World Agriculture
Developments, trade, data, and topics in world agriculture
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Almonds Become Australia's Most Valuable Cash Crop Export ProductThe latest data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resources Economics and Technology (ABARES) shows that the total export of Australian almonds in the 2014-15 fiscal year reached 0.522 billion Australian dollars, making it the horticultural product (cash crop) with the highest export value in the previous fiscal year. Agriculture Minister Joyce (Barnaby Joyce) said that Australian growers, exporters and the horticulture industry as a whole, to increase the production of almond crops is of great significance. The latest Almond Market Perspective Report (Almond Insights) released by the Australian Almond Chamber of Commerce (ABA) shows that the development momentum of the Australian almond industry is becoming stronger and stronger. Thanks to favorable factors such as output growth (output in 2015 is 10000 tons higher than that in 2014), rising demand and rising prices, the export volume in the next fiscal year is expected to reach A $0.6 billion. In recent years, the global demand for almonds has continued to grow. At present, the annual consumption of shell almonds has exceeded 1 million tons, and consumer demand is mainly met by international trade. Minister Joyce said that the development of the almond industry means that the planting area of apricot trees in Australia will continue to increase, and the number of jobs and export trade will also increase, which will create more economic income for growers. Joyce also stressed that according to ChAFTA, the current export tariff of 10-24% faced by Australian almond producers will be canceled in the next four years, "which highlights the significance of China Australia FTA for Australian horticultural products exporters". At present, the Australian almond industry has entered a large-scale expansion phase, this winter in the new state and Victoria's Murray Valley region (Murray Valley) apricot tree planting area is expected to increase by 50% to 43,000 hectares. Joyce pointed out that based on the Almond Market Perspective Report, in order to promote plantation expansion and increase processing facilities, the government will invest an additional A $0.4 billion million in the Murray Valley region, which will bring more economic benefits to growers across Australia. Source: Agricultural Information Network | Time: September 14, 2015 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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South Korea Releases Requirements for Classification and Labeling of Processed Meat ProductsOn September 8, 2015, South Korea issued a notice to divide processed meat products with different meat content into six categories, including ham, raw ham, pressed ham, and sausage, according to product processing and ingredient specifications. The main categories include: 1, ham and raw ham meat requires meat content of more than 90%, the use of meat or other food, the right amount of food additives to manufacture, processing; 2, pressed ham requires meat content of more than 85%, starch below 5%, the use of meat or other food, add appropriate amount of food additives manufacturing, processing; 3. Mixed ham requires meat content above 75% and starch below 8%. Meat or other foods and appropriate amount of food additives are used for manufacturing and processing; 4. Sausage requires meat content to be above 70% and starch content to be below 10%. Add finely ground meat to other foods and add appropriate food additives for manufacturing and processing. If it contains specific ingredients such as chicken, it needs to be indicated on the label. Source: Agricultural Information Network | Time: September 14, 2015 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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Growing of Organic Agricultural Products in Czech RepublicAfter nearly seven years of stagnation, the cultivation of organic agricultural products in the Czech Republic has begun to resume growth in the past two years with the increase of domestic demand. A total of 322 new organic food farms were established from January to September this year. According to statistics, in 2013, the consumption of organic food in the Czech Republic was nearly 2 billion koruna (about 73.9 million euros), an increase of 9.5 percent over the same period last year. Nevertheless, due to the relatively high price of organic food, its consumption in the total food consumption of Czechs is still very small, less than 1%. According to the Czech Ministry of Agriculture, due to the dual supervision of domestic regulations and EU regulations, the Czech organic agricultural product planting industry has to bear heavy compliance costs every year, resulting in high product prices. At present, the cultivation area of organic agricultural products in the Czech Republic has exceeded 500000 hectares, accounting for nearly 12% of the total cultivated land in the Czech Republic. One of the top five organic food manufacturers in the EU is a Czech company. Source: Agricultural Information Network | Time: September 14, 2015 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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Experience of Forestry Revitalization in FinlandFinland's forests have also suffered serious damage in history, and the land is swampy, afforestation is very difficult; high latitude, forest growth cycle is very short. But after World War II, Finland's forests were restored and developed with the help of advanced management and afforestation techniques. Although Finland lost 13% of its forest area due to the loss of territory and the Second World War, the current forest resources are more abundant than before the Second World War. According to the latest forest resource inventory in Finland (2004-2008), the forest coverage rate reached 76%; the forest storage is equivalent to the total logging and utilization in the past 40 years; the annual growth of standing trees has nearly doubled compared with the 1970 s. The southern part reaches 6.1 cubic meters per hectare per year, which is twice the annual growth in the northern part. Relying on its strong forest industry chain and at the forefront of information technology, Finland's forest industry is developed and highly export-oriented. Finland is the world's second largest exporter of paper and paperboard, the third largest exporter of sawn timber products, the fourth largest exporter of pulp, and a pioneer in the use of wood construction and wood energy. In 2011, Finnish forest exports accounted for 6% of global exports and 11% of European forest exports. As one of the main pillars of the Finnish economy, forestry is second only to the electronics and electrical industries in the national economy. The forestry sector employs 69000 people, or 2.8 per cent of total employment, well above the world average of 0.4 per cent. Under the current international situation of global economic downturn, environmental protection and increasing pressure of climate change, Finland's forest and forestry development shows new trends: in response to the expanding domestic demand for wood and the increase in import costs, it will use more domestic wood and strengthen forest cultivation in the future; increase afforestation efforts and develop sustainable forestry production. In the future, Finland will rely more on domestic forests to develop the forestry industry; increase the use of forestry biomass energy. Forestry biomass energy is another important goal of Finland's national economic development. Finland currently accounts for 24% of energy consumption in forestry biomass energy, and plans to increase it to 38.5 by 2020. This means that Finland's forests The further development and utilization orientation of the forest industry will prosper again. Finland has designed three special objectives for the forest industry, including competitiveness, profitability and biodiversity, environmental benefits and welfare, and further divided the work into two supporting processes, namely forest industry capacity and international and EU forest affairs. At the same time, specific implementation measures are proposed for different parts. With these efforts, the current downward trend in the forestry industry is expected to be reversed and the industry will prosper again. The experience of Finnish forest management is worth learning from. The first is long-term planning and regular assessment of forest development, and dynamic adjustment of objectives and action measures in the light of actual needs. The National Forest Plan, developed with broad public participation by the Finnish Parliament in 1999, is the most comprehensive forestry plan in Finland to date, with the main objectives of log production, silviculture investment, standing stock and growth, forest revenue, energy production, forest industry export value, employment in the forestry sector, biodiversity conservation, recreation and multi-purpose forestry, forestry skills, international forestry policy, etc. Specific action plans have been developed for the objectives and forest industry councils have been established to implement them. In the face of the new development environment and challenges, combined with the results of regular evaluation of the implementation of the plan, Finland revised its national forest plan in 2007. The second is to manage forests scientifically, protect biodiversity and play many other functions. Over the past 30 years, the total amount of forest resources and forest growth in Finland have been increasing, which is closely related to scientific forest management and increasing investment in forest management. On the one hand, it attaches great importance to the main felling and forest regeneration, on the other hand, it implements scientific tending and thinning. The plantation shall be felled for at least 3 times in a business cycle. When formulating forest management plans for private forest owners, professionals from regional forestry development centers and forest owners associations should put forward detailed suggestions on the number of thinning, thinning time, thinning amount and even environmental protection. Finally, forest production and environmental protection measures should be organically combined to enable efficient and sustainable production, while protecting biodiversity and providing a variety of other ecological services. Third, the social service system is perfect, closely combining decentralized operation with scale operation. In addition to the macro-management of the government, social service organizations such as private forest owners management associations have played an important role in Finnish forestry. Many new policies, information, knowledge and services are disseminated to small private forest owners through these organizations. At the same time, the interests of private forest owners on important issues such as timber prices are also guaranteed by the association. Social service organizations are the link between the government and private forest owners, and connect the decentralized management of private forest owners into a certain scale, which improves the efficiency of private forest management. As an important intermediary, private forest owners management associations play a decisive role in adjusting small-scale forestry to the external environment in terms of technology and methods, and promote the rationalization of the internal structure of small-scale private forestry. (2015/8/14 Source: China Green Times Author: Wu Shuirong)
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Thinking and Experience of Dairy Development in AustraliaAround the world, Australian dairy products are trusted by consumers who pursue high-quality, safe and nutritious products. Its good reputation is mainly due to Australia's advanced dairy research, production, and management technology, strict biosafety and food safety systems, and openness Transparent supply chain system. In order to facilitate the Chinese domestic industry to further understand the relevant situation of the Australian dairy industry, the business office of the Chinese Consulate General in Melbourne collects and compiles relevant information for reference. 1. Industry Overview dairy is Australia's third largest agricultural industry. The entire industrial chain (pasture breeding, dairy processing and export) creates an annual output value of 13 billion Australian dollars. From 2013 to 2014, the value of Australian dairy exports reached 3.21 billion Australian dollars, and its main export destinations include China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East. 2. industry advantage the Australian dairy industry is not only known for its fresh and high-quality dairy products, but also cooperates with dairy companies around the world to help them improve their production capacity in various climates and geographical environments by providing technology, equipment and services. Australia has experience and technology in dairy cattle raising in temperate and tropical regions, especially in pasture grazing. Although Australian cows adopt pasture grazing-based feeding methods, its efficient operation mode and good feed conversion rate mean that its experience and technology can be well applied to dairy farming practices under various environmental conditions. In addition, the Australian dairy industry enjoys a high reputation in the international dairy industry in terms of livestock genetic research, breeding and reproductive performance of new dairy breeds, product traceability and farm electronic management technology. The Australian dairy feeding service support system can meet the needs of the development of the industry, especially in improving the milk yield of dairy cows, improving individual genetic genes of dairy cows and improving the quality of dairy cows, health and nutrition of dairy cows, pasture improvement, soil and water resources utilization management, sewage management and other aspects of technology leadership. Australian dairy farmers have extensive experience in improving efficiency, strengthening animal health management, and optimizing milk production and quality. For example, the average milk production of cows in Australia more than doubled in 2012-2013 compared to 1968-1969, from 2430 litres/head to 5389 litres/head. In the temperate regions of southern Australia, the average milk yield of dairy cows has remained stable at more than 7000 liters. (I) live cow exports. Australia exports live cows (mainly pregnant young cows) to many countries and regions around the world, including China, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Mexico. Australia has never had a major cattle outbreak, such as foot-and-mouth disease and mad cow disease. Australia's diverse climate allows it to breed livestock adapted to tropical and temperate climates. Australia's livestock industry places a high priority on food safety, product quality, animal health and welfare, and sets and enforces stringent livestock export standards to ensure that livestock are still in optimal health when they arrive at export destinations. Australia has a number of dairy exporters, as well as a number of related organizations that provide assistance and services for all aspects of import and export. (II) animal nutrition and feed aspects australia has long studied the role of animal feed nutrition in improving the performance of dairy cows. Australia's strengths in this area include suitable forage for dairy cattle, feed, nutritional supplements, related services and technologies, and animal nutrition management. Thanks to its development and implementation of strict quarantine standards, Australia has never had an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, so the forage produced in Australia is recognized as safe forage with less use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Australian dairy cattle feed includes cereal feeds such as oats, barley, corn, wheat and cotton seeds. Oat grass, wheat grass, vetch, alfalfa, ryegrass and clover are widely grown in Australia to support grazing and feed supply. In recent years, Australian oat grass has become more and more popular. Its sweetness is suitable and its texture is soft, which has good palatability and easy digestion. It can promote the ruminant function of dairy cows, maintain the health of dairy cows and increase their milk production. By combining pasture, forage, crops and other supplemental feeds in the dairy cow's diet, dairy farmers are able to achieve optimal performance, improve feed conversion efficiency and maintain the health of their cows. (III) population optimization. About 1/3 of the capacity gains achieved by the Australian dairy industry in the past decade can be attributed to the continuous optimization of cow genes. Dairy Australia (DairyAustralia) runs a number of programs, including the Australian Dairy Improvement Program-which provides data to dairy farmers to help them select the best strains to breed the next generation of cows. Australia's strengths in dairy genetics and fertility-enhancing technologies include: bull selection, cow comparison and dairy herd records; to improve the level of young bull breeding and descendant determination; monitoring of young bull information, including traits such as fecundity; breeding excellent reserve young cows in the early stage. Breeding techniques, such as improving fecundity, bull management, estrus determination and embryo transfer; artificial insemination and related technical support services. (IV) education, training and research and development. Australia provides education and training in a wide range of professional skills in dairy production and is heavily engaged in research and development related to dairy farming and the dairy industry. The Australian National Dairy Education Centre (TheNationalCentreforDairyEducationAustralia) provides vocational education and training for the dairy industry and works with registered training institutions to provide dairy farm training and advanced dairy processing training throughout the country. In addition, Australian universities also offer higher education in agriculture, livestock production and related fields, and carry out related research. CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, collaborates with Australia's dairy industry on research and development, including resource inputs, milk production and processing, product innovation, animal health and genetic research. (V) supply chain management and food safety. The entire supply chain of the Australian dairy industry adopts a strict management system to ensure that the quality of Australian dairy products meets strict food safety requirements. The Australia-New Zealand Food Standard (FoodStandardsAustraliaNewZealand) requires all dairy farms, dairy producers and processors to have a sound food safety plan document. In addition, dairy farms must implement a quality assurance plan in accordance with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), which covers areas such as food safety, animal protection, chemical contamination and environmental responsibility. Regular audits ensure that dairy farmers assess food safety risks and develop and implement measures sufficient to address them, including full traceability throughout the supply chain. (VI) software and ICT aspects. Relevant Australian companies provide various software and information and communication technology (ICT) solutions for dairy and animal husbandry companies to support the management of the company and all aspects of production, such as financial software, pasture management, genetic evaluation, breeding and reproduction management, Breed registration, etc. (VII) farm management and soil improvement techniques. Australian consulting services can provide a wide range of services and advice on dairy farm management solutions, including dairy farm management, animal health and performance improvement. In addition, a variety of soil and pasture management products and services are available to dairy farms, including grass seeds, fertilizers and soil management advice. The diversity of Australia's climate and geographical environment makes its management experience applicable to milk production in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. (VIII) engineering services and water, energy and resource management. Australian companies provide a range of design, engineering services and materials for the construction, construction and maintenance of dairy farms, as well as a range of technologies, equipment and services for excreta and resource management in the dairy production process. (IX) milk animal husbandry special equipment. In addition to providing a range of design and engineering services for dairy companies, Australian equipment manufacturing and supply companies also supply the technology and equipment needed for all aspects of dairy farming, fattening, milking and processing. 2015/8/2 China Agriculture News Network
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In 2015, investment in precision agriculture in the United States faced obstacles.According to reports, in all respects, 2015 was the most difficult year for the U.S. agricultural sector. Good crop fields in the Midwest, South Central, and other parts of the United States are close to the point of rain saturation and are even directly flooded. Compared with the severe floods in the western corn planting belt in early 2000, the disasters caused by rainfall in 2015 may be more serious. The agricultural sector is already facing many difficulties. Basically all growers in the country are facing problems caused by falling agricultural product prices and falling incomes. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that agricultural product prices have fallen by more than 35% overall from 2014, and extreme weather Even worse. The investment perspective of growers is a hindrance to the development of precision agriculture. In the 17th Precision Agriculture Distributor Survey conducted by Purdue University and its partner CropLife Magazine, 49% of retailers believe that the pressure on growers from farm income in 2015 will form a significant obstacle to the development of precision agriculture. This is the option with the highest proportion of choices regarding barriers to the development of precision agriculture. But low income alone doesn't tell the whole story. When discussing the main challenges facing growers today, Ohio grower John Davis said that increasing consumer oversight also has an important impact on his decision-making process. Precision agriculture service and equipment providers are also clearly aware of the industry's feedback. According to the survey of precision agriculture, 16% of retailers plan to invest more than US $100000 in the supply of precision agriculture products in 2015. Respondents in particular want to spend most of their investment on data collection and analysis. 2015/8/26 World Wide Web
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Europe gives protesting farmers 0.5 billion euros in aid~~Europe to give struggling farmers €500m in aid 7 September 2015 From the section Business EU agriculture ministers have announced a €500m (£365m) aid package after thousands of farmers protested on the streets of Brussels. The mainly Belgian, French and German farmers were protesting against plummeting prices for their produce. They blocked streets with tractors near the EU headquarters, where agriculture ministers were meeting. The European Commission said it was "well aware of the difficult situation" faced by farmers. Vice-president Jyrki Katainen said: "This demonstrates that the Commission takes its responsibility towards farmers very seriously and is prepared to back it up with the appropriate funds ." The aid measures will be focused on milk producers, which have been particularly hard hit after Russia banned imports of EU food products and the dairy market was deregulated earlier this year. Other factors - including changing dietary habits and slowing demand from China - have also hit prices for dairy products, as well as beef and pork. 'Drowning in milk' The aid package came ahead of a meeting of agriculture ministers in Brussels on Monday, at which both milk prices and the impact of the Russian move were on the agenda. "Europe is drowning in milk," read banners held by farmers representing the European Milk Board. Police said that 4,800 farmers and about 1,450 tractors made up the protest. Environment secretary Liz Truss, who was representing the UK at Monday's meeting, planned to call for the creation of a dairy futures market, similar to those for grain and sugar. The government said such a move would help give the UK's dairy farmers more certainty over future prices. Milk protest inImage copyright Getty Images Brussels protestImage copyright Getty Images Last month, farming leaders and ministers held talks on the future of dairy farming in the UK following protests over milk prices. Some farmers have called for milk production quotas to be reintroduced to avoid them having to sell at a loss. Heinz Thorwarth, who went to Brussels from Fuchsstadt, southern Germany, said: "The milk price is under or around 28 cents [a litre]. And this is not enough even to cover the costs ." Brussels protestImage copyright Getty Images France's agriculture minister has estimated that about 22,000 farms - 10% of the total - face bankruptcy and owe about €1bn (£730m) in total. The Russian import ban has shut down the EU's main agricultural export market, worth some €5.5bn annually. "The countryside has had to shoulder the burden of the Russian ban," said Albert Jan Maat, president of European farmers association Copa. "Farmers are paying the price for international politics ." Farmers in BrusselsImage copyright EPA In July, the EU extended until next year a multi-million-euro aid package to help European farmers hit by the Russian ban.
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Genetically modified crops evolve despite consumer misgivings~ ~ Despite consumers' fears, genetically modified crops a growing part of agriculture By Scott Canon Kansas City Star When genetically engineered crops hit the market two decades ago, Ken McCauley stayed with old-school seed. For a time, the move paid off. Traditional seed cost him less than the biotech stuff. His crops commanded a small premium over the new genetically modified organisms that had consumers skittish. But soon the yields offered by gene-tinkered seeds got stronger and more tempting for large-scale farmers like McCauley. He's carpeted his fields with gene-spliced corn and soybeans ever since. “We're sticking with it," said McCauley, who farms about 4,500 acres in northeast Kansas with his son Brad. Agriculture increasingly relies on GMOs. Particularly in the horizon-swallowing grain fields that blanket the Midwest, biotechnology rules. That's why you'll probably eat some for breakfast. And lunch and dinner. Polls show rising consumer fears about eating GMOs. Yet those worries may come too late to matter. Even with revived shopper anxiety over yet-to-be-confirmed dangers, the large-scale farming that fills American stomachs remains more sold than ever on biotechnology. Some niche sectors now command higher prices for grain raised without genetically modified crops, aided by a recent uptick in consumer worries. But the very dominance of GMOs makes those niche crops harder to deliver. Even when companies try to avoid GMOs, they can't. Plants without the biotechnology can become pollinated by others miles away that do have it. Or harvested grain gets accidentally mixed together in field machinery, in trucks, in on-farm grain bins or in commercial elevators. Most contracts for GMO-free supplies set limits for contamination for genetically modified levels below 2 percent. That can be a risky promise in today's agriculture. “It's really hard to hit zero," said Max Fisher, an economist for the National Grain and Feed Association. “They test every truckload and they reject any truckload that exceeds the tolerance. … It's a real risk ." Lingering resistance to genetically modified crops, paired with its dominance in the American Grain Belt, creates trouble for farmers and consumers alike. Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group, an organization pushing for GMO labels on food packaging, shares some tips for finding items on grocery store shelves that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). (Video by Natalie Fertig/McClatchy) New food Lab-designed plants have drawn controversy ever since the Flavr Savr tomato - valued for its long shelf-life, derided as more saver than flavor - won approval for human consumption in 1994. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided then, in the face of much criticism, against mandatory labeling of products containing GMO ingredients. Why label something, after all, if the government sees it as no more dangerous than anything else in the grocery aisle? That, said Marion Nestle, was a mistake. “If it were labeled, it would be obvious by this time to people that they were eating it without a catastrophe," said the New York University professor of nutrition food studies and public health. She sides with the scientific consensus that there's no evidence of a health threat from GMOs. The food has been widely consumed for decades without any research suggesting a problem. She acknowledges reasonable theories that it might someday be proven a risk - exposing people to allergies they wouldn't associate with a can of corn or a serving of tofu - but only theories. “You can't prove that something is perfectly safe," said Nestle, the author of “Food Politics ." An American Medical Association panel concluded that after 20 years of consumption, “no overt consequences on human health have been reported and/or substantiated." The U.N. World Health Organization concurs. So does the National Academy of Sciences. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., recently criticized people who agree with scientific consensus that carbon emissions contribute to climate change but who “ignore the science” that GMOs are safe. The FDA has now cleared dozens of genetically engineered foods. Sumner County farmer Paul Lange explains why he likes genetically engineered crops and why U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo's bill would help farmers. (Dan Voorhis/The Wichita Eagle) Today, 89 percent of U.S. corn acres are genetically engineered. For soybeans, it's 94 percent. The biotechnology left an even more dramatic impact in Kansas, where 95 percent of corn stalks spring from GMO seed. What's more, corn varieties genetically engineered to survive drought have taken over fields that for generations produced wheat. Corn acreage on non-irrigated fields in Kansas doubled in less than 20 years. Although GMO wheat strains have been developed, they haven't been introduced into the market. That's largely, analysts say, because consumers make a closer connection to wheat and a specific food, bread, than they do with other grains. Fields planted with GMO crops typically deliver higher and, critically, more reliable yields. That's their appeal - baked-in characteristics that help them grow with less water, impervious to herbicides, insect-resistant. So while GMO-free crops cover about 11 percent of the country's corn acres, they make up less than 7 percent of U.S. corn production. While American farming quickly took to the biotechnology, other parts of the world accepted it more grudgingly. European and Asian markets have long resisted GMOs, partly because of consumer attitudes and partly out of efforts to give their farmers protection against imports from America's prolific ag exports. Designer diet Americans - some less aware than others - have been eating GMO food for years. Most, every day. The Grocery Manufacturers Association estimates that between 70 and 80 percent of the food Americans consume includes genetically engineered ingredients. Only the most fastidious attention to diet can avoid GMO food. It's in virtually every nondiet soft drink. Corn syrup delivers the sugary taste to any number of processed desserts. Soybeans are at least as common. Consumer reports found that even some products labeled GMO-free contain high levels of genetically engineered grains. In April, Chipotle decided to reject any food from genetically modified plants. The Mexican-casual chain stands most prominently among a mounting number of food sellers edging away from what critics dub “Frankenfood." Kellogg is on a path to make its Kashi cereals free of genetically modified grains by next summer. Yet Chipotle has been sued by a California consumer challenging its GMO-free claims. After all, the Coke you pour has been sweetened with corn. The restaurant chain concedes its shift was less than dramatic, mostly switching away from soybean oil to cook its chips and taco shells. Meanwhile, its beef, pork and chicken are raised with the help of GMOs. The livestock feed that fattens them comes from genetically engineered corn and soybeans. “GMO animal feed is certainly on our radar," company spokesman Chris Arnold said in an e-mail to the Star. “Given the reliance on corn and soy in animal agriculture, however, and the prevalence of GMO corn and soy production in the U.S., moving to meat from animals raised without GMO feed would be very difficult short of buying organic. There simply wouldn't be enough organic meat produced in the U.S. to meet our needs ." Whether you care likely depends on how particular you are about what you eat and your level of education. Consumer worries are growing. A Pew Research Study this year found that roughly three in five Americans believe eating genetically modified food is unsafe. That view held steady among both Democrats and Republicans and most other categories, although women were slightly more wary of GMOs than men. An even bigger majority, two-thirds, said scientists don't clearly understand the health effects. The only group that believed eating genetically engineered food was safe were those with graduate degrees. Another Pew survey of members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science found 88 percent of scientists believed it was generally safe to eat genetically modified food. “What stands out is that people say they don't think scientists have a full understanding," said Cary Funk, Pew's associate director of research. That outlook drives efforts to require labels on packages containing GMO ingredients. Connecticut and Maine both have laws, but their rules kick in only if several other states follow suit. Vermont has a labeling law scheduled to take effect next year. The movement has gained little traction in the legislatures of grain-raising states. In the U.S. House, Republican Mike Pompeo of Wichita has championed a bill that would bar states from requiring GMO labels. Julie Nielson said that seeing a rise in miscarriages among her cattle after they ate GMO corn silage tipped her against the technology and toward a shift to organic farming. Part of her farming operation near Barnard in western Missouri is now certified to sell products under organic labels. But the shift has been difficult. “Everything is trial and error," she said. “With conventional farming, you just do what the chemical company says, and your crop grows. … Organic is something you need to do to learn ." they've sold most of their harvests for livestock feed where Nielson said standards over contamination from GMO grain - that stuff that may have drifted from a neighbor's field or fallen into a grain bin - “aren't nearly as picky ." At Heartland Mill in Marienthal, Kan., company president Mark Nightengale said demand for his organic flour tripled in 10 years. But finding supplies of non-GMO corn and soybeans, he said, “is pretty hard to do in today's world." Last year's drought meant having to buy grain from outside North America. He thinks a shift in farming will change those dynamics. “I thought the American people had accepted GMOs," Nightengale said. “That's changing ." The production numbers, however, suggest the hold of genetically engineered crops is solidifying. Art Barnaby, an agricultural economist at K-State's research and extension office, said switching away from GMOs would require consumers to pay more and the industry to retool - spending dramatically to better separate grain that's not genetically modified. In fact, he thinks GMO wheat will enter the market in the coming years. “Modern farming is all about bulk grain," he said, “and producing it as cheap as possible ." Reach Scott Canon at 816-234-4754 or scanon@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottCanon. Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/business/agriculture/article34269033.html#storylink=cpy
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EU agriculture committee opposes "GM flexibility proposal"~ ~ EU agriculture committee votes against GM crops flexibility Philip Case Thursday 3 September 2015 15:49 GM wheat trial at Rothamsted Research Centre©Rii Schroer/Rex Shutterstock MEPs on the European Parliament's agriculture committee in Brussels have voted against plans to allow individual member states to make their own choices on GM crops. In a vote held in Brussels on Thursday (3 September), the agriculture committee rejected the European Commission's draft law that would give members states powers to allow or ban GM crops in their territories. MEPs on the committee said they feared arbitrary national bans could distort competition on the EU's single market and jeopardise the union's food production sectors, which are heavily dependent on imports of GM feed. See also: Scotland to ban farmers from growing GM crops The committee's opinion - adopted by 28 votes in favour to eight against, with six abstentions - will now be scrutinised by the environment committee, which has the lead on this file, before the European Parliament as a whole votes on the matter. “Today's vote in the agriculture committee sends a clear message: the Commission's proposal to allow member states to decide whether or not to restrict or ban the use of GM food and feed on their territory must be rejected. “We have not been building the EU's single market to let arbitrary political decisions distort it completely," said the draftsman of the opinion, Albert Dess, a German politician and member of the European Parliament. “The commission's approach is completely unrealistic. We have many sectors in the EU that rely to a great extent on imports of GM feed and would not be able to survive if it is banned. “If we allowed this, then all animal food production in the EU would be at stake, which could make us much more dependent on food imports from third countries that do not necessarily respect our high production standards. And we certainly want to avoid this ." While the UK government is in favour of allowing farmers in England the flexibility to grow GM crops, Scotland, Germany, France, Italy, Latvia and Greece are among the countries that have said they would enforce a ban on growing GM crops. http://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/eu-agriculture-committee-votes-against-gm-crops-flexibility.htm
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EU parliament votes to extend control of animals in agriculture, Cologne~ ~ EP votes to extend controls on animal cloning in agriculture English.news.cn 2015-09-09 03:45:11 STRASBOURG, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Parliament (EP), meeting for a plenary session in Strasbourg, voted on Tuesday for a proposed ban on cloning for agricultural purposes to be extended to all farm animals, their offspring, and any products derived from them. This would include imports. Voting overwhelmingly, with 529 in favor, 120 against and 57 abstentions, the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) aimed to extend the terms of a ban proposed by the European Council (EC). The original proposition included a provisional ban on five species, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses, in the European Union (EU), as well as imports of cloned animals and food products derived from clones. In their debate, however, MEPs expressed concern about animal welfare, human health, and the ability for the EU to control entry into the marketplace of products derived from cloning without mechanisms for traceability with trade partners. "The technique of cloning is not fully mature, and in fact, no further progress has been made with it. The mortality rate remains equally high. Many of the animals which are born alive die in the first few weeks, and they die painfully. Should we allow that?" said the environment committee co-rapporteur, Renate Sommer. "We need to take into account the impact on animal health, but also on human health," said the agriculture committee co-rapporteur, Giulia Moi. "This reports sends the message to our trade partners that we are not willing to put our own health, our families' health, and future generations' health at stake using products of dubious quality of this nature," added Moi. Many MEPs also cited strong public opinion in Europe against the use of cloning in agriculture, in particular the entry into food supply chains of products derived from cloned animals. The report cited a 2010 Eurobarometer survey which found that only 18 percent of respondents supported cloning techniques in any way. While the vote shows that a clear majority of MEPs support an extended ban, final legislation will only be drafted following negotiations between the co-rapporteurs Sommer and Moi with the Council of the EU.
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Singapore's remarkable food security achievements~~Singapore's Impressive Food Security How has Singapore become the second-most food secure country in the world? By Cecilia Tortajada and Thinesh Kumar S/O Paramasilvam September 06, 2015 In many parts of the world, food security is emerging as a serious threat. Increasing population, land and water constraints, changes in dietary habits with increasing affluence, the impact on global food production of floods and droughts in major food producing areas, falling food exports, and a rising number of importing countries - all are contributing to these uncertainties. The problem is likely to be compounded in the future by climate change. In the years to come, food security in most countries will become more complex than ever. For Singapore, among the world's most open economies and one that is highly dependent on international trade, the situation is likely to be even more complex. The city-state's volume of external trade is about 3.5 times its annual gross domestic product. A decline in the economies of its major trading partners is therefore likely to have an impact on Singapore's own economy, including its food security. Economist Intelligence Unit recently ranked Singapore as the second-most food secure country in the world, behind only the United States. The Unit's Global Food Security Index is based on three factors, affordability, availability, and quality and safety. Singapore ranks 1st, 11th and 13th on these three criteria, respectively. That puts it ahead of major food-producing countries like Malaysia (34), Brazil (36) and Australia (9). This achievement is largely attributable to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), and comes despite a heavy dependency on food imports. At present, Singapore imports almost 90 percent of its food, and less than 1 percent of its land area is used for agriculture. Through its Food Security Roadmap, AVA has diversified sources of food and optimization of local production. These policies, especially those that seek to diversify the source of food imports, are important as they help to spread the risks associated with Singapore's high levels of food imports. The Sino-Singapore food zone established in Jilin Province, China, in 2010, is just one example of food diversification efforts. The Jilin food zone has been designed as a foot-and-mouth disease-free-zone so that it can be an important source of pork. Not without its challenges, it is meant to enhance the city-state's food security. This will provide further resilience against food supply disruptions. AVA has also ensured increased local food production over time through the provision of the Food Fund. Investments in new farming techniques such as hydroponics have contributed to a 30 percent increase in local vegetable production over the past 10 years. By the end of 2014, some 40 percent of local farms had benefited from this Fund. Singapore's net imports for food, beverages and alcohol (clustered in one group) are quite high, at approximately S$15.57 billion ($10.9 billion) in 2014. Some of Singapore's most important trade partners, like the United States and Australia, place great importance on the city-state's retail food market. The U.S. sees Singapore as diverse, dynamic, highly developed, extremely competitive, and very strict with its sanitary requirements. Customers in Singapore are considered to be open to a wide range of foreign concept foods, conscious of food safety and health, and aware of sustainable products. However, they are not necessarily willing to pay more for them. In 2013, the U.S. exported retail food products to Singapore worth approximately $575 million, making tiny Singapore its 13th largest market. Exports were led by dairy, prepared foods, fresh fruits, and pork products. For Australia, Singapore was its 9th largest market for food, beverage and agribusiness products in 2014, with exports of A$1.1 billion ($760 million) the same year, principally animal fats, dairy products, red meats, sugars and sugar confectionery and pork. Direct imports are not the only reason for Singapore's international relevance. Its location and trading hub status makes it a vital market for exporters. For example, the percentage of imported food that is re-exported to other countries is approximately 20-25 percent. Resilience From a policy perspective, Singapore has managed to accomplish the difficult task of becoming a food secure country by boosting the resilience of its food supply. Policy alternatives such as diversification of sources, the Food Fund, and facilitating food imports are all important components of a well planned and coordinated strategy. Nonetheless, the next 50 years are likely to be more complex as alternative possibilities depend on external forces and are subject to global change over which the city-state will have no control. Globally, increasing resilience has been acknowledged as an effective strategy against fluctuations in supplies. This encompasses partnerships, financing, trade, technology, and research and development, all of which are already part of Singapore's strategy. What else can the city-state do? One alternative is to reduce food waste. Another would be to continue investing in innovative food science and emerging technologies. High-tech, visitor-friendly urban agriculture on the East Coast, or even in very fashionable 50-plus story buildings designed by the nation's most innovative architects could be very significant options. Highly sophisticated greenhouses that control their environments (temperature, carbon dioxide levels, air flow and nutrients) and situated on ships adapted for this purpose could be another alternative. Projects as visionary as the Marina Reservoir (with a catchment that is about one-sixth the size of Singapore's total land area) or as innovative as Pulau Semakau (the world's first offshore landfill) for highly intensive agriculture could represent additional possibilities. Agricultural investment or contract farming abroad - something that other countries, financial services, life insurance, and pension schemes have done - is a distinct possibility. Stable nations such as Australia, the United States, or Brazil may provide attractive business possibilities. Singapore continues to develop its food security strategies, seeking opportunities and addressing risks in an increasingly complex environment. One relevant lesson that other Asian countries could learn from the city-state is the understanding that food security does not mean food self-sufficiency, since no country can be self-sufficient in all food products. National food security depends on both domestic production and imports, and requires effective distribution, in addition to diversification, partnerships, and good long-term planning. These are the reasons why Singapore, which imports most of its food, has become the second-most food secure country in the world. Dr Cecilia Tortajada is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Mr Thinesh Kumar S/O Paramasilvam is student in Geography at the same university.
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The IGC has lowered its forecast for global wheat production in the 2015/16 season.IGC cuts 2015/16 global wheat production estimate 2015-08-06 10:21 | source: China Grain Network | in its July monthly report, the International Grains Council (IGC) lowered its global wheat production forecast for 2015/16 to 0.71 billion tons, 1 million tons lower than its earlier forecast. The IGC said bad weather had triggered a spike in wheat prices in early July, but supply concerns were quickly dispelled by falling demand and abundant wheat stocks. However, wheat consumption is still expected to exceed supply by 2 million tons. The IGC expects North American wheat production to fall to 90.3 million tonnes, down from last month's forecast of 92 million tonnes. EU wheat production is expected to be 0.1527 billion tons, down from the 0.153 billion tons forecast last month. Black Sea wheat yield data were slightly revised downwards. At the same time, the increase in wheat production data in South America and Asia offset part of the decline. The IGC revised up its wheat yield data for South America and Asia by 500000 tonnes each.
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EU rice production and exports slowEU rice production and exports slow 2015-01-08 09:16 | source: China Grain Network | the area under rice cultivation in the EU in 2013-14 was 425000 hectares, down from 467000 hectares in the previous year. The output of finished rice was 1.77 million tons, down from 1.89 million tons in the previous year. Rice production in the EU is likely to decrease to 1.73 million tonnes in 2014-15, while plantings are likely to remain stable. EU rice exports to non-EU countries in 2014/15 will be reduced from 212000 tons in the previous year to 160000 tons. The amount of rice imported from non-EU member states will decrease slightly from 1.06 million tons last year to 1 million tons. India is the EU's largest supplier of rice, accounting for 18.9 per cent, followed by Cambodia at 18.6 per cent and Thailand at 15.9 per cent.
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EU corn production data for 15/16 lowered to 60.1 million tonsEU corn production data for 15/16 lowered to 60.1 million tons 2015-09-02 10:37 | source: China Grain Network | zhongda according to the latest report released by the International Grain Council (IGC), EU corn production in 2015/16 (October to September) is expected to be 60.1 million tons, lower than the earlier forecast of 66.9 million tons and 75.6 million tons last year. The opening inventory data of corn in 2015/16 was raised from 7 million tons to 7.2 million tons. EU corn imports in 2015/16 are expected to be 14.5 million tons, higher than the earlier forecast of 12.7 million tons and 10 million tons in the previous year. The total EU corn supply in 2015/16 is expected to be 81.7 million tons, lower than the earlier forecast of 86.6 million tons and 81.7 million tons in the previous year. Domestic corn consumption in the EU in 2015/16 is expected to be 74.1 million tons, lower than the earlier forecast of 77.1 million tons and 81.1 million tons in the previous year. Exports are expected to be 2 million tonnes, down from an earlier forecast of 3 million tonnes. EU corn ending stocks in 2015/16 are expected to be 5.6 million tons, compared with the earlier forecast of 6.5 million tons and 7.1 million tons in the previous year.
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In 2015, investment in precision agriculture in the United States faced obstacles.According to reports, in all respects, 2015 was the most difficult year for the U.S. agricultural sector. Good crop fields in the Midwest, South Central, and other parts of the United States are close to the point of rain saturation and are even directly flooded. Compared with the severe floods in the western corn planting belt in early 2000, the disasters caused by rainfall in 2015 may be more serious. The agricultural sector is already facing many difficulties. Basically all growers in the country are facing problems caused by falling agricultural product prices and falling incomes. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that agricultural product prices have fallen by more than 35% overall from 2014, and extreme weather Even worse. The investment perspective of growers is a hindrance to the development of precision agriculture. In the 17th Precision Agriculture Distributor Survey conducted by Purdue University and its partner CropLife Magazine, 49% of retailers believe that the pressure on growers from farm income in 2015 will form a significant obstacle to the development of precision agriculture. This is the option with the highest proportion of choices regarding barriers to the development of precision agriculture. But low income alone doesn't tell the whole story. When discussing the main challenges facing growers today, Ohio grower John Davis said that increasing consumer oversight also has an important impact on his decision-making process. Precision agriculture service and equipment providers are also clearly aware of the industry's feedback. According to the survey of precision agriculture, 16% of retailers plan to invest more than US $100000 in the supply of precision agriculture products in 2015. Respondents in particular want to spend most of their investment on data collection and analysis. 2015/8/26 0 World Wide Web
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Japan will build a large robot lettuce factory with a daily output of 30000 treesReference News Network reported on September 5 that US media said that indoor planting of lettuce is now popular, but the planned new factory will be run by robots. The US "quartz" financial website reported on September 3 that in 2016, Japan's "spread" vegetable company plans to open a lettuce factory in Kyoto. The factory will adopt an almost fully automatic production mode, with a daily output of 30000 lettuce and an annual output of 10 million lettuce. As of last year, the world's largest vegetable factory was also in Japan, transformed from Sony's abandoned factory in Miyagi Prefecture, according to National Geographic magazine. The factory's daily output is about 1/3 of the future robot factory, and most of the work is still done by humans. The "spread" vegetable company just fills this gap: there are several stages in lettuce growth-planting, germination, transfer of seedlings to larger nurseries, growth and maturity of vegetables and final harvest. "Communication" said that the company plans to automate all the other stages except for the sowing and germination stages. The US "Wall Street Journal" stated that the robot will transfer lettuce seeds from the stacking crane to the nursery, allowing them to grow freely to full maturity, and then harvest them and transport them to the assembly line for packaging. The company said that the temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, water and light during the lettuce growing and harvesting process will also be automatically controlled. Due to its high population density and scarce arable land, Japan is at the forefront of the high-tech indoor agriculture movement. Compared with traditional agriculture, the advantages of indoor agriculture include higher yield per unit area, more water saving, less pesticide use and year-round cultivation.
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Australia and Indonesia announce $12 million investment in food security projects~ ~ Australia and Indonesia announce AU$12 million investment towards food security program By Debleena Sarkar on August 24 2015 7:24 PM Cattle wait in an enclosure at a livestock export yard in Noonamah, about 50km (31 miles) south of the northern Australian city of Darwin in this June 7, 2004 file photo. Australia said on Wednesday it was suspending cattle exports to Indonesia after an outcry over the inhumane treatment of cattle by its neighbour, as animal rights groups called for an outright ban on trade to other countries. Picture taken June 7, 2004. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne/Files More than AU$12 million have been allotted by Australia and Indonesia from the Australia-Indonesia food security partnership in red meat and cattle sector in projects that would be beneficial for both the nations. Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Chairman of the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Franciscus Sibarani, signed the agreement on Friday. According to Joyce, the agreement will allow the industries and the government in both nations to work in co-operation with each other for better standards of productivity, sustainability and competitiveness of cattle and red meat sector and also to strengthen bilateral ties between both nations. "The Partnership's third meeting today was a great opportunity for both nations, as neighbours working together to forge stronger relations in agricultural investment and skills," Minister Joyce said. "The $12 million will be used to promote sustainable commercial-scale beef cattle breeding in Indonesia; the continuation of the Indonesian Skills Development Programme for 2016 and 2017; and further beef processing training ." The Partnership is an initiative taken by the heads of the government in 2013 with the intention to recognise how the two countries can partake in the global supply of cattle and beef in a joint venture. The Australian government would provide an amount of AU$60 million over a period of 10 years towards the betterment of trade relations between Australia and Indonesia. Joyce said in a statement that Australia can make contributions in and benefit from the long term goal set by Indonesia to bring about higher levels of food security. "Australian beef cattle producers have a vital role to play in assisting Indonesia to achieve food security as suppliers of high-quality cattle in the years ahead," Minister Joyce said. "Two-way trade with Indonesia was worth more than $3.8 billion in 2014. Agriculture is important to our bilateral relationship, to our economies, and to the livelihoods of farmers in both nations. He also reiterated the long history of co-operation between Indonesia and Australia on agricultural trade issues and capacity building projects. Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.
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EU farm crisis: UK farmers drive cattle into supermarkets to protest price war~ ~ EU Agricultural Crisis: UK Dairy Farmers Release Cows In Supermarkets To Protest Pricing War, Fear The Industry's Collapse By Jess McHugh ?@McHughJess ?j.mchugh@ibtimes.com on August 13 2015 8:22 AM EDT Dairy farmers across Britain have been crippled by the crash in milk prices. If changes are not made soon to supermarket pricing models, they say the U.K. dairy industry could crumble by 2030. Getty Images Set amid rolling hills, moors and the abundant natural beauty that inspired the nickname "the Jewel of the Southwest," Somerset embodies the English countryside. The Hole family has worked this picturesque land for 10 generations, starting off as tenant farmers and eventually growing into a medium-sized dairy farm with several hundred cows. Their farm and its sustainability, however, are now facing an uncertain future. "[We need to] find a way to give a future and a sustainable future to an industry that is at the moment in crisis," said James Hole, 28, the youngest generation in his family of dairy farmers. Dairy farmers in the U.K. have been hit hard in recent months by a continentwide agricultural crisis caused in part by a sanctions war between the European Union and the United States and Russia over the civil war in eastern Ukraine. Moscow's ban on milk, butter and cheese from Great Britain has taken a several-billion-pound toll on the U.K. dairy industry. At the same time, domestic supermarket chains grappling with a product surplus have slashed prices, forcing farmers to sell milk for less than it costs to produce. Farmers say EU and U.K. governments have done little to help their embattled industry, and if recent economic trends continue, the nation's dairy farms could collapse within a decade. British dairy farmers have staged large-scale demonstrations over the past several weeks, releasing cows in supermarkets and pulling milk off the shelves to protest market prices. Hole, an organizer for the advocacy group Farmers For Action, said the protests have been successful and nonviolent. “We are an island; we have a growing population that will require food," said Hole, whose family saw tens of thousands of pounds in losses in the past few months from low supermarket prices. “We're not asking to go to the dizzying heights. ... We're asking to make a fair living ." Dairy farmer Mike Gorton milks his cows at his farm on Aug. 10, 2015, in Macclesfield, England. Dropping milk prices have threatened to make small dairy farmers a thing of the past in the U.K. Getty Images The U.S. and EU nations imposed sanctions on Russia last year following the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Russia responded with retaliatory sanctions on these countries, which have affected the agricultural export markets of almost every EU nation. Nations such as Belgium, France and Germany used to export to Moscow chocolate, cheese, and other food items by the ton; now they are losing billions of euros of revenue. The U.K. is one of the top producers of dairy products in Europe and suffered a heavy blow after the sanctions by Russia. A dip in dairy exports, mostly due to Russian sanctions, accounted for 1.2 billion pounds, or approximately $1.9 billion, in lost revenue in 2014 -- a hefty sum for farmers. The U.K. dairy industry was worth 4.2 billion pounds, or $6.5 billion, in 2013, before sanctions. Farmers in countries like France and Belgium in recent months have also staged large-scale demonstrations to protest losses from the Russian embargo and to call for universal regulations across EU member states that would protect them from being pushed out of business by cheap imports. But the U.K.'s dairy crisis has stood out to British farmers largely because the nation has one of the strongest economies in Europe. Angry with lawmakers for not taking more steps to protect them, small farmers have taken social media platforms by storm, garnering support from the British population with photos and videos of their demonstrations that have gone viral on Facebook and Twitter. In recent days, #TeamDairy has been trending on U.K. Twitter. Many farmers said they need supermarkets to pay them at least 30 pence ($0.46) per liter just to break even or have enough to invest back in their animals. In July, they were paid roughly 23 pence ($0.36), and some were paid as low as 7 pence ($0.11) a liter, according to the National Farmer's Union in the U.K. and firsthand accounts from farmers. Dairy farmers are "paying the price for government intervention in the Ukraine," said Mike King, a dairy farmer and vice president of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers. While foreign factors have played a divisive role in the milk crisis, some agriculture leaders say domestic supermarket chains that took advantage of the surplus to undercut farmers have dealt the most brutal blow to small farmers. Some 85 percent of dairy farmers don't have long-term contracts with supermarkets, so groceries and chain buyers that purchase directly from farmers are the ones setting the price of milk, pushing it lower and lower in an effort to compete for customers. Milk has been less expensive than water in most British grocery stores for more than a year now. King said one supermarket in his area was charging one penny for two pints of milk as a giveaway with every loaf of bread. Supermarkets know they can drive the price and want to have the most competitive “basket” around, meaning the cheapest option for staples such as bread, milk and cheese. King, 45, is a first-generation dairy farmer who left university 25 years ago to pursue his passion for milk. His farm has grown to include some 600 to 700 cows, and the profits he earns go to supporting his family. Given the recent crisis, he said he sometimes has regrets about pursuing dairy farming and worries that his two teenage children will not follow in his footsteps. “They see the suffering and the hard work and think: What is the point?" he said. In response to the crisis, the European Union Commission announced July 30 that "safety net" aid measures for dairy farmers that were set to expire in September would be extended until at least 2016. These measure included having the commission buy surplus butter and powdered milk from producers and storing it until it can be resold under better market conditions. Dairy farmers who produce predominantly fresh milk said these measures do nothing to help them, however, since their product can only be stored for a very short time, keeping them at the mercy of supermarket chains. Farmers have repeatedly asked for the European Union to intervene on their behalf to stave off bankruptcy, though the commission has not made plans to change its approach. Some farmers feel that the EU caused the crisis by passing sanctions against Russia and has now left small dairy farmers to deal with the aftermath. “EU and U.K. agriculture has picked up the tab" for the Russian sanctions, said King. Farmers have also said they felt abandoned by domestic politicians who used dairy farmers for photo opportunities during their campaigns, but have not intervened on their behalf during this time of need. Milk has often been presented as a symbol of self-sufficiency, national pride and even purity in the U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron fed milk to an orphaned lamb in a publicity stunt one month before his re-election in May. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, known for her prickly exterior, tried to soften her image by campaigning for re-election at a farm in her hometown in 1979. England is also known for its countryside, and politicians and residents alike might have a hard time seeing their supermarkets stocked only with French or German milk. GettyImages-468660214 Prime Minister David Cameron fed milk to an orphaned lamb near the village of Chadlington April 5, just one month before the 2015 elections. British politicians have used the symbolism of milk to promote a wholesome and self-sufficient image, but many dairy farmers said they now feel abandoned by their political leaders. Getty Images “Farmers work incredibly hard in order to produce delicious dairy products that millions of people enjoy every day," said John Bates, spokesman for a dairy advocacy group in the U.K. "They care for the countryside. They care for their animals. They want to continue doing that as long as they can, so it's clearly a challenging time for farmers and their families ." Chris Roberts, 27, is set to take over his family's 100-cow dairy farm in Oswestry, near the border with Wales. Despite scrimping where they can, the small farm is losing 150 pounds, or approximately $233.75, a day, because of the falling prices of milk. Roberts said his family has tried to cut costs where they can, but that they needed to have a more stable cost of milk. Above all, he did not want to risk the health of the animals he cares for by cutting costs. “It's quite an animal to look after," he said, describing how feeding a cow a little less has a great affect on the milk it produces. “It's a vicious cycle," he said.
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U.S. agricultural products still have good momentumUS Farm Exports Standing Firm 01 September 2015 USDA US - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has said that US agricultural exports remain strong despite disease and weather issues this year. Mr Vilsack made a statement following the release of the US Department of Agriculture's fourth quarter Outlook for US Agricultural Trade. "The strong pace of American agricultural exports continues. Fiscal years 2015 and 2016 exports are forecast to be the third- and fourth-highest on record, respectively. "Bulk export volumes are expected to rise in fiscal year 2016 and reach near record levels, and horticultural and livestock product exports are also expected to be higher ." Speaking of the avian influenza outbreaks in spring that devastated the poultry industry, Mr Vilsack continued: "Today's forecast provides a snapshot of a rural America that continues to remain stable in the face of the worst animal disease outbreak in our nation's history and while the western US remains gripped by drought. "Thanks to the resilience of our farmers and ranchers, fiscal years 2009 to 2015 represent the strongest seven years in history for US agricultural trade, with US agricultural product exports totalling more than $911 billion ." Mr Vilsack was positive about the future of agricultural trade, saying: "We expect that new trade agreements, made possible thanks to Trade Promotion Authority, will allow American farmers and ranchers to better reach the 95 per cent of consumers who live outside of our borders and drive the continued strength of American agricultural exports. "USDA will continue to fight to get the best trade deals for farmers and ranchers that open new markets and new customers to them. Expanded trade strengthens the agricultural economy, supports more than one million good paying American jobs, and helps to preserve the rural way of life ."
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U.S. raises farm income forecast after farm sales increase~~U.S. Raises Farm-Income Forecast After Crop Sales Increase By Alan Bjerga Bloomberg News Saturday, August 29, 2015 Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture raised its forecast for U.S. farmers' profits this year, with crop sales rising above an earlier estimate and help coming from other sources of income such machine rentals. Income will be $100.3 billion, the USDA said last week in a report, down 21 percent from 2014 and a second straight annual decline. Still, that's 12 percent more than forecast in February. Crop receipts are increasing as farmers sell off inventories and revenues are also getting a boost from tourism and other less-traditional sources. U.S. farmers are seeking additional income streams as low crop prices and rising costs erode incomes that peaked earlier this decade. That's pinching sales for companies such as Deere & Co., the largest tractor maker, and eroding the value of farmland. “Farmers are recognizing that the prices they saw aren't coming back," Jeff Swanhorst, chief credit officer for Agribank, a farm lender based in St. Paul, Minn., said before the report was released. “You're seeing them cut back on machinery purchases, and farmers who rent land are renegotiating with their landlords ." So-called farm profits - a measure including the value of inventories and adjusting for capital depreciation - will be $58.3 billion in 2015, the USDA also said. That's down 36 percent from last year and the lowest since 2006. The USDA cited a “modest decline” in farmland values, along with higher debt loads, declining inventory values and depreciating assets that aren't being replaced. Iowa, the biggest U.S. grower of corn and soybeans, is seeing its biggest drop in farmland values since 1987, the USDA said in a separate study earlier this month. Farmers are “trying to conserve whatever cash they can," reducing purchases to essentials, said Brent Gloy, an agricultural economist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., in an interview. While farm balance sheets remain in good shape by historical standards, some individual producers will be feeling financial pressure, he said. “Farmers for a long time have been riding land values to access credit," he said. “As that dries up, you won't see people getting all the seed treatments, all the machinery they'd dreamed of having ." The USDA in February predicted net-cash income of $89.4 billion. The next forecast will be in November, after this year's harvest.