Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Rebound as Yesterday's Selloff Seen as Overdone; Grains Trade Higher despite Continued Decline in Oil
Feb 03, 2016
Chicago rough rice futures for Mar delivery settled 17 cents per cwt (about $4 per ton) higher at $11.175 per cwt (about $246 per ton). The other grains finished the day higher; Soybeans closed about 0.6% higher at $8.8625 per bushel; wheat finished unchanged at $4.7525 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.3% higher at $3.7250 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded sharply lower Tuesday as oil prices fell, unwinding last week's rally as hopes of an output cut deal faded. Auto sales for January are the only major data out Tuesday, ahead of Friday's jobs report. Kansas City Fed President Esther George, a voting member, said Tuesday the central bank should push ahead with interest rate hikes because of the strong fundamentals of the U.S. economy. She downplayed the impact of financial market volatility, according to prepared remarks.
European stocks closed nearly 2% lower or more as low oil prices and earnings reports from BP and UBS weighed. In afternoon trade Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average declined 246 points, or 1.49%, to 1.910. The S&P 500 fell 28 points, or 1.48%, to 1,910, with energy leading all 10 sectors lower. The Nasdaq composite dropped 68 points, or 1.5%, to 4,552. Gold is seen trading unchanged, crude oil is seen trading about 5% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.1% lower at about 1:30pm Chicago time.
Monday, there were 1,363 contracts traded, down from 1,454 contracts traded on Friday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Monday decreased by 84 contracts to 12,859.
Wholesale Basmati Rice Prices in India Decline on Adequate Stocks, Slackened Demand
Feb 02, 2016
Wholesale basmati rice prices in the national capital have declined today due to a slackened demand from retailers against adequate stocks, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
On February 2, 2016, prices of Pusa 1121 declined to around Rs.3,800 - 4,700 per quintal (around $561 - $694 per ton) from around Rs.4,000 - 4,900 per quintal (around $588 - $751 per ton) on January 29, 2016.
Prices of common basmati rice declined to around Rs.4,900 - 5,000 per quintal (around $724 - $738 per ton) from previous levels of around Rs.5,200 - 5,300 per quintal (around $765 - $779 per ton).
"Muted demand against sufficient stocks on higher supplies from producing regions mainly pulled down rice basmati prices," traders were quoted as saying.
The declining prices of both basmati and non-basmati price have helped the government's rice procurement to increase about 25% y/y to around 24.47 million tons so far in KMS 2015-16. The procurement has increased despite likely reduction in production due to poor monsoons. The government has set a procurement target of 30 million tons this year.
Global Rice Quotes
February 2nd, 2016
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade 380-390 ↔
Vietnam 5% broken 350-360 ↔
India 5% broken 355-365 ↔
Pakistan 5% broken 345-355 ↑
Myanmar 5% broken 415-425 ↔
Cambodia 5% broken 425-435 ↔
U.S. 4% broken 465-475 ↔
Uruguay 5% broken 465-475 ↔
Argentina 5% broken 460-470 ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken 355-365 ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 340-350 ↔
Pakistan 25% broken 315-325 ↑
Cambodia 25% broken 405-415 ↔
India 25% broken 325-335 ↔
U.S. 15% broken 445-455 ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd 370-380 ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd NQ ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd 345-355 ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken 500-510 ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken 520-530 ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken NQ ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92% 690-700 ↔
Vietnam Jasmine 425-435 ↔
India basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails 750-760 ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super 320-330 ↔
Vietnam 100% broken 320-330 ↓
Pakistan 100% broken stxd 290-300 ↑
Cambodia A1 Super 345-355 ↔
India 100% broken stxd 260-270 ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ ↔
U.S. pet food 280-290 ↔
Brazil half grain NQ ↔ All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com
Rice Utilization in Japan's Feed Industry Increases Sharply in MY 2014-15, Says USDA Post
Feb 02, 2016
Rice utilization in Japan's feed industry has reached 1.172 million tons in MY 2014-15 (October - September), up about 60% from around 732,983 tons in MY 2013-14, reports the USDA Post based on the data from the Compound Feed Supply Stabilization Organization, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
The MAFF has been strongly encouraging to use rice for feed. In October 2015, the Post forecasted that the increasing trend for rice utilization in feed would continue in MY 2015-16 as well as the domestic production of rice for feed more than doubled to 421,077 tons in 2015 from the previous year. Rice utilization in feed reportedly reached about 107,671 tons in the first month of MY 2015-16 (October 2015), up from around 93,757 tons during the same period in MY 2014-15.
Meanwhile, utilization of corn, sorghum and wheat has declined by about 2%, 10% and 43% y/y respectively to around 10.53 million tons, 901,173 tons and 366,510 tons in MY 2014-15.
Increased Cross-Border Exports Ahead of Chinese New Year Push Up Local Rice Prices in Myanmar
Feb 02, 2016
Local rice prices in Myanmar are surging due to an increase in cross-border exports to China due to high demand ahead of the Chinese New Year, which starts on February 8, according to The Irrawaddy.
Exports from the Muse-Ruili crossing on the Shan State-China border have increased significantly with traders selling more rice to Chinese importers. Due to higher demand from China, some local traders have increased prices locally.
According to local sources, the price of a 40 kilogram bag of rice increased by about 500 - 1,000 kyat (around $10-$20 per ton) from the previous price of around 14,000 - 15,000 kyat (around $270 - $290 per ton). “There is high demand in the market these days, and though we’re looking for more rice, the supply and demand do not match. That’s why a basket of rice is going up more than 500 kyats,” a trader was quoted.
The Vice-Chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) noted that around 4,000-5,000 tons of rice are being routed through the Muse-Ruili trading hub every day. “Demand in China is getting high. That’s why rice prices have increased a little bit, but I can say that it will go down again in the next few days,” he said.
Myanmar exported around 830,000 tons of rice in the first ten months of FY 2015-16 (April 2015 - January 2016), down about 15% from around 980,000 exported during the same period last year, according to data from the MRF.
Transgenic Rice Plants Offer Survival Strategies Under Drought Conditions, Say Researchers
Researchers from China and the U.S., have found that transgenic rice plants can provide survival strategies under drought conditions, according to Xinhua Net. A transgenic plant is obtained by transferring a gene naturally, or by any of the genetic engineering techniques, from one plant to another plant.
According to a study published in the U.S. journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, under severe drought conditions, transgenic plants trigger death of their old leaves to conserve resources for seeds and buds. This survival strategy, called senescence, is good for plants under drought conditions, says the first author of the study from the Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology in China.
"This combination of death and life is similar to a triage strategy. If old leaves die, then the buds and small leaves might gain life," he adds.
Researchers found that by engineering rice and the model plant Arabidopsis, high levels of protein known as PYL9 can be produced, which can be useful in increasing drought tolerance in plants. They noted that since plants' drought responses are controlled by the abscisic acid (ABA) hormone, which regulates growth and development and directs plants' reaction to stress. Therefore, by altering Arabidopsis and rice, higher levels of PYL9 made them highly sensitive to ABA, allowing them to better withstand severe drought stress and causing older leaves to yellow sooner compared with the plants' wild type counterparts, they said.
The lead author of the study noted that PYL9 transgenic rice had a 50% survival rate after a two-week drought compared with 10% survival in wild type rice. He, however, did not test the yield and quality of the transgenic plants.
"We still can't really solve the problem of drought," he said. "But we can make it better. In extreme drought conditions, even a bad yield would be better than nothing in terms of preserving human life," he added.
Rice Utilization in Japan's Feed Industry Increases Sharply in MY 2014-15, Says USDA Post
Feb 02, 2016
Rice utilization in Japan's feed industry has reached 1.172 million tons in MY 2014-15 (October - September), up about 60% from around 732,983 tons in MY 2013-14, reports the USDA Post based on the data from the Compound Feed Supply Stabilization Organization, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
The MAFF has been strongly encouraging to use rice for feed. In October 2015, the Post forecasted that the increasing trend for rice utilization in feed would continue in MY 2015-16 as well as the domestic production of rice for feed more than doubled to 421,077 tons in 2015 from the previous year. Rice utilization in feed reportedly reached about 107,671 tons in the first month of MY 2015-16 (October 2015), up from around 93,757 tons during the same period in MY 2014-15.
Meanwhile, utilization of corn, sorghum and wheat has declined by about 2%, 10% and 43% y/y respectively to around 10.53 million tons, 901,173 tons and 366,510 tons in MY 2014-15.
Experts Debate New Strategy for Research and Innovation in EU Agriculture
Feb 02, 2016
Several experts from the EU countries, including the leaders of the EU farmers union COPA-COGECA, have gathered at a conference organized by the EU Commission and debated the new strategy for research and innovation in the EU agriculture, according to local sources.
Copa and Cogeca underlined the key role of research and innovation in a viable EU agriculture sector and the need for farmers and agri-cooperatives to play a key role in the process right from the beginning.
Copa Vice President Maira Dzelzkaleja said “This strategy comes at the right time as innovative solutions for agriculture sector to adapt and mitigate to climate change are top of the EU agenda. A smarter and sustainable EU agriculture sector for viable and competitive rural areas are very important. Research and innovation are crucial tools to achieve this. Innovation contributes to a competitive, efficient EU agriculture sector, helping farmers to cut production costs and produce more with less. And it has to be driven by farmers. This is crucial for the future of rural areas. Farmers also generate innovative solutions themselves that often go unnoticed by public. There is a huge amount of hidden knowledge that needs to be revealed and efficiently used and more should be done here”.
"The challenges of ensuring food security, ending hunger and malnutrition, helping the environment and combatting climate change as well as boosting growth and jobs in rural territories are all crucial in Europe and worldwide. Precision farming, robots and drones are becoming the words of the day, to ensure a successful agriculture industry tomorrow. They are the reality right now for a limited number of farmers but we need to better understand this new technology, make it more accessible to farmers and cooperatives, share knowledge and step up research so that we can use them to meet the upcoming challenge of feeding a growing population with limited resources. We need to be in the driving seat of this debate," she added.
Experts are expecting that the EU agriculture will benefit from the funding provided for Horizon 2020, the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme. The program will be provided nearly 80 billion euros (about $87.1) of funding for 7 years (2014 to 2020) in addition to the private investment that this money will attract.
Philippines Agriculture Minister Estimates 2016 Paddy Rice Production to Fall Below 2015 Level
Feb 02, 2016
The Philippines Agriculture Secretary is estimating the 2016 paddy rice production to fall below the 2015 level of around 18.15 million tons due to the prevailing drought conditions, Reuters quoted ABS-CBN news channel.
He however, noted that the government interventions will help limit the impact of El Nino-induced weather conditions. "We can still hit not less than 18 million metric tonnes because of our interventions, he said.
The Philippines 2015 paddy rice output was below a government forecast of 18.3 million tons and down more than 4% from a record high of nearly 19 million tons in 2014.
The Philippine Statistics Agency (PSA) estimates the Philippines 2016 first half paddy rice production at around 8.2 million tons, down about 1.5% from around 8.32 million tons in 2015.
The government has so far imported 500,000 tons of rice for delivery by the end of first quarter.
TREA Official Foresees 2016 White Rice Exports to Decline 7% y/y to 4.9 Million Tons
Feb 02, 2016
The President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) has projected the country's total rice exports at around 9 million tons in 2016, down about 8% from around 9.79 million tons in 2015, according to Bangkok Post.
"This year will be another year of much uncertainty, not only because of low oil prices that affect the purchasing power of our clients in the Middle East and Africa but also because of volatile foreign exchange and drought conditions that are expected to trim milled rice production by 4-5 million tonnes," he was quoted.
He noted that Thai rice prices have reached their lowest level to around $360-$365 per ton, but expressed optimism that they would pick up this year given lower supplies.
The Honorary President of the TREA is estimating the 2016 white rice exports to decline about 7% to around 4.9 million tons from around 5.26 million tons in 2015. He noted that exports of Thai Hom Mali fragrant rice are expected to fall to around 1.8 million tons this in 2016 from around 1.99 million tons in 2015 because demand for premium rice in the world market is expected to fall given the global economic slowdown. He has estimated Thai parboiled rice exports to fall to 2.2 million tonnes this year from 2.32 million last year because the economies of African countries remained in poor condition and are buying cheaper parboiled rice from India.
Separately, rice farmers, millers and exporters are planning to come up with an initiative called 'mega farm project' to boost production and reduce costs, according to the President of the Thai Agriculturist Association.
Vietnam Rice Sellers Lower Some of Their Quotes Today; Pakistan Rice Sellers Increase Most of Their Quotes
Feb 02, 2016
Vietnam rice sellers lowered their quotes for 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton to about $320-$330 per ton today. Pakistan rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice, 25% broken rice and 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton each to about $345-$355 per ton, $315-$325 per ton and $290-$300 per ton respectively. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged today.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton, about $20 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $350 - $360 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $345 - $355 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about $15 per ton premium o Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $340- $350 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $315 - $325 per ton.
Parboiled Rice
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $60 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at around $320 - $330 per ton, on par with Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $320 - $330 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $260 - $270 per ton, about $30 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $290 - $300 per ton.
Conference Clarifies EU Regulatory Framework on Use of Crop Protection Products in Rice Cultivation
Feb 02, 2016
The Italian farmers union Confagricoltura organized a conference titled "Agricultural Products in rice production: sustainable employment and competitiveness" on February 1, 2016 in Mortara Grain Exchange.
The conference aimed at clarifying the regulatory framework for the use of crop protection products in rice cultivation in Italy.
Around 200 rice growers from Piedmont and Lombardy took part in the conference, which also discussed the new rules on weeding and fertilizing issued by the two Italian region, following the guidelines of new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The conference highlighted that the EU reduced the number of active substances available in the market by about 70% considering their impact on health and environment. This process resulted in even a stronger restriction of the useful actions employable for crop protection and promoted also resistance over time, members said.
In this context, Confagricoltura noted that the Italian rice growing sector risks losing competitiveness against products from non-EU countries that have fewer restrictions in plant protection, as well as having to give up the role of market leader among EU countries both in terms of quantity and of quality.
Brazil Paddy Rice Index Increases about 1% From Previous Week
Feb 02, 2016
The Brazilian paddy rice index maintained by the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA) reached around 42.36 real per 50 kilograms as of January 31, 2016, up about 1% from around 41.94 real per 50 kilograms recorded on January 25, 2016.
In terms of USD per ton, the index reached around $214.16 per ton on January 31, 2016, up about 3.5% from around $210 per ton recorded a week ago.
Month-on-month, the index has increased about 3.7% from around 40.84 real per 50 kilograms recorded month ago. In terms of USD, the index increased about 3.9% during the month.
Feb 03, 2016
Chicago rough rice futures for Mar delivery settled 17 cents per cwt (about $4 per ton) higher at $11.175 per cwt (about $246 per ton). The other grains finished the day higher; Soybeans closed about 0.6% higher at $8.8625 per bushel; wheat finished unchanged at $4.7525 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.3% higher at $3.7250 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded sharply lower Tuesday as oil prices fell, unwinding last week's rally as hopes of an output cut deal faded. Auto sales for January are the only major data out Tuesday, ahead of Friday's jobs report. Kansas City Fed President Esther George, a voting member, said Tuesday the central bank should push ahead with interest rate hikes because of the strong fundamentals of the U.S. economy. She downplayed the impact of financial market volatility, according to prepared remarks.
European stocks closed nearly 2% lower or more as low oil prices and earnings reports from BP and UBS weighed. In afternoon trade Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average declined 246 points, or 1.49%, to 1.910. The S&P 500 fell 28 points, or 1.48%, to 1,910, with energy leading all 10 sectors lower. The Nasdaq composite dropped 68 points, or 1.5%, to 4,552. Gold is seen trading unchanged, crude oil is seen trading about 5% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.1% lower at about 1:30pm Chicago time.
Monday, there were 1,363 contracts traded, down from 1,454 contracts traded on Friday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Monday decreased by 84 contracts to 12,859.
Wholesale Basmati Rice Prices in India Decline on Adequate Stocks, Slackened Demand
Feb 02, 2016
Wholesale basmati rice prices in the national capital have declined today due to a slackened demand from retailers against adequate stocks, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
On February 2, 2016, prices of Pusa 1121 declined to around Rs.3,800 - 4,700 per quintal (around $561 - $694 per ton) from around Rs.4,000 - 4,900 per quintal (around $588 - $751 per ton) on January 29, 2016.
Prices of common basmati rice declined to around Rs.4,900 - 5,000 per quintal (around $724 - $738 per ton) from previous levels of around Rs.5,200 - 5,300 per quintal (around $765 - $779 per ton).
"Muted demand against sufficient stocks on higher supplies from producing regions mainly pulled down rice basmati prices," traders were quoted as saying.
The declining prices of both basmati and non-basmati price have helped the government's rice procurement to increase about 25% y/y to around 24.47 million tons so far in KMS 2015-16. The procurement has increased despite likely reduction in production due to poor monsoons. The government has set a procurement target of 30 million tons this year.
Global Rice Quotes
February 2nd, 2016
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade 380-390 ↔
Vietnam 5% broken 350-360 ↔
India 5% broken 355-365 ↔
Pakistan 5% broken 345-355 ↑
Myanmar 5% broken 415-425 ↔
Cambodia 5% broken 425-435 ↔
U.S. 4% broken 465-475 ↔
Uruguay 5% broken 465-475 ↔
Argentina 5% broken 460-470 ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken 355-365 ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 340-350 ↔
Pakistan 25% broken 315-325 ↑
Cambodia 25% broken 405-415 ↔
India 25% broken 325-335 ↔
U.S. 15% broken 445-455 ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd 370-380 ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd NQ ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd 345-355 ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken 500-510 ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken 520-530 ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken NQ ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92% 690-700 ↔
Vietnam Jasmine 425-435 ↔
India basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails 750-760 ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super 320-330 ↔
Vietnam 100% broken 320-330 ↓
Pakistan 100% broken stxd 290-300 ↑
Cambodia A1 Super 345-355 ↔
India 100% broken stxd 260-270 ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ ↔
U.S. pet food 280-290 ↔
Brazil half grain NQ ↔ All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com
Rice Utilization in Japan's Feed Industry Increases Sharply in MY 2014-15, Says USDA Post
Feb 02, 2016
Rice utilization in Japan's feed industry has reached 1.172 million tons in MY 2014-15 (October - September), up about 60% from around 732,983 tons in MY 2013-14, reports the USDA Post based on the data from the Compound Feed Supply Stabilization Organization, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
The MAFF has been strongly encouraging to use rice for feed. In October 2015, the Post forecasted that the increasing trend for rice utilization in feed would continue in MY 2015-16 as well as the domestic production of rice for feed more than doubled to 421,077 tons in 2015 from the previous year. Rice utilization in feed reportedly reached about 107,671 tons in the first month of MY 2015-16 (October 2015), up from around 93,757 tons during the same period in MY 2014-15.
Meanwhile, utilization of corn, sorghum and wheat has declined by about 2%, 10% and 43% y/y respectively to around 10.53 million tons, 901,173 tons and 366,510 tons in MY 2014-15.
Increased Cross-Border Exports Ahead of Chinese New Year Push Up Local Rice Prices in Myanmar
Feb 02, 2016
Local rice prices in Myanmar are surging due to an increase in cross-border exports to China due to high demand ahead of the Chinese New Year, which starts on February 8, according to The Irrawaddy.
Exports from the Muse-Ruili crossing on the Shan State-China border have increased significantly with traders selling more rice to Chinese importers. Due to higher demand from China, some local traders have increased prices locally.
According to local sources, the price of a 40 kilogram bag of rice increased by about 500 - 1,000 kyat (around $10-$20 per ton) from the previous price of around 14,000 - 15,000 kyat (around $270 - $290 per ton). “There is high demand in the market these days, and though we’re looking for more rice, the supply and demand do not match. That’s why a basket of rice is going up more than 500 kyats,” a trader was quoted.
The Vice-Chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) noted that around 4,000-5,000 tons of rice are being routed through the Muse-Ruili trading hub every day. “Demand in China is getting high. That’s why rice prices have increased a little bit, but I can say that it will go down again in the next few days,” he said.
Myanmar exported around 830,000 tons of rice in the first ten months of FY 2015-16 (April 2015 - January 2016), down about 15% from around 980,000 exported during the same period last year, according to data from the MRF.
Transgenic Rice Plants Offer Survival Strategies Under Drought Conditions, Say Researchers
Researchers from China and the U.S., have found that transgenic rice plants can provide survival strategies under drought conditions, according to Xinhua Net. A transgenic plant is obtained by transferring a gene naturally, or by any of the genetic engineering techniques, from one plant to another plant.
According to a study published in the U.S. journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, under severe drought conditions, transgenic plants trigger death of their old leaves to conserve resources for seeds and buds. This survival strategy, called senescence, is good for plants under drought conditions, says the first author of the study from the Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology in China.
"This combination of death and life is similar to a triage strategy. If old leaves die, then the buds and small leaves might gain life," he adds.
Researchers found that by engineering rice and the model plant Arabidopsis, high levels of protein known as PYL9 can be produced, which can be useful in increasing drought tolerance in plants. They noted that since plants' drought responses are controlled by the abscisic acid (ABA) hormone, which regulates growth and development and directs plants' reaction to stress. Therefore, by altering Arabidopsis and rice, higher levels of PYL9 made them highly sensitive to ABA, allowing them to better withstand severe drought stress and causing older leaves to yellow sooner compared with the plants' wild type counterparts, they said.
The lead author of the study noted that PYL9 transgenic rice had a 50% survival rate after a two-week drought compared with 10% survival in wild type rice. He, however, did not test the yield and quality of the transgenic plants.
"We still can't really solve the problem of drought," he said. "But we can make it better. In extreme drought conditions, even a bad yield would be better than nothing in terms of preserving human life," he added.
Rice Utilization in Japan's Feed Industry Increases Sharply in MY 2014-15, Says USDA Post
Feb 02, 2016
Rice utilization in Japan's feed industry has reached 1.172 million tons in MY 2014-15 (October - September), up about 60% from around 732,983 tons in MY 2013-14, reports the USDA Post based on the data from the Compound Feed Supply Stabilization Organization, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
The MAFF has been strongly encouraging to use rice for feed. In October 2015, the Post forecasted that the increasing trend for rice utilization in feed would continue in MY 2015-16 as well as the domestic production of rice for feed more than doubled to 421,077 tons in 2015 from the previous year. Rice utilization in feed reportedly reached about 107,671 tons in the first month of MY 2015-16 (October 2015), up from around 93,757 tons during the same period in MY 2014-15.
Meanwhile, utilization of corn, sorghum and wheat has declined by about 2%, 10% and 43% y/y respectively to around 10.53 million tons, 901,173 tons and 366,510 tons in MY 2014-15.
Experts Debate New Strategy for Research and Innovation in EU Agriculture
Feb 02, 2016
Several experts from the EU countries, including the leaders of the EU farmers union COPA-COGECA, have gathered at a conference organized by the EU Commission and debated the new strategy for research and innovation in the EU agriculture, according to local sources.
Copa and Cogeca underlined the key role of research and innovation in a viable EU agriculture sector and the need for farmers and agri-cooperatives to play a key role in the process right from the beginning.
Copa Vice President Maira Dzelzkaleja said “This strategy comes at the right time as innovative solutions for agriculture sector to adapt and mitigate to climate change are top of the EU agenda. A smarter and sustainable EU agriculture sector for viable and competitive rural areas are very important. Research and innovation are crucial tools to achieve this. Innovation contributes to a competitive, efficient EU agriculture sector, helping farmers to cut production costs and produce more with less. And it has to be driven by farmers. This is crucial for the future of rural areas. Farmers also generate innovative solutions themselves that often go unnoticed by public. There is a huge amount of hidden knowledge that needs to be revealed and efficiently used and more should be done here”.
"The challenges of ensuring food security, ending hunger and malnutrition, helping the environment and combatting climate change as well as boosting growth and jobs in rural territories are all crucial in Europe and worldwide. Precision farming, robots and drones are becoming the words of the day, to ensure a successful agriculture industry tomorrow. They are the reality right now for a limited number of farmers but we need to better understand this new technology, make it more accessible to farmers and cooperatives, share knowledge and step up research so that we can use them to meet the upcoming challenge of feeding a growing population with limited resources. We need to be in the driving seat of this debate," she added.
Experts are expecting that the EU agriculture will benefit from the funding provided for Horizon 2020, the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme. The program will be provided nearly 80 billion euros (about $87.1) of funding for 7 years (2014 to 2020) in addition to the private investment that this money will attract.
Philippines Agriculture Minister Estimates 2016 Paddy Rice Production to Fall Below 2015 Level
Feb 02, 2016
The Philippines Agriculture Secretary is estimating the 2016 paddy rice production to fall below the 2015 level of around 18.15 million tons due to the prevailing drought conditions, Reuters quoted ABS-CBN news channel.
He however, noted that the government interventions will help limit the impact of El Nino-induced weather conditions. "We can still hit not less than 18 million metric tonnes because of our interventions, he said.
The Philippines 2015 paddy rice output was below a government forecast of 18.3 million tons and down more than 4% from a record high of nearly 19 million tons in 2014.
The Philippine Statistics Agency (PSA) estimates the Philippines 2016 first half paddy rice production at around 8.2 million tons, down about 1.5% from around 8.32 million tons in 2015.
The government has so far imported 500,000 tons of rice for delivery by the end of first quarter.
TREA Official Foresees 2016 White Rice Exports to Decline 7% y/y to 4.9 Million Tons
Feb 02, 2016
The President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) has projected the country's total rice exports at around 9 million tons in 2016, down about 8% from around 9.79 million tons in 2015, according to Bangkok Post.
"This year will be another year of much uncertainty, not only because of low oil prices that affect the purchasing power of our clients in the Middle East and Africa but also because of volatile foreign exchange and drought conditions that are expected to trim milled rice production by 4-5 million tonnes," he was quoted.
He noted that Thai rice prices have reached their lowest level to around $360-$365 per ton, but expressed optimism that they would pick up this year given lower supplies.
The Honorary President of the TREA is estimating the 2016 white rice exports to decline about 7% to around 4.9 million tons from around 5.26 million tons in 2015. He noted that exports of Thai Hom Mali fragrant rice are expected to fall to around 1.8 million tons this in 2016 from around 1.99 million tons in 2015 because demand for premium rice in the world market is expected to fall given the global economic slowdown. He has estimated Thai parboiled rice exports to fall to 2.2 million tonnes this year from 2.32 million last year because the economies of African countries remained in poor condition and are buying cheaper parboiled rice from India.
Separately, rice farmers, millers and exporters are planning to come up with an initiative called 'mega farm project' to boost production and reduce costs, according to the President of the Thai Agriculturist Association.
Vietnam Rice Sellers Lower Some of Their Quotes Today; Pakistan Rice Sellers Increase Most of Their Quotes
Feb 02, 2016
Vietnam rice sellers lowered their quotes for 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton to about $320-$330 per ton today. Pakistan rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice, 25% broken rice and 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton each to about $345-$355 per ton, $315-$325 per ton and $290-$300 per ton respectively. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged today.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton, about $20 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $350 - $360 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $345 - $355 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about $15 per ton premium o Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $340- $350 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $315 - $325 per ton.
Parboiled Rice
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $60 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at around $320 - $330 per ton, on par with Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $320 - $330 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $260 - $270 per ton, about $30 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $290 - $300 per ton.
Conference Clarifies EU Regulatory Framework on Use of Crop Protection Products in Rice Cultivation
Feb 02, 2016
The Italian farmers union Confagricoltura organized a conference titled "Agricultural Products in rice production: sustainable employment and competitiveness" on February 1, 2016 in Mortara Grain Exchange.
The conference aimed at clarifying the regulatory framework for the use of crop protection products in rice cultivation in Italy.
Around 200 rice growers from Piedmont and Lombardy took part in the conference, which also discussed the new rules on weeding and fertilizing issued by the two Italian region, following the guidelines of new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The conference highlighted that the EU reduced the number of active substances available in the market by about 70% considering their impact on health and environment. This process resulted in even a stronger restriction of the useful actions employable for crop protection and promoted also resistance over time, members said.
In this context, Confagricoltura noted that the Italian rice growing sector risks losing competitiveness against products from non-EU countries that have fewer restrictions in plant protection, as well as having to give up the role of market leader among EU countries both in terms of quantity and of quality.
Brazil Paddy Rice Index Increases about 1% From Previous Week
Feb 02, 2016
The Brazilian paddy rice index maintained by the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA) reached around 42.36 real per 50 kilograms as of January 31, 2016, up about 1% from around 41.94 real per 50 kilograms recorded on January 25, 2016.
In terms of USD per ton, the index reached around $214.16 per ton on January 31, 2016, up about 3.5% from around $210 per ton recorded a week ago.
Month-on-month, the index has increased about 3.7% from around 40.84 real per 50 kilograms recorded month ago. In terms of USD, the index increased about 3.9% during the month.
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