California
Rice Producers Urged to Adopt Water Management Techniques to Overcome Drought
Jan 06, 2015
With prolonged drought
conditions, rice growers in the U.S. state of California are urged to adopt
water management techniques to overcome the effects of dry weather conditions
in the long run, according to local sources.Some researchers from the
University of California (UC) told local sources that proper water management
and reduction of herbicide run-off would help increase paddy yields. They noted
that crop rotation serves as one of the best water management techniques. Crop
rotation using safflower and sunflower crops would help soil retain moisture as
well as nutrients. Use of tomato crop in rotation would help in the control of
weeds an diseases. They say using this technique, paddy yield would increase
significantly.
Researchers from UC Davis
Department of Plant Science noted that though rice seems to be a crop requiring
heavy water flow, methods to retain moisture in clay soil (top layer) would certainly
help farmers because water is needed primarily to only soak the rice plants'
top few inches and not deep below. They are also exploring water management
techniques like alternate wetting and drying (AWD) in which rice farmers can
alternately dry out and re-flood their fields reducing the water usage by about
30% while not impacting yields.
Scientists are also working on
developing rice varieties that are drought-resistant, need lesser water and
produce higher yield. They are also keen on developing rice varieties that have
long-term sustainability traits.However, another year of drought is most likely
to depress the California rice growers as well as the sector. Unless they adopt
water management techniques and drought-resistant varieties, it would mean much
lesser production.
California's paddy rice acreage
in 2014 had declined to around 420,000 hectares, down about 25% from around
525,000 hectares planted in 2013 due to prolonged dry conditions and water
shortages. California is the second largest rice producing state in the U.S.
after Arkansas, and contributes to around 2 million tons of paddy rice annually
or about 25% of the total rice grown in the U.S. The state's rice sector
employs about 25,000 people. Nearly 80% of the rice grown in California is
medium-grain rice and is exported. Currently, export prices of the U.S. medium
grain rice stand at around $915 per ton.
Europe
Struggles to Compete: EU Rice Production and Exports Slow as Rice Imports
Increase
Jan 06, 2015
For the 2013/2014 crop year, rice
was planted on 425,000 hectares in all of the European Union (EU), down from
467,000 hectares the previous year, according to data supplied by Copa-Cogeca,
the federation of European farmers and farmers' cooperatives. EU rice
production in the 2013/2014 crop year totaled 1.77 million tons (basis milled),
down from 1.89 million tons (basis milled) the previous marketing
year.Forecasts for the 2014/2015 marketing have been projected downwards, with
production predicted to be 1.73 million tons (basis milled) with acreage
unchanged from 2013/2014.
Exports to non-EU countries are
set to fall in 2014/2015 to 160,000 tons from 212,000 tons (basis milled) in
2013/2014. In 2014/2015, imports of rice from non EU countries are set to fall
slightly from 1.06 million tons in 2013/2014 to 1 million tons (basis milled).
India is the biggest exporter to the EU (18.9%), followed by Cambodia (18.6%)
and Thailand (15.9%). In particular, exports from Cambodia to the EU continue
to increase, reaching 255,654 tons in 2013/2014, and equivalent to over 60% of
Cambodia’s rice exports. In addition, over the last three marketing years,
exports from Myanmar to the EU have risen from 35,938 tons to 140,919 tons.The
increase in production costs, the lack of effective phytosanitary alternatives,
and rice imports from non EU countries are the main factors which have an
impact on rice production in the EU, according to local sources.
Can an
Agricultural Zoning System Improve the Thai Rice Sector?
Jan 06, 2015
The Thailand government planned
to adopt agriculture zoning system for various crops, including rice, last year
to avert future oversupply of any commodity and price crashes. The decision was
mainly to curb excess rice production and supply, which mainly led to fall in
prices. The rice pledging scheme introduced by the previous government led to
over accumulation of rice stocks eventually snubbing down the prices over the
last couple of years.According to local sources, experts are divided over the
likely success of the land zoning system in Thailand. While some support the
government's decision, some say extra care has to be taken for the program to
yield desired benefits.
The Chairman of the Board of
Trade and the Thai Chamber of Commerce noted that the government should consider
promoting alternative commercial crops where rice cultivation is not suitable.
This would help reduce huge financial burden on the government to subsidize
rice farmers every year. He also noted that around 4.32 million hectares of the
total 11.2 million hectares of rice land in the country is not suitable to grow
rice as does not have proper irrigation facilities and its soil quality is not
up to the mark. Farmers of this land should be encouraged to grow other cash
crops such as maize, cassava, sugar cane, palm nuts and rubber, and increase
their incomes, he said.
The Honorary President of the
Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) suggested that the zoning system should
be used to cater some specific regions for growing particular types of rice.
For instance, jasmine rice can be grown in the Northeast region, hard-grained
rice can be grown in the upper North and Pathum rice can be grown in the
Central region. This would help millers and exporters to differentiate the
quality easily and also would help Thailand to maintain adequate quality
standards, he said. Currently, all types of rice are mixed up leading to lower
quality of cooked rice.
Some experts noted that long-term
development in infrastructure such as irrigation facilities, transport and
logistics systems, technological improvements in farming and soil-quality
improvement for effective implementation of the land zoning system. They said
each area should be well scrutinized for sufficient availability of labor and
the impact of natural disasters like floods, monsoons and drought.
A researcher from the Thailand
Development Research Institute (TDRI) noted that the government could divide
the rice farmers into four groups depending on their financial resources and
encourage each group to cater to grow a particular type of rice for a specific
group.
Global Rice
Quotes
January 6th, 2015
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade 420-430
↔
Vietnam 5% broken 375-385 ↓
India 5% broken 385-395
↔
Pakistan 5% broken 375-385
↔
Cambodia 5% broken 455-465 ↔
U.S. 4% broken 510-520
↔
Uruguay 5% broken 595-605 ↔
Argentina 5% broken 595-605 ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken NQ ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 345-355 ↓
Pakistan 25% broken 330-340 ↔
Cambodia 25% broken 435-445
↔
India 25% broken 350-360
↔
U.S. 15% broken 495-505
↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd 405-415
↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd 405-415
↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd 375-385
↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken 580-590
↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken 570-580
↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken NQ
↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92% 895-905
↔
Vietnam Jasmine 510-520
↔
India basmati 2% broken NQ
↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken NQ
↔
Cambodia Phka Mails 805-815 ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super 330-340
↔
Vietnam 100% broken 325-335
↔
Pakistan 100% broken stxd 300-310
↔
Cambodia A1 Super 365-375 ↔
India 100% broken stxd 295-305
↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ
↔
U.S. pet food 390-400 ↔
Brazil half grain NQ
↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com
Oryza
Overnight Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Come under Pressure Once Again as
Falling Crude Weighs on Market
Jan 06, 2015
Chicago rough rice futures for
Mar delivery were trading 2 cents per cwt (about $0.44 per ton) lower at
$11.565 per cwt (about $255 per ton) during early floor trading in Chicago. The
other grains are seen trading higher: soybeans are currently seen 0.3% higher,
wheat is listed about 1.3% higher and corn is currently trading about 0.5%
higher.U.S. stocks mostly rose on Tuesday, a day after the market's biggest
rout since October, as considered reports that offered a mixed view on the
momentum of U.S. economy.
A measure of the service sector came in below
expectations in December, and factory orders fell 0.7% in November versus a
forecast of a 0.8% dip. Crude prices fell further, with U.S. oil down 2% and
below $49 a barrel. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 24.43 points, or
0.2%, to 17,526.08. The S&P 500 advanced nearly 2 points, or 0.1%, to
2,022.39, with health care leading sector gains. The Nasdaq dropped 5.52
points, or 0.2%, to 4,647.05. Gold is currently trading about 0.6% higher, crude
oil is seen trading about 1.9% lower, and the U.S. dollar is currently
trading about 0.1% higher at 10:10am Chicago time.
Myanmar
Illegal Rice Exports to China Reach 800,000 Tons in First Nine Months of FY
2014-15
Jan 06, 2015
Myanmar's rice exports to China
through northern borders, especially the Muse border, have surged during the
last month due to reduced seizures by the Chinese authorities, according to
local sources.
Around 4,500 tons of rice and
1,500 tons of broken rice are being exported to China through the Muse border
every day, according to the data provided by the Vice-Chairman of the Muse
Paddy Wholesale Center. Total exports through borders have reached around
800,000 tons in the first nine months of FY 2014-15. Total rice exports of the country
reached around 915,000 tons from April 1 - December 15, 2014, up about 75% from
around 522,857 tons exported during the same period last year, according to the
Ministry of Commerce.
The rice trade through northern
borders of Myanmar declined significantly after China, which had been demanding
a phyto-sanitary agreement with Myanmar, had officially banned rice imports
through Myanmar's northern borders in August this year. Following this ban, the
Chinese authorities have been seizing the rice consignments of traders if found
exporting to China through the northern borders.
Myanmar government has been
negotiating with the Chinese authorities to chart a formal trade agreement
between the two countries. In November, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit,
the Chinese Premier reportedly promised to import one million tons of rice from
Myanmar in 2015 as well as legalize imports through borders. According to the
Myanmar Rice Federation, three Chinese companies will each buy around 280,000
tons of rice this year.
The Chairman of the Myanmar
Farmers Association said last week that China Certification and Inspection
Company (CCIC) is planning to set up an office in Rangoon soon in order to
monitor the quality of Myanmar rice before exporting to China.The South-East
Asian nation expects to export over 1.5 million tons of rice in FY 2014-15, up
about 25% from around 1.2 million tons exported in FY 2013-14. USDA estimates
Myanmar to produce 18.98 million tons of paddy rice (around 12.15 million tons,
milled basis) and export around 1.4 million tons of rice in MY 2014-15 (January
- December 2015).
Oryza
Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Finish Little Changed as Market
Faces Conflicting Outside Pressure from Rising Grains and Falling Crude
Jan 06, 2015
Chicago rough rice futures for
Mar delivery settled 2 cents per cwt (about $0.44 per ton) higher at $11.605
per cwt (about $256 per ton). Rough rice futures ended slightly higher after a
session of back-and-forth trading as the market continues to drift sideways.
Trade participants expect prices to remain lifeless barring a clear directional
signal from the cash market. The other grains also closed mostly higher today;
Soybeans closed about 1% higher at $10.5575 per bushel; wheat finished about
0.5% higher at $5.9175 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.3% lower
at $4.0500 per bushel.
U.S. stocks dropped sharply on
Tuesday, with the S&P 500 falling below 2,000 for the first time in nearly
four weeks, as investors fretted the implications of crude's failure to find a
floor. Crude prices fell further, with U.S. oil down 4% and just above $48 a
barrel. Erasing a 79-point gain, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped as
much as 239 points, and was lately off 210.77 points, or 1.2%, at 17,290.88.
Dipping beneath 2,000 for the
first time since Dec. 17, the S&P 500 was lately off 25.95 points, or 1.3%,
to 1,994.63, with energy and financials hardest hit among its main sectors. The
Nasdaq declined 75.39 points, or 1.6%, to 4,577.18. Gold is trading about 1.2%
higher, crude oil is seen trading about 4.5% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen
trading a touch higher at about 1:00pm Chicago time.Monday, there were
590 contracts traded, up from 543 contracts traded on Friday. Open interest –
the number of contracts outstanding – on Monday decreased by 103 contracts to
8,824.
Oryza
U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Lifeless Market as Bid/Ask Spread Widens
Jan 06, 2015
The U.S. cash market was lifeless
today as seller price ideas continue to hold around $12.22 per cwt fob farm
(about $270 per ton) while most buyers are bidding about $0.50-$0.75 per cwt
lower which generated little to no interest.Analysts contend that prices will
not stabilize or firm without big purchases from Venezuela or Iraq and that the
window for that potential business is shrinking with new crop in South America
on the horizon.
Vietnam
Rice Sellers Lower Some of Their Quotes Today; Other Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged
Jan 06, 2015
Vietnam rice sellers lowered
their quotes for 5% broken rice and 25% rice by about $5 per ton each to around
$375 - $385 per ton and around $345 - $355 per ton, respectively, today. Other
Asia rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged today.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is quoted at
around $405 - $415 per ton, about $30 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice shown
at around $375 - $385 per ton, down about $5 per ton from yesterday. India 5%
rice is quoted at around $385 - $395 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on
Pakistan 5% rice quoted at around $375 - $385 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice was last quoted
at around $350 - $360 per ton, about $5 per ton premium on Vietnam 25% rice
shown at around $345 - $355 per ton, down about $5 per ton from yesterday.
India 25% rice is quoted at around $350 - $360, about $20 per ton premium on
Pakistan 25% rice quoted at around $330 - $340 per ton.
Parboiled Rice
Thailand parboiled rice is quoted
at around $405 - $415 per ton. India parboiled rice is quoted at around
$375 - $385 per ton, about $30 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice
quoted at around $405 - $415 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super,
is quoted at around $330 - $340 per ton, about $5 per ton premium on Vietnam
100% broken rice shown at around $325 - $335 per ton. India's 100% broken rice
is shown at around $295 - $305 per ton, about $5 per ton discount to
Pakistan broken sortexed rice quoted at around $300 - $310 per ton.
Thailand Exports 9.49 Million Tons of Rice in
First Eleven Months of 2014; Up 60% from Last Year
Jan 06, 2015
Thailand has exported around 9.49
million tons of rice in the first eleven months (January - November) of 2014,
up about 60% from around 5.92 million tons exported during the same period in
2013, according to data from Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA). In
value terms, Thailand’s rice exports earned about $4.69 billion from total rice
exports in January - November 2014, up about 18% from around $3.97 billion
earned during the same period in 2013.
In November 2014, Thailand
exported around 721,955 tons of rice, down about 41% from around 1.2 million
tons exported in October 2014; and up about 39% from around 519,700 tons
exported in November 2013. Of the total November sales, white rice accounted
for around 375,176 tons (about 52% of total November exports), Hom Mali rice
accounted for about 125,081 tons (about 17% of total November exports), brokens
accounted for 51,235 tons (about 7% of total November exports), glutinous
variety accounted for 9,680 tons (about 1% of total November exports),
parboiled rice accounted for about 157,427 tons (about 22% of total November
exports) and husked/brown rice accounted for about 3,356 tons (about 0.5% of
total November exports).
Thailand's November 2014 exports
earned around $379.39 million, down about 35% from around $580.12 million
earned in October 2014; and up about 7% from around $353.7 million earned in
November 2013. In November 2014, average export prices of white, Hom Mali,
brokens, parboiled and glutinous rice varieties declined, while prices of
brokens and husked rice varieties increased over those in October 2014. Average
export prices of husked rice witnessed the highest increase of about 17%
month-on-month in November 2014. On the other hand, average export prices of
Thai Hom Mali rice witnessed the highest decline of about 6% m/m.The TREA
expects, Thailand to export around 11 million tons of rice in 2014.
Get all above News in PDF format,just click the following link to Download the file?
