Mechanization to help
preserve rice terraces’
By | May. 27, 2015 at 12:01am
MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija—Mechanization can help conserve and preserve
the famous Ifugao rice terraces in the Cordilleras, according to a Japanese
agricultural engineer who said that farm machineries can be used to preserve
the terraces.Professor Makoto Hoki, former research fellow at the International
Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), stressed that mechanization can perform the
work of agriculture workers who used to work on the terraces.Hoki spoke in a
seminar on how to restore the Ifugao rice terraces at the institute’s central
experiment station here last week.
In the same seminar, professor Hiroshi Tsujii of Kyoto
University and senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research
Institute (IFPRI) based in Thailand observed that conserving the Ifugao rice
terraces has been made difficult because these have been abandoned by farm
workers due to external pressure that led them to seek non-agricultural
jobs.Other factors include the advancing age of farmers and out-migration of
young people. Both reduce the needed workforce to cultivate and maintain the
rice terraces.
The rice terraces of the Cordilleras were inscribed on the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World
Heritage List in 1995, the first-ever property to be included in its cultural
landscape category.This inscription has five sites: the Batad Rice Terraces and
Bangaan Rice Terraces (both in Banaue), Mayoyao Rice Terraces (in Mayoyao),
Hungduan Rice Terraces (in Hungduan) and Nagacadan Rice Terraces (in Kiangan),
all in Ifugao.
Why shifting to brown rice matters
'In a country vulnerable to climate change and its impact, brown
rice will help us face the threat of food insecurity'
Renee Juliene Karunungan
Published
2:21 PM, May 27, 2015
Updated
2:23 PM, May 27, 2015
It's
a fact that Filipinos love rice. We eat it 3 times a day and for many of us,
one cup simply isn’t enough.According to the Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice), the average Filipino consumes 3 cups of rice per meal, which means
9 cups of rice a day;However, for an agricultural country, the Philippines has
had to import rice to feed its people. In fact, in 2010, the Philippines was
the biggest importer of rice in the world.
The
production of rice simply cannot keep up with the demand.Data from PhilRice
also show that in 2010, Filipino farmers had to produce 286.2 million cavans of
rice to feed 92.34 million Filipinos. This rice shortage poses a problem for a
country where 25.3% of its population is living below income of $2 a day and
relying on rice to fill their empty stomachs. This rice shortage is all the
more aggravated by climate change. According to Ricepedia, climate change
remains to be one of the constraints to rice production in the country.
“Climate change and the vulnerability of crop production to drought and heavy
rainfall, especially during the typhoon season, severely affect production.”
Game changer
However, organic brown rice might be a game changer and could
contribute to solving the rice shortage in the country. While brown rice is
known for its health benefits, given its high fiber content, brown rice also
reduces rice wastage and therefore helps boost rice self-sufficiency and food
security in the Philippines.According to Professor Ted Mendoza, a crop scientist
from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, milling white rice removes
38% of the husk compared to milling brown rice which only removes 28%. Brown
rice has a 10% higher milling recovery.
Oxfam International said that this 10% higher milling rate
translates to almost 1 million tons of milled rice, which is almost the same
amount of rice imported by the Philippines.But not only is brown rice going to
help the country become more rice self-sufficient, brown rice also helps
small-scale farmers adapt to climate change. By saving on production and labor,
farmers will have the chance to diversify their crops, helping them adapt to
the changing climate.The government has, in
fact, seen the importance of brown rice. 2013 was declared the National Year of
the Rice. 2012 and 2013 also saw the launch of The Good Food Project led by
Oxfam International and Dakila. Both campaigns promoted brown rice and
encouraged more Filipinos to bring brown rice back to their tables.Today,
the government continues the promotion of food security through the “Be
Riceponsible” campaign.
One success of the campaigns was a resolution by the government
of Quezon City “enjoining the observance of organic unpolished brown rice
consumption" every Tuesday. The resolution encouraged the consumption of
unpolished brown rice at the Quezon City Hall Complex, Novaliches District
Center, and all city public schools and hospitals and barangays.The resolution
also urged all concessionaires and food establishments and stalls in the places
mentioned above to “always make organic unpolished brown rice available in
their menu and food offering daily.”
Historically, pre-colonial Filipinos ate brown rice, locally called “pinawa.” It was only when milling machines from the West were introduced in Asia that Filipinos shifted to white rice. But seeing the problems we are now facing in food security aggravated by the impact of climate change, this might be the right time to rethink the way we produce and consume rice and instead revert to brown rice.
Higher demand
The difficulty, however, remains to be that organic brown rice, at around P50-P60 (around $1.25)* per kilo is a lot more expensive than white rice, the cheapest being NFA rice at around P32 ($.75) per kilo. The high cost of organic brown rice makes it difficult for the average Filipino to consume brown rice.However, the fact is, with lower labor and production cost, brown rice should cost less than white rice but because demand is also low, the price has become high. A bigger demand, then, is needed to lower the cost of brown rice and make it accessible to more people.This is where local government resolutions and ordinances such as that of Quezon City becomes important.
By giving Filipinos more access to brown rice in the market and
by allowing it to become an option in restaurants, brown rice might just get
the attention it needs. While it may be difficult for the average Filipino
earning a minimum wage to eat brown rice 3 times a day, eating brown rice at
least once a month can already make a big impact.According to the Department of
Agriculture, if all Filipinos ate brown rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
at least once a month, the country’s importation of rice will shrink at an
average of 500,000 metric tons/year.Shifting to brown rice is also a challenge
for a country with a sweet tooth. Brown rice tastes different and may be quite
difficult to pair with our favorite sinigang, kare-kare, oradobo. But it only takes creativity
in the kitchen and some getting used to. In a country vulnerable to climate
change and its impact, brown rice will help us face the threat of food
insecurity.People are starting to shift to the better rice, although gradually.
Let us all be a part of this shift. Let's give brown rice a chance to be a part
of our meals and help our country better adapt to the impact of climate change. –
Rappler.com
Renee Juliene M. Karunungan is the program manager for advocacy
of Dakila, a collective of artists working together for social transformation.
Dakila has been campaigning for climate justice with Oxfam since 2009 and
currently has a climate revolution program.
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/hunger/94421-shifting-brown-rice-matters
Thai rice stockpiles could trump El Nino wild card
27 May 2015 at 14:44
A rice farm in Suphan Buri province. Thai rice stocks could come
in handy in keeping the market in check and ensuring that importers not resort
to panic buying during the El Nino, industry executives say. (Bangkok Post
photo)
The severity of El Nino this year
may decide whether rice prices recover from the lowest since 2008.Plentiful
global inventories will probably cushion against any disruption to this year's
crop, suppressing prices in the second half of the year, according to The Rice
Trader. Further out, it may be a different story."I'm short-term bearish
and, on the longer term, I'm quite bullish," Jeremy Zwinger, chief
executive officer of The Rice Trader, a Durham, California-based researcher,
said in Bangkok. "If it's a severe El Nino, obviously that's bullish.
"El Ninos bring drier-than-usual
conditions including drought to parts of Asia, hurting crops in the top
exporters and boosting demand among buyers. Australia this month joined
forecasters in the US and Japan in declaring an event had begun, and weathermen
are seeking to determine how long it will last and how strong it may be. The
last El Nino was in 2009-2010 when global rough-rice output fell 1.8%."At
this stage, we can only speak about potential impacts, given how influential
factors such timing, strength and duration can be," said Shirley Mustafa,
an analyst at the Rome-based Food & Agriculture Organization, which doesn't
give specific price forecasts. "A smaller crop would indeed tend to be
supportive. However, this potential has to be put in the context of the still
ample level of rice inventories."
More imports
The price of Thai 5% broken white
rice, a regional benchmark, dropped 9% to US$381 a tonne this year, the lowest
level since January 2008, as the world's largest exporter sought to sell record
reserves built up during a now-ended state-support program. Rough-rice futures
sank 20% to $9.38 per 100 pounds in Chicago since January after declining to
$9.25 on May 13, the lowest level since 2006.Thailand, India and the
Philippines risk having smaller crops as El Ninos often suppress rainfall,
according to the FAO.
While global reserves may drop
4.6% to 168.2 million tonnes in 2015-2016, that's still 17% higher than the
average over the past decade, data from the agency showed.The Philippines,
Asia's second-largest buyer, approved 250,000 tonnes of additional imports from
July and may double purchases should El Nino cut output significantly, the National
Food Authority said May 22. Remote sensing indicated below-average rain in the
main rice-growing areas since April, which may hurt sowing, the FAO said in a
report on May 21.Downside risks to rice crops are high in the Philippines,
India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, BMI Research, a unit
of Fitch Group, said on May 15. Palm oil and sugar production are also
threatened, it said in a report.
Reserves 'handy'
"The impact of El Nino could
be even more significant because international agriculture prices have been
weak for several years," BMI said. "Sentiment could quickly turn
around should the weather actually prove unfavourable."While there's no
consensus yet on how severe this El Nino will be, there are signs it may intensify.
Moderate conditions are likely to persist through the June-to-September monsoon
and then strengthen, the India Meteorological Department said on May 21. A
significant El Nino is likely, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said on May
12, and added in its fortnightly update on Tuesday that the event continues to
strengthen.
"Thai rice stocks could come
in very handy in keeping the market in check and ensuring that importers not
resort to panic buying," Samarendu Mohanty, head of the social sciences
division at the Los Banos, Philippine-based International Rice Research
Institute, said in a May 21 commentary.Global reserves rose from 106.4 million
tonnes in 2005-2006 as harvests expanded. State reserves in Thailand stand at
about 16 million tonnes from about 2 million tonnes before the support program
started in October 2011, government data show.The "price is weak short
term, in three to six months, because of Thai stocks and competition among
major exporters," The Rice Trader's Mr Zwinger said in an interview on May
21. "The market today is more concerned on Thai stocks than El Nino."
APEDA India
(News)
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Basmati
rice to get IPR protection as exporters support Centre’s view
Chennai-based
Intellectual Property Appellate Board is slated to hear the claims of all the
parties for three consecutive days from July 8 for granting GI certification to
Basmati rice
India’s famous Basmati rice is set to get intellectual property
rights (IPR) protection in the home country. With its exporters supporting the
Centre’s view that Madhya Pradesh can’t be deemed part of the Indo-Gangetic
plain, decks have been cleared for Basmati’s entry into the coveted
Geographical Indications (GI) Registry. GI protection in India would lead to
similar recognitions in other countries, which means India’s competitors would
be barred from using the Basmati tag.
India’s basmati rice exports, which had touched a record Rs
29,000 crore in 2013-14, fell to Rs 27,600 crore in 2014-15, due to a decline
in shipments to Iran.Official sources told FE that Chennai-based Intellectual
Property Appellate Board (IPAB) is slated to hear the claims of all the parties
for three consecutive days during July 8-10 for granting GI certification to
basmati rice.
The GI Registry, in a directive issued on December 31, 2013, had
asked the Centre if Madhya Pradesh could be included in the definition of
traditionally basmati-growing geography, inviting strong reactions from the
commerce and agriculture ministries, which thinks the state’s claim is
unjustified.Even as the issue was pending with the GI Registry, the Madhya
Pradesh government had moved the IPAB. The Agricultural and Processed Foods
Export Development Authority (Apeda) has now told the IPAB that MP’s claim is
invalid. Under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and
Protection) Act, 1999, Apeda is designated to be the custodian of GI rights for
farm produce.“Considering the Madhya Pradesh case for inclusion in basmati growing
region would amount to playing with rights of those farmers who have been
traditionally growing basmati in Indo-Gangetic plain,” a commerce ministry
official said.
Leading agricultural scientists have also opposed Madhya
Pradesh’s attempt to be included in basmati-growing regions, by stating that it
would adversely impact the ‘quality’ of basmati rice and sully its global
repute. “Claiming rice grown in Madhya Pradesh as basmati is not correct as we
have developed seed varieties keeping in mind agro-climatic zones of the
Indo-Gangetic plain,” KV Prabhu, deputy director, Indian Agricultural Research
Institute (IARI), and a well-known rice breeder, had recently said.
In 2009, Apeda under the commerce ministry had applied to the GI
Registry asking for exclusive (commercial) use of the basmati tag for the grain
varieties grown within the boundaries of the Indo-Gagentic plain in Punjab,
Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and 26 districts of western Uttar
Pradesh and two districts of Jammu and Kashmir.GI ascribes ‘exclusivity’ to the
community in a defined geography rather than to an individual as in the case of
trademarks and patents.Madhya Kshetra Basmati Growers Association Samiti and a
leading basmati rice exporter, LT Foods, along with Madhya Pradesh’s department
of farmer welfare and agriculture development, had approached the GI Registry
jointly in 2013.
During 2008-10, India and Pakistan had initiated steps to
register basmati under GI as ‘joint heritage’ for protecting its premium market
abroad. But that bid did not fructify due to opposition to it within
Pakistan.In the absence of GI, many private companies have been unsuccessfully
trying to register their products as ‘basmati’, which commands a premium in the
global market. The IARI has developed Pusa 1121 basmati rice variety, which is
grown in more than 60% of basmati rice areas.
First Published on May 27, 2015 12:09 am
http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/basmati-rice-to-get-ipr-protection-as-exporters-support-centres-view/76579/
Livestock sector to show off in
bid to lure investment
Published: May 27, 2015
PHOTO: INP
KARACHI:
The Sindh
Board of Investment (SBI) is looking forward to the upcoming livestock, dairy, fishery
agriculture (LDFA) 2015 exhibition, hoping that the trade fair could prove to
be a stepping stone towards attracting new businesses and investments.
“We expect better business opportunities for
the exhibitors and others in the fifth edition of LDFA,” SBI Director General
Muhammad Riazuddin said while talking to media.Without specifying how much
business the last four exhibitions have generated, Riazuddin said that the
event is fulfilling its purpose as it is providing a platform to local and international
companies to share their expertise and knowledge about new technologies.LDFA
2015 will be organised at the Expo Centre Karachi from May 30 to 31, 2015.
According to the SBI’s website, all four
versions of LDFA witnessed collective business deals of more than Rs2.5
billion.SBI official present in the briefing informed that the Sindh government
has started a scheme in which the farmers can get cheap financing from private
banks. The provincial government will provide a loan of Rs32,000 per acre at a
subsidised rate.
According to the SBI, a large proportion of
Pakistan and Sindh’s economy is directly and indirectly linked to the
agriculture sector. “It provides 45% of employment to our labour force and
contributes 21% to the country’s GDP.”
“I want to reiterate the Sindh government’s
resolve to promote and boost investment in agriculture and livestock sectors,”
Riazuddin said.This year, 24 exhibitors will be promoting exotic birds in LDFA
2015. Other than this, there are other participants including 21 agriculture
companies, 14 international companies and banks, 14 companies of dairy and
livestock, and 9 companies from poultry and fisheries. Moreover, the diplomatic
missions of Sri Lanka and Indonesia are also participating as exhibitors to
create linkages with Pakistani companies.Sindh produces a variety of field and
horticultural crops, including major ones such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, and
cotton; approximately 68% of the total cropped area is used for their
production.
Sindh produces 35% of the total rice
produced in Pakistan, 28% of sugarcane, 12% of wheat, and 20% of cotton.
Similarly of the major horticulture crops, Sindh produces 88% chillies, 73%
bananas, and 34% mangoes.LDFA 2015 is aimed to position Sindh as an
economically viable province by identifying areas for investment in various
sectors.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th,
2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/892812/livestock-sector-to-show-off-in-bid-to-lure-investment/
Prices of commercial rice continue downward trend – NFA
MANILA, Philippines -- Prices of
commercial rice were monitored to be decreasing even in drought-hit areas
contrary to reports that rice prices have gone up in the said areas, the
National Food Authority (NFA) said Tuesday.NFA administrator Renan Dalisay said
that during an actual inspection of public markets in General Santos City early
Tuesday morning, he observed that rice prices in the area ranged between ₱32
per kilogram and ₱44 per kilogram depending on variety.
He said the rice came from Surala, South Cotabato which is among
the areas in the country where the El Niño phenomenon is prevalent. “Contrary
to reports, commercial rice prices have also gone down in other areas as well,”
Dalisay said.Data obtained from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
showed that as of May 23, retail prices of regular commercial rice (RMR)
averaged at ₱37.28 per kilogram, while the well-milled variety (WMR) was
recorded at ₱41.29 per kilogram.
Meanwhile, NFA rice remains at ₱27 and ₱32 per kilogram for RMR
and WMR, respectively.
In the meantime, Dalisay stressed that the NFA is ready for the
onset of the lean months - which starts in July - with its active procurement
operations.“As of May 21, the NFA was able to procure a total of 1.2 million
metric tons of palay. We are also getting ready with the importation of an
additional 250,000 MT in preparation for the lean months as well as to
stabilize rice prices during the period,” Dalisay said.The 250,000 MT will be
imported through government-to-government procurement and will be opened to the
governments of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.
http://www.interaksyon.com/business/111223/prices-of-commercial-rice-continue-downward-trend--nfa
High
Quality Malaysian Palm Oil Call for Best Prices trusted source
DJ China Dalian Grain Futures Closing Prices, Volume
Soybean No. 1
Turnover: 142,052 lots, or 6.26 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 – - – 4,357 4,357 4,357 0 0 10
Sep-15 4,406 4,424 4,371 4,388 4,424 4,395 -29 121,044 147,186
Nov-15 – - – 4,443 4,472 4,443 -29 0 120
Jan-16 4,488 4,510 4,462 4,480 4,510 4,485 -25 20,308 71,414
Mar-16 4,561 4,561 4,561 4,561 4,563 4,561 -2 12 106
May-16 4,611 4,625 4,580 4,583 4,621 4,594 -27 634 9,778
Jul-16 – - – 4,628 4,655 4,628 -27 0 14
Sep-16 4,634 4,652 4,630 4,632 4,655 4,640 -15 54 320
Nov-16 – - – 4,628 4,628 4,628 0 0 0
Soybean No. 2
Turnover: 136 lots, or 4.01 million yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 2,874 2,900 2,874 2,880 2,899 2,884 -15 6 30
Sep-15 2,974 2,974 2,926 2,950 2,954 2,949 -5 130 864
Nov-15 – - – 3,167 3,172 3,167 -5 0 8
Jan-16 – - – 3,182 3,182 3,182 0 0 34
Mar-16 – - – 3,172 3,177 3,172 -5 0 12
May-16 – - – 3,136 3,141 3,136 -5 0 0
Corn
Turnover: 104,550 lots, or 2.51 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 2,409 2,428 2,392 2,392 2,403 2,415 12 92 242
Sep-15 2,468 2,475 2,439 2,445 2,473 2,456 -17 78,990 236,730
Nov-15 2,325 2,333 2,310 2,310 2,316 2,320 4 50 242
Jan-16 2,229 2,229 2,194 2,201 2,228 2,212 -16 23,104 94,242
Mar-16 2,241 2,257 2,233 2,233 2,246 2,242 -4 10 50
May-16 2,290 2,290 2,255 2,269 2,294 2,272 -22 2,304 5,834
Soymeal
Turnover: 2,250,580 lots, or 57.23 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 2,420 2,538 2,420 2,446 2,452 2,452 0 450 1,946
Aug-15 2,518 2,537 2,511 2,518 2,530 2,518 -12 118 534
Sep-15 2,520 2,551 2,514 2,533 2,541 2,536 -5 1,979,394 4,464,104
Nov-15 2,570 2,610 2,570 2,573 2,584 2,580 -4 34 400
Dec-15 2,609 2,628 2,606 2,606 2,619 2,611 -8 34 320
Jan-16 2,585 2,610 2,576 2,586 2,602 2,592 -10 208,024 995,114
Mar-16 2,628 2,649 2,621 2,625 2,639 2,637 -2 628 2,456
May-16 2,585 2,598 2,571 2,574 2,596 2,583 -13 61,898 176,704
Palm Oil
Turnover: 1,243,944 lots, or 63.48 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jun-15 – - – 5,032 5,032 5,032 0 0 10
Jul-15 – - – 4,904 4,904 4,904 0 0 6
Aug-15 – - – 4,894 4,894 4,894 0 0 12
Sep-15 5,054 5,120 5,040 5,084 5,022 5,086 64 972,186 735,998
Oct-15 5,102 5,136 5,086 5,100 5,018 5,102 84 38 54
Nov-15 – - – 5,122 5,038 5,122 84 0 6
Dec-15 5,250 5,250 5,198 5,198 5,136 5,226 90 32 32
Jan-16 5,118 5,202 5,118 5,162 5,112 5,164 52 269,732 285,872
Feb-16 – - – 5,244 5,192 5,244 52 0 18
Mar-16 – - – 5,276 5,224 5,276 52 0 6
Apr-16 – - – 5,176 5,124 5,176 52 0 6
May-16 5,266 5,326 5,250 5,294 5,276 5,290 14 1,956 5,176
Soybean oil
Turnover: 923,910 lots, or 53.62 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 – - – 5,722 5,722 5,722 0 0 2
Aug-15 – - – 5,760 5,760 5,760 0 0 4
Sep-15 5,750 5,806 5,744 5,756 5,750 5,772 22 714,074 795,406
Nov-15 – - – 5,918 5,896 5,918 22 0 28
Dec-15 – - – 5,954 5,932 5,954 22 0 14
Jan-16 5,880 5,936 5,864 5,904 5,876 5,904 28 205,308 337,608
Mar-16 – - – 5,964 5,942 5,964 22 0 40
May-16 5,914 5,978 5,912 5,930 5,914 5,944 30 4,528 9,482
Notes:
1) Unit is Chinese yuan a metric ton;
2) Ch. is day’s settlement minus previous settlement;
3) Volume and open interest are in lots;
4) One lot is equivalent to 10 metric tons.
Soybean No. 1
Turnover: 142,052 lots, or 6.26 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 – - – 4,357 4,357 4,357 0 0 10
Sep-15 4,406 4,424 4,371 4,388 4,424 4,395 -29 121,044 147,186
Nov-15 – - – 4,443 4,472 4,443 -29 0 120
Jan-16 4,488 4,510 4,462 4,480 4,510 4,485 -25 20,308 71,414
Mar-16 4,561 4,561 4,561 4,561 4,563 4,561 -2 12 106
May-16 4,611 4,625 4,580 4,583 4,621 4,594 -27 634 9,778
Jul-16 – - – 4,628 4,655 4,628 -27 0 14
Sep-16 4,634 4,652 4,630 4,632 4,655 4,640 -15 54 320
Nov-16 – - – 4,628 4,628 4,628 0 0 0
Soybean No. 2
Turnover: 136 lots, or 4.01 million yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 2,874 2,900 2,874 2,880 2,899 2,884 -15 6 30
Sep-15 2,974 2,974 2,926 2,950 2,954 2,949 -5 130 864
Nov-15 – - – 3,167 3,172 3,167 -5 0 8
Jan-16 – - – 3,182 3,182 3,182 0 0 34
Mar-16 – - – 3,172 3,177 3,172 -5 0 12
May-16 – - – 3,136 3,141 3,136 -5 0 0
Corn
Turnover: 104,550 lots, or 2.51 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 2,409 2,428 2,392 2,392 2,403 2,415 12 92 242
Sep-15 2,468 2,475 2,439 2,445 2,473 2,456 -17 78,990 236,730
Nov-15 2,325 2,333 2,310 2,310 2,316 2,320 4 50 242
Jan-16 2,229 2,229 2,194 2,201 2,228 2,212 -16 23,104 94,242
Mar-16 2,241 2,257 2,233 2,233 2,246 2,242 -4 10 50
May-16 2,290 2,290 2,255 2,269 2,294 2,272 -22 2,304 5,834
Soymeal
Turnover: 2,250,580 lots, or 57.23 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 2,420 2,538 2,420 2,446 2,452 2,452 0 450 1,946
Aug-15 2,518 2,537 2,511 2,518 2,530 2,518 -12 118 534
Sep-15 2,520 2,551 2,514 2,533 2,541 2,536 -5 1,979,394 4,464,104
Nov-15 2,570 2,610 2,570 2,573 2,584 2,580 -4 34 400
Dec-15 2,609 2,628 2,606 2,606 2,619 2,611 -8 34 320
Jan-16 2,585 2,610 2,576 2,586 2,602 2,592 -10 208,024 995,114
Mar-16 2,628 2,649 2,621 2,625 2,639 2,637 -2 628 2,456
May-16 2,585 2,598 2,571 2,574 2,596 2,583 -13 61,898 176,704
Palm Oil
Turnover: 1,243,944 lots, or 63.48 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jun-15 – - – 5,032 5,032 5,032 0 0 10
Jul-15 – - – 4,904 4,904 4,904 0 0 6
Aug-15 – - – 4,894 4,894 4,894 0 0 12
Sep-15 5,054 5,120 5,040 5,084 5,022 5,086 64 972,186 735,998
Oct-15 5,102 5,136 5,086 5,100 5,018 5,102 84 38 54
Nov-15 – - – 5,122 5,038 5,122 84 0 6
Dec-15 5,250 5,250 5,198 5,198 5,136 5,226 90 32 32
Jan-16 5,118 5,202 5,118 5,162 5,112 5,164 52 269,732 285,872
Feb-16 – - – 5,244 5,192 5,244 52 0 18
Mar-16 – - – 5,276 5,224 5,276 52 0 6
Apr-16 – - – 5,176 5,124 5,176 52 0 6
May-16 5,266 5,326 5,250 5,294 5,276 5,290 14 1,956 5,176
Soybean oil
Turnover: 923,910 lots, or 53.62 billion yuan
Open High Low Close Prev. Settle Ch. Vol Open
Settle Interest
Jul-15 – - – 5,722 5,722 5,722 0 0 2
Aug-15 – - – 5,760 5,760 5,760 0 0 4
Sep-15 5,750 5,806 5,744 5,756 5,750 5,772 22 714,074 795,406
Nov-15 – - – 5,918 5,896 5,918 22 0 28
Dec-15 – - – 5,954 5,932 5,954 22 0 14
Jan-16 5,880 5,936 5,864 5,904 5,876 5,904 28 205,308 337,608
Mar-16 – - – 5,964 5,942 5,964 22 0 40
May-16 5,914 5,978 5,912 5,930 5,914 5,944 30 4,528 9,482
Notes:
1) Unit is Chinese yuan a metric ton;
2) Ch. is day’s settlement minus previous settlement;
3) Volume and open interest are in lots;
4) One lot is equivalent to 10 metric tons.
Crop
Progress
Date 24-May 17-May 2014 Avg
Cotton Planted 47 35 60 61
Corn Plamted 92 85 86 88
Corn Emerged 74 56 56 62
Soybeans Planted 61 45 55 55
Soybeans Emerged 32 13 23 25
Rice Planted 93 89 94 92
Rice Emerged 82 70 78 77
Sorghum Planted 41 38 45 46
Peanuts Planted 68 47 64 67
Sunflowers Planted 26 10 15
Oats Emerged 91 83 70 79
Oats Headed 26 30 30
Winter Wheat Headed 77 68 68 67
Spring Wheat Planted 96 94 70 79
Spring Wheat Emerged 80 67 40 54
Barley Emerged 86 72 54 55
Date 24-May 17-May 2014 Avg
Cotton Planted 47 35 60 61
Corn Plamted 92 85 86 88
Corn Emerged 74 56 56 62
Soybeans Planted 61 45 55 55
Soybeans Emerged 32 13 23 25
Rice Planted 93 89 94 92
Rice Emerged 82 70 78 77
Sorghum Planted 41 38 45 46
Peanuts Planted 68 47 64 67
Sunflowers Planted 26 10 15
Oats Emerged 91 83 70 79
Oats Headed 26 30 30
Winter Wheat Headed 77 68 68 67
Spring Wheat Planted 96 94 70 79
Spring Wheat Emerged 80 67 40 54
Barley Emerged 86 72 54 55
Crop
Condition
Very Poor Poor Fair Good Very Good
Corn This Week 0 3 23 62 12
Corn Last Week
Corn Last Year
Very Poor Poor Fair Good Very Good
Corn This Week 0 3 23 62 12
Corn Last Week
Corn Last Year
Winter
Wht This Week 6 13 36 37 8
Winter Wht Last Week 6 13 36 37 8
Winter Wht Last Year 22 22 26 24 6
Winter Wht Last Week 6 13 36 37 8
Winter Wht Last Year 22 22 26 24 6
Spring
Wheat This Week 1 3 27 61 8
Spring Wheat Last Week 1 3 31 58 7
Spring Wheat Last Year
Spring Wheat Last Week 1 3 31 58 7
Spring Wheat Last Year
Rice
This Week 1 5 28 49 17
Rice Last Week 1 5 28 50 16
Rice Last Year 0 5 28 54 13
Rice Last Week 1 5 28 50 16
Rice Last Year 0 5 28 54 13
Oats
This Week 2 6 22 59 11
Oats Last Week 1 5 21 62 11
Oats Last Year 4 8 28 53 7
Oats Last Week 1 5 21 62 11
Oats Last Year 4 8 28 53 7
Barley
This Week 0 2 24 61 13
Barley Last Week 0 3 33 53 11
Barley Last Year
Barley Last Week 0 3 33 53 11
Barley Last Year
Pastures
and Ranges This Week 2 8 30 48 12
Pastures and Ranges Last Week 3 9 31 47 10
Pastures and Ranges Last Year 7 14 33 39 7
Pastures and Ranges Last Week 3 9 31 47 10
Pastures and Ranges Last Year 7 14 33 39 7
DJ
USDA Grain Inspections For Export in Metric Tons -May 26
Source: USDA
For the week ending May 21, in thousand metric tons. Includes
waterway shipments to Canada.
Grain ——–Week Ending——– Current Previous
5/21/2015 5/14/2015 5/22/2014 Market Yr Market Yr
to Date to Date
BARLEY 0 0 1,592 162,538 200,223
CORN 1,006,720 1,108,998 1,168,964 30,920,512 32,696,890
FLAXSEED 24 0 342 8,086 8,470
MIXED 0 0 0 0 0
OATS 0 0 0 600 2,055
RYE 0 0 0 0 0
SORGHUM 111,405 139,802 59,402 7,203,329 3,304,481
SOYBEANS 291,192 341,097 90,543 46,870,988 41,960,880
SUNFLOWER 0 0 0 0 0
WHEAT 418,376 327,033 509,077 22,194,653 30,734,890
Total 1,827,717 1,916,930 1,829,920 107,360,706 108,907,889
========================================================================
CROP MARKETING YEARS BEGIN JUNE 1 FOR WHEAT, RYE, OATS, BARLEY AND
FLAXSEED; SEPTEMBER 1 FOR CORN, SORGHUM, SOYBEANS AND SUNFLOWER SEEDS.
INCLUDES WATERWAY SHIPMENTS TO CANADA
Source: USDA
For the week ending May 21, in thousand metric tons. Includes
waterway shipments to Canada.
Grain ——–Week Ending——– Current Previous
5/21/2015 5/14/2015 5/22/2014 Market Yr Market Yr
to Date to Date
BARLEY 0 0 1,592 162,538 200,223
CORN 1,006,720 1,108,998 1,168,964 30,920,512 32,696,890
FLAXSEED 24 0 342 8,086 8,470
MIXED 0 0 0 0 0
OATS 0 0 0 600 2,055
RYE 0 0 0 0 0
SORGHUM 111,405 139,802 59,402 7,203,329 3,304,481
SOYBEANS 291,192 341,097 90,543 46,870,988 41,960,880
SUNFLOWER 0 0 0 0 0
WHEAT 418,376 327,033 509,077 22,194,653 30,734,890
Total 1,827,717 1,916,930 1,829,920 107,360,706 108,907,889
========================================================================
CROP MARKETING YEARS BEGIN JUNE 1 FOR WHEAT, RYE, OATS, BARLEY AND
FLAXSEED; SEPTEMBER 1 FOR CORN, SORGHUM, SOYBEANS AND SUNFLOWER SEEDS.
INCLUDES WATERWAY SHIPMENTS TO CANADA
DJ Asia Commodity Prices Get Boost
From El Nino Warning Signs
By Huileng Tan
By Huileng Tan
SINGAPORE–A growing chorus of
major weather forecasters is confirming the return of the El Nino weather
pattern, giving lackluster agricultural commodity prices a jolt.Australia’s
Bureau of Meteorology on Tuesday said “oceanic and atmospheric indicators show
a clear El Nino signal,” adding that sea-surface temperatures were likely to
remain well above El Nino thresholds at least until springtime in the southern
hemisphere, from September to November. The Australian agency had, along with
Japan’s national weather agency, earlier this month warned of an abnormal
warming of the Pacific Ocean, while the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration declared El Nino’s arrival in March.
El Nino is typified by a warming
of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and a cooling of its western region.
That leads to a shift in weather patterns including a higher chance of drought
in key agricultural-producing regions like Australia and Southeast Asia. El
Nino was last observed from 2009 to 2010.Prices of various agricultural
commodities have jumped this month with palm oil up as much as 6.2% thanks to
the El Nino warnings, while cocoa and natural rubber have both hit multi-month
highs.
Share prices of palm-oil
producers like Golden Agri-Resources Ltd. (E5H.SG) and Wilmar International
Ltd. (F34.SG) have also risen. Palm oil, used in a variety of products from
fuel to lipsticks and biscuits, is the world’s most widely-used edible
oil.Aurelia Britsch, a commodities analyst at Business Monitor International,
said the impact of El Nino might be significant as international agriculture
prices have been weak for several years and can easily rally on weather
concerns.During the last El Nino event, sugar prices soared to 30-year highs,
while crude-palm-oil prices rose close to 4,000 ringgit ($1,098.40) a metric
ton–almost double what they are now. The 2007 El Nino event hit food
production, sparking riots in Egypt, Cameroon and Haiti.
Despite false alarms last year
and the uncertainty over the severity of this year’s El Nino event, some
countries are already bracing themselves for an impact.
The Philippines said last week it will import as much as 500,000 tons of rice–half to be delivered by July and the balance depending on the severity of the damage to farm output. The Philippine Statistics Authority said it expects its rice harvest this year to fall short of the 20.1 million tons target for self-sufficiency.India meanwhile is seen to be vulnerable to El Nino as it affects the country’s monsoon season, which will start in June, raising the risk of sharply higher food prices in the second half of the year, HSBC said in a recent note.The monsoon is crucial for India’s summer crop, and weak monsoons exacerbate inflationary pressure given the country’s relatively poor agricultural infrastructure and supply bottlenecks. This could derail plans for further interest-rate easing by India’s central bank, HSBC said.
The Philippines said last week it will import as much as 500,000 tons of rice–half to be delivered by July and the balance depending on the severity of the damage to farm output. The Philippine Statistics Authority said it expects its rice harvest this year to fall short of the 20.1 million tons target for self-sufficiency.India meanwhile is seen to be vulnerable to El Nino as it affects the country’s monsoon season, which will start in June, raising the risk of sharply higher food prices in the second half of the year, HSBC said in a recent note.The monsoon is crucial for India’s summer crop, and weak monsoons exacerbate inflationary pressure given the country’s relatively poor agricultural infrastructure and supply bottlenecks. This could derail plans for further interest-rate easing by India’s central bank, HSBC said.
WHEAT
General Comments: Futures were lower as the market anticipated good progress and better conditions in the USDA reports last night. USDA instead left crop condition ratings unchanged, and prices could turn a little higher today. This market remains a weather market, with fears of production and quality losses in the central and southern Great Plains and Midwest providing price support.
General Comments: Futures were lower as the market anticipated good progress and better conditions in the USDA reports last night. USDA instead left crop condition ratings unchanged, and prices could turn a little higher today. This market remains a weather market, with fears of production and quality losses in the central and southern Great Plains and Midwest providing price support.
The reports of the rains in Texas
and Oklahoma have been incredible, and the trade reaction has been mixed as
others suggest that the rains have broken the drought and that yields can be
better with the better soil moisture. Current forecasts call for a lot of rain
to the south again by this weekend. It has been a very wet year now that the
drought has been broken in the central and southern Great Plains and there are
worries that too much protein will get lost. Quality could be a real problem in
the wet areas as the protein slips. However, it is unlikely that much, if any,
yield potential has been harvested except in northern areas. US Wheat remains
relatively high priced in world markets, so weaker prices are possible once the
conditions show more stability and the market turns back to demand and the
harvest starts to come close.
.
Overnight News: The southern Great Plains should see daily chances for scattered showers and storms. Temperatures should average near to below normal. Northern areas should get mostly dry conditions today, but showers over the weekend Temperatures should average near to below normal. The Canadian Prairies should see dry conditions. Temperatures will average near to above normal.
Chart Analysis: Trends in Chicago are down with objectives of 484, 461, and 457 July. Support is at 491, 486, and 471 July, with resistance at 503, 511, and 529 July. Trends in Kansas City are down with objectives of 514, 484, and 460 July. Support is at 519, 512, and 498 July, with resistance at 533, 540, and 545 July. Trends in Minneapolis are down with objectives of 548, 540, and 515 July. Support is at 546, 541, and 530 July, and resistance is at 558, 568, and 584 July.
Overnight News: The southern Great Plains should see daily chances for scattered showers and storms. Temperatures should average near to below normal. Northern areas should get mostly dry conditions today, but showers over the weekend Temperatures should average near to below normal. The Canadian Prairies should see dry conditions. Temperatures will average near to above normal.
Chart Analysis: Trends in Chicago are down with objectives of 484, 461, and 457 July. Support is at 491, 486, and 471 July, with resistance at 503, 511, and 529 July. Trends in Kansas City are down with objectives of 514, 484, and 460 July. Support is at 519, 512, and 498 July, with resistance at 533, 540, and 545 July. Trends in Minneapolis are down with objectives of 548, 540, and 515 July. Support is at 546, 541, and 530 July, and resistance is at 558, 568, and 584 July.
RICE
General Comments: Futures moved lower at the close after trading higher for the overnight market and the first part of the day session. The big rains seen around Houston and into Delta production areas could create some area and yield losses and helped Support the early market action. However, the US Dollar was very strong and took all of the price strength out of the market. This week is expected to be warmer and drier, and there are hopes that fields can start to dry out. More big rains could be seen by the end of the week. The end of the month is coming, too, and prevent plant dates for insurance are right around the corner. Reports indicate that at least some producers are now hoping that the fields do not dry out enough to allow for fieldwork before the end of the month so that they can claim against insurance policies.
General Comments: Futures moved lower at the close after trading higher for the overnight market and the first part of the day session. The big rains seen around Houston and into Delta production areas could create some area and yield losses and helped Support the early market action. However, the US Dollar was very strong and took all of the price strength out of the market. This week is expected to be warmer and drier, and there are hopes that fields can start to dry out. More big rains could be seen by the end of the week. The end of the month is coming, too, and prevent plant dates for insurance are right around the corner. Reports indicate that at least some producers are now hoping that the fields do not dry out enough to allow for fieldwork before the end of the month so that they can claim against insurance policies.
Overnight News: Some showers
appear are expected through the weekend. Temperatures will average near
normal.Chart Analysis: Trends are mixed to down with objectives of 922 July.
Support is at 925, 912, and 900 July, with resistance at 974, 986, and 991
July.
CORN
AND OATS
General Comments: Corn was lower in sympathy with Wheat and on ideas that growing conditions in the Midwest are very good. Corn is almost planted now, but the areas where it is not in the ground will continue to see rains off and o through the weekend. It is becoming increasingly likely that some Corn area will be planted to Soybeans, although the insurance dates have not been hit yet. These areas have seen too much rain and are trying to wait for drier weather. However, more rains are in the forecast by this weekend in the southern Midwest, Delta, and Southeast. Those areas that are planted are starting to emerge and so far the crop looks very good. Corn is trying to form a seasonal bottom for a short term rally attempt that often happens one the crop is planted. The current good crop conditions imply that any rally will likely be limited in scope. The USDA reports last night provided no real reason to buy as planting progress and condition were at the lower end of trade projections.
General Comments: Corn was lower in sympathy with Wheat and on ideas that growing conditions in the Midwest are very good. Corn is almost planted now, but the areas where it is not in the ground will continue to see rains off and o through the weekend. It is becoming increasingly likely that some Corn area will be planted to Soybeans, although the insurance dates have not been hit yet. These areas have seen too much rain and are trying to wait for drier weather. However, more rains are in the forecast by this weekend in the southern Midwest, Delta, and Southeast. Those areas that are planted are starting to emerge and so far the crop looks very good. Corn is trying to form a seasonal bottom for a short term rally attempt that often happens one the crop is planted. The current good crop conditions imply that any rally will likely be limited in scope. The USDA reports last night provided no real reason to buy as planting progress and condition were at the lower end of trade projections.
Overnight
News:
Chart Analysis: Trends in Corn are down with objectives of 350, 345, and 327 July. Support is at 352, 347, and 344 July, and resistance is at 359, 364, and 368 July. Trends in Oats are mixed. Support is at 236, 231, and 225 July, and resistance is at 249, 256, and 258 July.
SOYBEANS
AND PRODUCTS
General Comments: Prices were mixed to lower as the US Dollar went sharply higher. Some early strength was noted in Soybeans and Soybean Meal as the strikes continue in Argentina, but ideas that solutions are being found there took some buying interest away later in the session. Soybean rallied on the back of Palm Oil, where production could be lost due to the El Nino that is starting to affect production areas. A drive through Indiana and parts of Ohio over the holiday weekend showed that Corn was emerged, but not Soybeans. Little fieldwork was being seen over the weekend. It is likely that many produce4rs already have Soybeans planted. There is an increasing possibility of more area planted to Soybeans in southern areas as it is getting late to plant Corn. It should be drier this week, but more showers are possible again this weekend. Ideas are that the US Soybeans crop is about half planted. Futures will probably make a near term low very soon as the crop planting progress expands and gets completed, but up side potential for prices should be very limited given the strong world data unless the US in fact develops a weather related problem.
General Comments: Prices were mixed to lower as the US Dollar went sharply higher. Some early strength was noted in Soybeans and Soybean Meal as the strikes continue in Argentina, but ideas that solutions are being found there took some buying interest away later in the session. Soybean rallied on the back of Palm Oil, where production could be lost due to the El Nino that is starting to affect production areas. A drive through Indiana and parts of Ohio over the holiday weekend showed that Corn was emerged, but not Soybeans. Little fieldwork was being seen over the weekend. It is likely that many produce4rs already have Soybeans planted. There is an increasing possibility of more area planted to Soybeans in southern areas as it is getting late to plant Corn. It should be drier this week, but more showers are possible again this weekend. Ideas are that the US Soybeans crop is about half planted. Futures will probably make a near term low very soon as the crop planting progress expands and gets completed, but up side potential for prices should be very limited given the strong world data unless the US in fact develops a weather related problem.
Overnight
News:
Chart Analysis: Trends in Soybeans are down with objectives of 913 July. Support is at 912, 900, and 876 July, and resistance is at 937, 950, and 961 July. Trends in Soybean Meal are mixed. Support is at 301.00, 300.00, and 295.00 July, and resistance is at 308.00, 309.00, and 310.00 July. Trends in Soybean Oil are mixed to down with objectives of 3100, 3090, and 3085 July. Support is at 3150, 3120, and 3100 July, with resistance at 3240, 3260, and 3275 July.
Chart Analysis: Trends in Soybeans are down with objectives of 913 July. Support is at 912, 900, and 876 July, and resistance is at 937, 950, and 961 July. Trends in Soybean Meal are mixed. Support is at 301.00, 300.00, and 295.00 July, and resistance is at 308.00, 309.00, and 310.00 July. Trends in Soybean Oil are mixed to down with objectives of 3100, 3090, and 3085 July. Support is at 3150, 3120, and 3100 July, with resistance at 3240, 3260, and 3275 July.
CANOLA
AND PALM OIL
General Comments: Canola was higher. Farmers are very active and conditions are good for planting efforts. The crops should be getting off to a good start now and should be emerging in a few places while producers work to get the crop planted in the next couple of weeks. Some parts of the Prairies have been dry and the dry weather potential should support prices. Palm Oil was a little lower on some profit taking. Traders are watching El Nino as it could create dry weather in both Indonesia and Malaysia, but so far the weather has been good. Even so, the forecasts for El Nino over the last few days have added weather Premium to prices in the last few sessions. Now traders will wait for the dry weather to develop. Export demand in Malaysia is strong so far this month, but strong production will keep ending stocks for the month high and that is negative to prices overall. Longer term trends remain down.
Overnight News:
Chart Analysis: Trends in Canola are up with objectives of 475.00 and 487.00 July. Support is at 462.00, 457.00, and 455.00 July, with resistance at 469.00, 472.00, and 475.00 July. Trends in Palm Oil are mixed to up with objectives of 2190 and 2230 August. Support is at 2150, 2120, and 2100 August, with resistance at 2200, 2230, and 2310 August.
General Comments: Canola was higher. Farmers are very active and conditions are good for planting efforts. The crops should be getting off to a good start now and should be emerging in a few places while producers work to get the crop planted in the next couple of weeks. Some parts of the Prairies have been dry and the dry weather potential should support prices. Palm Oil was a little lower on some profit taking. Traders are watching El Nino as it could create dry weather in both Indonesia and Malaysia, but so far the weather has been good. Even so, the forecasts for El Nino over the last few days have added weather Premium to prices in the last few sessions. Now traders will wait for the dry weather to develop. Export demand in Malaysia is strong so far this month, but strong production will keep ending stocks for the month high and that is negative to prices overall. Longer term trends remain down.
Overnight News:
Chart Analysis: Trends in Canola are up with objectives of 475.00 and 487.00 July. Support is at 462.00, 457.00, and 455.00 July, with resistance at 469.00, 472.00, and 475.00 July. Trends in Palm Oil are mixed to up with objectives of 2190 and 2230 August. Support is at 2150, 2120, and 2100 August, with resistance at 2200, 2230, and 2310 August.
DAIRY
AND MEATS
General Comments: Milk and products were slightly lower. Demand in the US remains solid, but export demand ideas are getting hurt by the stronger US Dollar. Production for all three markets remains very strong. Demand for Milk has been fading in the East and Midwest for fluid Milk, but Milk demand from processors remains very strong. Cheese and Butter processors are still operating at high levels to keep up with the demand. The best demand is in Cheese right now, where some producers are having trouble filling all the orders. Butter demand has been good as well, but producers are able to keep up with the order flow and even build stocks in some cases. Demand for Butter is steady right now. Prices for dried products seem generally weak.
General Comments: Milk and products were slightly lower. Demand in the US remains solid, but export demand ideas are getting hurt by the stronger US Dollar. Production for all three markets remains very strong. Demand for Milk has been fading in the East and Midwest for fluid Milk, but Milk demand from processors remains very strong. Cheese and Butter processors are still operating at high levels to keep up with the demand. The best demand is in Cheese right now, where some producers are having trouble filling all the orders. Butter demand has been good as well, but producers are able to keep up with the order flow and even build stocks in some cases. Demand for Butter is steady right now. Prices for dried products seem generally weak.
Cattle
closed mixed and feeder cattle was higher. The US Dollar hurt Live Cattle on
ideas that export demand will drop. Both markets remain in a trading range,
with Feeder Cattle now probing resistance areas in the range. Short term prices
can stay strong as it is a time of stronger demand, but that might be the last
big rally for this market for a while as the supplies should then start to
increase. Wholesale beef markets were higher yesterday. US hogs prices were
lower as the US Dollar went higher and hurt demand ideas. There is a lot of
talk the market is overbought, but the cash market is still strong and lending
support to futures. Overall, the market is still signaling stronger cash
markets in the weeks ahead. Charts show some very strong resistance at about
$88.00 to $90.00 and so far the market is having trouble getting there. Cash
hogs markets were weaker and wholesale pork markets were higher.
Overnight News:
Chart Analysis: Trends in Milk are mixed. Support is at 1650, 1625, and 1610 July, and resistance is at 1650, 1700, and 1710 July. Trends in Cheese are mixed to down with objectives of 167.50 July. Support is at 168.00, 166.50, and 165.00 July, with resistance at 170.00, 174.00, and 175.00 July. Trends in Butter are down with objectives of 191.00 and 186.00 July. Support is at 190.00, 188.00, and 186.00 July, and resistance is at 196.00, 197.00, and 200.00 July. Trends in Live Cattle are mixed to up with objectives of 153.00 and 161.00 June. Support is at 150.00, 148.00, and 147.00 June, with resistance at 153.00, 155.00, and 156.00 June. Trends in Feeder Cattle are mixed. Support is at 215.00, 212.00, and 210.00 August, with resistance at 220.00, 221.00, and 225.00 August. Trends in Lean Hogs are mixed to down with objectives of 81.00 and 79.00 June. Support is at 80.00, 78.00, and 76.00 June, with resistance at 84.00, 85.50, and 87.00 June.
Overnight News:
Chart Analysis: Trends in Milk are mixed. Support is at 1650, 1625, and 1610 July, and resistance is at 1650, 1700, and 1710 July. Trends in Cheese are mixed to down with objectives of 167.50 July. Support is at 168.00, 166.50, and 165.00 July, with resistance at 170.00, 174.00, and 175.00 July. Trends in Butter are down with objectives of 191.00 and 186.00 July. Support is at 190.00, 188.00, and 186.00 July, and resistance is at 196.00, 197.00, and 200.00 July. Trends in Live Cattle are mixed to up with objectives of 153.00 and 161.00 June. Support is at 150.00, 148.00, and 147.00 June, with resistance at 153.00, 155.00, and 156.00 June. Trends in Feeder Cattle are mixed. Support is at 215.00, 212.00, and 210.00 August, with resistance at 220.00, 221.00, and 225.00 August. Trends in Lean Hogs are mixed to down with objectives of 81.00 and 79.00 June. Support is at 80.00, 78.00, and 76.00 June, with resistance at 84.00, 85.50, and 87.00 June.
Daily
Cash Nonfat Dry Milk Trading on Friday, May 22, 2015
(Carload Unit = 42,000-45,000 lbs)
——————————————————————
NONFAT DRY MILK : CLOSE : CHANGE
——————————————————————
GRADE A : $0.9000 : -.0150
——————————————————————
SALES: NONE
LAST BID UNFILLED: 1 CAR GRADE A @ $0.8500
LAST OFFER UNCOVERED: 1 CAR GRADE A @ $0.9000
Close represents US $ per pound. Change is price change from previous
close.
Information disseminated by USDA, Dairy Market News – Madison, WI
1147C (608) 557-7002
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
home
(Carload Unit = 42,000-45,000 lbs)
——————————————————————
NONFAT DRY MILK : CLOSE : CHANGE
——————————————————————
GRADE A : $0.9000 : -.0150
——————————————————————
SALES: NONE
LAST BID UNFILLED: 1 CAR GRADE A @ $0.8500
LAST OFFER UNCOVERED: 1 CAR GRADE A @ $0.9000
Close represents US $ per pound. Change is price change from previous
close.
Information disseminated by USDA, Dairy Market News – Madison, WI
1147C (608) 557-7002
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
home
Daily
Cash Cheese Trading on Friday, May 22, 2015
(Carload Unit = 40,000-44,000 lbs.)
——————————————————————
CHEESE : CLOSE : CHANGE
——————————————————————
BARRELS : $1.6200 : .0025
40# BLOCKS : $1.6500 : .0050
——————————————————————
SALES: 6 CARS BARRELS:
1 @ $1.6300, 1 @ $1.6275, 1 @ $1.6350, 1 @ $1.6250,
1 @ $1.6225, 1 @ $1.6200
4 CARS 40# BLOCKS:
1 @ $1.6550, 1 @ $1.6600, 1 @ $1.6550, 1 @ $1.6500
LAST BID UNFILLED: NONE
LAST OFFER UNCOVERED: 1 CAR BARRELS @ $1.6300
Close represents US $ per pound. Change is price change from previous
close.
Information disseminated by USDA, Dairy Market News – Madison, WI
1147C (608) 557-7002
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
home
(Carload Unit = 40,000-44,000 lbs.)
——————————————————————
CHEESE : CLOSE : CHANGE
——————————————————————
BARRELS : $1.6200 : .0025
40# BLOCKS : $1.6500 : .0050
——————————————————————
SALES: 6 CARS BARRELS:
1 @ $1.6300, 1 @ $1.6275, 1 @ $1.6350, 1 @ $1.6250,
1 @ $1.6225, 1 @ $1.6200
4 CARS 40# BLOCKS:
1 @ $1.6550, 1 @ $1.6600, 1 @ $1.6550, 1 @ $1.6500
LAST BID UNFILLED: NONE
LAST OFFER UNCOVERED: 1 CAR BARRELS @ $1.6300
Close represents US $ per pound. Change is price change from previous
close.
Information disseminated by USDA, Dairy Market News – Madison, WI
1147C (608) 557-7002
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
home
Daily
Cash Butter Trading on Friday, May 22, 2015
(Carload Unit = 40,000-42,000 lbs)
——————————————————————
BUTTER : CLOSE : CHANGE
——————————————————————
GRADE AA : $1.8900 : -.0400
——————————————————————
SALES: 8 CARS GRADE AA:
1 @ $1.8900, 1 @ $1.9200, 1 @ $1.9175, 1 @ $1.9200,
1 @ $1.9175, 1 @ $1.9200, 1 @ $1.9150, 1 @ $1.8900
LAST BID UNFILLED: NONE
LAST OFFER UNCOVERED: NONE
Close represents US $ per pound. Change is price change from previous
close.
Information disseminated by USDA, Dairy Market News – Madison, WI
1145C (608) 557-7002
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
home
(Carload Unit = 40,000-42,000 lbs)
——————————————————————
BUTTER : CLOSE : CHANGE
——————————————————————
GRADE AA : $1.8900 : -.0400
——————————————————————
SALES: 8 CARS GRADE AA:
1 @ $1.8900, 1 @ $1.9200, 1 @ $1.9175, 1 @ $1.9200,
1 @ $1.9175, 1 @ $1.9200, 1 @ $1.9150, 1 @ $1.8900
LAST BID UNFILLED: NONE
LAST OFFER UNCOVERED: NONE
Close represents US $ per pound. Change is price change from previous
close.
Information disseminated by USDA, Dairy Market News – Madison, WI
1145C (608) 557-7002
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
home
Midwest
Weather Forecast: Mostly dry and cool this week, showers and warmer by this
weekend.
FOB
Gulf Basis Levels-Cents per Bushel
Corn HRW SRW Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil
May 59 July 110 July 50 July 80 July 38 July 200 July
June 57 July 56 July 80 July
July 56 July 56 July 73 July
All basis levels are positive unless noted as negative
Corn HRW SRW Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil
May 59 July 110 July 50 July 80 July 38 July 200 July
June 57 July 56 July 80 July
July 56 July 56 July 73 July
All basis levels are positive unless noted as negative
Brazil
Premiums Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Corn
June minus 7 July plus 29 Sep August
July plus 65 July minus 2 July plus 27 Sep September
August plus 89 Aug plus 5 Aug plus 23 Sep October
June minus 7 July plus 29 Sep August
July plus 65 July minus 2 July plus 27 Sep September
August plus 89 Aug plus 5 Aug plus 23 Sep October
DJ
ICE Canada Cash Grain Close – May 26
Winnipeg–The following are the closing cash grain
prices from ICE Futures Canada.
Values are based on the commodity being delivered at
Thunder Bay, Ontario, unless otherwise noted. Source: ICE
Futures Canada
Price Change
CANOLA
*Par Region 453.80 up 0.60
Basis: Thunder Bay
1 Can 483.70 up 4.90
2 Can 470.70 up 4.90
Basis: Vancouver
1 Can 498.70 up 4.90
2 Can 485.70 up 4.90
FEED WHEAT
Lethbridge 200.00 unchanged
Can Feed 224.00 unchanged
WESTERN BARLEY
Lethbridge 202.00 unchanged
All prices in Canadian dollars per metric ton.
*Quote for previous day
Source: Commodity News Service Canada (cnscanada@shaw.ca, or 204-414-9084)
Winnipeg–The following are the closing cash grain
prices from ICE Futures Canada.
Values are based on the commodity being delivered at
Thunder Bay, Ontario, unless otherwise noted. Source: ICE
Futures Canada
Price Change
CANOLA
*Par Region 453.80 up 0.60
Basis: Thunder Bay
1 Can 483.70 up 4.90
2 Can 470.70 up 4.90
Basis: Vancouver
1 Can 498.70 up 4.90
2 Can 485.70 up 4.90
FEED WHEAT
Lethbridge 200.00 unchanged
Can Feed 224.00 unchanged
WESTERN BARLEY
Lethbridge 202.00 unchanged
All prices in Canadian dollars per metric ton.
*Quote for previous day
Source: Commodity News Service Canada (cnscanada@shaw.ca, or 204-414-9084)
DJ
Malaysian PM Cash Market Prices for Palm Oil – May 27
The following are prices for Malaysian palm oil in the cash market at 1000 GMT Wednesday, supplied by commodity broker Matthes & Porton Bhd.
Prices are quoted in U.S. dollars a metric ton, except for crude palm oil and palm kernel oil, which are in ringgit a ton. Palm kernel oil prices are in ringgit a pikul, a Malaysian measurement equivalent to 60 kilograms.
Refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil, FOB, Malaysian ports
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 625.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Jul/Aug/Sep 622.50 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Oct/Nov/Dec 622.50 -05.00 Unquoted – -
RBD palm olein, FOB, Malaysian ports
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 627.50 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Jul/Aug/Sep 625.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Oct/Nov/Dec 625.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
RBD palm stearin, FOB, Malaysian ports
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 600.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Palm Fatty Acid Distillate, FOB Malaysian ports
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 580.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Crude palm oil, Delivered Basis, South Malaysia
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 2180 -10.00 Unquoted – -
Palm kernel oil, Delivered Basis, South Malaysia
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 193.00 -04.00 Unquoted – -
($1=MYR3.6360)
The following are prices for Malaysian palm oil in the cash market at 1000 GMT Wednesday, supplied by commodity broker Matthes & Porton Bhd.
Prices are quoted in U.S. dollars a metric ton, except for crude palm oil and palm kernel oil, which are in ringgit a ton. Palm kernel oil prices are in ringgit a pikul, a Malaysian measurement equivalent to 60 kilograms.
Refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil, FOB, Malaysian ports
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 625.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Jul/Aug/Sep 622.50 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Oct/Nov/Dec 622.50 -05.00 Unquoted – -
RBD palm olein, FOB, Malaysian ports
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 627.50 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Jul/Aug/Sep 625.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Oct/Nov/Dec 625.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
RBD palm stearin, FOB, Malaysian ports
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 600.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Palm Fatty Acid Distillate, FOB Malaysian ports
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 580.00 -05.00 Unquoted – -
Crude palm oil, Delivered Basis, South Malaysia
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 2180 -10.00 Unquoted – -
Palm kernel oil, Delivered Basis, South Malaysia
Offer Change Bid Change Traded
June 193.00 -04.00 Unquoted – -
($1=MYR3.6360)
Questions? Ask Jack Scoville today at
312-264-4322
http://www.insidefutures.com/article/1443817/Morning%20Grains%205/27/15.html
Overlay residual
herbicides in rice to suppress weeds
Some residuals breaking early
RELATED
MEDIA
We just received our every-other-day flood at Practical Weed
Consultants. A lot of farmers and consultants have reached their frustration
limit. Most of my calls right now are from people just wanting somebody to
listen while they vent their frustration.That is fine. I understand. A lot of
farmers I talk to are farming scared this year anyway due to the poor price
outlook, and now we have to put up with this. This too shall pass, and all we
can do is ride it out.
My hat is off to anybody willing to be a farmer!Those who have
been able to overlay residuals in rice are generally in pretty good shape from
a weed control standpoint. Some residuals are breaking early, and that is a
reason it is important to overlay them. In a lot of areas there is a lot of “sick
rice.” Where weeds are emerging, it has been difficult to find treatments that
would control the weeds and not further injure the sick rice and that could be
sprayed due to emerged crops.I knew the calls would be coming along the lines
of, “I need to spray my rice and I have milo to the north, milo to the south,
soybeans to the east and corn to the west. What can I use?” I think I am pretty
good at pulling rabbits out of the hat but not that good.I have been
recommending a lot of Bolero or RiceBeax in mixtures to shore up sprangletop
control.
Sprangletop is a saturated-soil germinator. More and more calls
are Ricestar HT questions due to emerged soybeans around a lot of fields along
with a lot of emerged sprangletop.When I get calls about larger barnyardgrass,
I switch the recommendations to Regiment or Regiment plus Facet where I can. I
consider it the best postemergence barnyardgrass herbicide, but it can be
frustrating to get applied due to the crop mix in some cases.There are a lot of
choices for herbicides that might work on the weeds, but it often boils down to
what can be applied. The main thing is to do something while the grass is still
small and make sure there is a residual herbicide in the tank.It seems like I
get more questions on crabgrass in rice each year.
The best postemergence
crabgrass herbicide is Ricestar HT, but it will not be 100 percent on larger
crabgrass. It will usually rot the growing points, and if you can cover it up
with water it will go away. Unfortunately crabgrass usually is a problem only
on soils that won’t hold water or where water is short.Where fall panicum is a
problem, Clincher is the postemergence herbicide of choice.In soybeans it seems
to be a mixed bag as to how well residual herbicides have held up with all the
rain. I have been in several fields where farmers have not been able to apply
second residual, and there is a carpet of tiny pigweeds emerging. Those have to
be sprayed soon in spite of the weather.Flexstar or Prefix might be the
treatment of choice in Roundup Ready soybeand or Liberty the treatment of
choice in LibertyLink soybeans. However, if the ground won’t dry, UltraBlazer
applied by air is a good choice. Blazer is labeled in rice and peanuts and both
corn and grain sorghum have reasonable tolerance if you don’t get carried away.
Hopefully we will not have a bunch of big pigweeds to deal with,
but if it keeps raining we will. Whether you are using Liberty in LibertyLink
soybeans or the Flexstar-UltraBlazer treatments in Roundup Ready or conventional soybeans, a repeat treatment in
about seven days after the first is the key on larger weeds.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/overlay-residual-herbicides-rice-suppress-weeds
Nagpur
Foodgrain Prices Open- May 27
Nagpur, May 27 Gram and tuar prices
reported down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) here on
poor buying support from local millers amid profit-taking
selling by stockists at higher
level. High moisture content arrival and easy condition in Madhya
Pradesh pulses also pushed down
prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram recovered in open market here on good demand from local
traders amid tight
supply from producing regions.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here matching the demand
and supply
position.
* Batri dal suffered heavily in open market in absence of buyers amid
increased
arrival from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar - 7,300-7,700, Tuar dal - 10,100-10,500, Udid at
9,100-9,600,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,700-11,100, Moong - 9,000-9,200, Moong Mogar
(clean) 10,700-11,100, Gram - 4,200-4,500, Gram Super best bold -
6,100-6,300
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in
poor trading
activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market
prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous
close
Gram Auction
3,500-4,330 3,580-4,410
Gram Pink Auction
n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 5,800-7,280 5,800-7,360
Moong Auction
n.a. 6,000-6,300
Udid Auction
n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
5,900-6,200 5,900-6,200
Gram Dal Medium
n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
5,300-5,500 5,300-5,500
Desi gram Raw
4,600-4,650 4,550-4,600
Gram Filter new
6,100-6,200 6,100-6,200
Gram Kabuli
5,200-6,900 5,200-6,900
Gram Pink 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600
Tuar Fataka Best
10,500-10,800 10,500-10,800
Tuar Fataka Medium
9,900-10,300 9,900-10,300
Tuar Dal Best Phod
9,600-9,800 9,600-9,800
Tuar Dal Medium phod
8,800-9,300 8,800-9,300
Tuar Gavarani New
7,800-7,900 7,800-7,900
Tuar Karnataka
7,900-8,000 7,900-8,000
Tuar Black
10,700-11,000
10,700-11,000
Masoor dal best
8,100-8,300 8,100-8,300
Masoor dal medium
7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800
Masoor
n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
11,000-11,500 11,000-11,500
Moong Mogar Medium best 10,200-10,600 10,200-10,600
Moong dal Chilka
9,000-9,750 9,000-9,750
Moong Mill quality
n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best
9,600-9,900 9,600-9,900
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)
11,200-11,600 11,200-11,600
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)
9,900-10,600 9,900-10,600
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
8,500-8,900 8,500-8,900
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,400 4,300-4,500
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,200-3,350 3,200-3,350
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,450 3,200-3,450
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
2,450-2,625 2,450-2,625
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)
3,700-4,900 3,700-4,900
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG)
1,500-1,700 1,500-1,700
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,450 2,200-2,450
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)
1,800-1,950 1,800-1,950
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)
n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)
3,100-3,700 3,100-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)
2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
2,000-2,200
2,000-2,200
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,850 2,600-2,850
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,800 1,600-1,800
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,450 2,100-2,450
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,750 2,500-2,750
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,650 3,200-3,650
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)
3,900-4,300 3,900-4,300
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG)
4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG)
4,500-5,000
4,500-5,000
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)
8,200-10,200 8,200-10,200
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)
6,000-7,200 6,000-7,200
Rice Chinnor new (100
INR/KG) 4,650-5,000 4,650-5,000
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)
5,500-6,000 5,500-6,000
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,300 2,100-2,200
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
2,400-2,550 2,300-2,450
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 46.2 degree Celsius
(115.1 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
27.2 degree Celsius (83.8 degree
Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest -
n.a.
Rainfall : 0.3 mm
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky.
Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 46 and 30
degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are
excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices.)
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/05/27/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N0YI39A20150527
Weed scientists offer
new definition for ‘superweed’
A University of Minnesota graduate student, Jared Goplen,
focuses his research on giant ragweed, a “superweed” resistant to common herbicides.
The Weed Science Society of America joined with six sister
organizations to recommend a new definition for superweed – a catchall term
used by many to describe weeds that are perceived to be more invasive and to
grow more aggressively after developing resistance to herbicides.Use of
superweed has snowballed in recent years, along with considerable
misinformation that isn’t supported by scientific facts. Most online
dictionaries, for example, associate superweeds with herbicide resistance caused
by the suspected transfer of resistance genes from crops to weeds.To date,
there is no scientific evidence to indicate that crop to weed gene transfer is
contributing to the herbicide resistance issues faced by farmers.“Since
superweed is now clearly part of the public vernacular, we decided to offer a
definition that more clearly reflects the true source of herbicide resistance,”
said Lee Van Wychen, Weed Science Society of America science policy
director.The science- 
based definition developed by Weed Science Society of America
focuses on the ability of weeds to develop resistance to virtually any
treatment method that is used repeatedly – and exclusively.Superweed: Slang
used to describe a weed that has evolved characteristics that make it more
difficult to manage due to repeated use of the same management tactic.
Over-dependence on a single tactic as opposed to using diverse approaches can
lead to such adaptations.
based definition developed by Weed Science Society of America
focuses on the ability of weeds to develop resistance to virtually any
treatment method that is used repeatedly – and exclusively.Superweed: Slang
used to describe a weed that has evolved characteristics that make it more
difficult to manage due to repeated use of the same management tactic.
Over-dependence on a single tactic as opposed to using diverse approaches can
lead to such adaptations.
The most common use of the slang refers to a weed that has
become resistant to one or more herbicide mechanisms of action due to their
repeated use in the absence of more diverse control measures. Dependence on a
single mechanical, biological or cultural management tactic has led to similar
adaptations, such as hand-weeded barnyardgrass mimicking rice morphology,
dandelion seed production in a regularly mowed lawn and knapweed resiliency to
gall fly biocontrol.Two common misconceptions about a superweed are that they
are the result of gene transfer from genetically altered crops and that they have
superior competitive characteristics. Both of these myths have been addressed
by the Weed Science Society of America. Visitwww.wssa.net/weed/resistance for more information.
Weed Science Society of America has also created a variety of
free educational materials and recommendations concerning herbicide resistance
and how to avoid it.Though the term superweed is most often associated with
weeds resistant to one or more herbicides, scientists point out that resistance
can result from overdependence on mechanical, biological or cultural management
tactics as well.Repeated hand-weeding of barnyardgrass growing in rice fields,
for example, has led to weeds that escape control by mimicking the appearance
of rice plants.
Similarly, spotted knapweed has become increasingly resilient to
the gall flies used repeatedly as a biological control. Even dandelions growing
in a regularly mowed lawn can evolve to avoid the mower, produce seeds and
spread.Weed Science Society of America’s new definition has been endorsed by
the Aquatic Plant Management Society, Canadian Weed Science Society, North
Central Weed Science Society, Northeastern Weed Science Society, Southern Weed
Science Society and the Western Society of Weed Science.
.
Tags Weed Control, Weed, Agriculture, Herbicide, Superweed
http://www.agriview.com/briefs/crop/weed-scientists-offer-new-definition-for-superweed/article_556b72dd-fca8-50b4-911d-cb186ba45e87.html
Now silica
gel in rice pack scare
Published on: Thursday, May 28, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: A new rice scare has surfaced barely eight days after reports of
fake rice tainting the local market went viral online.This time, a consumer
alleged a burst silica gel pack with its content found mixed with the rice was
found inside a Beras Nasional rice pack on Tuesday.Coincidentally, both
incidents involved the same rice wholesaler, Tan Khien Chong, or also known as
TKC. TKC Chief Operating Officer Chien Hung who had already lodged a report
over the fake rice incident earlier said, the company is aware of the incident
and had recalled the products from the market, Wednesday."More than a
hundred packets have been recalled and we have told our sellers in areas like
Ranau and Kudat not to sell the rice until we can get them off their hands by
Thursday," he said.
Sole rice importer, Padi and
Beras Nasional (Bernas) had been alerted over the matter.Chien admitted it
would be hard to separate foreign objects from the rice in the processing due
to the bulk purchase, normally in gunny sacks, made by the company.Meanwhile, a
Bernas source said investigation has begun to find out how the incident
happened, saying that silica gel packs are always kept in rice container
shipments to keep the raw food dry and off fungi attack.Silica gel is poisonous
if consumed."There is a possibility the silica gel packs could have burst
from the transporting side as our transportation is by a third party."The
silica gel could have been stuck on one of the rice gunny sacks.""It
could also be that the items may have gone into the rice packs when the
wholesaler was repacking the rice. But I dare not confirm all these," he
said.According to him Bernas has no control over the quality of products once
the gunny sacks are sold to the wholesalers, as the company does not have
authority to regulate them."Besides, Bernas does not import a small
amount. It's massive. Against all odds any possibilities can happen," he
said.This is not the first time silica gel was found in rice packs, a similar
incident happened early 2013.
http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=100187
Indonesia’s
Rice Consumption
4:04
AM EST MAY 27, 2015 By Anita Rachman
Reports that
merchants in a traditional market outside Jakarta had sold synthetic rice
caused a panic among Indonesian consumers this week in a country where rice is
a staple. The government has since tested samples of the allegedly tampered
grain and found that it contained no synthetic material, Indonesian Police
Chief Badrodin Haiti said Tuesday in a televised press conference. But the fact
that rumors of the so-called “plastic rice” spread so fast and so widely, revel
just how important the commodity is to Indonesians – who often say a meal
without rice means one hasn’t eaten.
114 kilograms
The average amount of rice each Indonesian will consume this year,
as projected by Indonesia’s National Statistics Agency. The figure is smaller
than last year’s by 10 kilograms, partly because, like much of Asia, as
Indonesians become more upwardly mobile, their dietary preferences are changing
to include more bread and noodles. Still, Indonesia continues to consume more
rice than neighboring countries such as Malaysia, where rice consumption per
capita is less than 100 kilograms, said Lely Pelitasari Soebekty, director of
public services at the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).
70.83 million tons
The amount of rice Indonesia is believed to have produced last
year, according to the statistics agency, which plans to release the final
figure in the middle of the year. That figure would mark a 0.63% decline in
production from 2013 due to a loss of farm land for building or factory
development, according to the statistics agency.
$246 million
The value of rice Indonesia imported from countries such as
Thailand and Vietnam in 2013, the latest year for which data is available.
That’s roughly equivalent to 472,600 tons. Indonesia has been a net importer of
rice for years, despite efforts by the government to ensure self-sufficiency in
major food staples, such as rice, corn and soybeans. To help achieve that
objective, the government has also been leading campaigns telling people to eat
less rice to ease demand on local production and imports. Ms. Soebekty said the
campaigns have struggled to have much of an impact because rice is still
considered the most affordable and filling carbohydrate available. While
imports were down in 2013 compared to the 2012 figure – Indonesia had seen
increases in rice imports in the year’s prior.
27%
The percentage low-income families spend from their salaries each
month to buy rice subsidized by the government. The government sells the rice –
which is of a lower quality than that sold at market prices – at around 12
cents per kilogram, allowing each family to purchase up to 15 kilograms a
month, said Ms. Soebekty. She said Bulog distributes about 230,000 tons of rice
monthly to 15.5 million households across the archipelago.
MoC to crack down on 'unethical' rice exporters
Thu, 28 May 2015
The Ministry of Commerce is
ramping up its efforts to stamp out “unethical” rice exporters mixing their
produce with rice from neighbouring countries, as the European Union becomes
increasingly concerned about rice tampering. In an open letter issued on May 11 the ministry said it will
stop issuing Certificates of Origin to exporters found to be using
non-Cambodian rice, as this could lead to the European Union withdrawing its
duty-free trade preferences that Cambodia enjoys under the Everything But Arms
agreement.“Recently, the EU has increased monitoring of rice imports to
investigate the origins of rice imported, with the aim to pause or ban the
import of rice without clear origins,” the letter reads.
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) urged the president of Cambodia
Rice Federation (CRF), rice exporters and millers to strictly comply with the
code of conduct on rice exports to the EU agreed upon last year.“MOC will have
a group of inspectors who will launch surprise inspections in rice exporting
companies and rice millers to investigate the issue,” the letter added.The code
of conduct was created to ensure that rice exported from Cambodia was actually
grown in Cambodia and not mixed with Vietnamese rice, after Oryza, an industry
publication, reported the EU raising concerns last year.The EU Ambassador to
Cambodia Jean-Francois Cautain said yesterday that the EU had become
increasingly concerned recently and that ensuring the Kingdom’s rice exports
were 100 per cent homegrown was the responsibility of the Cambodianauthorities.
“Indeed, as for any other product exported to the EU under EBA,
were the rule of origin not respected, it may lead to an investigation by the
EU,” he said in an email.“We are welcoming the constructive approach of both
the Royal Government of Cambodia and the rice exporters in putting in place
proper mechanisms to ensure that the rule of origin is fully respected for rice
exports to the EU.”Kan Kunthy, CEO of Battambang Rice Investment Company, said
yesterday that the problem came down to “only a few unethical exporters” that
the MoC and CRF were currently investigating. “It will cause a huge impact on
rice industry if the EU no longer granted Cambodia with EBA, as 50 per cent of
the country’s total exports go to the EU.”Kunthy said that the EBA was a
crucial stepping stone to maintaining growth in the sector but that they need
to prepare for withdrawal of the scheme once Cambodia moves to a middle-income
status.“All we can do without EBA is to increase our competitiveness and
compete with other exporters from the region,” he added.
Image:A man harvests his rice crop in Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo
district last month. Vireak Mai
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ANANTH BALIGA
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/ministry-targets-mixed-rice-exports
WOTUS
Revisited
WASHINGTON,
D.C.--Late yesterday, USA Rice staff were invited to a meeting with EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy and others to discuss the Waters of the U.S.
(WOTUS) rule (now titled the Clean Water Rule).
EPA disclosed that they intended to release a pre-Federal Register
notice of the rule today.
Implementation of the rule will begin 60 days after it is officially
published in the Federal Register, which is expected within the next month. The
agency staff stated that significant changes were made to the final version
based on the more than one million public comments the agency received. EPA
indicated that among the changes are the issues of upland ditches, the
definition of tributaries, the extent of floodplains, and the confusion over
how farms would be treated in "adjacent waters," among other
things. Agency staff specifically cited
USA Rice comments in helping to better define an exemption for rice fields that
was in the proposal but had some problematic language.
USA Rice is encouraged by the agency's efforts to substantively
change the document, but will be carefully reviewing and analyzing the final
rule to provide guidance to the rice industry.
The pre-Federal Register version of the
final Clean Water Rule and various supporting documentation can be found
here.
Contact:
Steve Hensley (703) 236-1445
CCC
Announces Prevailing World Market Prices
WASHINGTON, DC -- 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 2014 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m.,
Eastern Time (ET). Prices are unchanged from the previous announcement.
This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:
The next program announcement is scheduled for June 3, 2015. |
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CME Group/Closing Rough Rice
Futures
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Satellite imagery to
soon enable large-scale monitoring of Asia’s rice areas
This
Sentinel-1A mosaic stretches from Pakistan to the Philippines. (SAR imagery
from ESA: Sentinel-1A. Background from Google Earth © Google Inc.)
Information derived from satellite images can soon be made
available to governments to help guide policy related to food security and
sustainable development, particularly in rice-growing areas.The European Space
Agency (ESA) satellite, Sentinel-1A, launched in 2014 can provide regular
‛snapshots’ of Asia as often as every 12 days. The imagery is derived from
synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems that can monitor the earth’s surface day
and night, even through rain or cloud cover—hence, images even during the
monsoon season—making the tool perfect for rice crop monitoring.As a
demonstration of the potential of the Sentinel program, sarmap and the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) have generated mosaics, composed from several Sentinel-1A
images that cover 7 million square kilometers of South and Southeast Asia.
These cloud-free mosaics show detailed SAR imagery for accurate monitoring of
agricultural activity and of the state of natural resources across Asia.
SAR-based monitoring has never before been possible at such
large scale, mainly due to the cost and challenge of processing so much imagery
automatically. Fortunately, Sentinel-1A imagery is available for free and
sarmap has developed automated processing chains, hosted on cloud computing
facilities provided by Amazon Web Services to handle this vast amount of data.
The rice crop can then be monitored on a regular basis through the season.This
kind of monitoring can support a data revolution, leading to better and more
timely information on crop production.Rice is one of the most important crops
for global food security, and 90%—or about 140 million hectares—of the world’s
rice-growing area is in Asia. The crop is regularly exposed to the risk of
damage from drought, flooding, and tropical storms. Timely and accurate
information on rice, i.e., crop area, crop growth, and losses due to
calamities) is thus very important to rice-growing and -consuming nations.
The lower Mekong River Delta, viewed with as a SAR
imagery. (SAR imagery from ESA: Sentinel-
1A. Background from Google Earth © Google Inc.)
1A. Background from Google Earth © Google Inc.)
IRRI and sarmap are working, with many other
partners, on two major projects that use SAR imagery: One is the Remote Sensing-based Information
and Insurance for Crops in Emerging economies (RIICE) project, which has already used SAR images to monitor
rice-growing areas in 13 test sites in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, the
Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The second phase of the RIICE project
starts in May 2015 and aims to develop in-country capacity to help partner
governments fully benefit from the technology.The other is the Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM) project, the development of which was funded by the Philippine
Department of Agriculture. The PRiSM project has identified SAR-based rice
monitoring as one of the technologies to be used for delivering better rice
crop information."Our aim is to work with partners in Asia to ensure that
this technology is incorporated into national systems," said Andrew
Nelson, project lead at IRRI and head of IRRI’s Geographic Information Systems
laboratory. "Such information can better support decision-making,
targeting of resources, crop insurance, and disaster mitigation and response
systems in both public and private sectors.
"What do the images show? SAR imagery must be interpreted
differently from imagery commonly available through Google Maps and other
mapping services. In the SAR mosaics, we have processed images taken between 21
February and 10 March 2015 such that dark blue represents water or other flat
surfaces such as airport runways, orange and white represent built up areas and
human settlements, light blue represents bare soil, while brown and green show
vegetation at different stages of growth. SAR imagery from Sentinel-1A enables
tracking of changes in vegetation and water through the seasons, which changes
the way crops are monitored from space in monsoon conditions.
The following image, for example, of the lower Mekong Delta—one
of the most important rice-growing regions in the world—clearly shows how SAR
imagery can capture differences in vegetation and water. The irrigation network
and the various stages of the rice crop across the delta are visible as well as
other features such as cities (e.g., Ho Chi Minh at top right of the image) and
aquaculture in coastal areas. The image is a snapshot of the earth’s surface,
but Sentinel-1A will continue to capture images as often as every 12 days over
the region, and these images will become increasingly useful as they reveal the
progress of the rice crop over time, season after season.This work has been
conducted for the RIICE project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation (SDC) and for the PRiSM project funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research
of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA-BAR). It is also supported by the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRISP).
RIICE partners
Global: sarmap, IRRI, Allianze Re,
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and SDC.
Cambodia: Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
India: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India (TNAU), and Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. (AICI).
Indonesia: Indonesian Center for Agricultural Land Resources Research and Development (ICALRD)
Philippines: Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA), and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
Thailand: Rice Department of Thailand (RD), Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE), and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC).
Vietnam: Can Tho University (CTU), Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment (IMHEN), National Institute of Agricultural Planning and Projection (NIAPP), and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
Cambodia: Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
India: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India (TNAU), and Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. (AICI).
Indonesia: Indonesian Center for Agricultural Land Resources Research and Development (ICALRD)
Philippines: Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA), and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
Thailand: Rice Department of Thailand (RD), Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE), and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC).
Vietnam: Can Tho University (CTU), Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment (IMHEN), National Institute of Agricultural Planning and Projection (NIAPP), and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
PRISM partners
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), IRRI, sarmap,
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Philippine Statistics Authority - Bureau of
Agricultural Statistics (PSA-BAS) and Philippines Department of Agriculture
(DA), Regional Field Offices (RFOs) in the following regions: Cordillera
Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon,
CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern
Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga,
and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
http://irri.org/news/media-releases/satellite-imagery-to-soon-enable-large-scale-monitoring-of-asia-s-rice-areas
Myanmar poised to regain major role in global rice trade
IRRI Director General Robert Ziegler (2nd from left) presents
the Myanmar Rice Sector Development Strategy with former IRRI
representative for Myanmar Madonna Casimero (left most), Myanmar President U
Thein Sein (3rd from left), and MoAI Minister U Myint Hlaing.
NAY
PYI TAW, Myanmar - The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is poised to not only
transform its rice sector but to also recapture its prominence in the
international rice market.The Myanmar government made this commitment via the
launch of the Myanmar Rice Sector Development Strategy (MRSDS) on 20 May 2015
at the Department of Agricultural Research in Nay Pyi Taw.The MRSDS was drafted
by the Myanmar government, led by its Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
(MoAI), with technical input from the International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) and international partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank.
Myanmar
President U Thein Sein said the MRSDS symbolizes the collaboration between his
country and IRRI toward a food-secure future for Myanmar and the rest of the
world. He cited the work of IRRI scientists in the development of pest- and
disease-resistant and stress-tolerant rice varieties; improved cropping
systems; postharvest technologies; and better soil, pest, and water management
practices that have raised productivity of rice systems in Myanmar, greatly
benefiting smallholder farmers.IRRI Director General Robert Zeigler said that
“the wonderful scientific achievements of IRRI need to be combined with
development strategies and coherent programs that governments are willing to
implement over a long period of time” to ensure that farmers have access to and
are able to use these.
Zeigler
added that having a government demonstrably willing to transform and develop
its rice sector, an environment conducive to rice production, and growing
global demand for rice make Myanmar a good opportunity for investment.U Myint
Hlaing, Myanmar’s minister for agriculture and irrigation, said it is possible
to break the cycle of poverty and hunger by “strengthening rural resilience,
achieving social protection, and sustaining agricultural development,” all of
which can be achieved through a clear road map for sustainable rice sector
development such as that detailed in the MRSDS.
Also
during the launch, Zeigler awarded a special rice memento to honor the Myanmar
president for his visionary leadership of the rice sector and to commemorate
the visit the president and his cabinet members made to the IRRI headquarters
in Los Baños, Philippines, in December 2013.A donors’ forum was held alongside
the launch of the MRSDS, to provide international agencies the opportunity to
discuss their respective efforts for the Myanmar rice sector. The forum,
facilitated by Corinta Guerta, IRRI director for external relations, was
attended by representatives from the FAO, Japan International Cooperation
Agency, The World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development,
Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund, Welthungerhilfe, Mercy Corps, Food
Security Working Group, Action Aid, International Fertilizer Development
Center, Proximity, Korean International Cooperation Agency, and the Rural
Development Administration.
IRRI has been working with the government of Myanmar since the early 1960s.
http://irri-news.blogspot.com/2015/05/myanmar-poised-to-regain-major-role-in.html
Basmati rice acreage
to go up despite lower realisation last year
Farmers overlook deterrents due to higher returns from basmati
crop
May 25, 2015 Last Updated at 22:20 IST
Area under Basmati rice cultivation
might see a five per cent increase this financial year. A bumper crop and
decline in exports had led to lower realisation by farmers from the sale of
Basmati rice in 2014-15, as compared to the previous year. This, however, would
not lead to a fall in area under cultivation this kharif season. Basmati
fetches higher returns than other rice varieties.In 2014-15, the total area
under Basmati cultivation was 2.1 million hectares, compared to 1.6 million
hectares in 2013-14 — an increase of 31 per cent. Further, exports from India
registered a nominal drop in 2014-15 compared to last year. According to the
Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (Apeda), in
2014-15, total exports were 3.70 million tonnes, while during the previous year
they were 3.75 million tonnes.
In value terms, it has fallen from $4.40 billion in
April-February, 2013-14, to $4.11 billion in the same period in 2014-15.The
decline in export was mainly due to a fall in export to Iran, the largest
importer of Indian Basmati. India had exported 1.44 million tonnes of Basmati
to Iran in 2013-14, while in 2014-15, it was 9.35 lakh tonnes.R Sundaresan,
executive director, All India Rice Exporters Association, said, “The aromatic
rice variety offers high returns to farmers. Even during last year, when there
was significant increase in area and production, it gave higher returns to
farmers. Moreover, it consumes less water than the non-Basmati varieties. With
uncertainty over monsoon looming large, we think more farmers would sow
Basmati. There could be at least a five per cent increase in acreage.”Punjab
and Haryana account for about 70 per cent of total Basmati grown in India.
In 2013-14, Basmati prices
were at Rs 1,850-3,700 a quintal, while in 2014-15, due to bumper harvest in
these two states, the price of the crop was at Rs 1,700-2,900 a
quintal.Kohinoor Foods Joint Managing Director Gurnam Arora said, “Last year,
there was a shortfall in exports to Iran. However, exports to the US, Saudi Arabia
and other West Asian countries were on the higher side. Despite bumper
production, the average realisation for the farmers was better. So, we are
anticipating there will be a five per cent increase in acreage.”“Basmati
fetches better returns than other rice varieties. We request the Centre to fix
the minimum support price for the crop so the farmers should not depend at the
mercy of exporters,” said Manjeet Singh, a farmer from Amritsar.In Punjab, the
government is encouraging farmers to grow Basmati as it consumes less water.
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