World Agriculture
Developments, trade, data, and topics in world agriculture
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America: Why Immigrants Are About Agriculture~ ~ Why immigration reform matters to agriculture Without immigration reform, the loss farm workers could ripple through the entire ag-based economy with potentially long-term negative effects Published on: Aug 31, 2015 Immigration reform is a contentious, often emotional, topic for many Americans. But for U.S. agriculture, it's mainly a labor issue. In California, for instance, many fruit and vegetable growers who can't get workers are switching to less labor-intensive row crops, says Kristi Boswell, director of congressional relations for American Farm Bureau Federation. As a result of labor shortages, farmers no longer grow more than 80,000 acres of fresh produce. Instead, that production has moved to other countries. The issue also impacts the feed market. Dairies and other livestock operators who can't hire workers are no longer in the market for feedstuffs or are dumping feed, formerly used to maintain their livestock, onto the market. Workers at a Yuma, AZ farm pick fresh vegetables that will be shipped and consumed across the country. Workers at a Yuma, AZ farm pick fresh vegetables that will be shipped and consumed across the country. A 2012 Texas A&M study found that dairy farms using migrant labor supply more than three-fifths of the milk in the country. Without these employees, the study predicts economic output would decline by $22 billion and 133,000 workers would lose their jobs. Each farm worker-whether native-born or immigrant- supports between two and three full-time jobs in food processing, transportation, farm equipment and marketing retail. Two approaches Immigration reform must take two approaches, says Boswell. First, protect current workers, since many farms are already employing experienced workers they want to keep. AFBF is among the groups advocating for an earned adjustment of status to allow those experienced immigrant workers to remain. That change would likely include an incentive for workers to stay in agriculture for a predetermined period. But it's not necessarily a pathway to citizenship. Second, the government must reinvent the agricultural guest worker program. “To work for agriculture, the guest worker program must be a cost-effective, market-based system," says Boswell. Currently, the guest worker program supplies just 4% of the needed agricultural workforce. Without a legal way for workers to enter the country, many cross the border illegally to fill the open jobs. “At the end of the day, farmers want a legal, affordable, reliable workforce," says Ryan Findlay, industry relations lead for Syngenta. “The quicker the better. Agriculture needs this now ." If Congress does not act soon, "We are at the point where we will import labor or food," Boswell says, pointing to an AFBF study that shows only enforcing the borders- without immigration reform-will cost $30 billion to $60 billion in agricultural production and increase food prices by 5 to 6%. She encourages all Ag professionals to call legislators and ask for immigration reform. “Allowing legislators to ignore it because of political pressure is not acceptable," she says. “We need to make immigration laws work the way they were intended. Doing nothing-or just enforcement-is not an option for agriculture any longer ."
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Japan wants to use "hometown tax" to revitalize remote villages and townsXinhua News Agency, Tokyo, August 10th. Financial Observation: Japan wants to use "hometown tax" to revitalize remote towns xinhua News Agency reporter Le Shaoyan Xu Yuan with the decline of natural birth rate and the continuous flow of population from rural and local small towns to big cities such as Tokyo, the population of many remote areas in Japan has decreased, the industry has also declined, the overall economy has shrunk, the fiscal revenue has decreased, and the finances of some local autonomous bodies are on the verge of bankruptcy. To this end, the Government of Japan has put forward a "local creation strategy", which seeks to revitalize villages that are losing their vitality by encouraging enterprises to move their corporate headquarters or production departments to small local towns, encouraging the population of large cities to move to small local towns, and implementing a "hometown tax system. Among them, the "hometown tax system" is quite eye-catching. The so-called "hometown tax system" is not a compulsory tax system, but a voluntary donation to local governments. After the donor makes a donation, he or she will be able to receive a donation voucher from the local government. With the donation voucher, the donor can apply to the government tax department of the current place of residence for a reduction or exemption of resident tax, or apply for a refund of personal income tax. The system stipulates that when the tax refund is implemented, the donor must bear the 2000 yen donation himself, and the rest can be fully tax-deductible. For example, if you donate 100000 yen, you can deduct 98000 yen tax. Although the system is nominally a "hometown tax", it is actually a tax-deductible system design for donations, not only to the government of one's own place of origin. In order to take care of the interests of the Government of the donor's place of residence, the system also stipulates that the maximum contribution of the donor shall not exceed 20 per cent of the total tax payable by the donor. In addition, the donor can designate the purpose of the donation and make it earmarked, or it can be arranged and used by the local autonomous body receiving the donation. A few days ago, the reporter interviewed the "hometown tax" activity, which was carried out earlier and achieved good results, and inspected the actual situation of the town's acceptance of the "hometown tax" and how to use it. Shangshiporo Town is located in the central part of Hokkaido, with a jurisdiction area of about 700 square kilometers and a population of less than 5000 people. It is an agricultural town with a large area and sparsely populated, with agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism as its main industries. According to Takeshima Town Mayor Takeshi Gon, due to the relatively single economy and declining birth rate, the town's "town tax" revenue in 2014 was only 0.62 billion yen, while other revenue was 0.58 billion yen. The central government transferred 2.7 billion yen to the local government, while the expenditure was as high as 6.13 billion yen. The financial situation is very serious. Since the implementation of the "hometown tax" system in 2008, the town has actively strengthened "urban and rural" exchanges. In 2014, the town received donations of 0.974 billion yen, equivalent to 150 per cent of the main local tax, "town tax", which has become a very important source of income for the town. The town government uses the "hometown tax" to hire outstanding teachers to strengthen primary and secondary education and the construction of child care homes. The town has also set up a "child care and fewer children countermeasure fund" to build a high-quality kindergarten with a high degree of modernization and a complete range of preschool teachers with a donation of 0.779 billion yen for the children of the town's residents to use free of charge. According to statistics released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, the amount of "hometown tax" donations has increased year by year, reaching 64.9 billion yen in 2012. It is becoming an important part of the financial source of remote and backward areas in Japan. It has played a role in narrowing regional differences and promoting the development of remote and backward villages. Important role. 2015-08-10 Source: Xinhua News Agency
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UAE food prices rise to draw attentionWith the increase in gasoline prices at the beginning of this month, food prices across the UAE have already seen a large increase. In Fujairah and Ras Khaimah seafood markets, fish prices have risen to record highs, with 45-kilogram sheriffs having risen from the usual dlrs 400 to dlrs 1200. According to fishermen, this is mainly because the soaring temperature has caused the fish to dive into the deep sea and make it difficult to catch. At the same time, fish prices are expected to remain at historical highs until next month. In addition, the price of fruits and vegetables has risen by 30% to 40%, and the price of a box of tomatoes has risen from 10 dirhams to 20 dirhams. Market wholesalers believe that this is caused by the decline in market supply and the increase in fuel prices. Another retailer said that the increase in gasoline prices directly pushed up the prices of vegetables and fruits. However, Dr. HashimAl Nuaimi, director of the consumer protection department of the UAE Ministry of Economic Affairs, denied the claims of rising food prices, and emphasized that the prices of food and consumer goods are stable and have not been affected by the increase in gasoline prices. He also said that the Ministry of Economy has announced the implementation of a unified price system during Ramadan, and at the same time called on consumers to make full use of the consumer supervision mechanism previously introduced by the Ministry of Economy to report price hikes in the market to the Ministry of Economy at any time. Nuaimi also revealed that the Ministry of Economy is closely monitoring market changes and will coordinate with the federal government and various municipal authorities to jointly curb price increases that may be caused by rising gasoline prices. Release date: August 20, 2015 | Source: Xinnong Network | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to develop JAS specifications for cooked meatFor the safe circulation of "cooked meat", the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries began to develop the Japanese Agroforestry Specification (JAS) for cooked meat. At present, there is no clear definition of "cooked meat". It generally refers to beef that has been matured for a long time, and "air-dried cooked beef" is one of them. The temperature and humidity are controlled within a certain range of the cold room to blow strong wind to beef and blow away its moisture, so as to generate the flavor that ordinary raw meat does not have. Recently, the popularity in Japan has gradually increased, and the restaurants that provide cooked meat have gradually increased. increase. However, there is no uniform benchmark for cooked meat, and the flavor and hygiene status of different producers are uneven. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate relevant specifications and benchmarks, so that livestock farmers and related processing industries can be mixed with the scarlet? The Ministry of Commerce is still taking the badger's eyes. The main measure is to formulate the Japanese Agricultural and Forestry Specification (JAS) for "Dried and Cooked Beef (DAB)", specify the ripening process and the state of the finished product, and specify the location of raw meat. After the development of JAS specifications, the manufacturing facilities and quality management methods must be certified by a third party, which can control the quality of cooked meat to a certain range. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that after the golden autumn, carnivores will be convened to set up a special committee to sort out a general framework within this year, and JAS benchmarks for cooked meat can be worked out as soon as 2016. Release date: August 20, 2015 | Source: Xinnong Network | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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Japan's grain self-sufficiency rate for 5 consecutive years less than 40% still rely on importsChina News Service, August 7 According to Japanese media reports, the 2014 food self-sufficiency rate (based on calories) announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan on the 7th of this month was 39%, maintaining the same level for 5 consecutive years. The production of wheat and soybeans increased, but the demand for rice, which is almost entirely domestic, decreased, and the self-sufficiency rate of food remained unchanged. It is reported that the Japanese government lowered the food self-sufficiency rate target from 50% to 45% in March this year, but the actual figure is far from the new target. The so-called "grain self-sufficiency rate" refers to the proportion of grain Chinese products consumed domestically. According to reports, Japan's per capita rice consumption in 2014 was 55.2kg, 1.7kg less than the previous year, a record low. As a result, the food self-sufficiency rate was lowered by 0.2 percentage points. Among the oil products such as edible oil that rely on imports, the expansion of demand in the catering industry has led to an increase in consumption, and the self-sufficiency rate has also been suppressed by 0.2 percentage points. Among them, the planting area of wheat and soybean has been expanded, and the harvest has benefited from the increase in good weather, which has a positive impact on the self-sufficiency rate of grain. Japan's grain self-sufficiency rate, based on production, decreased by 1 percentage point to 64%, a new low. The main reasons were the fall in rice prices, the rise in international trading prices of aquatic products and the rise in imports due to the depreciation of the yen. In addition, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture and Water also released data on "food self-sufficiency" that reflects the maximum food production capacity on the premise of existing agricultural land and farming population. If potato crops are mainly planted in emergency situations, it can ensure that the average person receives food equivalent to 2736 kilocalories per day. Due to the reduction of agricultural land area and other reasons, this figure has decreased by 12 kcal compared with the previous year, but it still exceeds the 2146 kcal as the lower limit standard. It is understood that Japan's lowest food self-sufficiency rate occurred in 1993 when the rice harvest failed, only 37%. The food self-sufficiency rate rose to 46 per cent in 1994 and has been floating around 40 per cent for the next 20 years. 2015-08-07 | Source: China News Network
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Japan Constructs Mechanism for Direct Delivery of Agricultural Products to AsiaAccording to reports, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan will cooperate with Aeon and the National Agricultural Cooperative Association of Japan (JA Quannong) to build a new mechanism for exporting Japanese domestic brand agricultural products. Hokkaido honeydew melon and other fruits and rice will be distributed directly from the origin to the families of the wealthy class in Asia, with a minimum time of only five days. Due to the overseas upsurge of "harmony food" (traditional Japanese cuisine) and the popularity of Japanese domestic fruits, Japan's agricultural products and food exports reached 354.6 billion yen from January to June 2015, a record high. The Japanese government will also actively use this mechanism to strive to achieve the export target of 1 trillion yen by 2020. Many of the affluent class in Asia buy Japanese-made food in local high-end supermarkets and other places. If you use the new mechanism to buy food on the Internet, it can be delivered to your home. The distribution of fresh food will be made possible by eliminating the need for trading companies and complex local distribution channels. First of all, direct exports to Hong Kong origin will begin in mid-August. Hong Kong is the largest market for Japanese agricultural exports. Japan's agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister Lin Fang is planning to launch high-level marketing at the Hong Kong Food Fair, which he visited on August 13. In addition, AEON, which operates a local shopping center (SC), will build a website based on a survey of local consumer needs and preferences. JA Quannong will use the network covering all regions of Japan to provide Aomori's apples, Yamanashi grapes, Niigata rice and other branded agricultural products to the website. After accepting the order, JA Quannong will purchase agricultural products from all regional agricultural associations in Japan and distribute them to consumers' homes through Yamado Transportation and ANA's logistics network. Now Japan also has online shopping for overseas agricultural products. However, the new mechanism uses the 24-hour Okinawa logistics base "Okinawa cargo hub" to save time. The fastest harvest the next day or 5-6 days after the order can be delivered to consumers. For example, apples picked in the evening in Aomori, Japan, can be delivered to Hong Kong the next morning. The National Agricultural Cooperative Association of Japan is connected to about 700 local agricultural associations in Japan, and the product line of agricultural products will be richer than the existing Japanese agricultural exports. The number of categories was initially about 20, but in the future, Japanese wine and brands and cattle will be sold, which will increase to 50 categories in 2016. In addition, expanding into markets such as Singapore and Malaysia will be discussed. In terms of price, Hokkaido honeydew melon 3kg plus delivery fee is about 10000 yen (about 498 yuan at the current exchange rate). Although it is a bit expensive, it is considered to be acceptable to the wealthy in Asia. The new agricultural export mechanism was formulated by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which called on private enterprises to work together. It is reported that more enterprises will be called to participate in the future. 2015/8/13 World Wide Web
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Japan: When the Internet meets agricultureThe per capita arable land area of Japanese farmers is limited, and there is no large-scale agriculture like that of the United States. With the increasing aging of Japanese society, the agricultural population is decreasing, and the average age of agricultural employment has reached about 67 years old. Japanese media call it "grandpa and grandma agriculture". Under such circumstances, the use of Internet technology to revitalize agriculture is growing louder and louder. In an interview with reporters a few days ago, Takehiko Kato, director of the Japan International Institute of Social Economics, pointed out that in the future, information technology, including Internet technology, is expected to lead the new trend of Japanese agriculture and realize the "green digital revolution" of agriculture ". However, the use of Internet and other technologies to develop agriculture is difficult for small-scale farmers to promote, and the effect is more ideal with legal person management as the main body. A favorable sign in Japan's agricultural sector is that the number of agricultural production laws has been increasing over the years, reaching 14333 as of 2014. "The advantage of using technologies such as the Internet is that it can digitize the technology and knowledge accumulated by skilled farmers, which is conducive to the inheritance of the next generation of farmers or agricultural enterprises," Kato said. Meteorological big data and crop growth data collected through high-precision sensors can also be sent to farmers or managers in real time, so that they can water and fertilize reasonably. In addition, real-time monitoring of consumer trends through the Internet can seize the best opportunity to produce and sell best-selling crops or agricultural products; using the global satellite positioning system, unmanned tractors can achieve 24-hour farming on large-scale farms, effectively solving the problem of insufficient agricultural population; and using big data analysis, it can also extract a lot of information that has not been clarified so far, such as discovering the correlation between meteorological conditions and the occurrence of diseases and insect pests. Takeshiko Kato pointed out that with the popularity of smart phones and flat terminals, mobile phone client services containing cloud system analysis will be provided to agricultural workers, thus improving farm management efficiency and agricultural farming results. By using the technology of recording the production process of agricultural products, the data of the production process can be used as a part of food information and directly provided to consumers for reference, so as to completely realize the traceability management of agriculture, which not only helps to ensure the stability of food safety and quality, but also makes consumers feel at ease. He stressed that the use of information technology such as the Internet to develop agriculture can stimulate the participation of various industries, including the manufacturing industry, so it has created business opportunities for many industries. The Japanese government has always focused on the development of high-tech agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries calls agriculture using robots and information technology "smart agriculture", and strives to develop high-quality labor-saving agriculture, and has listed 115.3 billion yen (1 U.S. dollar About 123 yen) special budget. The government is now gearing up to develop a "roadmap" for smart agriculture ". He pointed out that the chapter "Promoting Scientific and Technological Innovation and Robot Revolution" in the "Japan Revival Strategy" revised by the Japanese government in May this year specifically introduced "wearable machines" supporting agriculture, and the "Realization of Intelligent Agriculture Research Association" composed of many companies and institutions also proposed projects such as automatic walking systems for agricultural machinery, strawberry harvesting and packing robots, weeding robots, and automatic cleaning robots for livestock houses. Kato Takehiko believes that because Japan's agriculture has just begun to introduce information technology such as Internet technology, it is not yet possible to fully evaluate the economic effects, but in terms of improving production efficiency and high added value of agricultural products, Internet agriculture has great potential. 2015-07-16 10:42 | Author: | Source: Sichuan Rural Daily
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Overseas farms vital to Singapore's food security~ ~ Owning stakes in overseas farms strategically vital for food security Richmond Lee . Published: 4:16 AM, August 10, 2015 From science, we know that climate change adversely modifies weather to become more extreme, and as a consequence, some habitats degrade. The uncertainty lies in how badly food and fresh water production will be affected in the future, in the next 50 years. We cannot assume business-as-usual projections for the amount of water and food needed to support a possible projected population of 6.9 million by 2030 for Singapore. These statistical projections should have to take into account greater volatility in order to plan for possible outliers such as a cut in the supply of food. Arid but resource-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia invest heavily on neighbouring coastal African nations to develop farmlands and processing plants that directly produce food for their country. Singapore is especially vulnerable because we are neither oil-rich nor have ample land for farming. Singapore should take a leaf from countries that produce food for themselves from “locally owned overseas farms ”. This could be done by developing capabilities and know-how on the various tiers of the food production chain: From farming to processing the fresh produce that could be shipped directly from the source to our shores. The Government could also invest in farms and food plants in neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand or Australia. It is in our strategic interest to have the Government own stakes in overseas farms and food processing units that serve us, to secure a basic but vital need. When we do not have land to build or invest our own farms, we need to look beyond our shores.
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Japan, Vietnam to Strengthen Agricultural Cooperation~~Viet Nam, Japan look to team up on agriculture projects President Truong Tan Sang receives Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi Yoshimasa to Ha Noi yesterday. - VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang HA NOI (VNS) - President Truong Tan Sang welcomed Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi Yoshimasa to Ha Noi yesterday. The minister's visit would help enhance the two countries' relations, particularly on agriculture, President Sang said. He added that he hoped the Japanese ministry and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development would reach an agreement to co-operate more in the field. If successful, the countries' agricultural collaboration could become a model for the ASEAN region and even be extended to other fields, he said. The two sides would hold regular discussions based on high political trust to address difficulties that arose during the process. The Japanese minister said he visited Viet Nam this time to attend the second Viet Nam-Japan high-level dialogue on agricultural co-operation with a focus on a long-term joint vision. He said he hoped to turn the vision into a model for ASEAN agricultural co-operation. He took the occasion to inform the president that Japan planned to export its apples to Viet Nam, and was considering importing mangoes from Viet Nam. Japanese businesses were interested in Viet Nam's new regulations on agriculture, livestock husbandry and aquatic farming, he said. Viet Nam also needed to continue to improve its investment and intellectual property protections, and simplify administrative procedures to help Japanese businesses expand their investments in the country. The minister said Japan would consider providing used fishery surveillance ships for Viet Nam, as well as helping Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces improve their tuna fishing techniques and supporting the central region's fisheries logistics service centre. Japan would also think about co-ordinating with Viet Nam on its response to climate change through official development assistance (ODA), he added. - VNS
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French Farmers' Protests Sup Intra-European Conflicts~ World | Tue Jul 28, 2015 1:56pm BST Related: World, Spain French farmers' protests trigger European tensions French farmers block trucks that transport food goods coming from foreign countries at the French German border in Strasbourg, France, during a protest against a squeeze in margins by retailers and food processors July 27, 2015. Reuters/Vincent Kessler The European Commission called on France to ensure goods could flow freely through Europe on Tuesday after French livestock and dairy farmers this week blocked imports from German and Spanish producers in a growing row over prices. Separately, the German dairy federation said it complained to the EU about French government moves to head off the dispute with new financial support to the sector and an "eat French" campaign. Spanish farmers' union UPA also warned it could retaliate with a boycott of French food products. President Francois Hollande's government last week announced plans to raise the price of beef, pork and milk and promised farmers up to 1.1 billion euros (£779 million) in tax rebates, delayed payments and loan guarantees .. French agriculture and economic ministers said banks had agreed on Tuesday to extend or delay struggling farmers' loan payments as part of the government package which includes a guarantee of up to 500 million euros worth of loans for farmers through its public investment bank. Paris also said last week it would also push for a raise in the price at which surplus milk in Europe is purchased when European Union farm ministers meet in September. The moves have yet to quell the anger of French farmers, who this week erected blockades on the border with Germany and did spot checks on non-French goods entering France. "We have asked them (France) to keep us updated as regards to any possible impediment to the free movement of goods," European Commission spokesman Daniel Rosario told a regular news briefing in Brussels. Farmers continued protests on Tuesday, blocking roads in northeastern France, near the German and Luxembourg borders. French Farm Minister Stephane Le Foll told reporters in Paris any attempts to block goods transportation throughout Europe "do not reflect the French government position ". "Freedom of circulation is needed for imports but above all because France exports too," he said. French farmers complain that a fall in prices due to foreign competition and a squeeze in margins by food processors and retailers has put many livestock farmers close to bankruptcy. Europe's milk market was liberalised in April this year with the removal of 30-year-old quotas, creating growth opportunities for some farmers while threatening the livelihood of others. Hollande has given personal backing to the creation of a new label intended to encourage French consumers to buy local products and said he would ensure it was applied in public sector canteens - a move Paris says is compatible with EU rules. However German milk industry federation MIV said it had sent a letter to the European Commission on Monday protesting that the French support contravened those rules. "If decisions are taken under the auspices of a French minister which are effectively a trade boycott of German goods, that calls into question the basic principles of Europe," MIV executive Eckhard Heuser said in the statement. In Spain, farmers warned they would push for a boycott of French food and farm products. "We Spaniards want the same as the French: fair prices for our products," Spanish farm union UPA said in a statement. (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide and Tommaso Mazzanti in Paris, Gilbert Reilhac in Strasbourg, Barbara Lewis in Brussels and Tracy Rucinski in Madrid; Writing by Sybille de la Hamaide; Editing by Mark John and David Evans)
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EU expands farm subsidies in face of Russian food import ban~~EU extends farm aid amid Russian food import ban 30 July 2015 From the section Europe Farmers' tractors block road in Belgium, 30 Jul 15 Angry dairy farmers used their tractors to block roads in Belgium on Thursday The EU says it will continue aid for exporters of dairy produce, fruit and vegetables into next year to ease the impact of a Russian ban on those goods. The EU Commission says the "safety net" for Europe's dairy sector will remain in place until March 2016 and for fruit and vegetable growers until July 2016. Russia has extended a year-old ban on most imports of EU food and drink until August 2016. Western sanctions are hurting Russia's economy. The Ukraine crisis sparked the dispute. Many European farmers are in financial difficulties because the Russian market is blocked and Chinese imports of European dairy produce have slackened. There have been daily road blockades by French farmers - and on Thursday similar protests erupted in Belgium. They want higher prices for their produce, saying they are struggling to stay in business. In 2013 Poland and Lithuania were the biggest European exporters of fruit and vegetables to Russia. Nectarines in French supermarket - file pic Growers of nectarines and peaches are among those hit hardest by the Russian ban East-West tensions The West has restricted credit for Russian state banks, defence firms and energy industries, and slapped visa bans and asset freezes on many top Russian officials because of Moscow's actions in Ukraine. The sanctions were triggered by Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014, and were later ratcheted up, as Russia was accused of arming separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russia has denied helping the separatists with troops and heavy weapons. "We need to continue to provide a safety net in order to give security to producers who continue to face difficulties in relation to the [Russian] ban," EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said. The EU support for fruit and vegetable growers has cost €155m (£110m; $170m) so far. It takes the form of withdrawing produce from the market - it is then distributed free in schools and hospitals, or used for compost or animal feed. Restricting the supply helps to prevent prices crashing. In the dairy sector, the Commission is buying up butter and skimmed milk powder and paying farmers to store their produce.
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South Korea to implement new standards for imported food next year, the entry threshold for food enterprises may be raisedOn August 4, the reporter learned from the Guangdong Inspection and Quarantine Bureau that South Korea's Special Law on the Administration of Imported Food Safety will be formally implemented on February 4, 2016. The new regulations will have a relatively large impact on imported food safety supervision policies and new standards for pesticide residues. The changes are expected to have a certain impact on my food exports to South Korea in terms of entry barriers, trade costs and customs clearance procedures. It is reported that South Korea is one of the important markets for food exports in Guangdong and China, and nearly 30% of the food imported by South Korea comes from China. According to reports, the "China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement" was initialed on February 25, 2015, and is expected to be formally signed in the near future and enter into force within this year, and will have an impact on Guangdong's trade with South Korea. South Korea is one of the important markets for food exports from Guangdong and my country. Nearly 30% of the food imported from South Korea comes from China. In 2014, the value of my country's food exported to South Korea reached US $4.864 billion. According to statistics from Guangdong Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, in the first half of this year, Guangdong ports (excluding Shenzhen and Zhuhai) exported 390 batches of Korean food, 6377.2 tons and 14.009 million US dollars, up 9.9 percent, down 2.8 percent and up 19.2 percent respectively over the same period last year. The export varieties involved more than 20 kinds of food, of which canned vegetables, candy, frozen aquatic products, cakes and biscuits and beverages accounted for 90 percent of the total export value to South Korea. It is reported that South Korea will formally implement the Special Law on the Administration of imported Food Safety on February 4 next year. A person from the Guangdong Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said that according to the study and the exchange and confirmation of South Korean officials in China, South Korea's current regulations on the safety of imported food are scattered in four different decrees, namely, the Food Hygiene Law, the Health Function Food Law, the Animal Product Hygiene Management Law, and the Animal Infectious Disease Prevention Law. These four management standards are not uniform, different types of food need to be declared to different departments during customs clearance, and there is a lack of uniform norms for port inspection. The new "Special Law on the Safety Management of Imported Food" integrates the provisions of the four decrees on imported food. "The scope of administration of the Special Law includes pre-import, port clearance and circulation links. Among them, preventive safety management is implemented in advance in the pre-import stage, and it is stipulated that overseas production units should be registered and on-site visits should be made to overseas production units as needed. The validity period of the enterprise registration is two years. If the overseas production unit refuses the on-site inspection or the on-site inspection finds that the imported food is harmful, South Korea can implement the import suspension measure." Inspection and quarantine experts pointed out that South Korea's new regulation also emphasizes the main responsibility of enterprises and implements a registration system for excellent import units and overseas excellent production units. One of the conditions for registration as an excellent import unit is to inspect the health management status of overseas production units in accordance with the standards set by South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug. The registration is valid for three years. Foreign production enterprises to apply for registration as overseas excellent production units to accept the Ministry of food and drug on-site inspection, registration is also valid for three years. In addition, South Korea will also implement differentiated management, grading imported products according to risk levels, past records of hazardous substances detected, foreign food safety information, etc., and conducting differentiated management in accordance with three types of methods: general, attention, and concentration. The Guangdong Inspection and Quarantine Bureau reminded that domestic food manufacturers exporting to South Korea must understand in advance and prepare in advance to adapt to changes in new regulations and standards. Especially when choosing South Korean trading partners, pay attention to whether the other party is likely to obtain the registration qualification of excellent import units, and cooperate with capable South Korean importers as much as possible to obtain maximum customs clearance convenience. At the same time, we must pay attention to daily management, strengthen process control in strict accordance with food hygiene requirements, implement good operating practices, accelerate upgrading and development, and avoid being found to have serious defects in the control system during inspections. Primary agricultural producers should understand the changes in pesticide residue limit standards after the introduction of the "positive list system" in South Korea, and strictly manage inputs. When disputes arise, Guangdong enterprises should actively use the China-Korea Free Trade Area Agreement to properly handle trade disputes, simplify procedures, reduce risks, and protect their legitimate rights and interests. (reporter/ou zhikui correspondent/yue jianxuan) 2015-08-06 Source: Nanfang Daily
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China has become an increasingly important export market for Vietnam's agricultural products.According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, from January to June this year, Vietnam exported about 14.42 billion US dollars in agricultural, forestry and aquatic products, a year-on-year decrease of 2.8 percent. Among them, exports to the United States, Japan and the European Union fell sharply, while exports to China continued to grow. China has become an increasingly important export market for Vietnam's agricultural products. In the first half of the year, rice exports to China accounted for 36% of Vietnam's total rice exports; rubber exports to China accounted for 40%; cassava accounted for 85%; wood products accounted for 15%. China has become one of Vietnam's three largest export markets for wood products. Gao Dafa, Minister of agriculture and rural development of Vietnam, said that China's market is very large, and many countries hope to promote trade with China. As a neighboring country, Vietnam and China are geographically close and have the same customs. Therefore, Vietnam should continue to promote exports to China, including border trade and regular trade. According to the report, in addition to expanding exports to China, Vietnam should also take measures to diversify its export market and reduce its dependence on the single market. In the second half of the year, Vietnam will take the following measures to promote the export of agricultural products: first, to expand the output of best-selling agricultural products; second, to negotiate with the export market to eliminate technical barriers to trade and make full use of the convenience of the free trade zone agreement; third, to further improve the business environment, absorb foreign investment and enhance the processing ability of agricultural products. Source: Agricultural Vision | Release Date: 2015-07-16 16:00:59 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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South Korea intends to amend "hazardous food" to "unhealthy and undesirable food"(Food safety hazards) refers to the potential damage or endanger food safety and quality factors or elements, including biological, chemical and physical hazards, the human body Ankang and life safety risk. Once the food contains these hazardous elements or is contaminated by these hazardous elements, it will become a potentially harmful food (Potentially hazardotIs foods), especially food that may have a microbial hazard. On July 9, 2015, some members of South Korea put forward a draft partial amendment to the Food Sanitation Law, which amended the "harmful food" in the existing Food Sanitation Law to "unhealthy and undesirable food". After the amendment, the category of "unhealthy and undesirable food" will be expanded and adjusted. The category of "improper and undesirable food" in the amendment is as follows: 1. A part or all of the food is not suitable as food because of decay or deterioration or not cooked; 2. Food is contaminated by harmful microorganisms; 3. In accordance with the rules of the Prime Minister's Order, animals suffering from diseases and food made from the meat, bones, milk, organs or blood of dead animals; 4. Food processed, packaged and kept in a non-hygienic environment that is considered harmful to health or may be contaminated by pollutants; 5. Informed to replace local or all main components with other substances, to cover up the use of damaged or inferior substances, to add a substance to increase its volume or weight and reduce the quality or advantages of production, or to exaggerate its value compared with practice. The changes in the category of "hazardous food" are mainly aimed at today's increasingly serious food safety issues. Legislation from time to time to improve, improve the illegal cost of black-hearted businesses, is a more effective way to reduce food safety problems. Source: Agricultural Vision | Release Date: 2015-07-16 16:01:00 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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U.S. agricultural production costs nearly $400 billion~ ~ U.S. Agriculture Production Cost Nearly $400 Billion in 2014 Print Email August 05, 2015 11:30 am (0) Comments WASHINGTON - U.S. farmers spent $397.6 billion on agricultural production in 2014, up 8.3 percent from 2013, the largest increase since 2008, according to the Farm Production Expenditures report, published today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Feed, already the largest expenditure category for U.S. farmers, also saw the largest increase since 2013. In 2014, producers spent $63.7 billion on animal feed, up 16 percent from the previous year. Farm services, livestock, poultry and related expenses, and labor were the other three major categories that saw an increase of 11.4 percent, 11.3 percent, and 8.6 percent respectively. Per farm, the average expenditures total $191,500 compared with $175,270 in 2013, up 9.3 percent. As in the previous year, crop farms account for the majority of production expenditures in 2014, although the gap between two sectors was significantly smaller than in the previous years. The average expenditure per crop farm totals $213,150 compared to $173,285 per livestock farm. Regionally, the largest increase in production expenditures was in the Plains regions, which includes states, such as Kansas and Texas. In that region, expenditures rose by $11.6 billion from 2013. For 2014, total expenditures by region are: Midwest $124.0 billion Plains $99.3 billion West $85.6 billion Atlantic $48.2 billion South $40.5 billion The Farm Production Expenditures summary provides the official estimates for production input costs on U.S. farms and ranches. These estimates are based on the results of the nationwide Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agriculture Land (TOTAL), conducted by NASS. The entire Farm Production Expenditures 2014 summary is available online at http://bit.ly/FarmExpenditures.
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Should Washington end farm subsidies?~ ~ Should Washington End Agriculture Subsidies? Vincent H. Smith says farmers should stand on their own. W. Robert Goodman says subsidies are important for food security. Farm subsidies and insurance, which cost U.S. taxpayers about $20 billion annually, have come under scrutiny in recent years. . Updated July 12, 2015 11:57 p.m. ET The U.S. government has been protecting farmers against unpredictable hardships such as bad weather since the 1930s, when drought and the Great Depression devastated the nation's agriculture industry. Today, agricultural subsidies and insurance cost the U.S. taxpayers about $20 billion annually, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. That support has come under great scrutiny in recent years, with opponents complaining that most of the money goes to millionaire farmers and giant agribusinesses, not small family farms seeking to stay afloat. Congress revamped some agriculture-support programs in 2014, eliminating a controversial system of direct payments to farmers, while providing farmers with more subsidized crop insurance. . But subsidy opponents weren't satisfied. They say the government is still providing costly income support to an industry that doesn't need it. Others disagree, saying farm subsidies provide U.S. consumers with necessary protection against food scarcity and high food prices. Vincent H. Smith, a professor in the departments of agricultural economics and economics at Montana State University and a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, makes the case for letting farmers stand on their own. W. Robert Goodman, who was an extension agricultural economist at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and an associate professor at Auburn University before retiring, explains why farm subsidies should be preserved. YES: Farmers Don't Need Them, and They Impede Innovation By Vincent H. Smith U.S. farmers don't need support from U.S. taxpayers, either directly or through legislation that restricts the supply of a commodity to raise its price. First, many people seem to believe that farmers, like the Joad family in John Steinbeck's “The Grapes of Wrath," are poor, when in fact the average farm household enjoys an income that is about 15% higher than that of the average nonfarm family. What's more, the 10% to 15% of farm families that receive more than 85% of all farm subsidies-amounting to millions of dollars a year in a few cases-have annual household incomes many times as large as those of the average U.S. taxpayer. Some estimates suggest that the farmers who receive the bulk of all subsidies-many of whom mainly raise corn, cotton, rice, peanuts, soybeans and wheat-are worth somewhere between $6 million and $10 million on average. Second, farming is anything but the risky business it is often portrayed to be. The sector certainly isn't highly leveraged; the average debt-to-asset ratio in U.S. agriculture today is between 10% and 11%. And in contrast to the claims of the farm lobby and the private insurance companies (who take about $2 billion of taxpayer funds annually to deliver heavily subsidized crop insurance), competent farmers are perfectly capable of managing the year-to-year price and production risks they face. Less than 1% of all farms (about one in every 200) go out of business in any given year, and the three main causes of those failures are catastrophic health-care costs, divorce and incredibly poor management. Fortune 100 companies and Main Street businesses face much riskier financial environments. Third, farmers don't need “stable” prices to stay in business, especially when stable means they can enjoy high prices but are protected from below-average prices through price-support programs. Most farmers are financially well-positioned to handle both price and production risks. Consider, for instance, that many livestock producers and fruit and vegetable growers run profitable and successful farms and provide plentiful supplies of produce to U.S. consumers without any significant support from the government. Rational response These days, crop-insurance subsidies are the major source of government largess for farmers. Some proponents say farmers wouldn't be able to get crop loans without them. Anyone tempted to buy that argument should consider that before 1980, when crop insurance covered less than 20% of all operations because subsidies were small, banks made plenty of loans to farmers who didn't have such coverage. They also make loans to livestock and fruit and vegetable producers who don't have access to or don't use crop insurance as a risk-management tool. The problem with subsidized crop insurance is that it allows farmers to operate in ways that increase the risk of crop and other forms of financial loss because they know that any losses they incur will be covered by taxpayers. Farmers have responded rationally by, for example, planting crops on poor-quality land, cutting back on things like pesticides and fertilizer that reduce the risk of crop losses and reducing the extent to which they diversify their enterprises (for example, by jointly raising livestock and crops). Subsidies also discourage farmers from being innovative and improving productivity. That's because when any business is effectively guaranteed profits by the government, there is much less incentive to adopt new practices and technologies. Granted, subsidies have had a modest effect on reducing soil erosion because farmers are required to file conservation plans to receive them, but many economists believe the same effect could have been achieved through other means. Land-rich nation The farm lobby may argue that subsidies lead to increased food output and lower prices for consumers, but that isn't true when subsidies are considered as a whole. Some subsidy programs may produce that effect, but others do the opposite by taking farmland out of production for conservation purposes. And the idea that U.S. food security depends on government farm programs is an even weaker argument. As a land-rich nation, the U.S. is a net exporter of crops and food products and would be under any credible price scenario. At about $20 billion a year, total spending on agricultural subsidies is a relatively small part of the overall federal budget. But wasteful government spending is still waste, and most farm subsidies are wasteful. Dr. Smith is a professor in the departments of agricultural economics and economics at Montana State University and a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He can be reached at reports@wsj.com. NO: They Keep Farming Profitable and Stable By W. Robert Goodman Modern society is far removed from agriculture. With only a small percentage of the population engaged in food production, few understand the fragile nature of modern farming and why government farm subsidies are necessary to protect the public from scarcity and high food prices as the world's population expands to a projected 11 billion people by 2100 from seven billion now. Government subsidies help keep farming profitable and stable, allowing for the commercial finance of modern agriculture, the development of products and technologies that help farmers produce more food at a lower cost, and the preservation of production resources in case of future need. Today's farm subsidies don't “pay farmers not to plant." Instead, they come in the form of insurance. Under the 2014 farm bill, farmers buy crop insurance, and the premium is subsidized by the government. Fewer payments are made in years of normal yield and price, thus subsidy cost can be very low. But the insurance provides farmers with the income security necessary to secure the loans they need to produce crops. Contrary to what some say, farming is “risky business”: Growing a single acre of corn in Iowa can cost over $500. With projected yield around 160 bushels and corn price around $3.30 per bushel, depending on weather, the profit margin farmers earn is small. But a farmer planting 1,000 acres of corn this year will need a “crop loan” of a half-million dollars. Getting a crop loan without insurance is like getting a loan without collateral. U.S. farmers will plant 89 million acres of corn in 2015. Financing this single crop will require about $45 billion. This is one reason why crop insurance, and crop-insurance subsidy, is necessary. Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug, known as “the father of the Green Revolution," insisted that continuous increases in world food production must come through adoption of more efficient technology, not through increased acreage. It is this increased productivity that has allowed for the preservation of significant amounts of ecologically sensitive acreage around the world. Agriculture subsidies have promoted rapid advances in productivity by encouraging the development and adoption of modern farming methods and materials by farmers who may not have been willing to take the financial risk otherwise. Farm subsidies also have resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of soil erosion from crop production. Since 1985, wind and water erosion rates of farmed land in the U.S. have declined more than 40% and are still trending downward, thanks to the development and widespread adoption of agricultural technology such as conservation tillage, establishment of streamside protection zones, and grass waterways and buffer strips. Farmers must agree to comply with these erosion-limiting practices to qualify for subsidies. Even at $20 billion a year, the cost of farm subsidies is modest compared with federal spending. And much of that cost is offset because as agriculture subsidies keep food prices low, they become transfer payments made by taxpayers to consumers of agriculture commodities-or, in other words, themselves. Like many products of the political process, agriculture subsidies are deeply flawed, in that farm policy hasn't always kept up with rapidly changing economic and environmental conditions. But to those who complain that farm subsidies go to big companies and millionaires, my question is this: Shouldn't those who produce the bulk of our food receive the bulk of farm payments? The fact is, large, efficient farms benefit the public by producing food at a much lower cost than would otherwise be possible. We must continue to craft agriculture policy that provides incentives necessary to ensure world food security, while constantly seeking to improve the fairness, equity, and efficiency of those policies. In Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1937 inaugural speech, he defended his proactive efforts to bring the country out of the Great Depression when he said, “We refused to leave the problems of our common welfare to be solved by the winds of chance and the hurricanes of disaster." That sentiment is apt here. Dr. Goodman, now retired, was an extension agricultural economist at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and an associate professor at Auburn University. He can be reached at reports@wsj.com.
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FAO food price index falls to lowest in six yearsThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released the Food Price Index on the 6th, saying that the index averaged 164.6 points in July, the lowest level in six years. According to the FAO website, the food price index fell 1.0 per cent in July from June and 19.4 per cent from the same period last year, falling to its lowest monthly average since September 2009. FAO said the decline was mainly due to a sharp drop in the prices of dairy and vegetable oils, which offset a small increase in the prices of sugar and cereals. Specifically, the dairy product price index fell 7.2 month-on-month in July. The reason for the decline was that the import demand in China, the Middle East and North Africa was reduced, while the EU's milk production was large, resulting in an abundant supply of dairy products for export; the vegetable oil price index fell by about 5.5 month-on-month, reaching the lowest value since July 2009. The main reason for the decline in palm oil prices was the increase in Southeast Asian production and the slowdown in Malaysia exports, the further weakness in soybean oil prices is due to abundant export supplies in South America and good global supply prospects from 2015 to 2016. The FAO Food Price Index consists of a weighted average of the international market prices of five food categories: cereals, meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar. (Reporter Ge Chen) 2015-08-07 Source: Xinhua
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Japan to launch brewing experiments on the International Space Station to make the taste more mellowAccording to Japanese media reports, a large Japanese manufacturer recently revealed that it will begin "winemaking" experiments on the International Space Station. The purpose of this study is to study the influence of gravity-free environment on wine making and to analyze the ripening process of wine becoming mellow. According to reports, the wine participating in the experiment will be transported to the space station by the unmanned cargo spacecraft "Stork" 5 launched at the Seed Island Space Center (located in Kagoshima Prefecture) on August 16, and will be in the Japanese "Hope" in the space station. The experimental cabin is kept for one to several years, and then brought back to the earth for detailed analysis of the ingredients, and then the whisky wine tasting experts will confirm the taste. According to the research team, if the wine is kept in an environment with less temperature change, convection will be reduced, and the stimulation of alcohol may become mild and form a soft taste. So the team set their sights on space, where convection is least likely to occur. The experimental liquor used this time is 5 kinds of distilled liquor, including whiskey and ethanol with an alcohol concentration of 40 degrees, which have been stored in barrels for 21 years, totaling 1 liter. At present, there are 6 astronauts in the space station for a long stay, and drinking alcohol is prohibited in space. Time: 2015-07-31 17:54 | Author: Jinse | Source: First Agricultural Economic Times | Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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FAO says global natural teak forests are decliningA survey report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on the 26th showed that the global natural teak forest area is decreasing, and the wood quality of natural teak is also declining. According to FAO, only India, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have natural teak forests in the world. After conducting teak resource surveys and market assessments in 60 tropical countries around the world, the organization found that in 2010, the total area of natural teak forests in the world was about 29 million hectares, of which about half grew in Myanmar. Between 1992 and 2010, the global natural teak forest area decreased by 385000 hectares. Myanmar is the only country currently using natural teak forests to produce high-quality teak, and India, Laos and Thailand have all banned logging in natural forests or the export of logs, the report said. Thailand implemented a total ban on natural forest logging in 1989, which helped restore natural teak forests. Since the ban was promulgated, the country's natural teak forest area has increased by about 2.9 million hectares. At the same time, teak, one of the most important and valuable woods in the world, has attracted a lot of private sector investment in artificial teak forests in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and the related area is increasing. India's artificial teak forest planting area has accounted for 38% of the world's total. FAO's official in charge of forestry, Colert, said that the supply and quality of natural teak are declining, which will lead to the loss of genetic resources. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate plans as soon as possible in the four countries with natural teak forests to organize and implement the protection of genetic resources of native teak. Release date: March 27, 2012, 10:57 | Source: Xinhua
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How do Japanese farmers get rich?Editor's note: China is a large agricultural country, and rural development is related to social stability and national prosperity. Although the problems encountered in the process of rural development in various countries are similar, they are at different stages of development, and the ideas and methods for solving the problems are not exactly the same. In the process of promoting people-oriented new urbanization, how to organically coordinate the planning and policies of new socialist rural construction and new urbanization construction? How to integrate the resources scattered in various departments? How to balance the contradiction between the needs of public construction land and the protection of personal rights and interests? How to reflect the role of traditional culture and morality in the new rural construction? The experience of other countries can be used as a reference. Since 1972, the average income level of Japanese farmers has been slightly higher than that of urban residents. However, this was not the case in Japan before that. The income of farmers around 1960 was equivalent to 60% of that of the citizens. Looking back to 1930, it was about 35%. How does Japan achieve income equality between urban and rural residents? Based on field visits and in-depth research, the author believes that the following points are worth learning from. Relying on Scientific Theory to Guide Agricultural Development after the Meiji Restoration, the capitalist industrial and commercial civilization quickly took root in Japan. Under such a historical background, it is impossible for the state to attach importance to agriculture and imitate ancient times. It is necessary to form new ideas for the development of modern agriculture. In this regard, Japan has experienced a difficult process of exploration. On the whole, before the First World War, Japan's agricultural and rural development was relatively smooth, and agricultural production and farmers' lives were greatly improved compared with those before the Meiji Restoration. However, in 1918, there was a "rice riot" incident. Then, under the influence of multiple political and economic factors at home and abroad, Japan's agriculture had a crisis since 1926. Under the combined impact of the global economic crisis of 1929-1931, many farmers were poor enough to sell their children. The cruel reality puts forward an urgent innovation requirement for the theory of agricultural economic development. In the past, Japan's agricultural economic theory was mainly based on the experience summary of agronomism, and some scholars studying in the West (mainly Germany, France and Britain) copied the agricultural economic theories of advanced countries to Japan, but none of them could provide an effective answer for Japanese agriculture to get out of the predicament. In 1936, Tokyo University professor Yoshiichi Higashi published the book "The Development Process of Japanese Agriculture", which marked the development of Japanese agricultural economy from experience to science. Based on Schumpeter's theory of innovative economic development, the book puts forward and analyzes the "entrepreneur" problem that promotes the development of Japanese agriculture. Yoshiichi Tohata believes that the entrepreneurs who promote the development of Japan's agricultural economy are neither traditional small farmers nor traditional landlords, but agricultural product purchasers and processors. These businessmen guide the reallocation of agricultural resources and improve the level of agricultural production; however, the most important thing to promote the development of Japan's agriculture is the government. The basic means for the government to promote agricultural development is to inject monetary capital into the agricultural production and management system. The channels through which the government injects monetary capital into agriculture are fiscal and financial. The government does not use this capital directly, as ordinary entrepreneurs do, but gives it to its "rangers", that is, farmers' cooperative economic organizations. Seiichi Higahata's theoretical innovation was highly praised by Schumpeter and became the basic theoretical basis for guiding the development of Japan's agricultural economy. The first basic agricultural law adopted by Japan in 1961 was formed under the guidance of this theory. The Agricultural Association provides a full range of social services. In addition to the theoretical level, the real solution to the problem of increasing farmers' income and wealth ultimately depends on institutional mechanisms. As an East Asian country, the basic national condition of agriculture in Japan is that there are many people and little land, and the scale of farmers' operation is small. Under the market economy system dominated by industrial and commercial capital, how small farmers participate in market competition is a historic issue that developing countries must answer. Combining the experience of Western Europe, especially Germany, and summing up the experience and lessons of the development of rural industrial combination after the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese government formed a top-to-bottom farmer cooperative economic organization system in the mid-1930s (still called industrial combination at that time, after the war It was renamed the Agricultural Cooperative Combination, referred to as the Agricultural Association), which became the government's starting point for the development of modern agriculture. Japan has three levels of government, and each level of government has a counterpart to the agricultural association organization. The agricultural association that directly provides production and living services to farmers is located at the city (town, village) level, also known as the comprehensive agricultural association. In the comprehensive agricultural association, the technical guidance department provides farmers with agricultural technical services, the purchase and marketing department provides farmers with pre-production purchase, post-production sales and living materials purchase services, the credit department provides farmers with capital deposit and loan and various settlement services, and the insurance department provides farmers with various insurance services for production and life. In addition, in terms of land planning and utilization, medical care, and amateur cultural life, the Agricultural Association can provide services to farmers. It is precisely by such cooperative economic organizations that farmers do not fight alone in the market competition, but form a group. The various undertakings of the Agricultural Association are mutually supportive. The agricultural technical guidance department knows how much means of production farmers need and how much agricultural products they produce, laying a solid foundation for the purchasing and marketing department to carry out services; if farmers need financing to develop production, the credit department can obtain sufficient information on the safety of capital investment through the technical guidance department and the purchasing and marketing department. Therefore, with the support of the agricultural association system, Japanese farmers will not encounter such problems as difficulty in buying, selling, and loans, let alone the phenomenon of counterfeit and inferior agricultural materials pitting farmers and merchants purchasing agricultural products to lower prices. Taking the production and sales of vegetables as an example, the Agricultural Association organizes farmers to produce in accordance with standardized agricultural methods. After the products are harvested, the quantity and quality of each household's products are inspected and packaged, and then transported to the wholesale market for sale. The gross income of farmers can generally reach 2/3 of the final consumer price, which is about twice as high as that of Chinese vegetable dealers who buy directly in the fields. In particular, it should be pointed out that the technical guidance provided by the Japan Agricultural Association to farmers is free of charge, and the purchase and sale fees charged by the purchase and sale departments are limited to the scope of necessary expenses, that is to say, the service departments that directly bring benefits to farmers are not profitable, and the funds to support the normal operation of such departments mainly come from the profits of the credit department and the insurance department. The financial cause of the Agricultural Association not only solves all the problems in the operation of farmers' funds, but also provides financial guarantee for the smooth development of the whole agricultural association. Therefore, the Agricultural Association is actually an agricultural monopoly organization with financial business as its core. Donghata Jingichi advocates that the government inject monetary capital into agriculture, and the financial sector of the Agricultural Association is the main channel. Of course, the monopoly of the Agricultural Association is not for the interests of a few capital owners, but to protect the interests of all farmers, and through democratic management within the Agricultural Association, to ensure that all farmers share the services provided by the Agricultural Association fairly and fairly. government support for agricultural protection taking the promotion of improved seed technology as an opportunity, Japan has listed agricultural development projects in the central government's fiscal budget since 1900. Since then, financial support for agriculture has continued to increase. The Japanese government's financial support for agriculture follows a basic principle, that is, urban and rural areas share public goods and public services equally. For example, many rural schools have a small number of students, but there is no difference between campus construction, teaching facilities (such as indoor gymnasiums), teachers' salaries and other aspects and first-tier cities. If measured according to the per-student funding index, rural areas are higher than urban areas. Transportation, communications, energy and other infrastructure construction is also a unified urban and rural planning and construction. The government also implements a protective price purchase policy for major agricultural products, especially rice production, to ensure that the labor, capital and other factors invested by farmers receive benefits that are not lower than the social average. The government has also funded the establishment of a special policy finance (regarded as the second finance to support agriculture) institution to provide long-term low-interest loans for farmers to carry out the construction of modern agricultural operating infrastructure. The implementation of government policies and measures to support agriculture is generally coordinated by the Agricultural Association to ensure that farmers receive benefits. A misconception needs to be clarified that such an approach could overburden the government's finances. If you look at fiscal spending alone, this view cannot be said to be unreasonable. However, this is not the case with a comprehensive examination of macroeconomic performance in conjunction with the agricultural association system. On the one hand, farmers have formed a strong rural market demand under the conditions of the government's support for agriculture policies and the thoughtful service of the Agricultural Association, which provides a huge domestic demand power for the development of the national economy. On the other hand, farmers do not have a strong demand for loans after their income stabilizes. The credit department of the Agricultural Association can fully meet the capital needs of farmers with only about 30% of the deposit balance, the remaining 70% or so of the huge surplus funds are used to purchase government bonds and corporate bonds, which also support the development of the entire national economy. Published: 2015-7-24 8:46:26 | Author: Xu Xianglin | Source: Learning Times