Thursday, June 16, 2016

16th June,2016 daily global,regional and local rice enewsletter by ricpelus magazine

Climate change likely to hit agriculture



ISLAMABAD: Country’s agriculture will be one of the major sectors, likely to be adversely affected by climate change, and a crop simulation model-based study shows that wheat yields will be drastically reduced in irrigated areas as well as arid and rain-fed areas towards the end of 21st century.Studies showed that wheat yields will be reduced by 3.4 to 12.5 per cent in the semi-arid irrigated areas of Faisalabad and Sheikhupura; 3.8 to 14pc in arid areas of Multan and Bahawalpur, Badin and Hyderabad and up to 16pc in rain-fed areas of Chakwal.
Similarly, in basmati rice tract, the yield is expected to be reduced by 10.4pc, 16.5pc and 17.8pc by 2020s, 2050s and 2080s, respectively. Under a scenario, the yield is expected to decline by 11.4pc, 15.8pc and 21.5pc, respectively by 2020s, 2050s and 2080s.In general, an increase in temperature will lead to shortening of ‘Grow Season Length’ (GSL) for wheat and rice crops in all the selected wheat growing districts and basmati tract of the country.
The results suggested that the aggregate impact of climate parameters like changes in temperature and rainfall exerted an overall negative impact on cereal crop yields, given that the management practices and use of technology remain unchanged.According to the study, negative impact of climate change (increase in temperature) has been observed in neighbouring countries, like India, where reduction in yield of major crops like rice, wheat and maize per one degree Celsius in the temperature is expected to range from 4pc to 20pc (rice), 32pc to 50pc in the case of maize, and 5 to 20pc in wheat.
The study point out that one-fourth of the country’s land area, which is suitable for intensive agriculture, is threatened by wind and water erosion, salinity, water-logging, flooding and loss of organic matter.
Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2016

Asia Rice-Prices steady in India, Thailand before Thai auction
* India's prices steady ahead of Thai tender
* Thai 5 pct broken rice steady at $418-$439/T
* Vietnam's 5 pct broken prices ease to $358-$368/T
* China is back seeking Vietnam's broken rice
By Ho Binh Minh
HANOI, June 15 Rice prices in India and Thailand stood steady this week ahead of a major auction in Thailand, while the export quotations softened slightly in Vietnam as buyers were absent, traders said on Wednesday.
Rice prices have eased from multi-month highs hit in May as drought brought by El Nino cut output in Asia's top growers.
India, Thailand and Vietnam, the world's biggest exporters, shipped a combined 66 percent of global rice trade in 2015, according to U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization data.
India's 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices were steady at $382-$392 per tonne, free-on-board (FOB) basis, this week as demand was softening ahead of Thailand's auction, traders said.
"Demand has fallen as some buyers are trying to secure rice at lower price from the auction," B.V. Krishna Rao, managing director at Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd, India's leading non-basmati rice exporter, told Reuters.
Thai government aims to sell 2.24 million tonnes at a rice auction on Wednesday.
India's domestic prices have been rising due to dwindling supplies and after the government raised the minimum purchase price by 4 percent, Rao said.
India mainly ships non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East.
In Thailand the 5 percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 were almost steady at $418-$439 a tonne, FOB Bangkok, against $418-$437 last Wednesday, mainly due to low supply and thin demand, traders said.
Drought has damaged 1.82 million tonnes of rice in Thailand since October 2015, according to agriculture ministry's data.
Another trader said a possible depreciation of the Thai baht could allow lower prices.
"The weakening of the baht will earn us more money, so we could afford to lower our dollar prices," he said.
Kasikornbank forecast on Wednesday the baht could drop to 37 per dollar by the year end, or 2.8 percent down from the end of 2015.
In Vietnam, export quotations weakened on thin buying demand, even though China -- the top buyer of Vietnamese rice -- has returned after a while, seeking small quantity, traders said.
The 5 percent broken rice, using winter-spring grain, widened to $370-$375 a tonne, FOB Saigon, from $375 last week, while the same grade with summer-autumn grain dipped to $360-$365 a tonne, from $365 last Wednesday.
"China is back this week, asking for the 100 percent broken rice in small volumes, but no deals have been heard," a Vietnamese exporter in Ho Chi Minh City said. (Reporting by Ho Binh Minh; Additional reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat in BANGKOK and Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)

http://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice-idINL4N19739M

 

Does India's gloomy exports scenario have a silver lining?

June 15, 2016 09:44 IST
An obvious and easy explanation for India’s exports debacle is that petroleum products constitute the single-largest category in the country’s exports basket, notes A K Bhattacharya, Editor, Business Standard
India’s exports performance continues to be depressing.In each of the last two years, exports contracted -- by more than one per cent in 2014-15, the first year of the Narendra Modi government, and by a higher margin of 15 per cent in 2015-16.The trend has not reversed yet as the latest figures for April 2016 show that exports fell by close to seven per cent again.
A closer look at these disturbing numbers, however, reveals interesting trends that the government must carefully assess so that it can draw the right lessons from them and frame appropriate policy responses to revive exports.
Does the gloomy exports scenario have a silver lining?
An analysis of the last two years’ exports numbers from this perspective would be instructive.
An obvious and easy explanation for India’s exports debacle is that petroleum products constitute the single-largest category in the country’s exports basket.The argument, therefore, is that with the international crude oil prices falling significantly in this period, India’s exports would inevitably suffer.And they did suffer with earnings from petroleum product exports falling by 46 per cent to $30 billion in 2015-16.Petroleum products accounted for almost 18 per cent of India’s total exports in 2014-15 and thanks to the falling crude oil prices, their share dropped to about 12 per cent in 2015-16.
What would be the likely scenario for petroleum product exports in 2016-17?
International crude oil prices have already risen by around 80 per cent in the last four months.
Brent crude oil prices are hovering at around $50 a barrel, compared to $28 a barrel in January this year.
If the trend continues and the international crude oil prices hover around $50-55 a barrel, its impact on India’s petroleum product exports would not be insignificant.
But the recovery may not take place on its own.It would require some careful planning to expand the market for India’s petroleum products.At present, over 41 per cent of India’s total petroleum product exports are accounted for by just six countries -- the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan and the Netherlands.As petroleum product prices improve in the current year, it would make sense for India’s oil marketing companies to explore newer markets and expand the existing ones. Domestic oil refining capacity is comfortable at present and this can be put to good use by earning more dollars at a higher margin.The story of India’s drugs exports has hardly received much attention. But consider this.
In a year, when India’s total merchandise exports fell by 15 per cent, its drugs exports went up by about 10 per cent.And this growth came despite the many battles the Indian drugs industry has been fighting with regulators in some developed markets including the US over the quality and safety of its products.The significance of this increase lies in the fact that in 2014-15, drugs exports grew by less than four per cent.
It is, therefore, time the government took note of the surge in drugs exports and explored what steps needed to be taken to sustain this growth and make a champion exports sector out of an industry that has huge potential, but seems to be constrained by many regulatory handicaps both at home and abroad.The textiles sector does not have a similar story, but its resilience has not yet been fully appreciated in the current gloomy situation.In 2014-15, textiles exports grew by 14 per cent to about $31 billion.
But in the following year, they suffered their worst debacle with a three per cent fall.Yet, it will be important to recall that overall merchandise exports in 2015-16 fell by 15 per cent.While the drugs industry is a clear winner, the textiles sector has managed to limit its damages to a small drop in exports. The government cannot sit idle and must take steps to stop the rot.There are issues with regard to allowing flexible employment to meet seasonal surges in demand from importers and improving the available infrastructure particularly for the readymade garments sector.A focused approach is needed to extricate the textiles sector from its current woes.A three per cent drop in exports can be reversed with some policy intervention and infrastructure support.In the engineering sector, where exports have taken a big hit, motor vehicles have been growing their annual despatches to overseas markets.
The growth has slowed down with exports at $6.7 billion last year, but the fact is that this segment of the engineering sector has held off the forces of deceleration in global trade and continued to grow even though at a slower rate.
This is a sector where higher exports coupled with increasing domestic sales can improve India’s status as a manufacturing hub with a huge potential for jobs growth not only in factories but in the tertiary sector.If the Modi government’s Make In India campaign has to succeed and bear fruit for the Indian economy, the automobile sector and its exports will hold the key to achieving such a transformation.
Finally, there is evidence of early signs of green shoots of exports recovery.A report prepared by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade has noted that commodities like chemicals, cotton yarn, basmati rice, metals, dyes and paint have begun seeing a rise in volume exports.Their exports value declined in 2015-16, but their volumes have risen by varying margins ranging from four per cent to 47 per cent. If the commodities cycle is seeing an upturn, rising export volumes would suggest that an exports recovery is likely soon in those goods at least.
However, due caution must be exercised so that complacency does not set in and the industry uses the rising commodity prices as an opportunity to monetise the volume gains.
And the government should provide better infrastructure and policy support to help the exports sector realise that goal.

http://www.business-standard.com/

More border routes likely to be opened: Mehbooba

Uri-Muzzafarabad and Poonch-Rawalkot are the only two trade routes that is allowed along the LOC.


Written by Arun Sharma | Jammu | Updated: June 15, 2016 9:37 am
Mehbooba stated that she is going to recommend at least two routes to the Home Ministry. File Photo/Agencies.
Nearly a decade after the Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes were reopened for trade and travel by people on both sides of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, a few more routes are likely to be opened as part of additional confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan.
“When I met the Union Home Minister the last time, he had hinted at opening some more routes,’’ Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said Tuesday. “I told him that the Suchetgarh route should be opened.” Suchetgarh is on the international border in R S Pura tehsil in Jammu, and across the border is Sialkot district of Pakistan.“Many routes came up for discussion — Suchetgarh, Nowshera-Jhanghar, Kargil-Skardu, Turtuk-Thapalu, among others. But he (Home Minister Rajnath Singh) said that we can consider opening one or two roads at the moment. If I am asked about two roads which need to be opened immediately, I will name Suchetgarh and Kargil-Skardu,’’ Mehbooba said while addressing a function on the occasion of signing of an MoU between Jammu Development Authority and the Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation Limited, Ahmedabad, for management consultancy and technical assistance for development of the Tawi riverfront in Jammu.
R S Pura tehsil is considered the rice bowl of India’s fine basmati rice, and Mehbooba said “our basmati goes there (to Pakistan), adding that there is lot of hardware industry in on the Indian side, while Pakistan manufactures very little, and additional border routes would mean many items can be exported to Pakistan. The state will benefit the way Punjab has benefitted from Wagah boder, she said.
Recalling the “teamwork” between former CM Mufti Sayeed and Deputy CM Nirmal Singh for the Tawi river beautification project, Mehbooba said Mufti always had a soft corner for the people of Jammu and used to call them “truly secular’’, as they not only accommodated lakhs of Hindu and Muslim migrants from Valley but also shared their land, water and electricity with them

Monsoon set to extend coverage over India, says Australian met bureau

Vinson Kurian

Thiruvananthapuram, June 14:  
Increase in cloudiness and rainfall during the next seven days will drive the Indian monsoon further north and spread it over much of the subcontinent, says the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. This would be overseen by a passing Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) wave across the Indian Ocean this week, the Australian Bureau said in its latest update.
The India Met Department has already indicated the possibility of the monsoon, now in a ‘switch-off’ mode along the West Coast, reviving over the weekend.
The Madden-Julian Oscillation wave has been associated with formation of low-pressure areas, cyclones and even the onset of the monsoons.
MJO wave influence

The last time it had crossed the Indian Ocean from West to East, the wave had triggered the formation of cyclone Roanu which brought the monsoon along with it to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
If the Madden-Julian Oscillation wave moves across the Indian Ocean and thereafter into the Maritime Continent (Indonesia, Philippines et al), tropical activity will also be enhanced across the North-West Pacific region in the coming fortnight.
The western North Pacific Ocean is typically the most active oceanic basin for tropical cyclones.
However, in the year so far, tropical cyclone activity has been well below average.
The coming weeks are likely to be a period when there is an increased risk of tropical cyclone activity across this basin as well as over the Bay of Bengal.
Cyclone watch

Coincidentally, the IMD has put out a watch for a cyclonic circulation over the West-central and adjoining North-West Bay of Bengal by Friday. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts pointed to the possibility of the system taking shape close to the Andhra Pradesh coast.
This is expected to rev up the monsoon flows over the Bay of Bengal but the European Centre did not see the system intensifying to any significant strength

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/monsoon-set-to-extend-coverage-over-india-says-australian-met-bureau/article8728814.ece

Rice, grain prices responding to U.S., global central bank policies

Tomorrow's Fed meeting could set tone for futures for remainder of 2016
Jun 14, 2016 Bobby Coats | Delta Farm Press
The markets are awaiting Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen’s comments after their Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) meeting tomorrow (June 15). The question is will Fed monetary guidance be bullish or bearish for rice, cotton, grain and other commodity markets?
I expect guidance to be more supportive allowing market fundamentals a turn at directing commodity price strength or weakness, which near term would be neutral to bearish for commodities having shown price strength and neutral to bullish for commodities just starting to show price strength.
On May 25, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen indicated near term future Fed Monetary Policy Activity would likely be increasingly hawkish with all indications of a Feds Fund Rate increase sooner rather than later, possibly as soon as the Fed’s June 14-15 meeting.
This, I expect, was due to building global inflationary forces, being driven by continuous injections of stimulus from fiscal and monetary policy intervention, from the European Union, Japan, China and others. These activities – especially since late-February – have been supportive to bullish for rice, cotton, grains, and oil prices.
Next, the following Friday, June 3rd, after market participants digested the news of the “Lowest Nonfarm Payroll in Over 5 Years,” few market participants now expect a U.S. Fed Fund Rate increase on June 15. The expectation is forward guidance will be:
  • First, the FOMC committee remains data dependent; and
  • Second, do not rule out a July Fed Funds Rate increase on July 27th.   
Presently, the need for a rate increase is huge, but market psychology is lacking. 
Thus near term given dollar chart structure I see a dollar more likely sideways channel bound and a potentially bullish environment for U.S. Treasuries. 

http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/rice-grain-prices-responding-us-global-central-bank-policies

GMO Golden Rice is a 'dud', despite 24 years of research and breeding


Tue, 14 Jun 2016 00:00 UTC


GM golden rice falls short on promises
As the GMO industry seeks to expand its grip over the global food system, it has targeted developing countries and the problems they face in in crop production. Drought and pest damage are two issues that Monsanto and its cohorts see as opportunities for unleashing their patented, genetically modified (GM) crops.

Nutrient deficiency is another problem in developing countries that GMO corporations insist should be addressed with their products. One high-profile example is vitamin A deficiency, which especially affects the Global South, increasing risks of infection, disease and other ailments such as blindness.

Golden Rice was supposed to be the GMO industry's great solution.

In 2000, Time magazine trumpeted Golden Rice—a genetically modified crop commercially licensed by Syngenta—as a way to save the lives of millions of people in the Third World. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which strongly advocates for GM crops everywhere, has long supported Golden Rice by funding the International Rice Research Institute.

However, after 24 years of promises and propaganda campaigns against GMO critics, Golden Rice is turning out to be a dud. It is nowhere close to field introduction and is likely to fall short of its purported health benefits, according to a new study from Washington University in St. Louis.

Lead author Glenn Stone, a recognized expert in global agricultural trends and humanitarian issues, used to think we should give Golden Rice a chance. But a frank analysis of the situation now leads him to a different conclusion.
"Golden Rice was a promising idea backed by good intentions," Stone said. "In contrast to anti-GMO activists, I argued that it deserved a chance to succeed. But if we are actually interested in the welfare of poor children — instead of just fighting over GMOs — then we have to make unbiased assessments of possible solutions. The simple fact is that after 24 years of research and breeding, Golden Rice is still years away from being ready for release."
GMO researchers seek to increase the amount of beta carotene by inserting genes into existing rice strains, which they say will increase available vitamin A in the edible grain.

But they still have not been able to produce strains that yield as well as non-GM strains. Stone points out that Golden Rice "has not been successful in test plots of the rice breeding institutes in the Philippines, where the leading research is being done."

Little is known about how well the beta carotene will hold up in storage between harvests, or when cooked using traditional methods in remote rural areas. It is not even known whether the Golden Rice beta carotene can be converted to vitamin A in badly undernourished bodies.

Despite these realities, GMO proponents push hard for Golden Rice, and have suggested that critics are prolonging the misery of poor people with vitamin A deficiencies. Monsanto and their propaganda outlets like the GMO Literacy Project say that activists are responsible for the inability of Golden Rice to become a viable solution.

This too is debunked by the study.
"Golden Rice is still not ready for the market, but we find little support for the common claim that environmental activists are responsible for stalling its introduction. GMO opponents have not been the problem," said Stone.

Comment: Golden Rice has been called a 'Trojan horse', that will not only fail to stop malnutrition, but will expand the very destitution, poverty, and helplessness that causes malnutrition in the first place. Introducing this GE crop threatens biological diversity, puts corporate profits over food sovereignty, and would result in loss of livelihoods for small-scale farmers. Proponents of Golden Rice suggest rice farmers replace their profitable crops with genetically modified rice that will treat only one of many vitamin and mineral deficiencies they may or may not potentially suffer from, deficiencies that could be easily solved through other methods.
https://www.sott.net/article/320217-GMO-Golden-Rice-is-a-dud-despite-24-years-of-research-and-breeding



There is no food in Nigeria, open the borders for rice importation – Sultan begs Customs

By Seun Opejobi on June 14, 2016
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has appealed to the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, to consider the plight of Nigerians and open the borders to allow for the importation of food.
Speaking in his palace in Sokoto, when he played host to the Comptroller-General of the Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd) yesterday, the Sultan said the closure of the border has brought about hardship as food community are scarce in the country.He said, “The policy should be revisited with a view to make amends and ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians.
“There is no food in the country hence the need for the borders to be reopened for rice importation.”Commending the effort of the Federal Government at boosting the domestic production of rice, the Monarch assured that the traditional institution would continue to sensitize the people on the need to support the policies of government at all levels
http://dailypost.ng/2016/06/14/there-is-no-food-in-nigeria-open-the-borders-for-rice-importation-sultan-begs-customs/

Rice exports lower than last year

mthan
Rice sacks are unloaded at Wartan Jetty. (Photo-Aung Kyaw Htet/EMG)
 Rice exports dropped in the first two months of this fiscal year due to the low demand from China, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation.A total of 127,570 tonnes of rice were exported between April and June 3, earning over US$84 million. This is markedly lower than 346,000 tonnes exported and $119 million earned in the same period last year.“Only between 3,000 and 5,000 tonnes of rice are shipped per month. But we have to export 20,000 tonnes of rice to the EU market in June, so exports will rise again,” said Lumaw Myint Maung, the joint-general secretary of the federation.
Myanmar rice is exported to China, Japan, India, Singapore, Italy, Indonesia, Spain, Belgium, the Philippines, France, Malaysia and Canada.Border exports to China are most active at the Muse gate
http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/rice-exports-lower-last-year




Cost of rice increasing due to smuggling: supply minister
Wed, 15/06/2016 - 12:26

Supply Minister Khaled Hanafy has blamed this year's rice shortage on cross-border smuggling, with Egyptian rice merchants selling abroad in return for dollars.During a meeting of the parliamentary economic affairs committee on Tuesday, Hanafy said, “A huge amount of rice has been smuggled across the borders.”“When the government allowed exports, we [legally] exported 240,000 tons out of [a total crop of] three million tons. The rest was smuggled across borders in return for dollars,” he said.
The ministry, according to Hanafy, has been trying to control the situation by offering huge amounts of rice in the domestic market at LE4.5 per kilo, pumping 1,500 tons into the market daily.“Some information shows that traders have smuggled rice to Libya and Sudan at US$800 per ton,” he added.The rice market has been unstable since October, when the government started exporting rice, causing a rise in local prices. The current market price for rice in Egypt ranges between LE6.5 and LE8.Further increases are expected as consumption doubles in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
The minister also said that annual subsidies for bread and other food supplies totals LE22, with the top priority of the system being an end to queues for bread at subsidized outlets.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/cost-rice-increasing-due-smuggling-supply-minister



Could Subsurface Drip-Irrigated Rice Work?

June 15, 2016 03:32 PM

“This effort could serve as a model for other farms and potentially save hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water in California if widely adopted.”

By Ben Potter
AgWeb.com
Social Media and Innovation Editor



Drip irrigation is the ultimate water miser, doling out water drop by drop to the base of plants, most commonly in orchard and vegetable crops. But research is underway to study another crop’s response to drip irrigation – rice, a row crop that typically sits partially submerged in several inches of water for part of the growing season.The project – a collaboration among Israel’s Ben-Gurion University, Conaway (Calif.) Ranch, Lundberg Family Farms and Netafim USA – is the first time drip irrigation has been used on a U.S. rice crop, according to Kyriakos Tsakopoulos, president of the Conaway Preservation Group (owners of Conaway Ranch).
“This effort could serve as a model for other farms and potentially save hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water in California if widely adopted,” he says.
The project seeks to see if subsurface drip irrigation can effectively grow rice via a series of pipes that deliver water directly to the plants’ root zone, according to Bryce Lundberg, vice president of agriculture for Lundberg Family Farms.
The subsurface drip irrigation pilot project is being tested on a 100-acre plot. Project participants all hope to see yield improvements, despite reducing overall water use. Tsakopoulos says farmers should take responsibility and make measures to conserve water where possible.
“We need to continue to conduct research and develop methods to use the water most efficiently for crops while also conserving critical wildlife resources,” he says.
Jonathan Rosenfield, a conservation biologist with San Fransico-based Bay Institute, told the Sacramento Bee in March that flooded rice fields have undeniable benefits to waterfowl and other area wildlife, but drip irrigation might end up being a savvy conservation move as well, protecting several fish species native to the Sacramento River.
“If drip irrigation in this pilot project is going to reduce demand on water and be able to keep rice farmers going and reduce impacts to critically endangered fish populations, then that sounds like a good thing,” he says.California is the third-largest rice-producing state behind Arkansas and Louisiana, with 385,000 total acres planted in 2015
http://www.agweb.com/article/could-subsurface-drip-irrigated-rice-work-naa-ben-potter/



Boosting a Single Protein makes for a 50% more Productive Rice

15/06/2016
Researchers from the John Innes Centre and Nanjing Agricultural University have identified a protein that can help plants regulate their cell pH – a seemingly small modification that can boost rice crop yields by 50%.
Rice is one of the major crops in the world, along with corn and wheat (also under the microscope of science to increase food security).
As a crop that feeds almost 50% of the world’s population, it is more than understandable that scientists are interested in improving rice. Previous work in this area include the now famous GMO initiative for ‘golden rice’, as well as projects to make it more productive and eco-friendly.
Rice plants have problems too – here’s a close-up for empathy (Source: Pixabay)
Now, researchers from the John Innes Centre (UK) and Nanjing Agricultural University (China) may have found another important part of the puzzle to turbo-charge rice. Published  in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, their work shows that the overexpression of a particular protein could boost production yield by up to 54%.For rice, one of its major challenges is to get the right balance of nitrate or ammonium ions from the soil. These ions are the source of nitrogen – the chemical element essential to synthesize aminoacids and then proteins.
Upsetting this balance affects the pH of plant cells – too much ammonium and plant cells become alkaline, too much nitrate and they become acidic. Inadequate pH means the plants have a harder time getting nutrients and growing.
Fig. 1: An overview of the nitrogen metabolism of plants, including uptake of nitrate and ammonium, and their incorporation in aminoacids glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln).
The research team studied a gene involved in the transport of nitrate in plant cells, OsNRT2.3. This gene makes two slightly different versions of the protein (OsNRT2.3a and OsNRT2.3b).
In a part of the rice, the cellular production of the OsNRT2.3b version was boosted by inserting copies of a gene directly coding for this protein (with cDNA, a sort of reverse template for any protein) in the cell plant. These plants turned out to be much better at controlling the pH in their cells, by switching nitrate transport on or off.
With this new pH switch, the plants are able to take up much more nitrogen, iron and phosphorus – so they grow faster.
Fig. 2: Rice plants O1 to O8 overexpresses OsNRT 2.3b protein (as seen with ‘bolder’ bands in the Western blot results, a method that identifies proteins) and grows faster than the normal, wild type rice (WT).
The study was funded by the BBSRC (also backed projects like the epigenomics of wheat and oil-producing yeast) and the Chinese Government (which is also eyeing one of the few players in agrochemicals through state-owned ChemChina).
The resulting new technology has been patented by PBL, a technology transfer company with the John Innes Centre, and 3 companies are already working in 6 different crops overexpressing OsNRT2.3b.
Such a yield increase in such a staple food is pretty crazy. While it still has to be brought to the fields, the speedy transition to the industry should speak for the excitement around this new crop technology.  

Feature Image Credit: Pixabay
Figure 1 Credit: Luo et al. (2013) Nitrogen metabolism of two contrasting poplar species during acclimation to limiting nitrogen availability. Journal of Experimental Botany (doi: 10.1093/jxb/ert234)
Figure 2 Credit: Fan et al. (2016) Overexpression of a pH-sensitive nitrate transporter in rice increases crop yields. PNAS (doi: 10.1073/pnas.1525184113)
http://labiotech.eu/boosting-a-single-protein-makes-for-a-50-more-productive-rice/


Farmers' Rice Cooperative Names New CEO 
Excerpt from press release

SACRAMENTO, CA -- Farmers' Rice Cooperative (FRC) announced yesterday that Rick Rhody has been named as the new chief executive officer. Rhody will replace Kirk Messick, who has been serving as the interim CEO.

"We are pleased with how Kirk led FRC during this time of transition and know that his 28 years of FRC experience will set up the new CEO for success," FRC Board Chairman Herb Holzapfel said.  "The rice industry faces a lot of challenges right now.  We know that for FRC growers to be successful we need the right leadership at the top.  We are confident that Rick brings that leadership to FRC."

Prior to joining Farmers' Rice Cooperative, Rhody had the opportunity to help build Sun Valley Rice from the ground up where he served in almost every position from field staff to CFO.  He is a Sacramento Valley native and currently resides in Yuba City.  A Chico State graduate he also holds an MBA from Saint Mary's College and is a recent graduate of the prestigious California Agricultural Leadership Program.  Rhody has a lifetime connection to the rice industry beyond Sun Valley Rice, from his youth in Rio Oso to summer college jobs working on a rice farm and hay ranches just outside of Chico.



Cuba and Rice Spotlighted During Ways and Means Trade Hearing 

WASHINGTON, DC -- Yesterday, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade held an agriculture-focused hearing on expansion and eliminating barriers for U.S. agricultural exports.While the hearing focused on the broader picture of agricultural exports, especially opportunities through the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, rice and Cuba both factored into the dialogue of witnesses and Subcommittee Members.A champion for U.S. rice, Louisiana Republican Charles Boustany remarked during the hearing, "Louisiana stands to benefit tremendously by normalizing agricultural trade with Cuba.  Our rice industry has been the backbone of Louisiana's economy, even as other sectors have struggled.  But we can't have continued growth in this industry without opening new markets like Cuba. I'll continue fighting to open up agricultural exports so our producers can benefit."USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward said, "The entire U.S. rice industry, both in Louisiana and around the country, is grateful for Congressman Boustany's tireless leadership on these issues.  Whether it is helping us gain access to Cuba, or looking out for the interests of U.S. rice farmers who are increasingly at an unfair trade disadvantage because of bad actors around the world, Congressman Boustany stands as a great advocate for our family farmers and our industry."

Several other Members and witnesses shared their support for normalizing trade with Cuba and seconded the rice industry's leadership role in working to reopen the Cuban market.

Nigeria will become self sufficient in rice, wheat production soon – Bagudu


Abubakar Atiku Bagudu
The governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, has disclosed that Nigeria will become self sufficient in rice and wheat production very soon.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on Rice and Wheat Production by the acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, recently, Bagudu, who is the chairman of the committee, said that he is optimistic that the committee will achieve its target within the shortest possible time.According to him, the task force will help in identifying all that the country needs in order to become self sufficient in rice and wheat and step up current efforts to produce those commodities in Nigeria.
He pointed out that the disconnect between farmers and millers needs to be addressed, adding that the two bodies in the value chain need to be mobilised for maximum results. “His Excellency, the Vice President, invited few state governors – governors of Kano, Kebbi and Ebonyi– the minister of state for agriculture, the president of Wheat Farmers Association, and president of the Rice Farmers Association, and inaugurated a Presidential Committee/Task Force on Rice and Wheat. This committee will help in identifying all that we need to do in order to make Nigeria self sufficient in rice and wheat and step up current efforts to produce those commodities in Nigeria.
“That’s part of the assignment, but we are optimistic that given the current efforts in place across the country, industry of our farmers and increasing interest in investing in agriculture by many well meaning Nigerians we should be able to achieve the target within a short time that will lead to our national aspirations. There has been significant achievements in that respect as seen in this last season when the governor of Kano and myself supported our farmers to produce more wheat and wheat farmers have signed an agreement with the flower millers by which the flower millers agreed to obtain all that the wheat farmers are able to provide.
“We are seeing increasing interest in rice and many millers are now willing to work with farmers’ groups,” Bagudu said

Prevailing World Prices and Loan Deficiency Payment Rates for Rice

Mark Simone
(202) 720-5653
Mark.Simone@wdc.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2016-The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2015 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET).  Rough rice prices are unchanged from the previous announcement.
To access the complete News Release, click here. 
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-analysis/food-grains-analysis/rice-reports/2016/prmay042016

Rice Prices

as on : 15-06-2016 08:10:19 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Gadarpur(Utr)
1032.00
102.35
113544.00
3025
2250
89.06
Devariya(UP)
80.00
-15.79
1485.00
2120
2110
4.95
Junagarh(Ori)
74.20
-19.13
1707.24
2100
2100
-4.55
Saharanpur(UP)
70.00
-1.41
5544.00
2340
2280
8.84
Kalahandi(Dharamagarh)(Ori)
62.10
10.54
1143.08
2100
2100
-4.55
Ghaziabad(UP)
50.00
NC
3105.00
2350
2350
9.30
Gazipur(UP)
47.00
4.44
2046.00
2030
2030
1.00
Bazpur(Utr)
44.50
-82.75
44188.56
2150
1869
16.22
Jaunpur(UP)
35.00
-30
1585.00
2020
2015
0.25
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
20.00
NC
1023.50
2200
2200
2.33
Kaliaganj(WB)
12.00
-25
747.00
2250
2150
-6.25
Champadanga(WB)
11.00
83.33
960.00
2550
2550
NC
Alappuzha(Ker)
10.00
NC
90.00
3975
3900
6.00
Raiganj(WB)
10.00
-9.09
883.50
2200
2200
-12.00
Chengannur(Ker)
7.00
7.69
599.50
2300
2300
-8.00
Fatehpur(UP)
6.50
8.33
296.70
2190
2180
0.46
Dibrugarh(ASM)
5.60
-30.86
1237.30
2450
2450
-
Khairagarh(UP)
5.00
-44.44
415.00
2180
2150
8.46
Mirzapur(UP)
4.00
-11.11
1344.10
1975
1970
-0.50
Darjeeling(WB)
2.70
-22.86
86.10
2800
2800
3.70
Sardhana(UP)
1.00
-16.67
85.30
2315
2290
9.20
Kasipur(WB)
1.00
-9.09
37.70
2200
2200
10.00







Rice Prices


as on : 16-06-2016 01:47:46 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Bangalore(Kar)
2340.00
11.16
126799.00
4150
4100
NC
Bhivandi(Mah)
1900.00
-40.25
6819.00
2050
2100
20.59
Gadarpur(Utr)
1062.00
2.91
114606.00
2310
3025
44.38
Pilibhit(UP)
350.00
-
350.00
2200
-
-
Bangarpet(Kar)
305.00
-15.75
8160.00
1850
1850
1.09
English Bazar(WB)
210.00
NC
3245.00
2000
2000
-
Birbhum(WB)
166.00
-2.06
2983.00
2180
2170
15.96
Siliguri(WB)
155.00
-6.06
6032.00
2600
2600
-
Sitapur(UP)
148.00
-18.68
7684.00
2200
2190
5.77
Shahjahanpur(UP)
123.50
1135
40865.70
2240
2250
11.44
Basti(UP)
120.00
5.73
5083.00
1990
1980
3.92
Kalipur(WB)
92.00
8.24
6333.00
2300
2300
17.95
Rampurhat(WB)
90.00
NC
1089.00
2120
2120
-
Aligarh(UP)
85.00
NC
3790.00
2250
2260
20.00
Sealdah Koley Market(WB)
75.00
2.74
701.40
3150
3100
31.25
Thodupuzha(Ker)
70.00
NC
3010.00
2700
2650
-6.90
Jangipur(WB)
63.00
0.8
692.50
2165
2145
-6.88
Ghaziabad(UP)
60.00
20
3165.00
2350
2350
9.30
Rampur(UP)
56.00
12
726.50
2300
2290
10.05
Pandua(WB)
52.00
NC
2358.00
2700
2700
3.85
Samsi(WB)
50.00
NC
16160.00
3000
3000
-
Gazipur(UP)
49.00
4.26
2095.00
2030
2030
1.00
Achalda(UP)
35.00
-88.33
3907.50
2245
2250
-0.22
Dadri(UP)
32.00
NC
2143.00
2315
2300
-0.22
Coochbehar(WB)
32.00
-58.97
1727.00
2150
2150
4.88
Cachar(ASM)
30.00
-25
2150.00
2500
2500
-7.41
Mekhliganj(WB)
23.00
-4.17
780.00
2150
2100
16.22
Lohardaga(Jha)
22.00
37.5
1064.00
1650
1780
-17.50
Karimganj(ASM)
20.00
NC
1720.00
2150
2150
-6.52
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
20.00
-13.04
1068.60
2000
2000
5.82
Kolaghat(WB)
18.00
NC
667.00
2300
2300
4.55
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
18.00
NC
704.00
2300
2300
9.52
Kaliaganj(WB)
15.00
25
762.00
2250
2250
-6.25
Champadanga(WB)
14.00
27.27
974.00
2550
2550
NC
Falakata(WB)
13.50
-3.57
370.30
2040
2020
-0.49
Divai(UP)
13.00
-7.14
279.50
2060
2060
47.14
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
12.00
-20
1907.00
3750
3750
-
Firozabad(UP)
11.00
-21.43
665.00
2180
2200
7.39
Raiganj(WB)
10.00
NC
893.50
2200
2200
-12.00
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
8.80
-4.35
1512.70
1900
1900
-
Dibrugarh(ASM)
7.00
25
1244.30
2450
2450
-
Bobbili(AP)
6.20
-
6.20
4250
-
-
Karanjia(Ori)
5.50
-8.33
288.80
2600
2600
4.00
Buland Shahr(UP)
5.00
25
435.50
2065
2065
1.47
Islampur(WB)
4.00
33.33
296.90
2350
2350
11.90
Rajam(AP)
3.00
-
3.00
2900
-
-
Alibagh(Mah)
3.00
NC
126.00
4000
4000
23.08
Murud(Mah)
3.00
NC
198.00
3000
3000
87.50
Siyana(UP)
2.50
-16.67
95.50
2065
2065
1.23
Moreh(Man)
1.30
-7.14
2.70
3200
2900
-
Thoubal(Man)
1.30
30
80.10
2900
2900
3.57
Shillong(Meh)
1.20
50
56.60
3500
3500
NC
Mangaon(Mah)
1.00
NC
35.00
2800
2800
12.00
Jambusar(Guj)
0.90
-97.18
1070.95
3500
3400
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8736733.ece






06/15/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report


Arkansas Farm Bureau
Soybeans
High
Low
Cash Bids
1184
1109
New Crop
1169
1119


Riceland Foods


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


Futures:
SOYBEANS
High
Low
Last
Change
Jul '16
1178.00
1154.50
1156.00
-13.50
Aug '16
1173.25
1153.00
1155.00
-11.00
Sep '16
1163.50
1143.75
1145.00
-10.75
Nov '16
1156.75
1136.25
1138.50
-10.75
Jan '17
1152.75
1133.75
1135.75
-10.25
Mar '17
1110.00
1096.25
1097.50
-7.50
May '17
1091.50
1079.25
1087.25
-2.50
Jul '17
1090.50
1077.00
1085.00
-2.00
Aug '17
1069.00
1066.50
1066.25
-2.00
   

Soybean Comment
Soybeans continued thier losses today despite continue strength in domestic crush. Today's crush estimate again beat trade expectations but this was not enough to see prices move higher as product market weakened. While the market remains concerned about additional acres being added the current forecast for hot dry weather should limit losses and help support prices longer term.


Wheat
High
Low
Cash Bids
490
455
New Crop
490
460


Futures:
WHEAT
High
Low
Last
Change
Jul '16
489.75
477.00
477.50
-7.50
Sep '16
503.25
489.00
489.50
-8.25
Dec '16
524.50
509.75
510.25
-8.00
Mar '17
543.75
529.75
530.25
-7.75
May '17
555.00
542.75
542.50
-7.25
Jul '17
563.75
551.25
552.00
-6.50
Sep '17
566.00
566.00
559.25
-6.00
Dec '17
581.00
574.00
570.25
-6.25
Mar '18
590.50
588.50
581.00
-6.00
   


Wheat Comment

Wheat closed lower for the fifth straight day. Wheat prices continue to face weak fundamentals and with weaker grain markets, wheat is back within a dime of recent lows. While the dollar weakened some today, the outlook for wheat exports remains bleak.


Grain Sorghum
High
Low
Cash Bids
406
402
New Crop
391
358


Corn
High
Low
Cash Bids
446
417
New Crop
446
435


Cotton Comment

Cotton futures were lower again today but traded in a narrow range within Tuesday's range. December futures have failed at last week’s spike high of 66.45 cents and could now work lower. Uptrending support is near 62.30 cents currently. In last week’s report, USDA forecast weaker cotton mill use in the U.S. The USDA continues to forecast U.S. Cotton stocks at more than 4 million bales this year and next. Global demand remains sluggish despite a 1.7 million bale decline in global stocks primarily caused by a 2 million bale decrease in China cotton stocks, which were the result of lower production forecasts, not increased demand.


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


Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High
Low
Last
Change
Jul '16
1163.0
1127.5
1161.5
+32.0
Sep '16
1190.0
1155.0
1189.0
+32.0
Nov '16
1212.5
1192.5
1213.0
+31.5
Jan '17
1235.0
+33.0
Mar '17
1253.5
+33.5
May '17
1268.0
+32.5
Jul '17
1281.0
+32.5
   

Rice Comment

Rice futures recovered from recent losses to close at their highest level since charting a bearish key reversal on June 8. July will have resistance at that high of $11.87 1/2, and has support near $10.75. The USDA supply/demand report did show an increase in short and medium grain rice exports, but also forecast an increase in long grain rice imports. With forecast for another big crop in 2016/17, rice needs to see additional demand develop as we approach the fall. The USDA is forecasting sharp increases next year over the current year, however, export sales are still lackluster.


Cattle
Futures:
Live Cattle:
LIVE CATTLE
High
Low
Last
Change
Jun '16
119.000
117.000
117.275
-1.775
Aug '16
114.900
113.125
113.575
-1.425
Oct '16
114.775
113.050
113.525
-1.325
Dec '16
115.700
114.125
114.425
-1.250
Feb '17
115.450
113.950
114.450
-1.050
Apr '17
114.825
113.300
113.875
-1.000
Jun '17
108.000
106.925
107.550
-0.675
Aug '17
106.350
105.550
105.550
-0.850
   
Feeders:
FEEDER CATTLE
High
Low
Last
Change
Aug '16
142.200
140.000
140.250
-1.900
Sep '16
140.975
139.075
139.425
-1.500
Oct '16
139.450
137.850
138.125
-1.325
Nov '16
136.250
134.525
134.975
-1.400
Jan '17
131.000
129.975
130.025
-1.425
Mar '17
128.550
127.325
127.325
-1.475
Apr '17
127.325
127.275
127.275
-0.800
May '17
127.825
-3.175
   


Cattle Comment

Cattle prices gave back all of yesterday's gains and then some today as prices remain volatile. Cattle prices are now within just a couple of dollars of recent lows and are in need of some bullish fundamentals to help pull prices higher.


Hogs
Futures:
LEAN HOGS
High
Low
Last
Change
Jul '16
88.825
86.775
86.825
-1.250
Aug '16
90.425
88.725
88.800
-0.525
Oct '16
74.800
73.875
74.150
+0.350
Dec '16
67.250
65.650
66.875
+1.250
Feb '17
69.900
68.525
69.675
+1.150
Apr '17
72.350
71.425
72.075
+0.575
May '17
75.550
75.525
76.025
-0.075
Jun '17
79.650
78.975
79.650
+0.375
Jul '17
79.250
78.600
79.000
+0.100