China
produces less early rice in 2015
Aug 22,2015
BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- China produced slightly less rice
in the first harvest period of the year compared to 2014 due to a shrinking
planting area, but the yield per hectare increased, official data showed on
Friday.The country produced 33.69 million tonnes of "early rice,"
that planted in spring and harvested in early summer. This was a decrease of
320,000 tonnes, or 0.9 percent from a year earlier, the National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS) said.China's early rice planting area for this year stood at
5.72 million hectares, 1.4 percent less than last year, with yield per hectare
rising 0.4 percent to 5.89 tonnes.
Senior NBS statistician Hou Rui attributed the increase in yield
to favorable weather and local authorities' support to farmers in seeds, pest
control and other fields.Early rice is mainly planted in eight central and
southern provincial regions: Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan,
Guangdong and Guangxi.Rice is a staple food in China, and its total grain output
consists of three parts -- early rice, summer grain and autumn production.
Autumn grain crops, which include corn and middle- and late-season rice,
account for the bulk of the grain production.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=299094
Area under kharif crops rises just 1% till
Aug 21
Areas under
various summer-sown crops were just 1% higher than a year before until Friday,
almost bridging a 63% year-on-year lead recorded up to July 17, according to
the latest agriculture ministry data.
Areas under various summer-sown crops were just 1% higher than a
year before until Friday, almost bridging a 63% year-on-year lead recorded up
to July 17, according to the latest agriculture ministry data. The coverage of
oilseeds recorded a fall — albeit marginal — for the first time this season,
having risen by 1.8% until August 14 from a year earlier.This is partly due to
the fact that after initial dry spells in 2014, farmers ramped up sowing
activity significantly from mid-July due to a pick-up in monsoon showers.
The seasonal rainfall so far has dropped from the benchmark
long-period average (LPA) by 9%, having worsened from a 5% deficit recorded by
the end of July. The slowdown in the intensity of monsoon rains, particularly
since early July, has resulted in the country’s water reserves staying lower
than a year earlier for a third straight week through August 20.In a research
report this week, Crisil said four states (Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and
Uttar Pradesh) and five crops (jowar, soyabean, tur, maize and cotton) are
likely to be hit the hardest in case the country receives deficient monsoon
rains for a second straight year in 2015, as has been forecast by the India
Meteorological Department (IMD).
The four states that are feared to suffer the most this season
make up for 34% of the country’s grain output, while jowar, soyabean, tur and
maize account for 26% of the total grain and oilseed production. Even a state
like Punjab, where almost all farm land is irrigated, is facing pressure after
a huge deficit in rainfall last year.The government has maintained that it is
taking a series of steps to contain any damaging impact of erratic weather —
the latest being the santion of an additional Rs 300 crore earlier this month
towards various subsidies to save crops in drought-prone areas.The area under
paddy — the most important summer-sown crop — rose just 0.5% until Friday from
a year earlier. Up to August 14, the paddy coverage was as high as 4.3% from a
year earlier. Moreover, the paddy crop has been severaly damaged due to floods
in many parts of the biggest producing state of West Bengal.
Areas under pulses, coarse cereals and cane were up 10.1%, 3.3%
and 3.5%, respectively, until August 21 from a year earlier. Cotton, however,
has witnessed a 7.2% drop in acreage.The IMD this month retained its earlier
forecast of a deficient monsoon season for 2015, with rainfall at 88% of the
LPA. It predicted rainfall to be 84% of the benchmark average in the second half
of the June-September season, compared with the actual showers of 95% of the
LPA in the first two months of the season.Not just the quantum, even the
geographical spread of monsoon doesn’t seem to be good. According to the IMD,
only 20 of the country’s 36 weather sub-divisions have witnessed normal showers
so far. As many as 13 sub-divisions have received deficient rainfall, while 3
have seen excess shower.
First Published on August 22, 2015 12:21 am
Bay ‘low’ crucial as lone rain surplus over
North-West evaporates
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUGUST 21:
Monsoon deficit stayed put at nine per cent on
Friday after rains battered East and North-East India during the 24 hours
ending in the morning with Cherrapunji in Meghalaya coming in yet again for
special treatment.But the monsoon appeared to be losing ground elsewhere with
the lone surplus over North-West India evaporating causing it to fall into a
deficit.
DEFICIT
SPREADS
While East and North-East India
dramatically reduced the deficit overnight from double-digits to six per cent
on Friday, North-West fell into the red with a deficit of two per cent.The
respective deficits over South Peninsula and Central India stay at 20 per cent
and 11 per cent. It is in this context that prospects of a rain-driving
low-pressure area brighten up in the Bay of Bengal.But it has to look back on
its shoulder to the northwest Pacific where twin typhoons Atsani and Goni are
in the process of negotiating a U-turn to race away into Central Pacific.It
will be at least a couple of days more until their pull power lessens the
combined grip over the Indian monsoon and leaves it on its own.
NOT ‘PROMISING’
This would give the window for
the ‘low’ to take proper shape in the Bay. Still the latter owes it to the
typhoons for having racheted up the cross-flows which would in turn initiate
the ‘low.’The India Met Department expects the ‘low’ to materialise as early as
Monday but the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts refuses to be
that optimistic.The latter is now delaying the formation by at least two days
to Wednesday and is also indicating that, contrary to expectations the ‘low’
may not gain any significant traction.This would tell on its capacity to
generate rain over the mainland. An experimental tracker featured by the US
Centre suggested that the ‘low’ could track closer to the foothills of the
Himalayas.This would mean that heavy rains would mostly be confined to East and
North-East India and parts of North-West India.
(This article was published on August 21, 2015)
Weak rains drag Kharif acreage; area under
oilseeds, cotton down
OUR BUREAU
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 21:
Around 89 per cent of planting
for the season has been completed, serviced by the South-West monsoon which, as
on Friday, was estimated to have provided 9 per cent deficit rainfall,
according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).Each major region is
estimated to have received sub-normal rainfall, says IMD’s daily monsoon
report. The situation is most acute in the South Peninsula (20 per cent
deficiency) and the Central region (11 per cent). Out of 36 sub-divisions, 13
have recorded deficient rainfall. Marathwada, North interior Karnataka, Central
Maharashtra, East and West Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are the most stressed in
terms of poor precipitation.Water levels in 91 important reservoirs in the
country, as of August 20, stood at 91.04 billion cubic metres (bcm), about 58
per cent of the total capacity of 157.79 bcm, according to the Central Water
Commission.The figure is 88 per cent of the storage during the corresponding
period last year and 92 per cent of the 10-year average.
Crop-wise data
Oilseeds acreage has slipped
mainly on lower coverage by groundnut in Karnataka and castor in Gujarat, which
has slipped by nearly 5 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively.Sesamum acreage
is up nearly 7 per cent, led by higher sowing in Uttar Pradesh (UP).Area under
soyabean, the most widely cultivated Kharif oilseed, stands at 112.75 lh,
around 3 per cent higher than during the same period last year.The marginally
higher acreage is largely on account of increased sowing of pulses in
Maharashtra, Rajasthan and UP.While area under arhar (tur) is up only
marginally by 0.54 per cent, sowing of urad and moong has continued to surpass
2014-15 figures by 14 per cent and nearly 18 per cent. Higher urad sowing has
been recorded in Madhya Pradesh and UP, where acreages stand at 9.19 lh and
6.52 lh, respectively, about 7.5 per cent and 27 per cent higher than at the
same time last year.Increased area under moong has been reported in Rajasthan
(10.5 lh) and Maharashtra (3.51 lh). The figures are higher by 20 per cent and
38.2 per cent in the respective States.
Coarse cereals up
Sowing of coarse cereals, such as
jowar and bajra, are up 3.3 per cent over last year, led by more area brought
under these crops in Rajasthan, Haryana and Maharashtra.Cotton area slipped for
the fifth straight week and stands at 110.23 lh, more than 7 per cent lower
than at the same time in 2014-15 with Gujarat and Maharashtra – the two largest
growing States – reporting decreased sowing.Area under rice, the main Kharif
foodgrain, has touched 333.65 lh, marginally higher than the corresponding
figure from last year, while cane acreage is also up 3.5 per cent.Jute and
mesta coverage continued to stagnate at 7.8 lh, around 4 per cent lower than
last year.
(This
article was published on August 21, 2015)
Yet another land mine for GMO Golden Rice
Good God, what a mess: That’s what I kept thinking as, face in
palm, I read the latest updates on an evolving controversy over
Golden Rice. I was alerted to it by a recent piece in the Boston Globe, but Retraction Watch had the story
first. Here’s their summary:
The American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition is
retracting a paper that showed genetically
engineered rice serves as an effective vitamin A supplement after a Massachusetts judge denied the first author’s motion for
an injunction against the publisher.The journal announced plans to retract the
paper last year following allegations that the paper contained ethical mis-steps, such as not getting informed consent from the parents of
children eating the rice, and faking ethics approval documents.Last July, first
author Guangwen Tang at Tufts University filed a complaint and motion for preliminary injunction against the
journal’s publisher, the American Society for
Nutrition, to stop the retraction.According to the ASN, on July 17,
a Massachusetts Superior Court “cleared the way” for the publisher to
retract the paper. So they have, as of July 29.Basically, the study gave some
kids Golden Rice, some kids vitamin A supplements, and some kids spinach. The
study found that Golden Rice worked as well as the vitamins, and the
spinach wasn’t as good. And those findings seem to be valid, despite the retraction.
Here’s what Tufts University told Retraction Watch:
The journal indicated that its retraction was based on the fact
that the authors were unable to provide sufficient evidence that the study had
been reviewed and approved by a local ethics committee in China and that
parents and children involved in the study had been provided the full informed
consent form as well as eligibility issues identified in regard to two subjects
in the study. No questions were raised about the integrity of the study data,
accuracy of the research results or safety of the research subjects.
Tang isn’t talking, but here’s what I bet happened: She
thought she was testing the ability of a totally safe rice to deliver
vitamin A, and so she only sought consent for that. I can imagine
that many scientists might not even think to mention, or get consent, for the
fact that this rice happens to be genetically modified, because to many
scientists genetic modification is a non-issue — no more important than the
color of the hat the farmer wore when cultivating. But it turned out, it was an issue for people, and that’s
important, whether it’s a scientifically valid safety issue or not.
Consider the issue through the lens of a different hypothetical
case: Let’s say I’m doing a clinical trial on a drug in gelatin capsules. I’m
just testing the drug, and the gel-caps may be perfectly safe from my
perspective. But if I’m working with any strict vegetarians, I better be damn
sure to tell them that the drugs are delivered in a capsule made from animal
products. People’s values matter. And when it comes to GMOs, I bump
into a lot of scientists that have a hard time accepting that: They are
empiricists — they are interested in facts, not values!
Values can be disgusting and hateful, and I’m not saying
anyone should kowtow to cultural ideals they consider wrong. I’m just
saying that failing to consider people’s values, no matter how groundless you
think they are, is a recipe for failure. If you want someone’s cooperation — so
that they might participate in your study, or get a flu shot, or start fighting climate
change — you have to understand their values. You can try to convince them
they are wrong, but you can’t expect them to simply agree that science has
closed off the debate, and start helping you.Scientists are usually best at
doing science, and not always the best at doing diplomacy or
cross-cultural communication.
We need scientists to inform the decisions we make about
handling new technologies, but it can be hard to hear the scientists whose
findings don’t fit with our values. Our ability to communicate lags behind
our ability to discover.At this point, after 30 years of vitriolic debate over
genetic engineering, it seems to me that many of the most
empathetic scientists, the people who can understand and speak to the
values of their opposition, have retired to the sidelines. The people who keep
up the struggle often have great conviction, and little interest in seeing
the world with the eyes of their adversaries. Stories like this only speed the
vicious cycle.
Heat-resistant gene could help crops cope
with global warming, scientists say
2015-08-21 11:13China DailyEditor:
Si Huan
Shanghai scientists have found a gene that provides crops with a
higher resistance to heat, offering a potential boon to farmers coping with
reduced yields in the face of global warming.The discovery, made after 10 years
of study by the Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, a branch of the
Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,
was published on Monday on the website of the scientific journal Nature
Biotechnology.
"When the activity of the gene ERECTA is increased, it's like
a layer of sunscreen cream applied to the membrane of cells in a plant,"
said He Zuhua, the team's lead scientist. "Thus the cell membrane will
become stronger under heat and the cells are more protected from
death.""As cells of a plant become less vulnerable to heat, the plant
will grow bigger and turn out a higher yield of seeds," he
said.Agricultural experts said the discovery was a breakthrough toward
increasing the yield of agricultural crops as Earth warms. The world's grain
output has been on a decrease since 1961, according to a 2013 report in the
journal Frontiers in Plant Science.
In Shanghai during the summer of 2013, daytime temperatures
exceeded 40 C on at least five days, and large quantities of crop were scorched
in the municipality and the neighboring provinces.Researchers first made
experiments on arabidopsis, a small flowering plant related to cabbage and
mustard. The plant usually dries out and dies in 48 hours at 40 C. However, it
became more heat-resistant when the activity of the gene was increased, and its
yield increased by 30 percent to 45 percent.Scientists later found that the
gene treatment also worked for rice and tomatoes, which are likewise vulnerable
to heat. It's universally believed that rice yields decline by 10 percent for
each increase in temperature of 1 degree C.Usually rice dries out and dies when
the ambient temperature reaches 42 C, but rice treated in the experiment had a
survival rate of 70 percent.
Field experiments
The theory has also been proved by three years of field
experiments in Shanghai and Wuhan in Hubei province, scientists said.The team
also found that when the activity of the gene is increased in a crop, it will
be more resistant to pests, disease and drought."It brings an important
way of thinking to ameliorate the breed of some agricultural food in the world,
and the editor's review from Nature Biotechnology recognizes the significance
of the findings, because the treatment can be applied to almost all the
plants," He said."Cultivating some new varieties may be of strategic
importance to our country, since we have 22 percent of the world's population
but only 7 percent of the agricultural area," he said.
http://www.ecns.cn/2015/08-21/178162.shtml
Nigerian envoy urges increased bilateral trade
August
21, 2015
LAHORE: Nigerian High
Commissioner Dauda Danladi has urged businessmen of Nigeria and Pakistan to
make extraordinary efforts to increase the volume of bilateral trade between
their two countries.Danladi urged Pakistani entrepreneurs to explore the “huge”
untapped business potential of Nigeria. He was speaking at a meeting at Lahore
Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Thursday. LCCI Executive Committee
Members were also present on the occasion. The Nigerian high commissioner
invited the Pakistani businessmen to enter into joint ventures with their Nigerian
counterparts in the fields of agriculture, textile and manufacturing. He said
that easing of visa process between the two countries could increase the
bilateral trade in shortest possible time.
Speaking on the occasion, the
LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz said that Pakistan does know the value of
strengthening trade and economic relations with Nigeria, keeping in view the
big market of Africa. Referring to recently concluded D8 Summit, he said both
the sides need to make all-out efforts to increase mutual cooperation. He noted
that Pakistan and Nigeria were also members of the Organisation of the Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) and have friendly and strong diplomatic relations. Other than
maintaining steady trade relations, Pakistan has been greatly contributing in
fulfilling the defence needs of Nigeria.
“Nigeria is one of the major
member states of African Union. It is classified as an emerging market, rapidly
approaching the middle-income status,” the LCCI president said, adding that
Nigerian Stock Exchange is the second largest in Africa and is poised to
champion the acceleration of Africa’s economic development. However, this
relationship has not been translated into tangible economic ties because
Nigeria, unfortunately, does not figure prominently among the trading partners
of Pakistan. Mumtaz said that the downward trend in exports of Pakistan to
Nigeria and overall downfall in bilateral trade is a matter of concern.
“We need to find reasons of this
trend and also take measures to turn around the situation,” he added. Major
exports from Pakistan to Nigeria are medicament mixtures, cotton fabrics, woven
fabric of synthetic fibber, tractors, garments, and electro-medical apparatus.
Imports from Nigeria to Pakistan consist of cotton, raw hides and skins,
pharmaceutical products and articles of rubber. The LCCI president said that
Pakistan is capable of facilitating Nigerian market with better quality
products at competitive rates. Pakistan can export rice, electrical appliances,
auto-parts, etc.
He said that there is a dire need
to identify more tradable products to enhance mutual trade. Likewise, sharing
of expertise in oil and gas sector can also be initiated on priority. Mumtaz
said that Pakistan is known around the globe for its textile products, sports
goods, surgical instruments, rice, carpets, footwear and so many other things,
which still need to be properly introduced in the African markets.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/21-Aug-2015/nigerian-envoy-urges-increased-bilateral-trade
Plant doctors get to the root of plant stress in rice
In a rice root pruning study, researchers at
the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Beaumont used
time-lapse photography to monitor rice plant growth and development in response
to transplanting densit y, root pruning and 1-MCP application.
Photo by Dr. Abdul Razack
Mohammed, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Beaumont
Tarpley and Dr. Abdul Razack Mohammed, AgriLife
Research assistant scientist, presented their findings at the recent Rice Field
Day at the Beaumont center. They’ve studied not only the effect of heat but
cold, submergence, salinity, wind and drought on rice crops.One of the specific
impacts, they discovered, is high nighttime temperatures, a common phenomena in
Texas. “High night temperatures do two things to rice plants,” Tarpley said.
“The rice plant increases its production of a plant stress hormone, and an
oxidative-stress response occurs, which injures the plant. Both of these
ultimately lead to losses in yield and quality.”Because they were able to track
the nighttime heat stress to those two factors, he added, they were able to determine
potential management strategies.\ “We can spray the crop with a chemical that
prevents the stress hormone activity, so that the plant never senses that it is
supposed to be in stress,” Tarpley said. “Or we can spray the plants with a
sort of vaccination, which is like a small dose of ‘oxidative stress.’ That
triggers the plant to build its capacity to be acclimated to future stresses.”
Commercial pre-harvest use of some of the
stress hormone chemicals on higher-value crops is occurring, Tarpley said, and
it is just a matter of time and acceptance before the vaccination-type products
will be used on rice crops in the U.S.Because of their research on the
specifics of rice stress, the international company Agrofresh, based in
Collegeville, Pennsylvania, asked Tarpley and Mohammed to study transplanting
shock, a condition that affects farms mostly in Asian countries where rice is
started in a nursery then transported to a field for planting.
“Transplanting shock can decrease growth and
development,” Tarpley said. “And one thing we noticed is that a lot of root
pruning occurs during the transplanting process. That reduces the production of
tillers, which are important since that is where the rice grains develop.”They
found that root pruning reduces the net photosynthetic rate.That was key
because photosynthesis – the way plants use sunlight to make food and grow –
depends on the green pigments called chlorophyll. If there’s not enough
chlorophyll, the plant doesn’t grow well. And the connection between low
chlorophyll and the presence of ethylene, a natural plant hormone, has been
well documented.
Ethylene is what causes bananas, apples and
avocados to ripen and get soft, and it is used commercially to ripen some
produce such as tomatoes after they are picked.The researchers decided to treat
some plants with 1-methylcyclopropene, or 1-MCP, a compound that is used to
keep plants and produce fresh because it blocks ethylene perception in
plants.The idea was to see if 1-MCP would make the rice plants unaware that the
roots were pruned, thus slowing the effect of ethylene and maintaining a
healthy level of chlorophyll, Tarpley.“The application of 1-MCP prevented
transplanting shock in rice,” he said.
“The
treated plants had more tillers per plant, more root length and greater
chlorophyll concentration and net photosynthetic rate.”He said though U.S. rice
farmers directly seed their crops rather than transplant, root pruning can also
occur due to rice water weevils. So his team plans to test the application of
1-MCP for its ability to mitigate damage from those insects.Tarpley added that
his research team continues to explore the physiological effects of various
environmental stresses so that when pinpointed, management strategies can be
developed.
http://www.agprofessional.com/news/plant-doctors-get-root-plant-stress-rice
Getting to the Root of Plant Stress in Rice
Research could help improve yield and quality of crops
In a rice root pruning study, researchers at the Texas A&M
AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Beaumont used time-lapse photography
to monitor rice plant growth and development in response to transplanting
density, root pruning and 1-MCP application.PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. ABDUL RAZACK
MOHAMMED, TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER IN BEAUMONTBEAUMONT — Sitting in an air-conditioned office at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Beaumont, it’s obvious:
People work better indoors when temperatures outside climb to the 90s while the
blazing sun shimmers through waves of humidity on nearby experimental rice
plots.The rice plants, however, can’t go inside. So, they stress.
Tarpley and Dr. Abdul Razack Mohammed, AgriLife Research
assistant scientist, presented their findings at the recent Rice Field Day at
the Beaumont center. They’ve studied not only the effect of heat but cold
and drought on rice crops.One of the specific impacts, they discovered, is high
nighttime temperatures, a common phenomena in Texas.“High night temperatures do
two things to rice plants,” Tarpley said. “The rice plant increases its
production of a plant stress hormone, and an oxidative-stress response occurs,
which injures the plant. Both of these ultimately lead to losses in yield and
quality.”Because they were able to track the nighttime heat stress to those two
factors, he added, they were able to determine potential management strategies.“We
can spray the crop with a chemical that prevents the stress hormone activity,
so that the plant never senses that it is supposed to be in stress,” Tarpley
said.
“Or we can spray the
plants with a sort of vaccination, which is like a small dose of ‘oxidative
stress.’ That triggers the plant to build its capacity to be acclimated to
future stresses.”Commercial pre-harvest use of some of the stress hormone
chemicals on higher-value crops is occurring, Tarpley said, and it is just a
matter of time and acceptance before the vaccination-type products will be used
on rice crops in the U.S.Because of their research on the specifics of rice
stress, the international company Agrofresh, based in Collegeville,
Pennsylvania, asked Tarpley and Mohammed to study transplanting shock, a
condition that affects farms mostly in Asian countries where rice is started in
a nursery then transported to a field for planting.
“Transplanting shock can decrease growth and development,”
Tarpley said. “And one thing we noticed is that a lot of root pruning occurs
during the transplanting process. That reduces the production of tillers, which
are important since that is where the rice grains develop.”They found that root
pruning reduces the net photosynthetic rate.
That was key because photosynthesis – the way plants use
sunlight to make food and grow – depends on the green pigments called
chlorophyll. If there’s not enough chlorophyll, the plant doesn’t grow well.
And the connection between low chlorophyll and the presence of ethylene, a
natural plant hormone, has been well documented.Ethylene is what causes
bananas, apples and avocados to ripen and get soft, and it is used commercially
to ripen some produce such as tomatoes after they are picked.The researchers
decided to treat some plants with 1-methylcyclopropene, or 1-MCP, a compound
that is used to keep plants and produce fresh because it blocks ethylene
perception in plants.The idea was to see if 1-MCP would make the rice plants
unaware that the roots were pruned, thus slowing the effect of ethylene and
maintaining a healthy level of chlorophyll, Tarpley.
“The application of 1-MCP prevented transplanting shock in
rice,” he said. “The treated plants had more tillers per plant, more root
length and greater chlorophyll concentration and net photosynthetic rate.”He
said though U.S. rice farmers directly seed their crops rather than transplant,
root pruning can also occur due to rice water weevils. So his team plans to
test the application of 1-MCP for its ability to mitigate damage from those
insects.Tarpley added that his research team continues to explore the
physiological effects of various environmental stresses so that when
pinpointed, management strategies can be developed.
Feuding over
Rice Importation Drags On
21 Aug 2015
Governor of Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele
Senator Iroegbu writes on the raging battle between rice millers and importers, on the one hand, and the importers and supervising government agencies, on the other, over the default on rice quotas.
The rice industry, which provides the number one staple food in Nigeria has come under increasing scrutiny since the Governor of Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele warned that the federal government will no longer take it lightly with importers that failed to pay the N23 billion duties for excess importation. This warning was followed up by the swift action of the Nigerian Customs Service (NSC), which sealed off the warehouses of the rice duty defaulters and since then, the Nigerian Rice Millers Association (NRMA) and the industry supervising agencies of the federal government have been at loggerheads over 2014/2015 rice imports levy and duty.
Consequently, the focus on the sector has brought to the fore; the realisation that Nigeria spends over N600 billion yearly on importation of rice and wheat; although experts and researchers insist that the country has the capacity to produce rice to meet local needs and even for export. Researchers at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Baddegi, in Niger State, confirmed that there are about 62 varieties of high-yielding rice species that can grow in virtually all parts of the country.
Despite this encouraging revelation, it is heart-rending to note
that imported rice still dominate our local markets. Going round many markets
across the country, imported rice is displayed under various brand names of
rice millers, who pretend as if they are offering locally-grown rice. The
reality is that consumers are patronising the cheaper 'foreign' rice at the
detriment of local rice farmers and investors, who are encouraged by various
government policy and measures on national self-sufficiency in rice production.
This is no thanks to some unscrupulous rice importers, who have chosen to abuse
the government gesture to bridge the shortfall in local production by importing
some quantities of foreign rice over a period of time.
Therefore, a seeming war of nerves had been raging between the
CBN and NSC on one side and the cartel of rice importers embedded within NRMA
on the other side. The disagreement stems from the correct interpretation of
the federal government’s new rice policy unfolded by the outgone Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan administration. The bone of contention is the levy and duty chargeable
on rice imports in 2014/2015. As it were, the final interpretation of the
various claims may have to be settled by the court if both parties stick to
their claims.It would be apt to recall that during the last quarter of 2014,
former President Jonathan approved a new rice policy to promote national
self-sufficiency in rice production. The policy, according to the circular
issued by the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi
Adesina and obtained by THISDAY, specifies “a preferential levy of 20per cent
and duty of 10per cent for existing millers and new investors in rice milling,
and a higher levy of 60per cent and duty of 10per cent for other rice
importers.”
Akinwumi in the circular had noted that the government set up an
inter-ministerial committee to determine the national rice supply gap and the
appropriate volume of import quotas to close the gap. He said that rice millers
and investors alike were requested to submit individual Domestic Rice
Production Plan (DRPP), to enable government draw a criteria for allocation of
quotas and the quantum of the national supply gap.Adesina, who is the incumbent
President of African Development Bank (ADB), subsequently informed the former
Coordinating Minister of Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala that the inter-ministerial committee, working with stakeholders
in the rice sector, came up with a supply gap of 1.5 million MT of import-grade
rice.
The committee also
recommended the methodology for allocation of the import quotas. Based on
submissions from rice millers and new investors, the agric minister disclosed
that “a total of 1.3 million MT of rice import quotas was issued to 25
qualifying millers at the preferential levy of 20 per cent and duty of 10per
cent. The remainder 0.2 million MT of rice imports will be at the higher levy of
60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent for other rice importers.”Unfortunately,
this arrangement as was sanctioned by Akinwumi and Okonjo-Iweala is generating
conflict of interpretation among the federal agencies and some industry
players.The crux of the matter is that a few companies giving preferential
import quotas went ahead to import quantities beyond their allocated quotas.
The government argues that ordinarily, this quota violation would have meant
higher income for federation at the ports, but these importers are insisting on
paying the preferential levy of 20 per cent.
According to government officials, a position, which was
captured in advertorial in some national dailies signed by the Public Relations
Officer, NCS, Mr. Wale Adeniyi on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs,
two clear implications for their action. One, Adeniyi noted, they went beyond
their quotas, thereby distorting the calculations of government on its new rice
policy and the deliberate plan to encourage local production and national
self-sufficiency. Second, he said, they are withholding revenue due to
government on applicable levy and duty, the money, which has been put at N23.6
billion by the CBN.The CBN governor had recently warned that the government was
poised to wield the big stick against the defaulting importers.
At the just concluded
Rice Stakeholders meeting in Abuja, he said: “There was truly an incidence of
over import of rice and that appropriate duty was not paid. We know the
defaulters and we are going to enforce. We will go to the highest levels to
ensure that we enforce the rule and that they must pay. I use this opportunity
to appeal to these companies to please go and pay, because they have created a
problem for rice that is produced locally.”Also, at the same meeting, the
President of Rice Millers, Importers and Distributors’ Association of Nigeria,
Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, bemoaned the lack of patronage of local rice and
blamed the situation on subsidised rice in the market. Abubakar pointedly
accused rice importers, who violated their quotas by excessive importation of
foreign rice, crashing the price and creating unfair competition.
He said they were hoping to buy time and appeal for a change of
heart by government until officials of the NCS last week sealed off the
warehouses of the duty defaulters. The Customs public relations officer, said
the action was “a decisive action to recover outstanding duty due to the
Federal Government”. Adeniyi named the defaulting companies as OLAM,
Conti Agro, Ebony Agro and Stallion Foods.“The four importers are still
indebted to the federal government to the tune of N23,603,479,402.44. Together,
they have imported a combined excess of 750,253 metric tons for which we expect
payment at the extant duty rates and levies. We are commencing the sealing up
of their warehouses and business premises to prevent operation of those
facilities and we will not allow discharge of their imports in any of our
ports.“The importers and their sister or associated companies have been blocked
from the Customs NICIS system, thus denying them access to make declarations.
All these will be done
preparatory to instituting full legal proceedings to compel them to pay what
they owe Nigeria, when the courts are back from recess,” the Customs spokesperson
said.Nevertheless, the accused companies are fighting back. Penultimate Friday,
they presented their case under the aegis of NRMA, in a 14-point newspaper
advertorial. The association denied owing the Federal Government of Nigeria any
money in form of duty or levy and argued that the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development actually “imposed an arbitrary quota and
insisted that whatever our members have imported above the arbitrary and
retrospective quota will attract a levy of 60 per cent as opposed to 20 per
cent upon which the importers’ payments and calculations are made.
”The association described the figure quoted by the Central Bank
as “wrong computations” because the imports were guided by a circular issued by
the Minister of Finance in May 2014, which stipulated 20 per cent levy for
“investors with rice milling capacity and verifiable backward integration
programme and 60 per cent levy for “pure rice traders.” They further argued
that members of the association “who are investors with rice milling capacity
and verifiable backward integration programme imported based on this circular
and paid duty at the approved rate.”So who gave the NCS the authority to
restrain the importers? Dr. Adesina had also informed the Finance Ministry in
December, 2014, that any beneficiary of the preferential import quota “who has
already imported rice above these approved quantities will have to pay to
treasury the higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent for the excess
amount.” The minister made two specific requests.
One, that the Minister of Finance should “inform the CG of Customs
of allocations made and that the imports done above allocation should attract
the appropriate duties.” Two, “that the CG be asked to enforce the ceiling for
the higher levy quota allocations as well as individual ceiling for the
preferential levy allocations as approved.”As the controversy rages between
government agencies and rice importers, analysts are alarmed at the quantity,
and some have raised questions about the nutritional quality of imported rice.
Records in possession of the Customs indicate that only four rice importers
exceeded their quotas by as much as 750,000 MT. This figure is to say the
least, mind-boggling for a nation that has natural endowments to grow rice, and
is even striving to reduce overdependence on imported foods.
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Aug
21
Nagpur, Aug 21 Gram prices firmed
up in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing
Committee (APMC) here on increased
buying support from local traders amid weak arrival from
producing belts. Fresh rise in
Madhya Pradesh soyabean prices, upward trend on NCDEX and
enquiries from South-based plants
also jacked up prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram Kabuli reported strong in open market here on good festival
season demand from
local traders amid thin overseas arrival.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here matching the demand and
supply
position.
* Major wheat varieties reported higher in open market on renewed
seasonal demand from
local traders amid thin supply from producing regions like Punjab and
Haryana.
* In Akola, Tuar - 8,800-9,100, Tuar dal - 12,800-13,000, Udid at
9,400-9,700,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 11,300-11,700, Moong - 7,600-7,800, Moong Mogar
(clean) 9,200-9,800, Gram - 4,200-4,400, Gram Super best bold -
5,800-6,000
for 100 kg.
* Rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in thin
trading activity
because of heavy rains, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market
prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous
close
Gram Auction
4,000-5,000 3,900-4,940
Gram Pink Auction
n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 7,300-8,150
Moong Auction
n.a. 6,000-6,400
Udid Auction
n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Gram Dal Medium
n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
5,500-5,700 5,400-5,700
Desi gram Raw
4,800-4,850 4,800-4,850
Gram Filter new
6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Kabuli
6,400-7,500 6,200-7,500
Gram Pink
6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000
Tuar Fataka Best
13,000-13,500 13,000-13,500
Tuar Fataka Medium
12,000-12,500 12,000-12,500
Tuar Dal Best Phod
11,500-11,800 11,500-11,800
Tuar Dal Medium phod 11,000-11,400 11,000-11,400
Tuar Gavarani New
9,650-9,750 9,600-9,700
Tuar Karnataka
10,200-10,500 10,200-10,500
Tuar Black
12,400-12,800
12,400-12,800
Masoor dal best
8,600-8,800 8,600-8,800
Masoor dal medium
8,150-8,450 8,150-8,400
Masoor
n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
9,600-9,800 9,600-9,800
Moong Mogar Medium best
8,200-8,800 8,200-8,800
Moong dal Chilka
8,500-8,800 8,500-8,800
Moong Mill quality
n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best
9,700-10,000 9,700-10,000
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)
11,700-12,000 11,700-12,000
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)
10,600-11,000 10,600-11,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
9,400-9,800 9,400-9,800
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
4,800-5,500 4,800-5,500
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,300-3,450 3,300-3,450
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,150-3,350 3,150-3,350
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,100-3,200 3,100-3,200
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)
3,300-3,900 3,300-3,900
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG)
1,590-1,700 1,550-1,700
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,350-1,550 1,300-1,500
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)
2,250-2,400 2,200-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)
1,950-2,100 1,900-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)
n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)
3,400-3,700 3,300-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)
2,750-2,900
2,650-2,850
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG)
2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,050-3,300 3,050-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,900 1,700-1,900
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)
2,300-2,500 2,300-2,500
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG)
3,400-3,800 3,400-3,800
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)
3,900-4,300 3,900-4,300
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG)
4,300-4,500 4,300-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG)
4,600-5,100
4,600-5,100
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)
8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)
7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)
4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)
5,200-5,600 5,200-5,600
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 32.5 degree Celsius
(90.5 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
24.4 degree Celsius (75.9 degree
Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest -
n.a.
Rainfall : 1.8 mm
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky.
Rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature
would be around and 34 and 25
degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are
excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
Kharif sowing completed in 89% area so far
Sowing of crops is only marginally higher than last year’s 92.9
million hectares due to a weakening monsoon
Sowing of rice so far is 86% of the seasonal (normal) area of 38.8
million hectares. Photo: Mint
New Delhi: Sowing of monsoon-dependent kharif
crops has been completed in nearly 94 million hectares, or 89% of the normal
area, shows data released by the agriculture ministry on Friday.
However, sowing of kharif crops is only marginally higher than
last year’s 92.9 million hectares, due to a weakening monsoon, the data
show.Till Friday, the south-west monsoon, which irrigates more than half of
India’s farm land, recorded a deficit of 9% of the long-period average. India
Meteorological Department, the government forecaster, has predicted a 16% deficit
for the second half of the monsoon, spanning across August and
September.Overall, the June-September monsoon season will see a 12% deficit,
according to the forecast. Till now, the rain deficit is most pronounced in the
Marathwada region of Maharashtra—a shortfall of 46%. Also, parts of Karnataka,
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are dealing with deficit showers.
Data from the agriculture ministry shows that rice, the main
kharif crop, has been planted in 33.4 million hectares, higher than the 33.2
million hectares sown by this time last year. Sowing of rice so far is 86% of
the seasonal (normal) area of 38.8 million hectares.Weakening monsoons have
dented hopes of higher area under pulses and oilseeds this year, shows the
data. Pulses have been sown in 10.2 million hectares, compared with the 9.2
million hectares sown by this time last year. As on date, the area under pulses
is 94% of the normal area of 10.8 million hectares.Similarly, oilseeds have
been sown in 16.8 million hectares, over 92% of the normal area of 18.2 million
hectares. And coarse cereals have been sown so far in 16.8 million hectares,
over 83% of the normal area.Sowing of cotton is nearing completion, but a dip
in acreage is likely due to lower prices and poor rainfall in rain-fed
cotton-growing areas. So far, the fibre crop has been sown in 11 million
hectares, lower than the 11.9 million hectares sown by this time last year.
Four states that produce more than one-third of India’s foodgrain,
and five crops that add up to more than a quarter of the production of grains
and oilseeds, are vulnerable to this year’s deficit monsoons, Crisil Research
said in a report on Wednesday.The report, titled Angsty Farms, analysed
rainfall data using a deficient rainfall impact parameter to show that Bihar,
Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and jowar, soyabean, tur, maize and
cotton will be hurt most by deficient rains
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/pz88e7caw5zpzeOODgdzPJ/Kharif-sowing-completed-in-89-area-so-far.html
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
|
937
|
827
|
|
New Crop
|
927
|
842
|
|
|
||
Riceland Foods
|
|
||
|
Cash Bids
|
Stuttgart: - - -
|
Pendleton: - - -
|
|
New Crop
|
Stuttgart: - - -
|
Pendleton: - - -
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soybean Comment
New crop soybeans post new lows today as the market
fell sharply on concern from turmoil in China and weakening U.S. Economy. While
the crop tours point to slightly lower yields, these were not as low as were
earlier thought and it appears the U.S. will have ample supplies this fall.
This combined with large South American supplies will continue to pressure
prices and limit gains. One saving factor of this market is strong, domestic
demand, however, if China economy continues to weaken slow exports could leave
the U.S. with ample soybeans supplies.
Wheat
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
466
|
426
|
|
New Crop
|
516
|
491
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wheat Comment
Wheat prices weakened today as weakness in outside
markets continue to pull prices lower. One positive for wheat remains the fact
that prices continue to hold support near $5 and hold onto those gains.
Grain Sorghum
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
377
|
334
|
|
New Crop
|
377
|
333
|
|
|
||
Corn
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
363
|
323
|
|
New Crop
|
391
|
343
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corn Comment
Corn prices closed lower today. While the crop tour
yield estimates provided some support, yields were not off as much as
originally thought. This combined with sell off in the U.S. stock market and
weakening Chinese economy will keep pressure on prices and likely hold prices
under $4 for the foreseeable future, until demand starts to pick up.
Cotton
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cotton Comment
Cotton traded on either side of unchanged today
before ending mostly lower. Tightening supplies in the U.S. are certainly
supporting the market and a weaker dollar today was also supportive. Huge world
stocks, particularly in China, will limit the upside potential. December
continues to find resistance at 67 cents.
Rice
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Long Grain
Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
Long Grain
New Crop
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice Comment
Rice futures traded in a wide range today before
ending about a penny higher. Weekly export sakes of only 35,000 metric tons
added to the negative undertone. The market has been attempting to consolidate
after failing at the recent highs of $12.07 for September and $12.34 for
November.
Cattle
|
Futures:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Live Cattle:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Feeders:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cattle Comment
Livestock markets closed sharply lower today, as
feeder cattle were down the limit. While beef prices remain supportive of
prices, weakness in the economy and major sell off on the stock market has the
market worried about the long term impact to prices. With a looming increase in
the dollar, exports remain a point of concern; combine this with weakening cash
prices and cattle are going to have difficulty holding recent gains and are
likely to trend lower.
Hogs
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hog Comment
http://www.arfb.com/ag-markets-statistics/report/
USA Rice Attends 2015 Arkansas
RiceTec Field Day & Ag Council of Arkansas
USA Rice's Ben Mosely at the mic
More than 200 growers and
industry representatives attended RiceTec's annual Field Day Tuesday outside of
Jonesboro. articipants had the
opportunity to go on field tours, meet with vendors, and hear RiceTec
representatives talk about current varieties as well as new varieties on the
horizon. Congressman Rick Crawford
(R-AR), representing Arkansas' first district, took the stage in Jonesboro to
tell attendees about several regulatory issues currently facing the U.S. rice
industry, and applaud USA Rice for doing a great job keeping legislators
up-to-date on industry's behalf.On Thursday, Mosely addressed members of the
Agricultural Council of Arkansas gathered at the University of Arkansas Cotton
Research Station in Mariana. Senator
John Boozman (R-AR) was on-hand to discuss the fall agenda for the Senate, and
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge spoke about her involvement in
lawsuits challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's controversial WOTUS
regulations. Conservation and
sustainability were an important topic of discussion all week. Mosely reminded farmers in Arkansas to submit
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applications as part of the
National Rice RCPP project. EQIP
applications are due to local Natural Resources Conservation Service offices by
October 16.
Contact: Chuck Wilson (870) 673-7541
2015 Horizon Ag Field Day
Emphasizes Quality
In the field with Horizon Ag
JONESBORO, AR -- Over 100 people attended the 2015 Horizon Ag Field
Day yesterday at Mark Wimpy Farms. The
event included a look at current and new Clearfield varieties as well as an
update on the harvest in Louisiana. "Today was an opportunity to show the
focus Horizon Ag has on providing valuable agronomic information to help rice
farmers maximize production and profits, and to show we have heard the message
loud and clear for the need to improve quality," said Tim Walker, general
manager at Horizon Ag."Not only are we committed to improving production
on U.S. rice farms, we are also focused on improving the overall quality of
U.S.-grown rice to meet the needs of our export partners," Walker
said. "Our industry was once the
unmatched leader in producing high-quality rice grain, but today, there is more
competition for that title. We can
separate ourselves again by focusing breeding and development on varieties that
bring value at the buyer level and improved production at the farm level."
Contact: Chuck Wilson (870) 673-7541
National Rice Month Promotional
Item of the Week
Grab
a cold one!
Order
these and other promotional items at the USA Rice Online Store or print and
mail the item order form.
Contact:
Colleen Klemczewski (703) 236-1446
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
|
Red River flooding causes $7 million damage to Louisiana agriculture
Aug
20, 2015Brandy
Orlando, LSU AgCenter | Delta Farm Press
Severe storms and excessive
rainfall that resulted in the Red River flooding during the spring and summer
caused an estimated $7 million damage to agriculture in northwest Louisiana,
but that number will likely go higher at harvest, said LSU AgCenter economist
Kurt Guidry.“These estimates are extremely preliminary and likely a
conservative estimate of the full impact of the adverse weather experienced in
Louisiana,” Guidry said.
These estimates only consider an
operation’s gross revenue, he said. They do not include estimates of increased
production costs, such as re-planting, land cleanup and tillage as well the
costs of moving cattle out of flooded areas, purchasing supplemental feed or
hay, and any structural damage to the farm’s infrastructure and equipment.Guidry
collected information from LSU AgCenter parish agents about the types and
extent of the damage as well as from assessments developed by USDA’s Farm
Service Agency.
Guidry’s data showed about 90,000
acres of agricultural land had been affected, including roughly 38,000 acres of
cropland and more than 52,000 acres of pasture and hay land.About 18,000 of
soybeans and 7,000 acres of both corn and cotton were damaged. Rice and grain
sorghum were also reported to have been affected.In addition to the production
effects on crops and lost grazing and hay production, Guidry’s assessment also
showed minor livestock losses and significant losses to bee hives and honey
production.“All combined, the economic impact was estimated at over $7
million,” he said.
Ron Levy, LSU AgCenter soybean
specialist, said the environmental conditions this season have been unfavorable
for soybeans in the majority of the state. This year’s crop will be reduced
from last year because of heavy rainfall early in the season and lack of rain
late in the season.“Our average bushel per acre number will be lower this
year,” Levy said. “Our average was a record high of 57 bushels per acre last
year. This year we are estimating mid- to upper 40s.”Levy said these are just
estimates, and he won’t have more precise numbers until harvest is
complete.Based on assessments conducted by the Farm Service Agency and the LSU
AgCenter, a Presidential Disaster Designation on July 13 declared Bossier,
Caddo, Grant, Natchitoches and Red River parishes as primary disaster areas. On
July 22, the secretary of agriculture also designated those parishes as primary
disaster areas along with Avoyelles, East Feliciana, Franklin, Iberville,
Pointe Coupee, Rapides and West Baton Rouge parishes.The Secretarial Disaster
Designation was for losses due to the combined effects of excessive rain,
flooding, high winds and hail, Guidry said. In addition to the primary disaster
areas, 23 parishes were identified as contiguous disaster areas with a total of
35 parishes being designated as either primary or contiguous disaster areas.
Low-interest emergency loans are
available to producers in parishes designated as a primary or contiguous
disaster area, Guidry said. To be eligible for those emergency loans, producers
must be able to prove that they experienced at least 30 percent production
losses.In addition to emergency loans, producers who experienced livestock and
honeybee losses could receive disaster assistance under the Livestock Indemnity
Program or the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised
Fish Program, he said.All three assistance programs are administered by the
Farm Service Agency.
APEDA INDIA NEWS
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rice on: 20-08-2015
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Source:USDA
