Pakistan donates rice to flood-stricken Chinese province
By Chen Boyuan
China.org.cn, August 23, 2016
A
Pakistani military transport aircraft carrying 22 tons of rice arrived at Wuhan
airport in central China's Hubei Province late on Aug. 22. It was the first
batch of the country's planned donation of 10,000 tons of rice to the
flood-stricken province.
The
Pakistani government's decision to make donations to China came in the wake of
six rounds of torrential rains that hit Hubei. From June 18 to July 31,
torrents and subsequent floods caused damage to 98 county-level prefectures in
the province, affecting 17.85 million people, 1.55 million of which have been
evacuated to temporary settlements.After the first delivery of rice by air, the
subsequent donations will be shipped by water to the local port, said a local
newspaper.
http://www.china.org.cn/world/2016-08/23/content_39147345.htm
TCP sends 15,000 tons of rice to Cuba as gift
August 23, 2016
The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), on
behalf of the government of Pakistan, dispatched some 15,000 tons of rice to
Cuba as gift. Sources told Business Recorder on Monday that the
state-run grain trader has successfully completed another export shipment of
rice, procured from domestic exporters/traders. This is the second rice export
consignment by the TCP during this year as earlier in January this year, the
state-run grain trader exported some 15,000 tons of rice including Long Grain
White Rice (IRRI-6) and Super Basmati rice for Niger.
A ship namely Mv CMB Adrien carrying 15,000 tons of rice including 10,000 tons of IRRI-6 and 5,000 tons of Super Basmati has sailed from Port Qasim for Cuba on Sunday. The commodity was procured from two domestic exporters/traders worth Rs 800 million (approximately) for the gift purposes.
A ship namely Mv CMB Adrien carrying 15,000 tons of rice including 10,000 tons of IRRI-6 and 5,000 tons of Super Basmati has sailed from Port Qasim for Cuba on Sunday. The commodity was procured from two domestic exporters/traders worth Rs 800 million (approximately) for the gift purposes.
The rice consignment has been sailed after meeting all the terms and conditions of the Cuban Quarantine Department as previously some issues had cropped up, which forced the TCP to divert a rice shipment from Cuba to Niger. On behalf of the Cuban government, three quarantine officers were in Pakistan for the last one month to monitor the entire process of the rice procurement to maintain the quarantine protocols of Cuba.
The TCP initiated the procurement of some 15,000 tons of rice for Cuba in May and invited separate bids for procurement of 10,000 tons of IRRI-6 and 5,000 tons of Super Basmati on Free on Board (FoB).Some three bidders submitted their bids for the supply of IRRI-6. The tender award committee observed that lowest bid price of Rs 43,260 per metric ton (excl of taxes) on FoB for a quantity of 10,000 tons of IRRI-6 was quoted by M/s GaribSons Pvt Ltd. As the bid was responsive and competitive, the committee awarded the tender to M/s GaribSons Pvt Ltd.
In addition, for procurement of 5,000 tons of Super Basmati Rice, some four bidders submitted their bids. The tender award committee observed that bid price of Rs 74,000 per ton (excl taxes) on FoB for quantity of 5,000 tons was quoted by M/s Matco Foods. As lowest bid was responsive and competitive, the TCP awarded the tender to M/s Matco Foods for supply of 5,000 tons of Super Basmati Rice.
Both parties successfully completed the supply of rice including 10,000 tons of Long Grain White Rice (IRRI-6) and 5,000 tons of Super Basmati Rice on Sunday and accordingly the consignment has been dispatched to Cuba. Sources said Cuban inspectors also carried out inspection of the successful bidders' rice processing and warehousing facilities and accordingly issued certificates of inspection confirming the fitness of the rice processing and warehousing facilities of both bidders, ie, M/s GaribSons Pvt Ltd (Irri-6) and M/s Matco Foods (Basmati) for export of Cuba
http://www.brecorder.com/market-data/stocks-a-bonds/0:/78337:tcp-sends-15000-tons-of-rice-to-cuba-as-gift/?date=2016-08-23
Innovation Generator: Bühler Networking Days
Uzwil (Switzerland), August 23, 2016 – Bühler is showcasing more than 30 innovations at the Bühler Networking Days, leveraging megatrends that are transforming the grain-processing industry: nutrition, food and feed safety, sustainability, and the Internet of Things (IoT). With every generation of solutions, Bühler aims at reducing the use of energy, water, and other resources by 30%.Every year, Bühler invests 5% of its turnover in research and development. The company is featuring over 30 innovations at the Bühler Networking Days. Key innovations include:
- CombiMill process with increased flexibility: The new CombiMill process allows whole-wheat flour for flatbreads, dark and standard flours to be produced using the same milling system. Customers benefit from increased flexibility in production.
- New generation of high-precision scale Tubex: This high-precision scale reduces energy costs by over 90%, maximizes food safety, and features a user-friendly control.
- Energy-efficient pasta drying with Ecothermatic: The latest model of the one-of-its-kind pasta drying solution features energy savings of up to 40% and an increased capacity of 5,500 kilograms per hour.
- Novablue with increased food safety: The new, innovative sieve cleaner is easy to detect, both visually and through metal detectors, which is a critical food safety feature.
Innovations for a better world
Leveraging the tailwind of the megatrends of nutrition, food and feed safety, sustainability, and IoT, Bühler launched a number of important innovations to the market and is making good progress in utilizing the power of IoT. For instance, the new performance-boosting operator interface for plant control WinCos offers web-based functionalities, access from anywhere and on any device, improved user experience, customizability, and configurable reporting. First customers are convinced of the advantages: “With WinCos PocketPlant I know the status of all my process lines in the plant. It enables a fast and structured handling of problems and minimizes downtime,” says David Kamau, CEO at Proctor&Allan (EA) Ltd, Kenya.
This world of digitalization, experimentation, and accelerated innovation asks for a combination of traditional knowledge and the dynamism of the new economy. In order to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, Bühler has become a founding partner of the MassChallenge innovation accelerator. Three of seventy start-ups that are currently being trained and supported under the initiative will also be present at Bühler Networking Days. The company has also stepped up its research and development partnership with third-parties. In that context, the process technology group signed an agreement with Bosch to expand their existing research and development partnership on August 22, 2016. The two companies have already successfully cooperated in a two-year research project to integrate Bosch MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) sensors into Bühler food processing technology. “We are excited to continue and extend our partnership with Bühler, a major industry specialist and leading company in the field of food-processing technologies,” said Thorsten Müller, CEO of Bosch Connected Devices and Solutions. First applications for customers in the grain-milling industry have been piloted. Further developments in all areas of rotating equipment are expected for 2017.
Highlight event for the entire industry
Around 750 leaders from industry and science take part in the Bühler Networking Days. During the three-day event, top speakers from both the industry and science fields are engaging with renowned Bühler experts and other participants – with the key question of how to feed nine billion people healthily and sustainably. The event focuses on four transformative drivers that have a significant impact on the industry: nutrition, food and feed safety, sustainability, and IoT.
Follow the event on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hashtag/NWD16
Find more information about this key industry event here: https://event.buhlergroup.com
Find the profiles of the top speakers here: https://event.buhlergroup.com/top-speakers.html
Find the program of the three-day event here: https://event.buhlergroup.com/program.html
Image gallery Bühler Networking Days: http://www.buhlergroup.com/global/en/about-buehler/media/media-gallery.htm
http://www.buhlergroup.com/northamerica/en/about-buehler/media/media-releases/media-releases-details.htm?rss=871_781_jjnrg0.xml#.V71w1zXfVAE
Pakistan donates 10,000 tons of rice to flooded areas in China’s Hubei province
August 23, 2016, 11:59 am
WUHAN TIANHE, China, Aug 23 (INP) The first batch of rice donated by Pakistan to flood-stricken areas in central China's Hubei province arrived at Wuhan Tianhe airport on Aug. 22. The Hubei provincial government held a handover ceremony at the airport for the first 22 tons of rice. According to the donation plan, Pakistan will donate a total of 10,000 tons for disaster relief.
At the handover ceremony, Yang Xiaodong, deputy director of the disaster relief division of China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, thanked the Pakistani government for its generous donation and said that the gesture fully reflected the deep friendship between Pakistan and China.
Ali Ahmed Arain, Consul General of the Pakistani consulate in Guangzhou, said at the ceremony that Pakistan has always paid close attention to events happening in China. Since the Chinese people are working hard to reconstruct their homes after the disaster, the Pakistani government decided to offer a helping hand.
The Pakistani government will soon ship the rest of the donation to Wuhan.Since the start of the rainy season in June, Hubei has experienced six rounds of heavy rainfall. The flooding has caused great damage across the region. From June 18 to July 31, a total of 98 counties and cities have been affected by flooding, with affected persons reaching 17.85 million. A total of 2.18 million hectares of farmland were flooded, 57,300 houses collapsed and 1.55 million people forced to temporarily relocate
http://nation.com.pk/national/23-Aug-2016/pakistan-donates-10-000-tons-of-rice-to-flooded-areas-in-china-s-hubei-province
IRRI wants Asian rice growers’ action plan
by Vanne Elaine
Terrazola
August 21, 2016
August 21, 2016
The International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) is pushing for rice research and innovation collaboration among
rice-growing countries in Asia, in time for an upcoming ASEAN conference on
agriculture and forestry in Puerto Princesa, Palawan next week.
Dr.
Matthew Morell, IRRI director general, said a 10-point action plan before
agriculture leaders to ensure that rice remains available and affordable across
the region will be introduced, especially amid the challenges brought about by
climate change.
Morell
said the initiative aims to create technology collaboration between the
countries that may improve the genetic resources of rice varieties.
The
venture also hopes to develop rice varieties that are adaptive to
region-specific conditions of drought, flooding and salinity.
Top
agriculture and forestry policymakers from the ASEAN member countries
Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore,
Thailand, and Vietnam; as well as China, Japan, and South Korea, will gather
for the annual ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Senior Officials’
Meeting (SOM-AMAF) from August 24 to August 26.
In 2013,
India, Nepal, and Bangladesh entered into a similar agreement which allowed the
sharing of rice varieties between these countries.
“Now is
the time for ASEAN to make this commitment. A joint investment in rice breeding
can achieve food security for the entire region as well as create inclusive
economic growth in the rice industry,” said Morell.
http://www.mb.com.ph/irri-wants-asian-rice-growers-action-plan/#WIlXIkiwLdKSyiEI.99
Scientists look into rice that can tolerate salty conditions
A team of researchers, led by prominent
Filipino-American scientist Michael Purugganan, will study the response of rice
in saline soil conditions under a 4-year, US$4 million grant from the US
National Science Foundation
Rene Pastor
Published 9:03 AM, August 24, 2016
Updated 9:13 AM, August 24, 2016
Farmers collects rice for the winter-spring
crop on a field in the outskirts of Hanoi on March 2, 2016. Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP
NEW YORK, USA – A team of scientists will study
the response of rice, the staple food of half the world’s nearly 7 billion
people, in saline soil conditions under a 4-year, US$4 million grant from the
US National Science Foundation’s Plant Genome Research Program.The study will
be headed by New York University’s (NYU) Michael Purugganan, a prominent
Filipino-American scientist, and Richard Bonnaeu, both part of NYU’s Center for
Genomics and Systems Biology.
“We are hoping we can identify genes that can
help rice tolerate more saline soils. There is certainly evidence in African
rice for this,” Purugganan told Rappler in an interview. “If we identify genes
for salt tolerance, then breeders can use this information to breed
salt-tolerant rice varieties.The NYU team will be collaborating with the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, which last
April said it is in the process of perfecting the salt-tolerant rice before
field testing it widely, as well as Fordham University. Rice is an especially
vital staple food in Asia, especially in populous countries such as China, the
Philippines, Indonesia, and even India.
An NYU statement announcing the study said
plants are continuously exposed to multiple environmental signals and must
respond to dynamic conditions found in nature. Because so much of the world
relies on rice as a food source, its survival around the globe is vital.Saline
soil conditions, in particular, mark a growing threat to agriculture especially
in a time of global warming and climate change.In Vietnam, salt intrusion in
the Mekong River delta and the southern areas of the country which form its
main rice producing area is now a serious problem.
Achipelagic countries such as the Philippines
and Indonesia ensure their rice farms are located not that far from the oceans
also.”The coastal areas are especially salt-prone,” said Purugganan.But he also
explained that salt buildup is an issue for irrigated areas.“As irrigation is
used over time, salt builds up in the soils. So even if you are not a coastal
country, it becomes a problem,” the NYU scientist said.This places at risk
land-locked countries which farm rice, such as Cambodia and Laos.According to
the IRRI statement in April, the new rice variety was bred by crossing a wild
rice species found in brackish water with one cultivated and developed at the
institute.
This resulted in a "new rice line that can
expel salt it takes from the soil into the air through salt glands it has on
its leaves."Salt would normally damage rice and other plants, impacting
the viability of crops which feed significant numbers of people.
The researchers will examine how plants’ gene
regulation can potentially lead to their adaptation in salty soils.
By identifying genes that plants use to
acclimate to different environments, they hope to lay the groundwork for
breeding rice that can thrive in saline-laden terrains, the NYU statement said.Their
work will primarily examine Asian rice, the world’s most important food crop.
The project will also study African rice, a less well-known relative of Asian
rice that is grown in West Africa, but which holds promise for its better
tolerance to various environmental stresses.
“There is certain evidence in African rice for
this,” Purugganan said in alluding to their ability to withstand salty
conditions among others.The work will employ both genome sequencing and
large-scale analysis of gene expression in rice grown both in the laboratory
and the field. The study will also develop new methods for analyzing
large-scale genomic data.Rice is considered one of the 3 top food crops in the
world alongside wheat and corn. – Rappler.com
Rene Pastor is a journalist in the New York metropolitan area who
writes about agriculture, politics and regional security. He was, for many
years, a senior commodities journalist for Reuters. He founded the Southeast
Asia Commodity Digest, which is an affiliate of Informa Economics research and
consulting. He is known for his extensive knowledge of agriculture and the El
Niño phenomenon and his views have been quoted in news reports.
http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/144021-scientists-study-rice-saline-conditions-nyu-irri
IRRI outlines a plan to make rice inexpensive, more available
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has outlined a plan for making rice more available and inexpensive across the region. The 10-point action plan will be unveiled at the annual conference of the policy makers and senior officials of the ASEAN countries, that began Monday) in the Puerto Princesa, Philippines.
The conference will conclude on Friday, with
adopting the plan by the participating countries, reports BSS.
"The 10-point action plan outlines policy
recommendations that can be considered by the attending countries to ensure
that rice remains available and affordable across the region, especially in the
face of increasing challenges from climate change," IRRI said in a
statement.
The
participating countries are the ten ASEAN member countries - Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
and Vietnam; and three non-ASEAN states - China, Japan and South Korea.
This initiative will effectively create a
regional technology collaboration platform that could improve the genetic
resources of rice varieties available to the ASEAN plus 3 countries.
At the same time, it will take initiatives to
work with the ASEAN plus other 3 countries on a bilateral basis to cultivate
climate-smart rice varieties to counter some environmental catastrophes.
Referring to a similar agreement among India,
Nepal and Bangladesh, IRRI said the agreement meant that a new rice variety
released in India could adjust easily in Bangladesh or Nepal if they wanted a
similar variety and vice-versa. - IH
Could Carolina Gold be the answer to West Africa’s rice woes?
Hanna Raskin Email @hannaraskin
Aug 23 2016 5:45 am
Chef Frank Lee, of Slightly North of Broad,
prepared this dish of Carolina Gold Rice. (Brad Nettles/Staff)
Carolina
Gold, the crop which helped turn many Charleston chefs into passionate
advocates for ingredient revival, could boost rice production in West Africa, a
new study suggests.West Africa’s rice industry annually suffers billions of
dollars in loss to bacterial leaf streak, a disease that can be carried by
wind, rain, people or farming equipment. “It’s a big problem because there are
no known resistance genes that control it, and no chemicals available to use,”
Lindsay R. Triplett, an assistant scientist at The Connecticut Agricultural
Experiment Station, explains. “It’s been reported in several new countries in
Africa in the past few years.”
Triplett’s
research, published
in the latest issue of the Society for Experimental Biology’s peer-reviewed
journal, focused on the bacterial resistance of Carolina Gold Select.
(Carolina Gold Select is the most genetically pure strain of the long-grain
rice.) Prior to her study, scientists had primarily tested Asian rice strains
as potential weapons ion the fight against bacterial leaf streak.“It turns out that Asian strains do trigger resistance, but they produce a protein that suppresses it,” Triplett says.Not so Carolina Gold, which Triplett hails as the potential solution to a 50-year-old problem.Although originally bred in Southeast Asia, Carolina Gold may have African ancestry; rice geneticist Anna McClung nearly a decade ago established that Carolina Gold was nearly identical to a type of rice linked with Ghana. Still, it’s unclear whether the rice came to North America with Africans, or if the variety was shipped to Ghana: Carolina Gold traveled widely in its eighteenth-century heyday, when it was South Carolina’s most valuable export.
“There are about 100,000 varieties of rice in international seed collections, but seeds have moved around so much over history that we don’t yet have a good idea how many might be duplicates that were just renamed in their new country,” Triplett says.Since finding the resistance trait in Carolina Gold, Triplett’s team has found rice from Burkina Faso, Benin and Colombia that behaves the same way. The researchers haven’t yet determined if they share the same gene.
Although Triplett’s paper is so dense that even Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills, a major financial backer of heirloom rice research, lovingly describes it as “nerd stuff.” But the two agree the findings have implications for South Carolinians who may not have any science training:
“Just like with the gene in Carolina Gold, a lot of disease-fighting genetic tools we have today -- as well as the ones we haven’t discovered yet -- were saved and maintained through the efforts of regular farmers, seed-saving gardeners, and citizen scientists,” Triplett says. “The plant genes preserved in seed banks are really critical to help us prepare for agricultural problems of the future.”
http://www.postandcourier.com/20160823/160829999/could-carolina-gold-be-the-answer-to-west-africas-rice-woes
Students should utilize Baker Institute
Edward Djerejian
| August 24, 2016
As you
return to campus, I wish to share with you the many opportunities Rice
University’s Baker Institute offers to become involved in the world of public
policy, which directly affects your life in important ways, both now and when
you leave Rice to pursue your career. Adding an understanding of public policy
to your education at Rice is important for achieving personal and professional
growth inside and outside of the classroom.Since the Baker Institute’s founding in 1993, we have built research programs studying energy, health, Mexico, the Middle East, entrepreneurship, science and technology, religion and politics, space policy, drug policy, China and more — all making valuable contributions to policy formulation at home and abroad. The institute seeks to engage students in our nation’s public policy dialogue and to promote leadership. We aim to connect the world of ideas on campus to the world of action on a national and global scale.
Over the past two decades, student options for engaging with the Baker Institute have grown signifi cantly. The institute has established itself as a major forum for the discussion and debate of key public policy issues, allowing students extraordinary opportunities to engage with notable statesmen, scholars and business leaders. These have included Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as well as national and international leaders such as Nelson Mandela. Each year, we host more than 50 events open to students, offering unique opportunities to learn about areas of public policy which affect your life. Our student organization, the Baker Institute Student Forum, holds programs, debates and meetings with the goal of promoting policy awareness and offers unique opportunities to engage with our fellows and guests.
The Baker Institute has a strong presence in Rice classrooms: Last year, scholars a
ffiliated with the Baker Institute taught more than 100 courses across a variety of disciplines. Each spring, we provide access to Baker Institute experts on a range of contemporary policy issues, from energy to healthcare to the Middle East. We are also home to two new graduate programs: the Master of Global Affairs, in partnership with the School of Social Sciences, and the Master of Energy Economics, in partnership with the department of economics.
In addition to academic courses and events, the Baker Institute sponsors student internship initiatives to help students gain hands-on experience with public policy and to explore future career paths. Throughout the year, we hire Rice students to work part-time with our fellows in support of our research activities and with our administrative staff to organize events and other programs. In the summer, we sponsor Rice student internships at government agencies, think tanks or nongovernmental organizations in Washington, D.C.
We have also established internship programs that provide opportunities to engage with public policy issues abroad. Since 2009, we have partnered with the French Institute of International Relations to send a group of students to study policy in Paris and Brussels. Since 2011, the Baker Institute Space Policy Program has sponsored engineering and science students from Rice and other universities on a two-week trip to Russia to promote international collaboration for a new generation of space scientists. The institute is partnered with the department of political science to sponsor the Urban Lab, allowing students to study the dynamics of urban political, economic and social development through on-campus study and fi eldwork in Istanbul and Dubai. And our Center for the Middle East annually sponsors student fi eld research, this year in Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon and Australia.
We hope Rice students will take advantage of the many opportunities for involvement at the Baker Institute. Information about our events and programs can be found on Twitter @BakerInstitute and on our website: bakerinstitute.org. As you begin a new school year, please join us to learn about the issues which affect your life and to lend your own voice to the ongoing public policy discussion.
Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian is a founding director of the Baker Institute for Public Policy
Scientists to study how rice adapts in salty soil under $4 million NSF grant
A team of scientists will study the response of rice, a food staple for half the world's population, in saline soil conditions under a four-year, $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation's Plant Genome Research Program.The study will be headed by New York University's Michael Purugganan and Richard Bonneau, who are part of the university's Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines and Fordham University.
Plants are continuously exposed to multiple environmental signals and must respond to the dynamic conditions found in nature. Because so much of the world relies on rice as a food source, its survival around the globe is vital.
Saline soil conditions, in particular, mark a growing threat to agriculture -- both in the United States and in other countries -- raising concerns about the viability of crops, such as rice, that feed significant numbers of people.
The researchers will examine how plants' gene regulation can potentially lead to their adaptation in salty soils. By identifying genes that plants use to acclimate to different environments, they hope to lay the groundwork for breeding rice that can thrive in saline-laden terrains. Their work will primarily examine Asian rice, the world's most important food crop. The project will also study African rice, a less well-known relative of Asian rice that is grown in West Africa, but which holds promise for its better tolerance to various environmental stresses.
The work will employ both genome sequencing and large-scale analysis of gene expression in rice grown both in the laboratory and the field. The study will also develop new methods for analyzing large-scale genomic data.
###
EDITOR'S
NOTE:Faculty at NYU's Center for Genomics and Systems Biology are combining genomic and systems biology approaches to understand how changes in genomes give rise to the diversity of regulatory networks in microbes, animals, and plants. For more, go to: http://biology.as.nyu.edu/object/facilities.gsb.
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-08/nyu-sts082316.php
Chasing the monsoon
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/chasing-the-monsoon/article9018078.ece
Warm weather, persistent rains trigger sprouting in unharvested rice in Ark.
Monday
Posted
Aug 22, 2016 at 1:26 PM
Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist with
the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture said Tuesday that he
and other agronomists had received reports from Cooperative Extension Service
agents in Clay, Lawrence, Randolph and other rice-heavy counties in the
northeast corner of the state this week.
By Ryan McGeeney / UofA Division of Ag
Heavy rains throughout the state combined with
high temperatures have begun to trigger instances of rice prematurely sprouting
from panicles, a phenomenon that will likely result in milling and yield losses
when harvest begins. Jarrod Hardke, extension rice
agronomist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture said
Tuesday that he and other agronomists had received reports from Cooperative
Extension Service agents in Clay, Lawrence, Randolph and other rice-heavy
counties in the northeast corner of the state this week. “It’s too early to
know how widespread this is, because most growers aren’t out in their fields
right now, given the rain,” Hardke said. “Once it lets up, though, and growers
get out to look at the fields, I believe observations will increase. This is
just the tip of the iceberg.” Hardke said that the reports he had received as
of Tuesday were from fields with relatively immature rice.
“If it’s happening there, it’s probably worse
in fields where the rice is even further along in development, because the
kernels will be closer to having harvestable levels of moisture,” he said. “These
are no longer viable kernels,” Hardke said. “If it makes it through a combine,
producers will be docked by buyers for undesirable grain. If, for some reason,
it doesn’t even make it that far, it’s just a direct yield loss.” Heavy
rainfall throughout the week had already impacted rice in Arkansas, largely
bringing the young harvest to a halt. The National Weather Service reported
average rainfall of 2-4 inches throughout much of the state over the weekend.
As of Tuesday, the NWS forecast 1-3 additional inches falling across the southern
two-thirds of Arkansas, as well as neighboring states. Craig Allen,
agricultural agent for the Poinsett County Cooperative Extension Service
office, said nearly all fields in his county were too saturated to harvest as
of Monday.
“It’s at a standstill right now,”
Allen said. “The forecast shows rain through Saturday, so there’s a good chance
it will be next Monday before anyone out here is back in the field.”According
to a report published Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service, 97 percent of Arkansas rice has headed — a
significant jump over the five-year average for this point in the season. About
2 percent of the crop had been harvested, which is closer to typical. Allen
said the rain and humidity had also contributed to isolated instances of
late-season diseases such as neck blast and sheath blight.
Hardke warned that if the
continuing rains are joined by high winds during harvest, a portion of the
state’s rice crop may become “lodged,” as heavy, harvest-ready crops collapse
against each other under the weight of saturation. “When heavy rains start to
come in at an angle, driven by higher winds, it has a ‘push’ effect to it,”
Hardke said.
“It will start to push the crop over — if
there are areas of the field that have weaker stems or straw, they’re going to
have a tendency to lodge and go down. Once that starts, there’s usually a
domino effect — the weight of the fallen rice leaning on the rest of the rice —
eventually, it’ll break down the rest of it.” The lodging phenomenon can be a
routine occurrence in Arkansas rice fields, Hardke said, which sometimes puts
growers in the difficult position of deciding when to cut losses on the harvest
process itself.
“If the storm damage happens later in the season,
and the crop lodges, but doesn’t actually get too flat or too wet, the main
fear becomes wear and tear on the machines, just to pick up anywhere near the
same amount of yield,” Hardke said. “It’s much more difficult and
time-consuming to cut downed rice than standing rice. You have to drive the
combine slower and cut at a lower height — you’re literally trying to pick it
up to get it in the combine.” To learn more about Arkansas row crops, contact
your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.edu
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/20160822/warm-weather-persistent-rains-trigger-sprouting-in-unharvested-rice-in-ark
Surplus predicted in Indonesia`s rice supply
Selasa, 23 Agustus 2016 19:26 WIB | 751 Views
Agung Hendriadi. (pertanian.go.id)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The agriculture
ministry said the country is expected to have a surplus of 11.38 million tons
in supply of milled rice by the end of this year.Chief spokesman of the
ministry Agung Hendriadi said rice supply is estimated to reach 43.69 million
tons as against requirement of 32.3 million tons this year."A surplus ,
therefore, is expected to reach 11.38 million tons, even there would be an
excess of 20 million tons in supply on stocks including early year stock and
Bulog stocks and harvest 8.8 million tons," Agung said.
Similarly excesses are also estimated in the supply of other foodstuff including 2.1 million tons of corn grains, 339,400 tons of sugar, 18.5 million tons of cooking oil, 131,800 tons of red onion, 414,400 tons of chili, 1.59 million tons of chicken meat and 1.44 million tons of eggs.Meanwhile, deficit is expected in the supply of beef and soybeans.
Deficit in beef supply is estimated to reach 220,000 tons with supply totaling 441,8000 tons as against consumption of 662,300 tons, and deficit in soybean is around 1.09 million tons with supply totaling only 1.5 million tons as against consumption of 2.59 million tons.Agung, however, said in general supply of the 11 strategic commodities is relatively safe until the end of the year."Deficit would be recorded only in the supply of two commodities until the end of the year," he said
Similarly excesses are also estimated in the supply of other foodstuff including 2.1 million tons of corn grains, 339,400 tons of sugar, 18.5 million tons of cooking oil, 131,800 tons of red onion, 414,400 tons of chili, 1.59 million tons of chicken meat and 1.44 million tons of eggs.Meanwhile, deficit is expected in the supply of beef and soybeans.
Deficit in beef supply is estimated to reach 220,000 tons with supply totaling 441,8000 tons as against consumption of 662,300 tons, and deficit in soybean is around 1.09 million tons with supply totaling only 1.5 million tons as against consumption of 2.59 million tons.Agung, however, said in general supply of the 11 strategic commodities is relatively safe until the end of the year."Deficit would be recorded only in the supply of two commodities until the end of the year," he said
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/106375/surplus-predicted-in-indonesias-rice-supply
Vietnam in urgent need of deepwater port in Mekong Delta
By Toan Dao
August 23, 2016 | 11:51 am GMT+7
A view of Hon Khoai Island in the southernmost
province of Ca Mau. Photo courtesy of camau.gov.vn
The country's rice basket is struggling to cope with climate change and Chinese dams.
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue
has asked relevant ministries and agencies to consider building a deepwater
port in the Mekong Delta to help ease transport barriers for goods from the
country's most productive region in terms of agriculture and aquaculture.Currently
there is no such port for the region.One of the ideal locations for the sea
port is in Hon Khoai Island in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, the
government portal cited Hue as saying on Monday at a conference to discuss ways
to develop the Mekong Delta’s transport and logistics infrastructure.
In fact, in July 2015, the central government
agreed in principal to allow the construction of a deepwater port in Hon Khoai
with estimated investment capital of $2.5 billion, but there has been no sign
of the project taking off.
Hon Khoai is situated about 12 nautical miles
from international waters, 15km from the southernmost point of Vietnam's inland
territory and 14km from the Ho Chi Minh Highway. A port there could handle
vessels of 250,000 DWT. The Ho Chi Minh Highway connects Vietnam’s north and
south, according to the government statement.A report from Can Tho University
showed that rice production from the delta accounts for more than half of
Vietnam’s output and contributes 80 percent to the country’s rice exports. The
region is also home to around 80 percent of Vietnam’s fruit output and 60
percent of its fish catch.
Due to limited port capacity, 80 percent of
goods for export from the Mekong Delta are shipped via deepwater ports in Ho
Chi Minh City or its neighboring Ba Ria- Vung Tau Province, which means 90
percent are moved by road.
Sea and river ports in the delta are scattered
and not connected with logistics centers, making it difficult for companies to
buy and transport large quantities of goods. Of the total, VND28 trillion
will come from the state budget while the remainder will be sourced from
official development assistance and the private sector.According to a report
the Ministry of Transport filed at the meeting, Vietnam will invest VND91
trillion ($4.03 billion) to develop transport and logistics projects in the
Mekong Delta from 2016-2020.There will be 22 projects to support sea transport,
costing VND18 trillion, and 14 projects for inland waterways, with investment
of VND11 trillion. The majority of new transport projects, however, will be
roads.About 22 million people, or 24 percent of Vietnam's population of over 90
million, live in the Mekong Delta. The negative effects from the El Nino
phenomenon and upstream dams, however, have brought about the worst drought and
saltwater intrusion in the region for nearly 100 years.
http://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/vietnam-in-urgent-need-of-deepwater-port-in-mekong-delta-3456904.html
Government, businesses contribute paddy seeds to flooded farms
By Htoo Thant
| Tuesday, 23 August 2016
As floods wreak havoc across the country and damage
thousands of acres of monsoon paddy, government agencies and businesses are
arranging for affected farmers to receive 480,000 baskets of paddy seed,
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation deputy director U Aye Ko Ko
said last week.
Farmers plant monsoon paddy. Photo: Kaung Htet
/ The Myanmar Times
About
70,000 baskets were bought with Union government funds and another 60,000 were
bought with state and regional funds. The bulk – 350,000 baskets – was bought
by farmers, entrepreneurs and other businesspeople.While flooding does not
immediately destroy paddy fields, long-term flooding will, said the ministry’s
deputy permanent secretary U Thet Naing Oo.More than half a million acres of paddy fields were flooded as of August 15, with more than 200,000 acres of that being in Ayeyarwady Region. More than 20,000 acres of paddy fields have been destroyed by flooding, U Myo Tint Tun, who compiles the paddy lists, told The Myanmar Times.
“We will give the farmers in the flooded areas the paddy baskets without charging them,” U Aye Ko Ko said.
Other crops – such as maize, sesame and beans – can also be destroyed by flooding, but because they are grown away from the flood zones, few have been affected by this year’s heavy rain.In order to get the paddy planted in time for monsoon season, the ministry will provide farm machinery. The monsoon paddy season runs from late August to September, so there is still time to salvage the flooded farmers’ crops, U Thet Naing Oo said.
Flooding has driven up the prices of paddy baskets: 100 baskets cost about K1 million at the Mandalay market and K850,000 at the Nay Pyi Taw market.Bags of rice have risen from K28,000 to K30,000 as well, said Pyinmana township rice entrepreneur Ko Nay Soe.
Translation by Khine Thazin Han
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/22100-government-businesses-contribute-paddy-seeds-to-flooded-farms.html
Paddy purchasing for Yala season begins
Published in Latest - Defence
Purchasing
of paddy for the Yala season 2016 was inaugurated yesterday (22nd Aug.) at the
Warawewa paddy warehouse in Rajanganaya with the participation of the Minister
of Rural Economy P. Harison.One kilo of Nadu rice is purchased at
Rs.38.00, Samba rice at Rs.41.00, and Keeri Samba rice at Rs.50.00. Nearly
120,000 metric tons will be purchased.
According to the Minister, the government will spend Rs.4,600 million for the paddy purchasing. The initiative will be conducted at nearly 300 warehouses in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, and Hambantota districts
According to the Minister, the government will spend Rs.4,600 million for the paddy purchasing. The initiative will be conducted at nearly 300 warehouses in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, and Hambantota districts
http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/item/14236-paddy-purchasing-for-yala-season-begins
Tanzania: Rice Production in Dakawa Boosted
Dakawa — Paddy production in Dakawa Ward in
Mvomero District, Morogoro Region has almost tripled, following the financial
support extended to producers under the Private Agricultural Sector Support's
(PASS) guarantee."We have boosted our productivity from 15 bags per acre
to between 35 and 45 bags," Mr Evodis Mlokozi, a paddy grower at Dakawa
Irrigation Scheme in Morogoro told journalists who visited the project,
recently.The peasant said he was currently producing 45 bags of rice per acre,
his new target being to produce 60 bags. Interviewed farmers attributed the
increased productivity to PASS guarantee, which has given them access to bank
loans to invest in their farms.
"I started growing rice many years ago but
with low productivity," said Robert Materu, recalling the year he
harvested eight bags from 12 acres. Mr Grayson Mangula said the financial
support has enabled farmers to prepare their farms and plant timely as well as
adhering to all recommended good agricultural practices.
"With the bank loans, we can plant on
time, apply fertilizers and pesticides for the bumper harvests," said Mr
Mangula. The interviewees, mostly Jikwamue Dakawa Farmers Group members, urged
fellow peasants to join the group to benefit from the PASS guaranteed loans. Jikwamue
is one of the ten groups under the rice growers' cooperative society, which
started in 2006.During the 2015/16 farming season, 30 Jikwamue group members
applied for and secured a 583m/- loan from CRDB Bank through PASS guarantee to
intensify paddy production in Dakawa scheme. The loan brought to 1.18bn/- the
total amount the group has so far received under the PASS arrangement.
The loan per farmer averaged at 7.7m/- for the
2013/14 season before soaring to 11m/- and 21m/- for the 2014/15 and 2015/16
farming seasons, respectively. The farmers use the loans for farm preparations,
input purchases and payment for other farming costs and storage expenses.Agricultural
Extension Officer at Dakawa Augusta Matembo said the paddy growers at the area
have huge potential of eradicating poverty among themselves through modern
agronomic practices, with remarkable increase in yields."With these loans,
it has become easy for farmers to heed the professional advice...to plant
timely, apply fertilizers and pesticides," said Ms Matembo, asking PASS
and its partner banks to extend the services to other needy areas.
PASS, a non-banking financial organisation that
facilitates provision of business development and financial services, was
established in 2000 under the Agricultural Sector Programme Support.It operated
as a project until 2007 when it was registered as a trust, with similar mission
to facilitate commercialization of subsistence farming. It as well operates as
credit guarantee to commercial farmers and agri-businesses that run small and
medium enterprises (SMEs).Its main focus is to facilitate value chain
financing, covering all needs of agro-entrepreneurs.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201608220349.html
Kharif Crop In 10,000 Hectares Affected In 5 Flood-Hit States
All India
| Press Trust of India
| Updated: August 23, 2016 02:50 IST
Kharif crops in about 5,000 to 10,000 hectares
in flood plains have been impacted due to floods.
New Delhi: Kharif
crops, like paddy, sown in about 10,000 hectares (ha) in five-flood hit states
have been impacted so far, Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Patnaik said on
Monday."About 5,000 to 10,000 hectares in flood plains have been impacted
due to floods. We are yet to get the complete update from the states," Mr
Patnaik told PTI.Heavy rainfall has worsened the flood situation in Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Sowing of kharif
(summer) crops, which began with the onset of southwest monsoon from June, is
almost completed in some places.
Till last week, kharif crops were planted in 992.76 lakh hectare across India, higher than 938.57 lakh hectare in the same period last year, as per the government data.The Met Department has forecast better than normal rains for the four-month season ending September.India produced around 252 million tonnes of foodgrains in each of the past two crop years (2015-16 and 2014-15) due to two consecutive drought years.On hopes of better rains this year, the government is targeting a record production of 270 million tonnes in 2016-17 crop year.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed concern over the worsening flood situation in the five states and promised total support from the Centre in rescue and relief operations.
Till last week, kharif crops were planted in 992.76 lakh hectare across India, higher than 938.57 lakh hectare in the same period last year, as per the government data.The Met Department has forecast better than normal rains for the four-month season ending September.India produced around 252 million tonnes of foodgrains in each of the past two crop years (2015-16 and 2014-15) due to two consecutive drought years.On hopes of better rains this year, the government is targeting a record production of 270 million tonnes in 2016-17 crop year.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed concern over the worsening flood situation in the five states and promised total support from the Centre in rescue and relief operations.
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kharif-crop-in-10-000-hectares-affected-in-5-flood-hit-states-1448840
The Latest: Flood damage at least $110M to Louisiana ag
Pastor Mark Carroll, right, listens to the prayers of Valerie St. Romain, 35, during church services at South Walker Baptist Church in Walker, La., Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. Outside the small town of Walker, Louisiana, the rural Baptist church has ... (The Associated Press)
Lisa Dupuy, 41, left, prays with pastor Mark
Carroll during church services at South Walker Baptist Church in Walker, La.,
Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. Outside the small town of Walker, the rural Baptist church
has become an oasis for flood victims. (AP ... (The
Associated Press)
Robert Miller, 66, prays during service at the
South Walker Baptist Church in Walker, La., Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. Miller said
he had several family members in his home when the flood stuck and helped them
flee the home while he stayed behind to care ... (The
Associated Press)
The Latest: Flood damage at least $110M to Louisiana ag
Published August 22, 2016 Markets Associated PressBATON ROUGE, La. – The Latest on Louisiana flooding (all times local):
4:30 p.m.
The LSU AgCenter estimates that the floods in south Louisiana have caused at least $110 million worth of damage to agriculture — and the figure is likely to grow.Economist Kurt Guidry says in a news release that factors include damage to crop yield and quality, damage to infrastructure and loss of stored commodities. He says typical summer rains could slow the fall of floodwaters, delaying harvest and doing even more damage.
Guidry says few soybeans were harvested before the floods, and that crop has about $46 million in known damage.
He says rice is likely to take a $33 million hit, corn $10 million and sugarcane at least $3 million.
Guidry says livestock deaths are not yet clear. He says reduced pasture and forage will cost producers nearly $2 million.
___
12 p.m.
More than 2,800 people remain in shelters a week after the devastating flooding that wrecked homes across south Louisiana.
The Department of Children and Family Services announced the latest figure Monday.
The storm and its flooding have damaged an estimated 60,000 homes and forced thousands to seek temporary housing with relatives, friends or shelters.
More than 106,000 people have registered for federal disaster aid, with the state saying $20 million has been distributed to individuals so far.
At least 40 state highways remained closed.
___
11:45 p.m.
The grace period for renewing flood insurance policies in south Louisiana parishes heavily damaged by flooding has been extended to 120 days.
FEMA announced the extension Monday, saying it gives policyholders "one less thing to worry about" while they're trying to repair homes and respond to the disaster.
Usually, homeowners have 30 days from when coverage ends to renew their insurance policies under the National Flood Insurance Program.
The 120-day grace period applies to the 20 parishes included in the federal disaster declaration. The extension applies to flood insurance policies with a 30-day grace period that ends sometime between Aug. 11 and Sept. 10.
FEMA says more than 25,000 flood insurance policyholders have submitted claims for losses during Louisiana's catastrophic flooding so far.
___
9:55 a.m.
Hillary Clinton says she will visit flood-damaged Louisiana when "the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the response."
In a statement Monday, the Democratic presidential nominee called the floods a crisis in need of a national response. She noted that she had asked supporters to contribute to the Red Cross to help recovery efforts for the more than 100,000 people affected by the floods.
Clinton added that she wants to make sure there is a focus on Zika prevention, so that the mosquitoes that carry the virus don't spread to Louisiana.
Republican nominee Donald Trump visited Louisiana on Friday and President Barack Obama is expected Tuesday. Heavy flooding this month killed at least 13 people and displaced thousands more after water engulfed their homes.
___
7:45 a.m.
Vermilion parish officials have lifted the evacuation order for the town of Gueydan (GAY'-dahn).
Rebecca Broussard (BROO'-sahrd), director of emergency preparedness for the parish, tells The Advertiser (http://bit.ly/2bYjWmp) Sunday it's safe for all residents to return home.
The levee along Louisiana Highway 713 just north of Gueydan was breached on Wednesday.
Volunteers from the town of about 1,500 residents worked around the clock bring in equipment and begin repairs.
Helicopters carried 4,000-pound sandbags dropped them along the levee. By the time the breach was contained Saturday, Broussard said 333 of the sandbags had been dropped.
___
7:10 a.m.
The south Louisiana floods, which have forced tens of thousands of people to look for housing, comes at a time when the metro Baton Rouge housing market was already grappling with a limited inventory of homes.
As of July, the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors' Multiple Listing Service found there were 3,382 homes on the market in the metro areas.
In the immediate aftermath of the flooding, Ginger Maulden, president-elect of the Baton Rouge realtor's group, tells The Advocate (http://bit.ly/2bzML73) she expects the inventory will drop even lower. Maulden says some people who had listed their property may end up taking it off the market and letting displaced family or friends live there. She says some homes that were listed may have been damaged by floodwaters and can't be sold.
___
5:45 a.m. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is opening three disaster recovery centers in Louisiana to help those affected by the recent flooding.
The centers will open Monday in Baton Rouge, Amite and St. Francisville.
FEMA says the centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
Representatives from the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, FEMA, the Small Business Administration, volunteer groups and other agencies are at the centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.
___
2:05 a.m.
A man who lost most of his worldly goods in the Louisiana flooding says he and his wife are thankful their family survived. And, Chuck Craft jokes: "I guess God wanted me to de-clutter."
He and his wife, Karen, live outside Walker, a small town near Baton Rouge. They're among the thousands of Louisiana residents dragging water-logged furniture, appliances and other belongings out to the garbage.
The church they attend, South Walker Baptist, has become an oasis by providing sustenance for the body and soul. With help from the community and donations from across the U.S., the congregation of about 100 is providing shelter, meals and basics such as toothpaste and diapers
Acadia Parish USDA Service Center
Temporarily Moves to New Location
CROWLEY, LA -- The Acadia Parish
USDA Service Center that houses the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office announced that the Acadia Parish
Service Center in Crowley is closed due to flooding. USDA FSA staff will
relocate to neighboring Jefferson Davis Parish.
The Acadia Parish FSA staff will
work out of the Jefferson Davis FSA Parish Office located at 2003 Port Drive in
Jennings. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For disaster assistance, to
file a notice of loss, other farm program information emergency loan, or for
farm loan information contact the staff at (337) 824-0968, extension 2.
The NRCS Acadia Parish office staff
will relocate to:
Abbeville Field Office - 3221 Veterans Memorial Drive, Suite H (337) 893-5664
Abbeville Field Office - 3221 Veterans Memorial Drive, Suite H (337) 893-5664
Jennings Field Office - 2003 Port
Drive, Jennings (337) 824-0975
Watershed Staff - Watershed
Planning Office in Lafayette - 646 Cajun dome Blvd., Suite 180 (337)
291-3067
USA Rice Daily, Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Japan Rice Trade Anticipates
Higher Domestic Prices for Coming Marketing Year
By Bill Farmer
TOKYO, JAPAN -- USA Rice staff are traveling in Japan this week
and met with members of the Japanese rice trade where they discussed several
factors in play that are likely to strengthen Japanese domestic rice prices
this next crop year.
First is the Japanese government's
increasing diversion of rice production to animal feed which will impact
reasonably-priced rice for foodservice use. Additionally, the Japanese
press reported last week that JA, the large national agricultural cooperative,
will increase their prices to purchase rice from growers. For instance,
the price of Niigata Koshihikari will be 13,600 yen per 60kg (approximately
$102/cwt brown basis), which is an increase of six percent compared to the previous
year.
A second factor portending higher
prices is the reported decrease in this year's domestic table rice production,
forecast to be 7.35 million tons - 90,000 tons less than 2015.
A third factor that could drive
prices higher in Japan is weather. Late summer and fall is typhoon season
in the western Pacific. As of July, the 2016 Japanese crop looks to be
average in size, but the shortage of foodservice rice could be worsened by any
adverse weather before harvest this fall.
"Higher domestic prices make
imported U.S. rice more attractive to Japanese end-users," said USA Rice
Vice President of International Promotion Jim Guinn. "And since the
foodservice industry is a primary user of U.S. rice that comes into Japan through
the Simultaneous-Buy-Sell (SBS) system each year, importers are watching the
rice market carefully as the FY2016 SBS tender process begins soon."
Annual Delta Rice Tasting Luncheon Sept. 16
Delta State University, Cleveland, Miss.
Aug 22, 2016 | Delta
Farm Press
September is the Celebration of National Rice
Month. One of this year’s events will be the 26th annual Delta Rice Tasting
Luncheon sponsored by Delta Rice Promotions, Inc., Sept. 16 at Delta State
University’s Walter Sillers Coliseum in Cleveland, Miss., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Tickets
for this event are $5 and can be purchased from the Extension office of Bolivar
County by calling (662) 843-8371. Tickets will also be on sale at the door.
National
Rice Month, initiated by Congress, increases awareness of rice and recognizes
the contributions made by the U.S. rice industry to America’s economy.Delta
Rice Promotions began informally in 1991 when a group of Extension Service
clientele and Farm Bureau members met at the Bolivar County Extension Service
to discuss how to celebrate the first ever nationally proclaimed “Rice Month”
to be held in September of that year.That first meeting led to expanding the
“Rice Tasting Luncheon” sponsored in past years by the Bolivar County Extension
Service and Bolivar County Farm Bureau.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/annual-delta-rice-tasting-luncheon-sept-16
Scientists to study how rice adapts in salty soil under $4 million NSF grant
Plants are continuously exposed to multiple environmental signals and must respond to the dynamic conditions found in nature. Because so much of the world relies on rice as a food source, its survival around the globe is vital.
Saline soil conditions, in particular, mark a growing threat to agriculture -- both in the United States and in other countries -- raising concerns about the viability of crops, such as rice, that feed significant numbers of people.
The researchers will examine how plants' gene regulation can potentially lead to their adaptation in salty soils. By identifying genes that plants use to acclimate to different environments, they hope to lay the groundwork for breeding rice that can thrive in saline-laden terrains. Their work will primarily examine Asian rice, the world's most important food crop. The project will also study African rice, a less well-known relative of Asian rice that is grown in West Africa, but which holds promise for its better tolerance to various environmental stresses.
The work will employ both genome sequencing and large-scale analysis of gene expression in rice grown both in the laboratory and the field. The study will also develop new methods for analyzing large-scale genomic data.
###
EDITOR'S
NOTE:Faculty at NYU's Center for Genomics and Systems Biology are combining genomic and systems biology approaches to understand how changes in genomes give rise to the diversity of regulatory networks in microbes, animals, and plants. For more, go to: http://biology.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-08/nyu-sts082316.php
08/23/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Rice|
High
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Low
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Long
Grain Cash Bids
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- - -
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Long
Grain New Crop
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- - -
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- - -
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Futures:
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Rice Comment
Rice futures gave back most of yesterday's
gains, but continue to hold support around $10.30 for November. Nationwide, 13%
of the crop is now rated poor to very poor, up from 8% last week. Another 25%
is in fair condition, while 61% remains in good to excellent condition. In
Louisiana, 17% is now in poor to very poor condition, while at home in
Arkansas, 19% is in poor to very poor condition, 29% is in fair condition, and
52% is in good to excellent condition. Excessive rains have resulted in rice
that has lodged and has sprouted in the field. This will all result in poorer
quality rice and less than ideal yields. November has resistance at the recent
high of $10.70.
Crop Progress: 2016 Crop 97
Percent Headed
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11 Foods That Shouldn’t Ever Need An Expiration Date
You might be throwing out perfectly good food.
08/22/2016 06:01 am ET |
Julie R. Thomson Senior Editor, Taste, The Huffington Post
The expiration date food system is confusing.
Not only is there more than one date to try to understand ― best-by,
sell-by, etc. ― but a lot of times those dates
can be totally off. And consumers aren’t sure how to read them, so a lot of
good food gets tossed because of those dates. Often times those dates are
just recommendations by the manufacturer for best quality, not for when food
becomes unsafe to eat.Actually, some of those foods don’t go bad. Ever. That’s
right, some foods will keep indefinitely, even if they come with a date.If
you’re tired of throwing out good food, it’s time you knew which foods never
spoil. There are 11 of them: learn them and then keep them forever. Or, until
you eat them.
Joseph Devenney via Getty Images
1. Honey
Honey keeps
indefinitely. It may change color and become crystalized, but it will stay
safe to eat. If your honey does crystallize, just place the open jar in warm
water and stir until the crystals dissolve.
2. Rice
Even if it develops a frighteningly thick layer
of dust on the bag or box, the rice inside is just as good as the day you bought it. This is true for white,
wild, arborio, jasmine and basmati rice. Brown rice doesn’t have the same good
fortune; its higher oil content makes it turn rancid. Just be sure to store in
an airtight container to keep out any bugs.
3. White Vinegar
You can buy the bulk size of white vinegar
without having to worry about it going to waste. It never will, since it keeps
fresh forever. So stock up, that way you always have something to turn to when
in need for dressings, marinades or even household
cleaning.
Geshas via Getty Images
4. Real Vanilla Extract
Pure vanilla extract, since it’s made from
alcohol, will stay fresh and flavorful for as long as you have it in
stock. Imitation vanilla does not have the same life span. With this in mind,
you might want to opt for the slightly more expensive vanilla without an
expiration date.
5. Salt
Table salt, kosher salt or sea salt, will stay
as fresh as the day you bought it and remain so throughout the years.
6. Cornstarch
To keep cornstarch indefinitely, keep it dry,
tightly sealed and in a cool place. And since you probably don’t go through a
tub of cornstarch that quickly, it’s good to know that you don’t need to refresh your stash ― ever.
Getty Images
7. Sugar
The challenge with sugar is not keeping it
fresh, but keeping it from turning rock hard. Sugar never spoils because it doesn’t
support bacterial growth. Just make sure to store it in an airtight
container to keep the bugs and moisture out.
8. Hard liquor
No need to hurry and finish that magnum bottle
of rum, hard liquor will keep in a cool dark place for longer than necessary.
Your liquor cabinet could itself be an inheritable item, passed down from
generation to generation. The liquor may
lose its aroma slightly, but not enough for it to be noticeable.
Stok-Yard Studio via Getty Images
9. Dried beans
Dried beans can stay safe indefinitely. They will take longer to soften
when cooked ― and sometimes won’t completely soften at all ― after about a year
or two, but they do not lose their nutritional value with age so their shelf
life is classified as indefinite.
10. Instant Coffee
Instant coffee will keep in the freezer forever, whether sealed or not.
11. Maple Syrup
Just like with instant coffee, if you keep it
frozen it will keep forever. And we think you should just always keep some in your freezer, so you never have to eat
pancakes without the good stuff ever again
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/foods-that-never-expire_us_57b5f010e4b03d513686cbcb?ir=Taste&utm_hp_ref=taste
