Announces New Steps Towards Normalizing Relations with Cuba
 Loosening things up a little 
Loosening things up a little
WASHINGTON, DC-- Today the Obama Administration announced a set of new rules that will further normalize relations between the United States and Cuba. These regulatory changes include easing restrictions on authorized travel, and allowing U.S. companies to establish offices in Cuba.The announcement builds upon moves made by the Departments of Treasury and Commerce earlier this year to loosen U.S. restrictions on trade and travel with Cuba. The embargo remains in effect, however, and must be lifted by an act of Congress. USA Rice is actively involved in efforts to promote normalized commercial relations with Cuba through membership and leadership in the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC). These most recent announcements do not appear to directly impact U.S. agricultural trade with Cuba.

Contact: Kristen Dayton (703) 236-1464


Rice Traders on Japan's Kyushu Island Get a Taste of U.S. Rice  

 Rice, nut, and fruit salad 
U.S. rice: the talk of the table
FUKUOKA, JAPAN -- U.S.-grown medium grain rice made its debut at a trade exhibition here last week and was a big hit with attendees when served in two menu items, "Rice, Nut & Fruit Salad" and "Gumbo Soup with Turmeric Rice.
The trade show, sponsored by Nishihara Shokai, a national food wholesaler headquartered here, featured 220 booths and attracted more than 3,000 people, mainly food service-related traders located throughout Kyushu Island."There was some initial concern that the U.S-grown rice dishes offered up would be 'too creative' for the Japanese market," said USA Rice Vice President International Promotion Jim Guinn. "But based on the volume of trade inquiries from hotels and restaurants, I'd say consumers here are more than ready for this product. And with a population of more than five million, Fukuoka is an important market for U.S. medium grain, not only because it is a hub of Kyushu Island, but also because national foodservice chains are strengthening their sales nationwide."

Kyushu is the southernmost and third largest of Japan's main islands and is home to Mount Aso, Japan's most active volcano that rumbled to life earlier this week.

Contact: Bill Farmer (832) 302-6710 

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   



CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for September 18 
Month
Price
Net Change

November 2015
$12.950
+ $0.055
January 2016
$13.230
+ $0.055
March 2016
$13.440
+ $0.055
May 2016
$13.615
+ $0.055
July 2016
$13.740
+ $0.030
September 2016
$12.945
+ $0.015
November 2016
$12.945
+ $0.015

 

U.S./China rice trade deal not completed

Protocol still in Chinese review process
Sep 17, 2015David Bennett | Delta Farm Press

Reports that a China/U.S. rice trade pact had been struck were premature. Hopes that a deal would be signed next week were put to bed during a Wednesday (September 16) conference call between USDA’s APHIS and major U.S. rice players.“There was conference call yesterday with high-ranking APHIS officials,” said Michael Klein, USA Rice Federation spokesman. “A lot of USA Rice Federation people were on the call. The USRPA (Rice Producers Association) was on the call, as well.  

 “APHIS officials said they were doing the call to set the record straight because there are a lot of rumors floating around. They wanted to confirm there is no confirmation that the Chinese have agreed to the proposal APHIS sent them in early August. “What they did confirm is their counterpart in China, AQSIQ, has sent the U.S. draft protocol to an interagency review process. They’ve sent it to another Chinese agency for review.”Klein was keen to make sure everyone understands “that doesn’t mean AQSIQ hasn’t made technical changes to what APHIS sent over in August. They may have. We just don’t know because AQSIQ hasn’t gotten back to APHIS with their reaction to the draft.“We’re optimistic and think the U.S. rice industry is united behind that last draft.

 That included a lot of concessions to the Chinese and asked them for some reasonable concessions, as well. We are confident the Chinese could agree to it but there’s been no confirmation they have.“There will certainly be no signing next week, which was rumored. We asked APHIS officials about that. ‘Are you sure there will be no signing next week?’ They said, ‘that’s correct.’”Klein said the federation also “asked point-blank, ‘The USRPA has a press release saying the Chinese have requested the signing be in Beijing. True?’ The response from APHIS was ‘that’s speculative.

’“There simply was no deal to be delayed. There was some wishful thinking that the signing would take place next week. You know, ‘Hey, the right people are coming to D.C. next week. It would be great to have a signing.’ But without a deal, there’s nothing to sign.”Asked for a statement, Dwight Roberts, USRPA president, said on the call, “We were told by U.S. government sources today that the protocol had not completed the Chinese ‘administrative clearance’ that was to have been completed in time for the Chinese delegation’s visit to Washington, D.C. as APHIS previously had expected.“In the meantime there is absolutely no indication that there is anything other than a green light towards finalization of this process.”
completed?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+September+18%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

Bulog raises issue of possible subsidized rice shortage 
next year


The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Fri, September 18 2015, 5:22 PM
The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has said that the national stock of subsidized rice will be close to running out by the year’s end. This coincides with a government decision to distribute more rice to the poor. Bulog’s president director Djarot Kusumayakti said that by December, the agency’s stock for subsidized rice would reach 62,000 tons, while it needed around 1.5 to 2 million tons to meet next year’s demand before harvest time. Djarot said Bulog initially expected rice stocks at the end of this year to reach around 1.5 million tons. However, this expectation came before President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed Bulog to disburse more subsidized rice as part of his economic policy package to restore purchasing power and confidence in an economy that has declined to a six-year low in growth.

“We should anticipate this to prevent rice shortages next year,” he said Thursday during a meeting with members of the House’s Commission IV overseeing agriculture, food, forestry, plantations, fisheries and maritime affairs. “And we still do not know in what month next year the harvest time will be. We are still waiting for rain to come.”The subsidized rice program, called beras sejahtera (prosperous rice), has been extended to 14 months of delivery instead of 12 months amid concerns over the impact of the El Niño-induced dry weather that has cut rice production in some regions. When asked whether the shortage meant that the government would import rice next year to fulfill national demand for the staple food, Djarot said his agency had no authority to make such a decision.

“Bulog has no authority to calculate [how many more tons] we need to import,” he told reporters after the meeting.The government could solve the shortage either by procuring more rice from local farmers or by converting the existing premium rice into subsidized rice, according to Djarot. Including premium non-subsidized rice, total rice stocks at Bulog stood at around 800,000 to 900,000 tons.“We are raising the issue [to members of Commission IV] because we do not have the authority to decide [whether to convert or not],” he said.Meanwhile, Bulog proposed to members of Commission IV during the meeting to approve its proposal to get an extra Rp 3.4 trillion (US$234.7 million) in funding to finance two additional months of subsidized rice distribution.


The ongoing drought, triggered by El Niño, has affected rice production in several regions across Indonesia. The Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday said the government would not increase its target for rice production next year because of the drought. In 2016, the government hopes to produce 47 million tons rice, the same amount as total rice production predicted for this year by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).


“The reason the target remains the same is because this year we have experienced El Niño and that has severely affected our rice production,” Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said recently.
 




Kharif plantings up 1.6%, late monsoon surge to help Rabi

TOMOJIT BASU

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18:  
Almost 97 per cent of Kharif crop sowing has been completed and acreage this year is 1.6 per cent higher than at the same time last year. Area under crops such as rice, sugarcane, cotton, soyabean and a range of pulses touched 1021.86 lakh hectares (lha) as of Friday, as per the latest estimates released by the Agriculture Ministry.

Pulses, in particular, have recorded a higher area by nearly 12 per cent although yields are unlikely to rise appreciably as per the Ministry’s first advance estimates released earlier this week. Moong and urad areas are higher by 10 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively.However, cotton and groundnut are exceptions, having recorded lower coverage as compared to last year by 8.4 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively.According to the Ministry's early estimate, production of foodgrains – which includes rice, pulses and coarse cereals – is expected to decline by 1.8 per cent to 124.05 million tonnes (mt) this year from 126.31 mt last year due to a poor monsoon.The production estimates will be revised three more times over the year. Rainfall has been 15 per cent below normal at 705.8 mm between June 1 and September 18, according to the India Meteorology Department (IMD).

Although in its withdrawal phase, the monsoon is likely to bring much needed precipitation to parched areas in Maharashtra, Karnataka, the Konkan coast and Kerala through the week.The southern peninsula has benefited from the rain which has seen the deficit in the region narrowing to 13 per cent as of Friday from almost 22 per cent at the end of August.“The recovery has been led by torrential systems forming in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and will likely converge over central India before drifting north,” said an Met agency official.Out of 36 sub-stations, 17 have reported deficient rainfall through the four-month monsoon.“There was initially a fear that a consecutive poor monsoon could also impact the Rabi season but with these showers over the last few days, soil moisture will improve and support better crop growth,” said a senior government official.The late surge is also likely to improve water levels in reservoirs which as of this week was 92.63 billion cubic metres (bcm) or 59 per cent of total storage capacity, and 23 per cent lower than the average storage of the last 10 years.
(This article was published on September 18, 2015)



Yingluck to be asked to pay for rice scheme


18 Sep 2015 at 16:50

WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

The Finance Ministry will by Sept 30 demand damages up to 510 billion baht incurred by the rice-pledging programme from ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra and some of her cabinet ministers, as well as officials involved in the scheme.The officials and ministers who will have to pay are those accused by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) — Ms Yingluck, former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, ex-deputy commerce minister Phoom Sarapol and Manas Soythong, former director general of the Foreign Trade Department.Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Friday the two fact-finding committees — one each under the commerce and finance ministries — will finish their work by the end of this month.

Their reports will then be sent to the prime minister, who will have the Civil Liabilities Committee chaired by the comptroller general determine the damages for each of the accused persons and asked them to pay."At this stage, the accused may file counter lawsuits with the Administrative Court within 30 days to revoke the order."But if they don't, we'll seize their assets," he said.Mr Wissanu said the procedure was not without precedent, citing two cases.In 2005, former Bank of Thailand governor Rerngchai Marakanond was ordered to repay 186 billion baht the central bank had spent defending the reeling baht, which led to the flotation of the local currency and culminated in the 1997 financial crisis.Mr Wissanu also cited another case where this method of reclamation was used — the procurement of fire trucks and boats by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration where the wife and children of the late ex-governor Samak Sundaravej were ordered to repay 587 million baht in damages in 2014 on his behalf.The procedure is based on Section 12 of the 1996 tort liability law for government officials.

The rice-pledging programme was one of the 2011 election campaign pledges of Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai party, which claimed it would help the majority of people and narrow the income gap.Under the programme, the government bought all rice farmers could produce at more than double the market price at the time and kept it in state warehouses across the country.As the losses of the programme widened, the government tried to limit the damage by setting up a revolving fund and accelerating rice sales to pay farmers.As world farm prices continued to plummet, criticism mounted. The opposition Democrat party also pointed to corruption at both the operational level and government-to-government rice sales by the Commerce Ministry.The NACC later found the case had ground and accused Ms Yingluck of dereliction of duty because she had failed to stop the programme despite numerous warnings.She was impeached in January this year by the National Legislative Assembly and banned from politics for five years.
The NACC accused Mr Boonsong and Mr Phoom of corruption in G-to-G rice sales. They too met the same fate in January.



Rough rice: Prices are steady even as exports slip

Managing Partner / Spotlight Group
United Kingdom

The market for US rough rice was steady even though there were disappointing export sales as the USDA reported that cumulative net exports for the week ending September 10 were marked at 48,800 tonnes, a decline of 48% on the previous week. However, it was seen as a positive that exports had increased to Canada, Honduras, Mexico and Panama as well as to Japan.


It was frustrating to learn that the “Phytosanitary Protocol” that would open the door for exports to China is not any closer to being signed than it was at the start of the month. The word is that the agreement is being held up by inter-agency administrative and regulatory considerations in China. Beijing has not been willing to establish a timeline when the protocol will be approved and signed.Source: www.investing.com, Spotlight Ideas

The chart above shows that the market for rough rice endured a decline from June 2014 through to May 29 this year. Since then the spot has tracked above the 50 day moving average and both have settled comfortably inside the new impulsive channel. By December 14 one will see the 200 day moving average start swinging into that channel as well.I expect that even with the typical channel rotation one should look to see the gap between the flat-line around USD 15.50/100 pounds to close; that is what I am banking on.

Rough Rice 5 Year Chart:
Source: www.investing.com

Management and risk:

Parameters:                Rough Rice Nov 15 RRX5 USD/100 Pounds
Entry:                         Buy at 12.88 13:28 GMT
Targets:                                  13.35 … 13.78 … 13.98 … to 15.50
Stop:                            11.72
Time horizon:             Medium term (3 months)

— Edited by Clemens Bomsdorf


https://www.tradingfloor.com/posts/rough-rice-prices-are-steady-even-as-exports-slip-6242656


Despite rain shortage, kharif holding up

 

Govt's 1st advance estimate shows output might be only slightly down over last year's final one for the season, due to early onset of monsoon and its relatively better distribution

BS Reporter  |  New Delhi September 16, 2015 Last Updated at 22:33 IST

Kharif area shows slight uptickKharif sowing shows signs of revival, but still a long way to goOdisha targets 10 mt food grain output in kharif seasonKharif sowing covers 89% of areaPaddy buying up 21% in kharif.A less than normal southwest monsoon over almost 30 per cent of the country seems to have been balanced by its timely onset and rather uniform distribution, leaving little impact on kharif farm production.According to the first advance estimate of foodgrain production, issued by the ministry of agriculture on Wednesday, output in the 2015-16 kharif season is expected to be 124.05 million tonnes, almost four mt more than the first estimate of the 2014-15 kharif output.

This is despite cumulative rainfall in the current monsoon season being deficient by 15 per cent, higher than the l deficit of 12 per cent in 2014-15. The statement attributed it to timely onset of the monsoon and the government’s interventions with contingency plans, timely advisories and monitoring of seed and fertiliser availability.However, when compared to the final kharif production of 2014-15, this year's first advance estimate is 2.26 mt less. The record so far is 131.27 mt foodgrain production in 2011-12. Compared to the fourth advance estimate of 2014-15, close to the final figure for the year, kharif production of rice, coarse cereals and pulses are likely to fall this year. The estimates are preliminary and could undergo revision, the statement added.The first estimate shows rice output declining to 90.61 mt in the 2015-16 kharif against 90.86 mt in the same season the previous year.

 However, compared to the 2014-15 first estimate, production is expected to increase by 2.59 mt.Similarly, in relation to the fourth estimate of 2014-15, coarse cereals production is likely to drop to 27.88 mt this kharif, from 29.82 mt in the 2014-15 season. Output of pulses is projected to fall to 5.56 mt from 5.63 mt in the said period.From the first advance estimate of 2014-15, coarse cereals production is 0.83 mt more, while pulses production in the season is expected to be 0.36 mt higher.Among pulses, production of tur (pigeon pea) is estimated to decline to 2.61 mt in the 2015-16 kharif from the 2014-15 fourth estimate of 2.71 mt. Urad (black gram) production is projected to increase to 1.37 mt from 1.27 mt in the period under review, using the same measure.

“In the past few days, monsoon rains have revived in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana that will improve the prospects of pulses production,” Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain told PTI.It was mainly pulses which was an exception to the falling retail inflation and wholesale prices. Retail prices rose 22.9 per cent in pulses, while wholesale prices surged 65.3 per cent. Interestingly, oilseeds production is likely to increase to 19.89 mt this kharif, from 18.32 mt in the fourth estimate of the year-ago period.Cotton, one of the main cash crops grown during kharif, is expected to be 33.5 million bales, down from the 2014-15 first estimate of 34.62 mn (a bale is 170 kg).Experts say kharif output would be slightly better this time than the previous year's but the deficient monsoon could hit rabi crops, which depend on soil moisture.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/despite-rain-shortage-kharif-holding-up-115091601474_1.html

 

For Arkansas rice farmer, hope for sales to Cuba even as exports drop

 

Will sales come before Arkansas farmer Joe Mencer retires?
Buoyed by White House efforts, ag sector nationwide hopes for more Cuban sales
Experts: Battle in Congress seems headed to stalemate, at least in short term

Joe Mencer checks on his rice crop on his farm in southeastern Arkansas on Aug. 10, 2015. Mencer has joined with farmers from across the country to push for expanded trade to Cuba, although efforts in Congress to do so have so far been stalled. Chris Adams McClatchy
BY CHRIS ADAMS

LAKE VILLAGE, ARK. From the edge of his rice fields in southeastern Arkansas, Joe Mencer can climb a levee and lay eyes on a small Mississippi River port that loads up grain for a trip to New Orleans. From there, it could be on its way toward Cuba.Total time from Mencer’s rice fields to Havana would be about a week – less than 1,000 miles down the Mississippi and across the Gulf of Mexico.These days, however, Cuba’s rice generally comes from Vietnam – some 11,000 shipping miles, and six weeks, away.

“I’m 55 years old. This is my 34th rice crop,” Mencer said as he looked from atop the levee toward the Mississippi. “I keep hoping I’ll be able to sell some of it to Cuba before I retire.”Right now, the chance of that happening is uncertain, despite the Obama administration’s opening to Cuba.Announced last December, the opening aims to undo a policy the White House considers outdated and ineffective. It already has led to renewed diplomatic relations with the island nation just 90 miles from U.S. shores.For American farmers, it could mean a thriving market with 11 million people but not the farms to feed them. Rice farmers in Arkansas would love to get more of their product on Cubans’ plates – as would citrus growers in Florida and blueberry growers in Maine and wheat growers in Kansas.What’s driving growers and lawmakers in Arkansas is doing the same all across the U.S. agricultural sector.

“We’re blessed in Arkansas – we grow about everything,” said Republican Sen. John Boozman.But Boozman and his colleagues face significant headwinds in their efforts to partially or completely dismantle the embargo and other restrictions that have governed trade with Cuba for decades.

I’M AFRAID IF WE LIFT THE TRAVEL BAN BUT THEN WAIT TOO LONG ON THE EMBARGO, WITHIN A FEW YEARS AMERICAN TOURISTS WILL BE SLEEPING IN SPANISH-FINANCED HOTELS AND EATING GERMAN FOOD.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, sponsor of a Cuba trade bill

Despite bipartisan support for pro-trade measures, the opposition to doing business with Cuba is strong and entrenched; getting any measure through Congress this session will be difficult, according to experts on both sides of the issue.Beyond that, Cuba hasn’t recently burned up the shipping lanes, despite the White House’s celebrated – and controversial – opening.In July 2014, food and agricultural exports from the U.S. to Cuba were $17.2 million; in July 2015, they were $3.3 million, according to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.Through the first seven months of 2015, the exports are on a slower pace than the total $291 million in 2014. They’re well off the $710 million in 2008, the high-water mark since a 2000 law let certain U.S. producers make agricultural or food sales to Cuba, albeit only on a cash – no credit – basis.Tops among agricultural exports to Cuba, according to the council: frozen chicken. Soybeans and corn, and processed products such as whiskeys and soups, were represented as well.Nowhere to be found was rice.

Mencer, who farms some 1,700 acres of rice here in the southeastern corner of Arkansas, said it hasn’t always been that way. He has traveled to Cuba as part of a trade show and testified before a U.S. Senate committee on the issue.In 1951, Cuba was the destination for more than 250,000 metric tons of U.S. rice – a significant share of U.S. rice exports at the time, Mencer told senators. Sales were steady in the 1950s but plummeted after the trade embargo took effect starting in 1960.Even after agriculture trade rules were partially relaxed in 2000, sales didn’t live up to the hope – or the hype – of U.S. growers. After a brief run in the mid-2000s, U.S. rice sales to Cuba have since dropped to zero.Rather than look across the Gulf of Mexico for its rice, Cuba these days looks across the Pacific Ocean.

The turn in trade is frustrating for Mencer, whose vast delta land by the river also grows cotton and corn and soybeans. In all, he has 6,700 acres under cultivation, and on a blistering, 100-degree day in August he checked on his fields and the elaborate piping system that keeps rice plants consistently wet.One fact driving his quest: Per-capita rice consumption in Cuba is significantly higher than in the U.S. Cubans – at least a long time ago – liked American rice: The U.S. Department of Agriculture noted in a June report that “consumers in pre-revolutionary Cuba generally liked the taste, appearance and cooking qualities of U.S. rice varieties and were willing to pay a premium for them.”One effort underway in Congress seeks to energize agriculture sales by easing the rules against the use of credit. It’s a tactic that has won the support of many farm-state lawmakers, including Republicans generally opposed to the president’s foreign policy.In Arkansas, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson was once a congressman who supported the Cuban trade embargo.
But later this month he’ll travel to Cuba, seeking business for his state. He thinks credit sales should be allowed.“You get out in the farmland of America and they say, ‘What we’ve been doing for the last 50 years has not been effective. Let’s try something different,’” he said in an interview.That said, getting Cuba to boost its sales might not be so simple, said John S. Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.“Vietnam provides Cuba with two-plus years to pay for the rice,” he said. “A U.S. company is not going to do that.”And while U.S. agricultural companies do want to ease the credit rules, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they’ll line up to extend easy terms to Cuba.“It’s unwise for anyone to support these legislative efforts because of a belief that if it became law there will be a dramatic increase in exports to Cuba,” Kavulich said. “Because history doesn’t show it. Right now, Cuba is being oversold.”

THE CUBAN ECONOMY IS RUN BY THE CUBAN MILITARY, AND SEN. RUBIO BELIEVES WE SHOULD BE DENYING FUNDING TO THIS ANTI-AMERICAN FORCE, WHICH WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE RUSSIAN, CHINESE AND NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENTS AGAINST AMERICA’S SECURITY INTERESTS.

Alex Burgos, spokesman for Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida

And getting anything through Congress this year will be tough.“Look at the congressional calendar: There’s a full plate as it is,” said Jason Poblete, a former Republican congressional staffer who’s an international regulatory lawyer with Poblete Tamargo LLP of Washington. “There’s Iran, FY 2016 appropriations, the Planned Parenthood debate. It will be difficult for Cuba measures to move this year.”That’s not for lack of effort.In the Senate, at least three bills have gotten a lot of attention. And while they are bipartisan, they still would need to get through the considerable opposition from senators such as Marco Rubio, the Cuban-American Republican from West Miami, Fla., who has become a leading voice against Obama’s Cuba opening.One bill, by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., goes the furthest to lift the trade embargo and has the most number of co-sponsors: 21 as of Friday.“My bill just lifts the embargo,” she said in an interview. “At some point, you can do it piece by piece, or you can decide we’re going to lift the embargo.
”Experts generally see the most support for legislation to lift restrictions on travel to Cuba – a related but separate issue Klobuchar also supports. But, she added, “I’m afraid if we lift the travel ban but then wait too long on the embargo, within a few years American tourists will be sleeping in Spanish-financed hotels and eating German food.”A measure from Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., would lift the embargo but maintain restrictions on the use of U.S.-funded trade-assistance programs for exports to Cuba. Two senators have joined that bill.A measure from Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D. – as well as Boozman from Arkansas – is targeted on the rules against credit sales for agriculture exports. It has 13 co-sponsors and recently passed a committee as an attachment to an appropriations bill.Sen.

 Angus King, an independent from Maine, is on all three trade bills but acknowledges their stiff odds this session. While he sees bipartisan support for the issue, a vote on a standalone bill – particularly given the Senate’s filibuster rules – would be tough.But he’s hopeful for the long term.“It’s a policy that no longer makes any sense,” said King, who said an opening of trade could help agriculture and other Maine industries – everything from potato and blueberry growers to boat builders. “At some point, even the Congress will wake up to that fact.”

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
920
830
New Crop
914
830


Riceland Foods


Cash Bids
Stuttgart: - - -
Pendleton: - - -
New Crop
Stuttgart: - - -
Pendleton: - - -


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Nov '15
886.50
866.50
867.25
-17.25
Jan '16
890.50
871.25
871.50
-17.25
Mar '16
893.50
874.75
874.75
-17.25
May '16
896.00
877.50
878.00
-16.75
Jul '16
900.00
882.50
882.75
-16.00
Aug '16
897.75
883.50
882.00
-16.00
Sep '16
883.00
877.00
873.25
-14.25
Nov '16
884.00
869.50
869.75
-13.25
Jan '17
888.00
880.00
876.00
-13.00

Soybean Comment

Soybeans closed sharply lower. Today's sharp losses led to beans being down 7-cents on the week and more than 20-cents off of weekly highs. While new export sales continue to hit the wire, sales continue to lag well behind usual. Prices will remain under pressure as the market awaits a new estimate of U.S. production and its first look at South American production.


Wheat
High
Low
Cash Bids
394
394
New Crop
489
464


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Dec '15
488.75
480.00
486.75
+5.25
Mar '16
495.25
487.00
493.50
+5.00
May '16
499.75
492.00
498.25
+4.75
Jul '16
504.00
496.75
502.25
+4.75
Sep '16
512.00
505.50
511.00
+5.00
Dec '16
525.50
520.00
524.50
+4.25
Mar '17
535.25
535.25
535.00
+4.00
May '17
533.75
+3.75
Jul '17
524.75
+3.75

Wheat Comment

Wheat prices surged higher today and managed to close higher in the week. While there remains little fundamental support for gains, the market is technically oversold and due a correction.


Grain Sorghum
High
Low
Cash Bids
401
362
New Crop
400
374



Corn
High
Low
Cash Bids
390
335
New Crop
390
340


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Dec '15
382.50
376.50
377.25
-2.50
Mar '16
393.75
388.00
388.50
-2.50
May '16
401.00
395.50
396.00
-2.50
Jul '16
405.50
400.75
401.75
-2.00
Sep '16
399.25
394.75
396.25
-0.75
Dec '16
405.25
400.50
402.75
0.00
Mar '17
413.00
412.00
412.75
-0.25
May '17
419.00
0.00
Jul '17
422.50
422.50
423.00
+0.50

Corn Comment

Corn prices ended the day lower for the fourth day in a row. Corn remains under pressure from improving harvest. Production remains the main wild card in this market and will continue to keep prices under pressure. For the week corn saw modest losses and is likely to have difficulty making meaningful gains in the coming weeks.


Cotton
Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Oct '15
61.8
59.53
59.85
-1.98
Dec '15
62.48
60.4
60.55
-1.85
Mar '16
62.24
60.4
60.52
-1.7

Cotton Comment

Cotton futures plummeted today on concerns about the global economy after the Fed announced their decision not to raise interest rates. With the ending stocks estimate continuing to climb thanks to higher production, weaker demand will only make the balance sheet worse for cotton prices. December set a new contract low today, falling below 61 cents.


Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Nov '15
1299.0
1279.5
1295.0
+5.5
Jan '16
1325.5
1311.0
1323.0
+5.5
Mar '16
1344.0
1343.0
1344.0
+5.5
May '16
1361.5
+5.5
Jul '16
1374.0
+3.0
Sep '16
1294.5
+1.5
Nov '16
1294.5
+1.5

Rice Comment

Rice futures were higher across the board, but were capped by yesterday's highs. Carryover weakness from other commodities and from outside markets limited the upside potential of the market today. November continues to have resistance at $13, while January has resistance at $13.34.


Cattle
Futures:
Live Cattle:
High
Low
Last
Change
Oct '15
137.425
135.825
135.925
-0.925
Dec '15
139.825
138.025
138.375
-0.950
Feb '16
140.575
138.725
139.150
-0.900
Apr '16
139.400
137.625
138.000
-1.000
Jun '16
131.075
129.300
129.875
-0.975
Aug '16
129.725
127.700
128.100
-1.375
Oct '16
132.475
130.600
131.000
-1.750
Dec '16
133.500
131.825
132.375
-1.750
Feb '17
134.000
133.500
133.475
-0.500
Feeders:
High
Low
Last
Change
Sep '15
193.600
191.125
192.925
-0.275
Oct '15
188.350
184.625
185.300
-2.500
Nov '15
186.625
182.550
182.950
-3.075
Jan '16
181.250
177.000
177.400
-3.400
Mar '16
179.775
175.350
175.400
-3.925
Apr '16
180.125
175.775
176.100
-3.700
May '16
178.700
175.300
175.775
-3.425
Aug '16
179.550
176.350
176.850
-3.150

Cattle Comment

Cattle prices closed lower again today. As the market continues to worry about demand, cattle prices have experienced sharp losses this week with live cattle down almost $10 on the week while feeders were down more than $5.


Hogs
Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Oct '15
71.325
70.100
71.200
+0.625
Dec '15
64.550
63.275
64.000
-0.350
Feb '16
68.725
67.600
68.300
-0.400
Apr '16
72.275
71.350
72.025
-0.400
May '16
77.150
76.600
77.150
0.000
Jun '16
80.400
79.575
79.975
-0.525
Jul '16
79.575
79.000
79.450
-0.250
Aug '16
78.950
78.500
78.675
-0.575
Oct '16
67.600
67.150
67.300
-0.400

Hog Comment

http://www.arfb.com/ag-markets-statistics/report/

Download/View On-Line the above News in pdf format,just click the following link

                                                                      

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