Coloured rice is under the microscope as medical students
investigate health benefits
To partake in the study contact email Esther Callcott at ecallcott
By Cara Jeffery
Charles Sturt University researchers Esther Callcott and Kiara
Thompson are investigating the health benefits of coloured rice.
(ABC Rural: Cara Jeffery)
The health benefits of coloured rice are being investigated by PhD
students at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.
CSU medical researchers Kiara Thompson and Esther Callcott
investigate the health benefits of coloured rice in the Charles Sturt
University Functional Grains Centre laboratory.
(ABC Rural: Cara Jeffery)
The researchers are seeking people to partake in the study who are
aged 18 to 65 and are overweight or have type 2 diabetes, non-smokers, who are
not pregnant and who do not suffer any chronic diseases.
Participants will be asked to complete a health and food
questionnaire, body measurement, and give a sample of blood.
"Once we receive the participants blood sample we will add the
coloured rice extract and we will perform multiple tests," Ms Thompson
said.
"We'll perform specific testing in regards to inflammation and
cardiovascular diseases. They are tests that you would normally not get done at
your doctors and the participants will receive all of their results at the end
of the trial."
Coloured rice samples being used in research at Charles Sturt
University Functional Grains Centre at Wagga Wagga by medical researchers Kiara
Thompson and Esther Callcott who are investigating the health benefits of
coloured rice.
The results of the research will be relayed to NSW Department of
Primary Industries rice breeding program, which provided the rice varieties for
the study.
"Hopefully they use the information to breed coloured rice
varieties that contain therapeutic levels of bioactive compounds, which can
then be grown on a commercial scale and made available to consumers in
Australia," she said.
USA Rice Promotes Medium Grain to Supermarket Chains in
Japan
By Jim Guinn
TOKYO, JAPAN -- Co-Operative Grocer
Chain (CGC) Japan, a cooperative chain of 220 middle to small size supermarkets
with more than 4,000 individual member stores nationwide, sponsored an
exhibition last month to introduce their members to new food products and U.S.
medium grain rice was one of the featured rice items.
"CGC actually developed an original bag for U.S. medium grain and recently started experimental sales at selected supermarkets," said Hugh Maginnis, USA Rice vice president international. "Their 5kg bag of U.S. medium grain features menu pictures designed to teach consumers that U.S. medium grain is actually a good table rice."
U.S. rice is gaining momentum in both the retail and foodservice markets in Japan. "For instance, Costco Japan started stocking U.S. medium grain rice," said Maginnis.
U.S. rice for commercial use in Japan enters through the restrictive Simultaneous-Buy-Sell (SBS) system which makes it difficult to develop consistent, long-term marketing plans in Japan. The SBS system is limited to no more than 100,000 MT annually from all origins.
Maginnis concluded, "Further reforms would make it easier for Japanese consumers to access imported rice and would likely have a positive effect on demand for rice imports in both the retail and foodservice sectors in Japan."
"CGC actually developed an original bag for U.S. medium grain and recently started experimental sales at selected supermarkets," said Hugh Maginnis, USA Rice vice president international. "Their 5kg bag of U.S. medium grain features menu pictures designed to teach consumers that U.S. medium grain is actually a good table rice."
U.S. rice is gaining momentum in both the retail and foodservice markets in Japan. "For instance, Costco Japan started stocking U.S. medium grain rice," said Maginnis.
U.S. rice for commercial use in Japan enters through the restrictive Simultaneous-Buy-Sell (SBS) system which makes it difficult to develop consistent, long-term marketing plans in Japan. The SBS system is limited to no more than 100,000 MT annually from all origins.
Maginnis concluded, "Further reforms would make it easier for Japanese consumers to access imported rice and would likely have a positive effect on demand for rice imports in both the retail and foodservice sectors in Japan."
Upcoming Rice Field Days
Mark your calendar and plan to attend the event in your area.
May
25 -- Vermilion Parish Field Day
4:00
p.m. --
Lounsberry Farm, Hwy 14 East, Lake Arthur, LA
Contact: Andrew
Granger, AGranger@agcenter.lsu.edu
May
31 - Southwest Louisiana Rice Field Day
8:00
a.m. -
Fenton Coop and Hoppe Farms, Fenton, LA
Contact: Frances
Guidry, fbellard@agcenter.lsu.edu
June
1 - Evangeline Parish Rice Field Tour
7:45
a.m. --
Bieber Farms, Mamou, LA
Contact: Todd
Fontenot, JTFontenot@agcenter.lsu.edu
June 14 -- Acadia Parish and Rice Research Station South Farm Field Day
8:00
a.m. --
LSU AgCenter Rice Research South Farm, Hwy 13 South, Crowley, LA
Contact: Jeremy
Hebert, jphebert@agcenter.lsu.edu
LITTLE-NOTICED
FIRST U.S. RICE SHIPMENT TO CUBA SINCE 2008
By Chuck
Abbott
5/15/2017
The nonpartisan U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council says the
first shipment of U.S. rice to Cuba in nine years apparently passed unnoticed
in the ongoing debate over trade with the island nation. Based in New York, the
council, which produces monthly reports on commerce involving the countries,
says the comparatively small cargo of 157.8 tonnes of parboiled rice, some
mixed with grain, was worth $252,000 and sailed from the Houston area.
According to the council, U.S. ag exports to Cuba totaled $232
million in 2016, up by 36% from $170.6 million in 2015. Frozen chicken meat
accounted for 41% of sales in 2016; soybeans, soy oil, and soy meal were 28%;
and corn was 16%. Since 2012, frozen chicken has been the number one purchase
by Havana, although purchases plummeted to $78 million in 2015 during the bird
flu epidemic. Sales rebounded to $95 million last year.
The rice shipment occurred at the end of 2016, but it takes a
while for exports to be tallied by the Census Bureau and made public. Far
larger rice sales, with a cumulative value of nearly $191 million, were
recorded from 2002 to 2008.
U.S. farm groups have argued for a change in law to allow private
financing of ag exports to Cuba. The sales were exempted from the overall U.S.
trade embargo in 2000, but payment must be made in cash upon delivery. Some
$5.3 billion in U.S. goods have been sold under the terms of the 2000 law.
This article was produced in collaboration with the Food & Environment
Reporting Network, an independent, nonprofit news organization
producing investigative reporting on food, agriculture, and environmental
health.
http://www.agriculture.com/news/little-noticed-first-us-rice-shipment-to-cube-since-2008
At Rs 53/kilo,
Vizag gets highest price for rice
V Kamalakara Rao| TNN | May 16, 2017, 06.00 AM IST
Visakhapatnam: Cost of superfine rice is the highest
in Visakhapatnam as compared to other places in the state.
As on May 14, grade-1 variety of superfine rice cost Rs 53 per kilo in Vizag as against the state's average of Rs 46.45 per kg, according to Directorate of Economics and Statistics under the state ministry of civil supplies.
"Prices are higher at the supermarkets. At the Rythu Bazar, we sell the rice below Rs 50," said Potnuri Venkateswara Rao, a rice trader at MVP Rythu Bazar.
"I had purchased a 25-kg rice bag for Rs 900 in March, but now it costs Rs 1,000 per bag. There should be a control over the price rise," K Radhika, a housewife at Sivajipalem, said.
K Varahalu, estate officer of MVP Rythu Bazaar told TOI, the rise in prices is due to a spike in demand due to increase in urban population.
Visakhapatnam civil supplies officer Ch Ananda Kumar said, "Rice millers usually less at a cheaper rate. But they do not have direct counters or rice mills in the city. Some of them have opened counters at Rythu Bazaars. The prices are higher in the city as compared with Visakhapatnam rural region."
Jangareddy Gudem in West Godavari reported the lowest price of superfine rice in the state. The Godavari districts are known as the rice bowl of the state. A kilo of superfine rice is priced at Rs 40 per kg in the division.
The government considers six items as essential commodities including rice, red gram, groundnut oil, tamarind, red chillies and onions. Apart from rice, price of groundnut oil is also reported to be the highest in Visakhapatnam at Rs 130 per litre as against the state average price of Rs 116.78 per litre. The price of onions was highest in Srikakulam. Grade-1 onions are priced at Rs 15 per kg in Srikakulam against the state average of Rs 13.80.
G Prasad, estate officer at Kancharapalem Rythu Bazaar in GVMC, said, "Supply of onions are at par with the demand, resulting in low prices."
RN Madhavi, secretary of All India Democratic Women Association for Greater Visakha City Committee, said, "High prices of essential commodities are affecting the poor people who are not able to access healthy and hygienic food. The government should take measures to regulate prices of essential commodities for safeguarding the interests of a large section of the society."
POCKET PINCH
The government considers six items as essential commodities including rice, red gram, groundnut oil, tamarind, red chillies and onions
Gap between demand and supply is reason for rise in prices
Huge demand in urban areas due to high population
Rices millers missing in the city; Prices sold at miller counters are lesser than other places
Commodity
As on May 14, grade-1 variety of superfine rice cost Rs 53 per kilo in Vizag as against the state's average of Rs 46.45 per kg, according to Directorate of Economics and Statistics under the state ministry of civil supplies.
"Prices are higher at the supermarkets. At the Rythu Bazar, we sell the rice below Rs 50," said Potnuri Venkateswara Rao, a rice trader at MVP Rythu Bazar.
"I had purchased a 25-kg rice bag for Rs 900 in March, but now it costs Rs 1,000 per bag. There should be a control over the price rise," K Radhika, a housewife at Sivajipalem, said.
K Varahalu, estate officer of MVP Rythu Bazaar told TOI, the rise in prices is due to a spike in demand due to increase in urban population.
Visakhapatnam civil supplies officer Ch Ananda Kumar said, "Rice millers usually less at a cheaper rate. But they do not have direct counters or rice mills in the city. Some of them have opened counters at Rythu Bazaars. The prices are higher in the city as compared with Visakhapatnam rural region."
Jangareddy Gudem in West Godavari reported the lowest price of superfine rice in the state. The Godavari districts are known as the rice bowl of the state. A kilo of superfine rice is priced at Rs 40 per kg in the division.
The government considers six items as essential commodities including rice, red gram, groundnut oil, tamarind, red chillies and onions. Apart from rice, price of groundnut oil is also reported to be the highest in Visakhapatnam at Rs 130 per litre as against the state average price of Rs 116.78 per litre. The price of onions was highest in Srikakulam. Grade-1 onions are priced at Rs 15 per kg in Srikakulam against the state average of Rs 13.80.
G Prasad, estate officer at Kancharapalem Rythu Bazaar in GVMC, said, "Supply of onions are at par with the demand, resulting in low prices."
RN Madhavi, secretary of All India Democratic Women Association for Greater Visakha City Committee, said, "High prices of essential commodities are affecting the poor people who are not able to access healthy and hygienic food. The government should take measures to regulate prices of essential commodities for safeguarding the interests of a large section of the society."
POCKET PINCH
The government considers six items as essential commodities including rice, red gram, groundnut oil, tamarind, red chillies and onions
Gap between demand and supply is reason for rise in prices
Huge demand in urban areas due to high population
Rices millers missing in the city; Prices sold at miller counters are lesser than other places
Commodity
Highest
Lowest
AP's average price
Superfine rice
Rs 53 in Vizag
Rs 40 in Jangareddy Gudem
Rs 46.45
Groundnut oil
Rs 130 in Vizag
Rs 100 in Nujiveedu
Rs 116.78
Tamarind without seed
Rs 140 in Vijayawada
Rs 80 in Vizag
Rs 87.96
Onions
Rs 15 in Srikakulam
Rs 12 in Jangareddy Gudem
Rs 13.80
Red gram
Rs 100 in Paderu
Rs 70 in Gurajala
Rs 80.20
Lowest
AP's average price
Superfine rice
Rs 53 in Vizag
Rs 40 in Jangareddy Gudem
Rs 46.45
Groundnut oil
Rs 130 in Vizag
Rs 100 in Nujiveedu
Rs 116.78
Tamarind without seed
Rs 140 in Vijayawada
Rs 80 in Vizag
Rs 87.96
Onions
Rs 15 in Srikakulam
Rs 12 in Jangareddy Gudem
Rs 13.80
Red gram
Rs 100 in Paderu
Rs 70 in Gurajala
Rs 80.20
Red
chillies
Rs 110 in Paderu
Rs 70 in Markapur
Rs 90.06
Rs 110 in Paderu
Rs 70 in Markapur
Rs 90.06
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/at-rs-53/kilo-vizag-gets-highest-price-for-rice/articleshow/58688024.cms
BUSINESS: Uganda’s rice politics
How mutton pulao survived the chicken takeover in Pakistan
Mutton pulao has been a popular dish throughout the
history of Indian cuisine and is still popular in the city.
Mutton and beef have, with time, been replaced with
chicken in the dish, but there are still many admirers of the mutton pulao.
The rice is made in mutton stock and an array of
spices including coriander seeds, cumin, cardamom, cloves and others.
Mutton
pulao came from Central Asia at the time of the arrival of Muslims in the
Indian subcontinent and was one of the more popular dishes in Mughal cuisine as
well.
The dish is made almost in every house during Eidul Azha
and also on most special occasions. A lot of restaurants across the city also
offer the dish.
Mutton pulao came from Central Asia at the time of
the arrival of Muslims in the Indian subcontinent and was one of the more
popular dishes in Mughal cuisine as well. Like the Urdu language, biryani and
pulao too varied across the region and was cooked differently in Delhi and
Lucknow, the two main cultural centres for the Muslims of the subcontinent.
Biryani was more popular in Delhi and pulao in Luknow and residents of both
cities had their own recipes for both the rice-based dishes.
The rice is made in mutton stock and an array of spices
including coriander seeds, cumin, cardamom, and cloves. — Dawn
“We came from Amritsar and brought with us the
traditional recipe for mutton pulao, which is still liked by the people. We
have been making pulao since and a lot of things have changed with time. For
instance, chicken has replaced mutton because the latter now costs too much,”
said Ghulam Hussein, owner of a pulao shop in Bhabara Bazaar.
Pulao was only made on special occasions before such
as weddings when people wanted to serve a special meal, he said.
Pulao is made best with lamb
Mr Hussein added pulao is best made with the meat of
a lamb and not that of a goat as the fat lends a soft and creamy quality to the
rice, which is also helped by the use of curd.
The manager of a hotel on Murree Road, Munawar
Hussein said they also use lamb meat to make pulao because if cooked in goat
meat, the rice turns out harder. Beef pulao is also requested by some diners,
he said, but that has to be made after an order is placed.
He said mutton pulao is still requested by diners,
even though people think the chicken variety is now preferred.
“Chicken pulao costs less than mutton pulao,” he
said.
A customer at Bhabara Bazaar, Mohammad Imran said
mutton pulao made in a cauldron tastes better than the home cooked version,
also because professional chefs follow the traditional recipe.
“I always like having mutton pulao at least once a
week for a change because I get fed up of eating chicken,” he said.
"Pulao
is best made with the meat of a lamb and not that of a goat as the fat lends a
soft and creamy quality to the rice," says pulao shop owner Ghulam Hussein
Mohammad said though biryani also tastes good, he
prefers pulao as the use of mutton stock makes it a healthier option.
A resident of Satellite Town, Fayyaz Mohammad said he
likes mutton pulao due to its distinct aroma.
“It reminds me of special occasions when I was a
child where we would make pulao, and sweet rice and korma. These were
traditional dishes which people would not make often because they were spicy,”
he said
Arkansas Rice
Update 5-12-17
Author: Jarrod Hardke, Rice Extension Agronomist
Arkansas Rice Update
Dr. Jarrod Hardke
May 12, 2017 No.
2017-08 www.uaex.edu/rice
Crop Progress
As of Monday planting
progress was 92% based on USDA-NASS numbers.
There were more acres planted during the dry conditions this week and
relatively little rice should be left to plant in the state – but the replant
situations for areas of the state flooded out remains a mystery.As the waters
have receded in parts of the northeast a number of those fields have been
replanted this week. Many more are left
to emerge from the floodwaters or field conditions are so poor that a great
deal of field work is necessary to get them into a condition to replant
anything. Still trying times for many
acres.
One additional advantage of the dry conditions of this past
week was the ability for many to re-pull all of the lost levees from heavy
rains and flooding. Yields from rice on
levees still play a major role in overall field yields in the state. We can expect a decrease in overall field
yields this year related to yield loss associated with lost production on
levees – some slight decreases from delays in re-seeding and some complete
losses as levees can’t be re-seeded in a timely manner to be viable at crop
maturity.
Fig. 1. Re-pulled
levees will likely lower yields in fields across the state.
Most Problems
Improved by Rain?
Rainfall received last night and today should alleviate
many of the current concerns out there, though not helpful to those with
flooded fields. Fields up and down the
state have young rice with a burned, desiccated appearance reminiscent of salt
injury (Fig. 2). While we do have salt
problems in a number of fields in the state, that’s certainly not what has been
happening on a widespread basis.
A number of factors have been in play to create the current
situation. A prolonged period of wet
conditions combined with cool nights exaggerating herbicide injury was the
starter. That was followed by a major
increase in temperatures combined with high winds which dried out the soil and
ultimately the shallow-rooted rice plants.
Stressed seedling also become more susceptible to seedling disease which
has also picked up but it is the secondary problem at this time. Rain should be the answer to promoting new
green growth and straightening the crop out to move forward.
Others with rice coming out of flooded conditions have rice
attempting to stick to the ground. The
rain should help to keep the soil surface wet enough to prevent sticking and
avoid plant death associated with this condition.
Fig. 2. Sick,
drought-stressed rice is common throughout the state.
Fig. 3. Stretched
rice plants sticking to the ground after being submerged.
Fig. 4. Other fields
with healthy rice in the state are now going to flood. More next week.
Further Replant Considerations
There are a few items to consider with the given seed
shortages out there when looking at replant options. If you have planted a Clearfield cultivar and
made Newpath applications then you can only plant back to a Clearfield
cultivar.
If you are unable to secure seed of a Clearfield cultivar
for the replant, then it is not feasible to plant to a non-Clearfield cultivar
because of the crop injury that would occur and is off-label based on the
plant-back guidelines on the Newpath herbicide label. The label requires an 18-month interval
between Newpath applications and planting conventional, non-Clearfield
rice. This is a topic that would need to
be discussed with an insurance adjustor should you find yourself in this
situation.
As a reminder for those attempting furrow-irrigated rice
(row rice), this is not an insurable practice.
While this has been discussed and written about numerous times it seems
that some confusion still remains, but again it is not an insurable practice at
this time.
Preflood Nitrogen
Recommendations
The 2017 Rice Farming for Profit publication on pages 12-14
contains recommendations for nitrogen rates, urease inhibitors, and determining
midseason nitrogen needs using the Greenseeker handheld.
Enroll Fields in the DD50 Program to Help Time
Management Decisions
The variability in environmental conditions the past few
seasons has shown the importance of managing the rice crop on time. The DD50 Rice Management Program helps to
predict the timing of the most critical practices to make sure we hit our marks
and produce the best crop that the environment allows. The DD50 program can be found at
http://DD50.uaex.edu. The program is now
much friendlier for mobile use than in the past and efforts are underway to
further improve functionality for future seasons. Please let us know if you have any questions
or encounter any problems.
Additional Information
Arkansas Rice Updates are published periodically to provide
timely information and recommendations for rice production in Arkansas. If you would like to be added to this email
list, please send your request to rice@uaex.edu.
This information will also be posted to the Arkansas Row
Crops blog (http://www.arkansas-crops.com/) where additional information from
Extension specialists can be found.
More information on rice production, including access to
all publications and reports, can be found at http://www.uaex.edu/rice.
Acknowledgements
We sincerely appreciate the support for this publication
provided by the rice farmers of Arkansas and administered by the Arkansas Rice
Research and Promotion Board.
The authors greatly appreciate the feedback and
contributions of all growers, county agents, consultants, and rice industry
stakeholders.
http://www.arkansas-crops.com/2017/05/12/arkansas-rice-update-12-17/
Monsoon rains reach India's
Andaman islands early -weather office
Sun May 14, 2017 12:13pm GMT
MUMBAI May 14 (Reuters) - Monsoon rains, which are vital for farm output
and economic growth in India, reached the country's Andaman and Nicobar islands
on Sunday, six days ahead of schedule, the domestic weather office said in a
statement.
Andaman and Nicobar, off India's
eastern coast, are usually the first areas to receive the monsoon rains,
typically around May 20.
The early onset of monsoon comes
after the chief of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday
that India looks likely to receive higher rainfall than previously forecast
because concern over the El Nino weather event has eased.
The monsoon season, which typically
runs for about four months, delivers about 70 percent of India's annual
rainfall and is critical for growing crops such as rice, cane, corn, cotton and
soybeans.
As such, they can have a big impact
on economic growth and food price inflation. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav;
Editing by David Goodman)
http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL4N1IG0EH
GIEWS Country Brief: Bangladesh 10-May-2017
REPORT
Published on 10 May 2017
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
·
Rice production in 2017 forecast
to increase, but floods dampen prospects for main “boro” crop
·
Cereal imports in 2016/17
marketing year (July/June) forecast to increase to record levels
·
Rice prices increasing and at
near-record highs, while those of wheat decreasing
Harvesting of the 2017 almost entirely irrigated “boro” paddy
crop, accounting for some 55 percent of annual output, will be completed in
June. Adequate irrigation water supplies and favourable weather conditions
benefitted “boro” paddy development this season, although excess precipitation
in late March and early April triggered localized flooding over northeastern
producing areas. The inundations occurred just before harvest time, impacting
crops in Sylhet, Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions in particular.Planting of the
minor “aus” paddy crop, which accounts for 7 percent of annual output, is
currently ongoing and will be followed by the June start of “aman” plantings.
Assuming normal growing conditions prevail, early prospects for these crops are
favourable, on anticipation that attractive paddy prices will stimulate
increases in plantings. As a result and pending assessments of “boro” damages
incurred, FAO tentatively forecasts aggregate 2017 paddy production at 53.1
million tonnes, 1 percent above last year’s level.
Harvesting of the 2017 recently-completed minor winter wheat
crop is estimated by FAO at 1.4 million tonnes, reflecting an increase in
yields owing to favourable weather conditions.
Cereal imports in 2016/17
marketing year forecast to increase to record level
Cereal imports in the current 2016/17 marketing year (July/June)
are forecast at 5.9 million tonnes, 11 percent above last year’s high level and
a new record. The increase reflects larger wheat imports, which are officially
forecast at 5.4 million tonnes, up 24 percent from last year’s level owing to
increased domestic demand for high-quality wheat for milling. By contrast, rice
imports in the 2016/17 marketing year (April/March), which already concluded,
are estimated at close to 115 000 tonnes, well below the 614 000 tonnes
imported in 2015/16. Maize imports are anticipated to remain close to last
year’s average level of 400 000 tonnes.
Rice prices increasing, while
those of wheat decreasing
Retail and wholesale prices of rice have been increasing since
February 2017 following seasonal trends. Prices were 35 percent higher than a
year earlier, after steep increases registered in the second part of 2016 in
response to lower imports and reduced 2016 main “boro” and “aus” outputs.
Prices of mostly imported wheat and wheat flour have been generally stable
during the last 12 months with a slight decrease in March, as a result of
improved availabilities from the 2017 wheat harvest and increased imports in
recent months. The continuing distribution of wheat flour by the Government
through Open Market Sales (OMS) also contributes to keep prices at low levels.
Large number of people in
northern and central parts affected by severe floods in 2016
Heavy monsoon rains in July 2016 caused a series of localized
floods and landslides, mostly concentrated in northern and central parts of the
country, affecting at least 3.7 million people. The most affected districts
include Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Lalmonirhat and Sirajganj, located in
the north, and Tangail, Madaripur, Manikganj and Shariatpur, in the centre.
Floods followed earlier tropical Cyclone Roanu which triggered strong winds,
landslides and flooding over southern coastal areas in mid-May affecting at
least 1.3 million people
Flooding will mean heavy losses
to Arkansas row crop farmers
May
13, 2017
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Estimate of acres impacted and dollar losses associated with
storms in late April.
Vic Ford, U of A System Division of Agriculture
Map showing cropland affected by flooding.
STUTTGART – With flooding and
other storm effects battering some 937,000 acres of Arkansas cropland, losses
to farmers could hit $64.5 million, according to a preliminary estimate
released by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“If those numbers scare you, you
should be terrified,” said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “I’m being conservative.
There’s no sugar-coating it.”
The weather has struck Arkansas
agriculture with some heavy blows in the last decade; row crop farmers
suffering an estimated $40-$50 million loss last year due to heavy rain; beef
cattle producers endured a $128 million loss from drought in 2012; and farmers
were hit with an estimated $335 million in losses in 2011 from flooding that
mirrored this year’s.
Thursday’s estimate was compiled
by Hardke from a survey of extension agents and agronomists this week. Among
the factors taken into account: the costs of seed and herbicides already
applied, equipment and labor. It does not include the impact of the flooding
and high winds to poultry facilities in the northeastern part of the state or
farm structures, grain or feed storage or other structures.
There was a glimmer of hope: of
the 937,000 affected acres, the crops on 641,300 acres were expected to survive
– if no more rain falls. Of the crops affected, rice was the hardest hit.
Eighty-nine percent of the state’s anticipated 1.2-million-acre crop had been
planted, according to Monday’s National Agricultural Statistics Service report.
Seventy-one percent of planted rice had emerged.
“I’m estimating 156,000 acres of
rice were lost,” Hardke said. “I don’t mean prevented planting, I mean acres
lost that have already been planted.”
Soybean losses were pegged at
83,200 acres, corn at 47,900 acres and cotton at 9,300 acres.
Soybeans were projected at 3.5
million acres this year and were 45 percent planted and 32 percent emerged.
Ninety-seven percent of a projected 600,000 acres of corn was planted and 89
percent emerged. Cotton, projected to total 500,000 acres, was 15 percent
planted and 5 percent emerged.Sunday marks a week since the deadly storm system
raked the state.“We’re knocking on a 10-day window,” Hardke said. “Anything
that’s still covered in water at the end of next week is a loss, and farmers
need to make preparations for it to be gone and be ready to take action
whenever it dries.
“If it’s still wet at the end of
next week, it’ll be June before it will be dry enough to replant,” he
said.Hardke said some producers who weathered the 2011 floods were lucky enough
to have a good survival rate in their rice.“Those are the exceptions,” he said.
“It depends on the temperature of the air, the water temperature, whether the
water is muddy or clear, or moving or stagnant.”If there’s one helpful quality,
it’s that this week’s temperatures were relatively cool.
“Being cool, it’s good,” Hardke
aid. “If the water gets warm and stagnant, you’re going to see that crop go out
a lot faster.”The April 28-30 storms spawned tornadoes in Boone, Drew, White,
Woodruff and Lonoke counties. Some areas in Arkansas saw more than 10 inches of
rain during the weekend, prompting flash flood warnings across the state. Flood
warnings were still in place Thursday along the Black, White, Arkansas,
Ouachita and Mississippi Rivers. Major flooding was reported along the Black
and White Rivers in northeastern Arkansas where the majority of the crop damage
has occurred.
Estimate of acres impacted and
dollar losses associated with storms in late April.
U of A System Division of
Agriculture
Map showing cropland affected by
flooding.
Vic Ford, U of A System Division of Agriculture
http://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/regional_news/article_420ac4f4-3801-11e7-a6e6-6bceddc698ea
Volatility
in rice prices projected to continue"
Stallion to boost rice production
to 1.5 million tonnes annually
On: May
14, 2017
Posted
By: In: Business
A sub-division of Stallion Group, Stallion Popular Farms &
Mills Limited has hinted of plans to increase rice production to 1.5 million
tonnes annually.Giving this hint was Stallion Popular farms & Mills Group
Director, Hapreet Singh.Singh spoke in Lagos at the IBCA-“Outstanding Projects
and Business Leaders of the Year Award” recently bestowed on the company in
recognition of Stallion Popular Farms & Mills Limited concerted efforts at
integrating rice value chain in Nigeria agrarian economy as well as its dogged
resolves to humanise farmed rice and self-sustainability in food production.
Singh, while receiving the award, on behalf of the farm at the
occasion in Lagos, said it hopes to increase locally farmed rice to 1.5million
tonnes yearly from 450, 000 metric tonnes.
He said the farm has already deployed enhanced milling activities
and set up more milling facilities through structured farming techniques.
“Our vision has always been to preserve and enhance rice production
in Nigeria by ensuring genetic integrity of seeds, encouraging scientific
agricultural practices and promoting world-class processing techniques to
emerge as industry benchmark for product quality,” Singh said.
Also noting that part of its sustainable efforts was to integrate
rice growing values among the locals, the group director said it has
established procurement and collection centers; introduced co-operative
associations as well as logistics and post-harvest epicenters and marketing
midpoint, while it act as a catalyst for achievable growth.
A farm division of Stallion West African conglomerate, Popular
Farms & Mills Limited recently established collection centers across rice
producing states in Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa,
Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi to not only help farmers embrace modern farming
techniques but help distribute farm inputs through farmers cooperatives and
associations to inspire rice revolution in Nigeria.
Popular Farm is today renowned for producing premium varieties of
rice from farmed paddy, which are branded and distributed nationwide as Royal
Stallion Shinkafa, Tomato Aroso and Super Champion.
Volatility in rice prices projected to
continue
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 01:02 AM May 15, 2017
Politicians tinkering with rice policies in
Asian governments amid shrinking stocks among exporters and
rising demand could again drive global prices up, according to an economist at
the International Rice Research Institute.
Samerandu Mohanty, head of IRRI’s social
sciences division, said in a commentary on the global rice market that efforts
among importing countries such as the Philippines to wean themselves away from
foreign supplies
would
not stop the upward trend in the volume of grains traded worldwide.“The overall upward trend of the
volume of the global rice trade that was set in motion in the early 1990s
continues to stay on track even after a change in sentiment of the importing
countries during the post-2008 crisis to pursue self-sufficiency and reduce
reliance on foreign rice,” Mohanty said.
“The current trade volume now accounts for
nearly 9 percent of global production as compared with less than 7 percent
during the 2008 rice crisis and 3.5 percent in 1990,” he said.Mohanty, a
principal scientist at IRRI, noted that major Asian importers such as
Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia continue to import a combined three
million to five million tons of milled rice, depending on their domestic
output.He added that record global output in the past several years has kept
prices stable but, at the same time, stocks of the top five exporters —India,
Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and the United States —have steadily declined.
He said strong growth in demand
has pushed down the five countries’ combined inventories from 41 million tons
in the crop year 2012-2013 to 28 million tons in 2016-2017.
Meanwhile, rice consumption has
increased by nearly 14 percent from 418.5 million tons in 2006-2007 to 475.5
million tons in 2016-2017.
Mohanty said that as demand was
expected to continue to rise in the coming years, the active participation of
India and China in global rice trade—respectively as exporter and importer—“may
bring a degree of uncertainty to the market because of their sheer size and
their focus on domestic food security.”
“Politicians will continue to
fiddle with domestic and trade policies to support farmers and achieve greater
domestic price stability and in the process may bring greater volatility to the
international market,” he said.
In the Philippines, the Duterte
administration has sent signals that—now that the peak of the dry-season
harvest is over—it would again allow importation to shore up domestic stocks as
the lean production months start next month.
http://business.inquirer.net/229515/volatility-rice-prices-projected-continue#ixzz4hErkJ1lR
Philippines Q1
agriculture output up 5.28 pct y/y
May 15 The Philippines' agricultural
output grew 5.28 percent in the first quarter compared with a year ago,
rebounding from a contraction in the previous quarter largely due to good
weather, the statistics agency said on Monday.Crop output, accounting for
nearly 54 percent of total agricultural production, rose 8.28 percent, with the
paddy rice harvest up 12.38 percent to 4.42 million tonnes. All other
sub-sectors posted gains, with livestock up 3.22 percent, poultry up 1.88
percent and fisheries up 0.73 percent.
The numbers were released three days
ahead of third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data for the Philippines.
Agriculture accounts for about a tenth of the Southeast Asian nation's GDP.
(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Joseph Radford) http://in.reuters.com/article/philippines-economy-agriculture-idINP9N1E402K
A urges hike of buying price of
palay
(philstar.com) | Updated May 15, 2017 - 5:43pm
The Department of Agriculture urged the National Food Authrority
to hike its buying price of paddy rice, in an effort to decrease expenses for
importation. CC0/Faixal
MANILA, Philippines — The
Department of Agriculture is urging state-run National Food Authority (NFA) to
increase its buying price of paddy rice to P20 per kilogram to beef up buffer
stock.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel
Piñol said he is supporting moves in Congress for the increase in support price
of palay to compete with local rice traders, instead of the continuous
importation which would further hike NFA's debt."They should just increase
their support price. In the long run, it will still be cheaper for NFA to buy
local palay since they will no longer need to pay for tariff," he said.
"This move will also stabilize
the price of local palay because now the NFA will be able to buy more from
local farmers especially in the areas that are being controlled by
traders," Piñol added.
The Agriculture chief said the move
will allow NFA to no longer shell out money for importation, thus lessening its
outstanding debt.The state importer's loan is at P152 billion as of end-April,
a factor which economic managers consider for the non-approval of importation,
following its unstable financial state.
"Let the private sector do the
importation. Just let NFA increase buying price to P20 so they can compete with
the buying price of local traders. In the final accounting, it will still be
advantageous and cheaper for the government to just buy produce from farmers
than for NFA to import rice," Piñol said.The NFA buying price remains at
P17 per kilogram for clean and dry. It gives an additional incentive of P0.20
to P0.50 per kilogram for delivery, P0.20 per kilogram for drying and P0.30 for
cooperative development incentive fund for farmers' organizations.
Despite orders from President
Duterte to prioritize rice purchase from local farmers, the agency maintained
that it can no longer buy more and hit its target following higher prices
offered by private traders.
NFA's field monitoring shows
traders are buying palay at an average of P18-20 per kilogram. Farm gate price
of palay even reached a high of P22.60 per kilogram in some areas like Davao
del Norte and Misamis Oriental.The NFA targets to procure 4.6 million bags or
about 230,000 metric tons (MT) of palay from local farmers nationwide until
yearend to boost buffer stock and rice distribution requirements.
As of the end first quarter, NFA
has bought approximately 21 percent of its 2017 procurement target.The
palay-buying for the first three months of the year is significantly lower by
almost 80 percent as it only bought 134,355 bags compared to the 603,915 bags
in 2016 due to higher average farm-gate price of palay.
Under the law, NFA is tasked to buy
the palay produce of local farmers as buffer stock for calamities and other
contingencies.
This year, the agency has a
P5-billion budget for the procurement of palay alone
NFA still backing gov’t-to-gov’t rice imports
May 15, 2017
THE National Food Authority (NFA)
continues to push for the importation of 250,000 tons of rice via a
government-to-government arrangement, citing the decline in rice inventories.
“We can’t add to the inventory. The alternative is to import,”
NFA Spokesperson Marietta J. Ablaza said in a phone interview over the weekend,
noting that the agency’s stocks are currently at less than 15 days.
The NFA is required to maintain a rice buffer stock equivalent to 15 days’ supply at any given time. During the lean months -- July to August -- the grains agency is required maintain a 30-day inventory. “Inventories are thin. When the rainy season comes we will have little to give out in the event of calamities,” Ms. Ablaza said, without providing details.
She added that the NFA still endorses the activation of the 250,000 metric-ton import quota which has been awaiting the NFA Council’s approval since late last year.
“The proposal has been pending but the President has ordered us to purchase from domestic sources first. But we have not been able to purchase much because domestic prices are high,” she added.The food agency hopes to buy 4,607,350 bags of unmilled rice this year and has so far bought 134,355 bags as of March 31, or 21% of the target for the first quarter.
“We can’t stabilize prices if we don’t import,” added Ms. Ablaza.The 250,000 tons is the remaining balance of the 500,000 tons of rice imports authorized for 2016 via the government-to-government import scheme.The NFA Council has rejected importing the balance, citing the lack of a recommendation from the National Food Security Committee, the interagency body which reports the need for rice imports to the council.
Earlier, President Rodrigo R. Duterte discouraged imports, saying that inbound shipments would depress local rice prices if they coincide with the harvest season.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol also deems rice imports to be necessary, estimating the supply requirement at about 500,000 to 800,000 metric tons. -- Janina C. Lim
The NFA is required to maintain a rice buffer stock equivalent to 15 days’ supply at any given time. During the lean months -- July to August -- the grains agency is required maintain a 30-day inventory. “Inventories are thin. When the rainy season comes we will have little to give out in the event of calamities,” Ms. Ablaza said, without providing details.
She added that the NFA still endorses the activation of the 250,000 metric-ton import quota which has been awaiting the NFA Council’s approval since late last year.
“The proposal has been pending but the President has ordered us to purchase from domestic sources first. But we have not been able to purchase much because domestic prices are high,” she added.The food agency hopes to buy 4,607,350 bags of unmilled rice this year and has so far bought 134,355 bags as of March 31, or 21% of the target for the first quarter.
“We can’t stabilize prices if we don’t import,” added Ms. Ablaza.The 250,000 tons is the remaining balance of the 500,000 tons of rice imports authorized for 2016 via the government-to-government import scheme.The NFA Council has rejected importing the balance, citing the lack of a recommendation from the National Food Security Committee, the interagency body which reports the need for rice imports to the council.
Earlier, President Rodrigo R. Duterte discouraged imports, saying that inbound shipments would depress local rice prices if they coincide with the harvest season.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol also deems rice imports to be necessary, estimating the supply requirement at about 500,000 to 800,000 metric tons. -- Janina C. Lim
Rice supply probe eyed amid threat of shortage
Lawmakers are pressed to look
into the state of the country’s rice inventory and come up with policy
proposals to ensure an “ample and affordable” supply of rice.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray
Villafuerte made the call amid fear the country’s buffer stock might not
be adequate to last through the lean months after the summer harvest
season.
Villafuerte said a congressional
inquiry is necessary to help Malacañang determine the actual supply of
rice, draw up proactive measures to avert a potential rice shortage and know if
there is a need for the National Food Authority to import rice under the
minimum access volume during the lean period between July and September.
“Given that rice is the
country’s staple food, it behooves the House of Representatives to conduct a
public inquiry in aid of legislation into the complete inventory of rice held
by the government, private traders and [even the] households,” he said.
Congress could support an
immediate importation only if determined necessary “to enable the government to
proactively maintain the ideal buffer stock level—equivalent to a 30-day supply
of the national daily rice requirement—by the time domestic stocks dwindle
during the traditional July-September lean months,” the lawmaker said.
“Considering the time needed for
shipment to arrive in the country from day 1 of the negotiations, “now would be
the best time for the government to give the green light to such importation,
but if, and only if, such action would be deemed warranted in the course of the
proposed public hearings on the supply situation,” he said.
“Otherwise, there is absolutely
no need for the government to accommodate rice imports if the rice inventory
would be found adequate for the remainder of the year as any unnecessary
importation would unduly distort domestic supply and depress farm-gate prices
of palay to hurt the local farmers.”
Villafuerte said he received
information from the NFA’s Camarines Sur provincial manager, Dr. Yolando
Navarro, that the province’s buffer stock only totaled 42,293 cavans or 50-kilo
bags as of April 30, or an equivalent of a three-days consumption against the
province’s daily rice requirement of 13,840 cavans
Commerce Ministry takes action against unscrupulous rice traders
By NNT
May 15, 2017
BANGKOK– The Commerce Ministry has launched an initiative to take action
against unscrupulous rice traders.
Director General of the Department
of Internal Trade, Nuntawan Sakuntanagak said today that the department has
been receiving complaints from rice farmers in Sing Buri Province about some
irregularities surrounding the purchase of rice by middlemen.
Ms. Nuntawan said that a team of
inspectors from the department was dispatched to inspect all scales at rice
trade stations in Mueang District, Bang Rachan District and Khai Bang Rachan
District on May 8th and 10th.She said that at least two cases of irregularities
with the scales were found and their operators were charged with violation of
the law before each was fined 20,000 baht and the scales were banned from use.
The Director General of the
Department of Internal Trade said that rice farmers should make sure all scales
are in good condition and carry the department-approved tag to make sure they
are not taken advantage of and to report any suspicious cases for investigation, to their
provincial commercial affairs office or on the department’s hotline number of
1569.
http://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/commerce-ministry-takes-action-unscrupulous-rice-traders-174474
