World Agriculture
Developments, trade, data, and topics in world agriculture
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Farmer shortages threaten U.S. agricultureShortage of Farmers Creates 'Dangerous Situation' for U.S. . By Mark Koba. Farming has always been a hard life. It's a livelihood held hostage by the whims of Mother Nature and fickle consumers. Now you can add the high cost of doing business to the list of things scaring young Americans away from agriculture, and it's raising concerns that the nation will soon face a dearth of growers. Jake Carter is a 34-year-old farmer with 330 acres in McDonough, Ga. He grows fruits and vegetables and is the fifth generation of his family to work the land. "Farming was something instilled in me at an early age," said Carter, who lives on the farm with his wife and two young daughters. "I didn't know if this was what I wanted to do after college, but it's in my blood and it's hard to imagine doing anything else ." As much as Carter says he loves his profession, he's knows he's part of a minority - being a farmer under the age of 50. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average age for a farmer is now 58 and has been on the rise for 30 years. There are now six times more farmers 65 and older than there are farmers 34 and under, according to one study. "It's a dangerous situation ." This has many industry watchers concerned about the future of American farming. "It's a dangerous situation," said Milt McGiffen, a professor and researcher of sustainable agriculture at the University of California, Riverside. "The aging of American farmers coupled with fewer students in agriculture studies and the fact that so many younger people don't look at it as a profession to get into is very worrisome," he said. "We're not doing enough to solve the problem ." Reasons for the scarcity of young farmers are easy to find. High farm profits have kept some older farmers working longer, say analysts, creating a slower turnover to a younger group. Price of doing business But also keeping the younger generation at bay is the price of doing business, said Jay Jackman, executive director of the National Association of Agricultural Educators, an advocacy group for agriculture education policies. "Unless you inherit a farm, start-up costs for one are quite high," argued Jackman. "You've got to buy the land, the equipment, find buyers for your product. It's very hard work. Plus there's always the uncertainty of the weather. It's not an easy life ." Thirty-year-old Leighton Cooley, who runs a poultry farm in Roberta, Ga., said being a farmer requires wearing many hats that don't fit everyone. "It's a hard business," said Cooley, who is the fourth generation of his family to farm. "It takes a lot of financial investment and you have to be a boss, manager and businessperson as well ." UC Riverside's McGiffen said the burden of trying to keep the public's food supply safe, and other government regulations, make farming almost prohibitive in today's world. "There's too much paperwork and not enough of a free market to make it profitable to farm these days," argued McGiffen. "There's too much paperwork and not enough of a free market to make it profitable to farm these days ." Carter agreed. "I think they could cut down on the regulations," said Carter. "When it comes to safety, people have to realize we're growing this food for ourselves as well as others, so we have our own incentives to make it safe ." After peaking at 6.8 million farms in 1935, the number of U.S. farms fell sharply until leveling off in the early 1970s, according to the USDA. The number of farms in the U.S. declined by 4 percent between 2007 and 2012. About 2.1 million farms are in operation today. Falling farm numbers reflect growing productivity in agriculture and increased nonfarm employment opportunities. Future job opportunities in agriculture seem to come at the expensive of being a farmer. According to the USDA, 15 percent of all jobs created in the U.S. between 2010 and 2015 will be in agriculture and forestry production. But the USDA expects fewer commercial farm and ranch operators to be in existence by 2015 than there are now - and a majority of jobs will be along the lines of agriculture specialists and crop management consultants. "Most opportunities for young people in agriculture are what happens off the farm," said NAAE's Jackman. "Because of that, we're in danger of not having enough farmers in the future ." Luring the young Despite the gloomy forecast, there are efforts to bring in a younger generation. As part of the 2014 farm bill, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week announced new incentives to bring more people into farming. Meanwhile, states like Connecticut offer training programs for first-time farmers, with an emphasis on local food production. Nebraska offers tax breaks for landowners who lease to new farmers. The efforts seem to be paying off. Connecticut has seen a 52 percent increase in farmers 34 and under from the years 2007 to 2012. Nebraska had a 42 percent increase in farmers 34 and under during the same time period. High schools and colleges in rural as well as urban areas across the country are beefing up or actually starting agriculture education programs to expose more young people to farming. 'We need to make it easier for people to farm and ideas like these help," said UC Riverside's McGiffen. "But a lot more has to be done to bring in younger farmers ." Another thing that may help bring in younger farmers is better access to high technology that's lacking now, said Zach Hunnicutt, a 32-year-old farmer with some 2,500 acres in Gilpner, Neb. "Having a speedy Internet is necessary in farming," said Hunnicutt, who grows soybeans, corn and popcorn. "Being able to use your tablet or smartphone out in the fields is crucial. And listening to some good music on your devices makes the day go better ." First published April 16th 2014, 1:52 am
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French agriculture depends on Eastern European labor~~French farmers rely on workers from Eastern Europe It is surprising to hear Polish being spoken in the middle of a field in the Lanhouarneau countryside. Aged between 26-56, Michal, Konrad, Kamil, Anna and the 6 others have come straight from Poland. They each plant about 12,000 bulbs daily. Their employer, Eric Porhel, is far from the only person to employ help from the East. The 61 communes in Morlaix have around 6,000 job seekers, but the ''Pôle Emploi cannot supply a workforce to us 500 producers, it is what the system wants'' says Mr Porhel. Mr Porhel only needs help with planting bulbs one month of the year, as the harvest is done mechanically. So he and other producers called on Terra Compétences, an employment agency specialising in temporary work, placements and national and European recruitment. Mr Porhel underlines that the ''Polish employees work on my farm under the French regime, with a seasonal contract''. They are paid €8.10 net/hour, compared to €3 in Poland. He also comments on working conditions which include ''7-8 hours work a day (5 days a week) split up by 3 breaks for coffee, tea, bread and pancakes.'' They lodge in chambres d'hôtes which were renovated 4 years ago and are close to the farm. ''We don't have work at home. So we are happy to come here'' says Michal. Mr Porhel says that ''they work just as well as French workers: neither more nor less. Publication date: 4/14/2014
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US Agriculture Faces Aging ThreatFace of American Farmer Changing April 18, 2014 TENNESSEE - The average American farmer is now 58 years old, and farmers 65 and older are the fastest growing segment of the population. It's a troubling trend signaling big changes ahead for American agriculture as aging farmers retire. A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau is suggesting what some of those changes might look like and why they might not be so troubling. Adrienne Gibson works a small plot of land in the rolling hills north of Knoxville, Tennessee. She's something of a novelty in American agriculture. Female and a minority, Gibson is succeeding in an industry dominated by white men. Gibson makes a living from her tiny operation by using the Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, model of farming. She raises food for a handful of contract customers who pay in advance. “We have 23 CSA customers. They subscribe to supporting the farm, and in return they get a weekly basket of vegetables from May through October," said Gibson. New data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests the number of minority farmers working American soil is expanding rapidly. The data also suggests U.S. farms are getting smaller. Nate Phillips, who teaches horticulture at Middle Tennessee State University, says smaller farms are, in part, a reaction to changes in the way Americans think about their food. “There's growing interest in where our food is coming from, what is the food quality, things like that. I think we'll continue to see that increase," said Phillips. Phillips says the interest in where food comes from is also attracting more young people into farming. “I'm seeing a lot more students from Nashville, or the cities, that are coming in that didn't grow up around agriculture, weren't from an agricultural background, but had that interest," he said. Just a few years ago, hog farmer Brandon Whitt was one of those young students. His family's thousand hectare, heavily-mechanized operation dwarfs Adrienne Gibson's tiny farm, but he's quickly adapting to the same customer trends. Rather than sell his hogs to commercial packers, he sells them to his neighbors. “We actually take that one step further and actually have the meat processed and sell it directly off the farm, here through our retail store and to local restaurants and grocery stores," said Whitt. Whitt says consumers need to know, not just how their food is produced, but about some of the challenges farmers face putting it on their tables. “Teaching consumers about where that food comes from, and quite honestly just how hard it is to get it there at the end of the day," he said. Nate Phillips considers it a positive development that the people who grow the food are beginning to look more like the people who consume the food. “I think that's great. It reflects our general society. It reflects what our communities are like around us, and I think that's a great thing for agriculture," he said. There's one trend that every American farmer can be pleased about. Census data shows that the value of the food they produce rose more than 25 percent in just six years.
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US Farm Bill 5.4 million dollars to support research to fight invasion of alien species in Florida and non-native organisms~ ~ U.S. Farm Bill funds $5.4 million to battle invasive species in Florida, research non-native pests Money will help battle snails, beetles and pests By: Jeff Skrzypek Posted: Apr 18, 2014 Jeff Skryzpek reports Video ByWPTV SUBURBAN BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- - They are creep, crawly and do not belong in Florida. Invasive species cost residents a half a billion dollars a year but now the federal government is stepping in to fork out millions to help fight the growing pest problem. Farmers like Nancy Roe, who farms for Green Cay Produce in Suburban Boynton Beach, wage the battle on invasive species around the clock. "Everything is so global now that shipments come in and it just takes one or two of an insect," said Roe. Invasive species like the Giant African Land Snail and the Ambrosia Beetle are just two bugs on the growing list of non-native species thriving in the Sunshine State. The more critters who invade the state, the more costly it becomes for both farmers and consumers. "Our costs are higher and that has to be passed on to somebody at some point," said Roe. But now the federal government is stepping in the try and combat the issue. The government allotted $5.4 million in the 2014 Farm Bill to help fight the costly pests. "It's probably not enough, but I'm glad to have it. We can't be greedy," said Roe. The money will fund programs to eradicate Giant African Land Snails, protect avocado plants from the Laurel Wilt and will also beef up dog inspection of incoming travelers. The money will also help research citrus greening and honeybee pests. The Florida Department of Agriculture said in a statement the funds will, "help ensure Florida's famed agriculture industry can continue for generations ." Roe said the funds are a good start but much more money and research is needed just to start competing in the fight against invasive species. "We'll never win it. We'll never win it completely because it's biology and it's a constant battle," said Roe. The state estimates the agriculture industry is worth $108 billion dollars.
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All Canadian wheat production to reach 29.3 million tonnes in 2014/15All Canadian wheat production to reach 29.3 million tonnes in 2014/15 2014-04-21 09:00 | vancouver, April 18: According to the latest supply and demand report released by Canada's Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada's total wheat production in 2014/15 (August to July of the following year) will reach 29.3 million tons, consistent with the March forecast and lower than the record 37.53 million tons in 2013/14. Canada's Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food expects Canada's total wheat exports to be 22.05 million tons in 2014/15 (August to July), consistent with the March forecast and 21.55 million tons in 2013/14. All domestic use of wheat in Canada is estimated at 9.39 million tons in 2014/15, compared with 9.395 million tons in March and 9.274 million tons in 2013/14. Canadian ending stocks of all wheat for 2014/15 are expected to be 9.7 million tons, in line with earlier forecasts of 11.8 million tons the previous year. (Source: Mandarin Finance)
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Vietnam wins contract to supply 800000 tons of rice to PhilippinesVietnam wins contract to supply 800000 tons of rice to Philippines 2014-04-18 11:48 | source: China Grain Network | vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development quoted the Vietnam Food Association as saying that Vietnam has won a contract to supply 800000 tons of white rice with a crushing rate of 15% in the Philippines. The tender will likely be won by the South Vietnam Food Company, which offered the lowest price at the tender. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects Vietnam to export about 7.5 million tons of rice in 2014, an increase of about 10% over the previous year. So far this year, however, rice exports have been lower than in the same period last year. Between January 1 and April 10, Vietnam exported 1.3 million tons of rice, 38% less than the same period last year. The Vietnam Food Association expects rice exports in the second quarter to be 200 to 2.4 million tons. Currently, rice prices in Vietnam are low because of high supply and weak export demand.
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Argentina corn harvest 19.7 percent completeArgentina corn harvest 19.7 percent complete 2014-04-21 09:17 | buenos Aires, April 18: According to a weekly report released by Argentina's Buenos Aires Grain Exchange on Friday, as of April 16, 2014, Argentina's national corn harvest progress was 19.7 percent, up from 16.5 percent a week ago, but 12 points lower than the same period last year. The report said that the area of corn already harvested in Argentina was 675,939 hectares, up from 568,009 hectares a week ago; the average yield was 7.21 tons per hectare, down from 7.33 tons per hectare a week ago; and the yield of corn already harvested was 4.871 million tons, up from 4.166 million tons a week ago. According to the weekly report, frost occurred at the western end of Argentina's agricultural region last weekend, mainly affecting the St. Louis region and less affecting the Condoba and La Pamba regions. The yield of late-sown corn in the filling stage may be potentially lost. As the exchange has foreseen the impact of this weather, this week it continued to maintain Argentina's 2013/14 corn production forecast unchanged at 24 million tons, 11% lower than the 2012/13 production of 27 million tons. According to the weekly report released by the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange in Argentina, as of April 16, 2014, the harvest progress of sunflower seeds in Argentina was 97.9, up from 95.9 a week ago and 2.1 points lower than the same period last year. According to the report, the area of sunflower seeds harvested in Argentina is 1.381 million hectares, up from 1.353 million hectares a week ago; the average yield per hectare is 1.62 tons, the same as a week ago; the yield of sunflower seeds harvested is 2.243 million tons, up from 2.195 million tons a week ago. The exchange maintained its forecast for Argentina's sunflower seed production in 2013/14 unchanged at 23 million tons. (Source: Boyi Master)
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Census Shows Decrease in Number of U.S. FarmsReport: Census of Agriculture shows fewer US farms By RFD-TV News Staff - email Credit: USDA ERS WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service has found that the number of U.S. farms has decreased in the past seven years. According to data from the Census of Agriculture, in 2012 the U.S. had 2.1 million farms, a 4.3 percent drop from the previous census in 2007. Between 2007 and 2012, acreage also diminished from 922 million acres to 915 million. Since 1935, the number of U.S. farms has been on the decline, reflecting growing productivity and increased non-farm employment opportunities. Below is the full summary from the ERS: "After peaking at 6.8 million farms in 1935, the number of U.S. farms fell sharply until leveling off in the early 1970s. Falling farm numbers during this period reflected growing productivity in agriculture and increased nonfarm employment opportunities. Because the amount of farmland did not decrease as much as the number of farms, the remaining farms have more acreage-on average, about 430 acres in 2012 versus 155 acres in 1935. Preliminary data from the recently released Census of Agriculture show that in 2012, the United States had 2.1 million farms-down 4.3 percent from the previous Census in 2007. Between 2007 and 2012, the amount of land in farms in the United States continued a slow downward trend, declining from 922 million acres to 915 million ."
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European farmers miss out on Russian import ban~~EU Pig Farmers Miss on Boom as Russian Ban Spurs WTO Case By Whitney McFerron Apr 8, 2014 11:46 PM GMT 0800 4 Comments Email Print European Union pig farms are missing out on a boom in U.S. prices after Russia banned imports from the 28-country bloc, spurring Brussels to file a World Trade Organization case today after talks to reopen trade failed. Russia, the biggest importer of pork from the bloc, halted purchases in January after the EU found African swine fever in four wild boars in Lithuania and Poland. EU pork shipments to Russia last year were worth about 1.4 billion euros ($1.9 billion), or a quarter of its pigmeat exports, according to the European Commission, the EU regulator in Brussels. The EU had called for Russia to end its blanket ban on the bloc's pork in favor of restrictions limited to regions affected by African swine fever, a fatal disease for pigs that's already present in Russian herds, Frederic Vincent, a spokesman for the EU Health Commission, said by telephone last week. Russian authorities have said the EU hasn't done enough to prove the disease hasn't spread to other parts of the bloc, according to food-safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor. “Russia's blanket ban on European pork is clearly disproportionate and goes against WTO rules," EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said in a statement today. “This was a very minor case of a few infected wild boars at the borders with Belarus which was immediately contained by the relevant European authorities ." russia's Response russia's position on restricting EU pork is unchanged after the WTO filing, and authorities will continue to protect the country's national interests, Alexei Alekseenko, spokesman for Rosselkhoznadzor, said by phone from Moscow today. Importing pork from the EU would increase risks of African swine fever spreading in Russia as the country seeks to contain the disease in its own territory, he said. “This is not a trade problem, it's a security problem," Alekseenko said. “Our duty is to ensure biological security of the country ." Pig prices in much of Europe are lower than last year, with values in Germany, the top EU pork producer, dropping to a three-year low in February, according to Damme, Germany-based farmers' group Interessengemeinschaft der Schweinehalter Deutschlands. At the same time, futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange surged to a record last month as U.S. farmers contended with another disease outbreak, the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus that can be deadly for piglets. 'Seriously Upset' “The price of pig meat has gone down in Europe and up everywhere else in the world," Richard Brown, a director at Ferney-Voltaire, France-based market researcher Gira, said in a telephone interview before the WTO filing. “The world pig meat trade is absolutely, seriously upset by these two disease events. In Europe, it's a loss of our most important market, in Russia, and it's very damaging especially for the German pig industry ." African swine fever, a viral disease for which there is no vaccine, is deadly for pigs and harmless for humans, according to the United Nations' Food & Agriculture Organization. The disease has persisted in Russia since late 2007, and more than 600,000 pigs died or were slaughtered to stem its spread in the country between 2007 and mid-2012, the UN estimates. It also has been discovered in Belarus and Ukraine. European authorities first detected African swine fever in wild boars in Lithuania on Jan. 24 and in Poland on Feb. 17 near both countries' borders with Belarus, according to the European Commission. The EU said today that Russia accepts pork from Belarus despite notified cases of the disease there. 60 Days In its WTO case, the EU is requesting formal consultations with Russia under its dispute-settlement procedures. If the WTO consultations do not reach a satisfactory solution within 60 days, the EU may request the WTO set up a panel to rule on the legality of Russia's measures. German spot prices for pig carcasses are about 1.61 euros a kilogram ($1 a pound), or 4 percent less than a year earlier, German farmers' group ISN said last week. The price slid to 1.45 euros in February, the lowest since February 2011. Prices were also lower than last year in France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland, according to ISN. Hog futures in Chicago rose to a record $1.33425 a pound on March 18, and are 32 percent higher than a year ago after falling 2.1 percent today to $1.1915 a pound. Russia ranks as the world's second-biggest pork importer, after Japan. Consumer prices for pork in the country were about 239.6 rubles a kilogram ($3.06 a pound) on March 1, up 3.7 percent from the previous year, according to the Russian Agriculture Ministry. Russia increased purchases of pork from Brazil since the EU restrictions, and may start importing from China in three months after inspecting plants, Rosselkhoznadzor's Alekseenko said. “There is a shortage of production in Russia in the pork sector, so Russia needs to import," Jean-Luc Meriaux, the secretary general of the European Livestock and Meat Trading Union, said by telephone from Brussels before the WTO filing. “The EU industry supports a dialog with Russia. For the time being there is no good result ." To contact the reporter on this story: Whitney McFerron in London at wmcferron1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Claudia Carpenter at ccarpenter2@bloomberg.net John Deane
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China and Brazil sign corn supply agreementChina, Brazil Sign Corn-Supply Deal Country Is Trying to Lower Dependence on U.S., Which Supplies More Than 90% of Its Imports More corn from Brazil, above, dents the U.S. share of China's imports. Reuters BEIJING-China said Tuesday it will allow sizable imports of Brazilian corn, marking another step in the Asian giant's moves to lessen its dependence on the U.S. for the vital grain. The U.S. supplies more than 90% of China's corn imports, but its share of the world's fastest-growing corn market has been pared down as Beijing has sought in the last two years to broaden its supply. China's shift to a protein-rich diet and its rising industrialization are changing global trade flows. China's demand for corn rose 39-fold in volume between last year and 2009, though imports so far represent only about 2% of China's total corn consumption. Senior government officials have warned that the country may face a corn-supply deficit in coming years due to increasing demand from livestock and food-processing industries that turn the grain into lucrative byproducts such as sweeteners, adhesives and starches. This demand is likely to keep rising. Top agriculture officials told reporters in January that China is likely to import even more corn in coming years, indicating that its ventures into the global corn market are "an inevitable choice ." The agreement with Brazil, signed by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on March 31, adds to similar deals struck with Argentina in February 2012 and Ukraine the following November. Analysts say Tuesday's formal acknowledgment was likely the culmination of several months of work to agree on the kinds of Brazilian corn that China would deem acceptable for import. Brazil's agriculture minister, Antonio Andrade, told reporters in November that the two countries had reached a phytosanitary agreement-a technical document that sets out the terms of pest- and disease-free plant imports-but hadn't said when it would be formally approved. Brazil is the world's second-largest corn exporter after the U.S., but it isn't the first Latin American nation to score such an arrangement in the corn trade with China. Argentina, the world's third-largest corn exporter, sent China its first large-scale corn shipment totaling 66,000 metric tons in July. Brazil and Argentina have sold China small shipments of corn in the past, amounting to a few hundred tons on each occasion. But product-safety deals such as the Sino-Brazil phytosanitary pact typically pave the way for shipments that can run to tens or even hundreds of thousands of tons in a single month. A cornfield near St. Cloud, Minn. More than 90% of China's corn imports currently comes from the U.S. Associated Press Analysts say the delay in China reaching out to Brazil on this front may be due to logistical factors, including infrastructure. "Brazil's supply of corn can be fairly volatile and unstable," said Rabobank analyst Chenjun Pan. Brazil is only one among at least seven other nations from which China has been trying to secure more corn. In 2011, only the U.S., Laos and Myanmar supplied China with corn shipments exceeding 10,000 tons. But last year, China added Argentina and Ukraine to that roster. It has also moved to increase its supply from other countries including Russia and India. At its peak in 2012, the U.S. accounted for 98% of China's corn imports. Its share last year fell to 91%. Meanwhile, Chinese quality watchdogs last year rejected a record 545,000 tons of U.S. corn it said was tainted with a genetically modified strain that Beijing hasn't yet permitted for import. Still, high import levels in recent months-including purchases from the U.S.-indicate that China continues to be an opportunistic buyer in global markets. Global corn prices have begun to tick upward in recent weeks, but remain around 34% lower than their peak of $333 a ton reached in July 2012 due to strong global harvests. China continues to make inroads elsewhere in securing its share of global grains and food. Its largest grain trader, Cofco Corp., paid an estimated $1.2 billion for a majority stake in Dutch grain trader Nidera NV and $1.5 billion in a consortium for a majority stake in Noble Group Ltd.'s agribusiness division. Write to Chuin-Wei Yap at chuin-wei.yap@wsj.com
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US calls for increased support for world agriculture and global food security projects~~ United States Urges Partner Countries to Increase Support for the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program 4/12/2014 Page Content Trust Fund Produces High Impact, Sustainable Results in the Global Fight against Poverty and Hunger WASHINGTON - Today, the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of State sent a letter to international partner countries urging nations around the world to expand their support for the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP). The United States spearheaded the creation of GAFSP in the wake of the 2007-2008 food price crisis. It assists in the implementation of pledges made by the G-20 in Pittsburgh in September 2009. GAFSP promotes food security by providing merit-based financing for the agricultural sector in low-income countries, with a focus on smallholder farmers in poor communities. GAFSP financing and technical assistance helps to increase agricultural productivity, link farmers to markets, reduce risk and vulnerability, and improve rural livelihoods. Managed by the World Bank, GAFSP is a multi-donor trust fund and partnership among developing countries, development partners, civil society, and the private sector. “Since GAFSP was established, we have seen sustainable reductions in hunger and malnutrition, but the challenge of meeting the global demand for food is just as pressing as ever," wrote Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew and Secretary of State John F. Kerry. “We are proud to champion this innovative program, and we call upon our international partners to join us in supporting the work of GAFSP. Together, we can make progress in the effort to eradicate hunger and poverty ." As leaders gather for the World Bank-International Monetary Fund 2014 Spring Meetings this week, today's letter highlights the important role that GAFSP is playing in supporting the efforts of some of the world's poorest countries in alleviating hunger and malnutrition. The letter calls on international partners to pledge additional support to meet funding goals for GAFSP. In October 2012, the United States challenged the international community to provide much needed funding for food security, by committing to contribute $1 to GAFSP for every $2 from other donors, up to a maximum U.S. contribution of $475 million. Since the announcement of the funding challenge, other donors have provided $230 million in new pledges. An additional $720 million in pledges from other donors is needed in order to fully leverage matching funds from the United States. GAFSP consistently produces high impact, sustainable results, and the program is expected to improve the livelihoods of at least 13 million farmers across 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Already, some countries have seen rural incomes increase by more than 200 percent. In Bangladesh, GAFSP has already reached more than 430,000 farmers in th???e first two years of a five-year program, providing smallholder producers with training and improved drought- and heat-tolerant seeds and fertilizer that will help farmers adapt to climate change. Two and a half years into its five year-long Rwanda project, GAFSP has already reached more than 92,000 direct beneficiaries, of which half are women. By helping to increase soil fertility in hillside areas, GAFSP has enabled farmers to improve their yields by an average of fourfold across various crops. GAFSP has also supported the introduction of new high nutrient crop varieties that could improve nutritional outcomes for farmers and their families. For today's letter from Secretary Lew and Secretary Kerry, click here ?. To learn more about GAFSP, visit the program's website here.
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UN report: Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture on the rise~~Agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions on the rise, warns UN agency Agriculture, forestry and other land use activities emit more than 10 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases. Photo: FAO/Daniel Hayduk Print 11 April 2014 - From farming to forestry and fisheries, agriculture greenhouse emissions have nearly doubled over the past 50 years and may increase by another 30 per cent by 2050, according to new estimates out today from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). "FAO's new data represent the most comprehensive source of information on agriculture's contribution to global warming made to date," said Francesco Tubiello of the agecny's Climate, Energy and Tenure Division. For the first time, FAO has used its own FAOSTAT emissions database to estimate global greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land use in contributing to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Emissions from crop and livestock production grew in 2001 from 4.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 eq) to more than 5.3 billion tonnes in 2011 - a 14 per cent increase. “The increase occurred mainly in developing countries, due to an expansion of total agricultural outputs," FAO said Meanwhile, net greenhouse gas emissions due to land use change and deforestation registered a nearly 10 percent decrease over the 2001-2010 period - averaging some 3 billion tonnes CO2 eq year over the decade. “This was the result of reduced levels of deforestation and increases in the amount of atmospheric carbon being sequestered in many countries," explained FAO, adding that, “as a result of carbon sequestration in forest sinks, some two billion tonnes of carbon dioxide were removed from the atmosphere during the same timeframe ." FAO's data based on country reports show that while those emissions continue to increase, they are not growing as fast as emissions from fossil fuel use in other sectors - actually decreasing over time the share of agriculture and other land use out of total anthropogenic emissions. The largest source of emissions within agriculture is enteric fermentation - methane produced by livestock during digestion and released via belches. In 2011, this accounted for 39 per cent of the sector's total greenhouse gas outputs and increased 11 per cent between 2001 and 2011. In 2011, 14 per cent of agricultural emissions (725 Mt CO2 eq.) were generated while applying synthetic fertilizers - the fastest growing emissions source in agriculture - having increased some 37 per cent since 2001. Greenhouse gases resulting from biological processes in rice paddies that generate methane make up 10 per cent of total agricultural emissions, while burning savannahs accounts for 5 per cent. FAO data revealed that in 2011, 45 per cent of agriculture-related greenhouse gas outputs occurred in Asia - followed by 25 per cent in the Americas, five per cent in Africa, eleven per cent in Europe and four per cent in Oceania. “This regional distribution was fairly constant over the last decade," the agency noted, adding “in 1990 however, Asia's contribution to the global total [38 per cent] was smaller than at present, while Europe's was much larger [21 per cent] ." The new FAO data also provide a detailed view of emissions from energy use in the agriculture sector generated from traditional fuel sources - including electricity and fossil fuels burned to power agricultural machinery, irrigation pumps and fishing vessels. "Up to now, information gaps have made it extremely difficult for scientists and policymakers to make strategic decisions regarding how to respond to climate change and has hampered efforts to mitigate agriculture's emissions," said Mr. Tubiello. FAO is already generating disaggregated assessments along supply chains and analyzing the effectiveness of comprehensive mitigation interventions in the livestock sector. Mr. Tubiello explained, “Data on emissions for agriculture, forests and other land use activities support member countries in better identifying their mitigation options and enable their farmers to take faster and more targeted climate-smart responses ." This improves their overall resilience and their food security and allows the countries to tap into international climate funding and accomplish their rural development goals. “We also see much interest in capacity development on these topics at country level and respond to these needs through regional and country-level activities around the globe,'' he added. News Tracker: past stories on this issue Climate change impacting entire planet, raising risk of hunger, floods, conflict - UN report
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Vietnam's rice exports up 76 percent year-on-year in March~ ~ vietnam's rice exports up 76 percent year-on-year in March 2014-04-08 10:40 | source: China Grain Network | vietnam exported 583,294 tons of rice in March 2014, up 76 percent from February, the Vietnam Food Association said on Monday. From January to March this year, Vietnam exported 1.22 million tons of rice with an output value of 0.53 billion US dollars. During the first quarter of this year, more than 40% of Vietnam's rice exports were shipped to China and 31% to the Philippines. Vietnam was the world's third largest exporter of rice last year, after India and Thailand. Vietnam exported 6.7 million tons of rice in 2013, down from a record 7.72 million tons in 2012. Vietnam plans to export 650 to 7 million tons of rice this year.
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Global corn ending stocks may be lowered in 2013/14~ ~ global corn ending stocks may be lowered in 2013/14 2014-04-08 09:10 | source: China Grain Network | WASHINGTON, April 7: The U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its April supply and demand report on Wednesday (April 9). According to a Dow Jones survey of analysts from 12 industry institutions, analysts on average expect the report to show a global corn ending inventory of 0.1579 billion tons in 2013/14, lower than the USDA's forecast of 0.15847 billion tons last month, but far higher than the last year's ending inventory of 0.13467 billion tons. The forecast range of 12 institutional analysts ranges from 0.1565 billion tons to 0.15916 billion tons. Polaris has the lowest forecast value and Zaner Agricultural Preservation has the highest forecast value. (Source: Boyi Master)
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Global warming threatens U.S. and world agricultureGlobal Warming a Threat to United States and World Agriculture Added by Chester Davis on April 1, 2014. global warmingIn a review of scientific papers published since 2007 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change declared that the world is already experiencing the impacts of climate change in areas like global security and food production. Global warming is a threat to agriculture in the United States and around the world, say the report's authors. These results were part of an extensive analysis and summary of climate change research published this week by the IPCC. Lead author Dr. Michael Oppenheimer said that food supply is the most pressing matter. In North America, the IPCC reports several likely ways that food production will be disrupted. The report states with high confidence that climate change will have major impact on fisheries off both the East and West coasts of the United States. Climate change will have a major impact on snow, rain and ice packs in the Rocky Mountains, and on potential rainfall in California. Both of those impacts are reported with high confidence that climate change will have a major impact in those areas. Climate change will affect rainfall in the Midwest, with moderate confidence. The effects of climate change will be felt in key food-producing regions of the United States, the report stated. Apple orchards in Washington, cherry orchards in California, and wine-growing regions across the country could be negatively affected in coming decades. Wine grapes are currently grown in several U.S. states, including California and Virginia. Portugal and British Columbia may become better wine-growing areas though. Fish species that are a critical source of food for many, will move to escape warming waters. Catches in some parts of Antarctica and the tropics could decrease by 50 percent in coming decades. North American fisheries may also be hurt. The new report highlights food security as an area of particular concern as crop yields for maize, rice and wheat are expected to decline in coming decades. About one in 10 projections show losses of over 25% for those crops. Previous climate change studies have found mixed impacts on food production, with production increasing in some areas and other areas being hurt badly. The report authors state with high confidence that those negative impacts have been more common than the positive ones. In 2007 the IPCC reported that it was too early to tell if climate change would increase or decrease food production, so there was still a possibility of the world becoming greener. In the past few years scientific research has shown that climate change hurts food production, according to Chris Field, of the Carnegie Institution of Science and the climate report's lead author. The report also explains that global warming is altering rainfall patterns, melting snow and ice, and negatively affecting water resources, with medium confidence. To the extent this is correct, climate change is a threat to agriculture in the United States and around the world. After 2050, the risk of severe impacts on yields increases, along with boom-and-bust cycles in many regions. At the same time, global demand for food will grow as the population rises to an estimated nine billion. According to the Summary for Policymakers, food prices are likely to rise from three percent to 84 percent by 2050 due only to climate change. That increase varies with the severity of climate change. Some weather-related impacts of climate change are evident, the IPCC found. Hurricane Sandy, a 2011 storm that did over $20 billion in damage to the eastern United States, was not caused by climate change, but was made worse because sea level is about a foot higher than it was a century ago. The projected impacts of climate change on food production could be mitigated in several ways, the report notes. More use of plants genetically engineered to resist drought, use of drought-tolerant crop varieties, and better irrigation methods could all be used to deal with unreliable water supplies. That global warming threatens food production in the United States, and the world, in coming decades now seems certain unless dramatic adaptation efforts begin soon, according to the IPCC. By Chester Davis
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European bumblebees face extinction~~Europe's bumblebees face extinction By: Alister Doyle, Reuters Almost a quarter of Europe's bumblebees are at risk of extinction from loss of habitats and climate change, threatening pollination of crops worth billions of dollars, a study shows.Sixteen of 68 bumblebee species in Europe are at risk, the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature says. It is preparing a global study of the bees, whose honeybee cousins are in steep decline because of disease.“Of the five most important insect pollinators of European crops, three are bumblebee species," says the IUCN, which includes governments, scientists and conservation groups.“Together with other pollinators, bumblebees contribute more than 22 billion euros ($30.35 billion) to European agriculture a year," the group says.Of Europe's bumblebee species, populations of almost half are falling and just 13 percent are increasing, it says.Often with yellow and black stripes and bigger than honeybees, bumblebees live in small nests of up to 200 and do not make honeycombs. Some bumblebees are commercially bred to pollinate tomatoes, peppers and aubergines in greenhouses.“Climate change, the intensification of agriculture and changes in agricultural land are the main threats” to bumblebees, says the report, the first Red List assessment of threats to bumblebees.The European Union's top environment official says the 28-nation bloc was taking action to improve the situation."The EU recently banned or restricted the use of certain pesticides that are dangerous to bees and is funding research into the status of pollinators," says EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik."“However, efforts clearly need to be scaled up," he adds. The IUCN study was funded by the European Commission.DiseaseThe study does not mention the possibility that honeybee diseases were spreading to bumblebees.A study in the journal Nature in February says deformed wing virus, for instance, was found in both honeybees and bumblebees in Britain. The virus was more prevalent in honeybees, suggesting it was spreading from them to bumblebees.“In general, we don't know a lot about bumblebee disease," says Stuart Roberts, a member of the IUCN's global bumblebee assessment team.“Some of these threatened bumblebees are isolated, living in the Arctic or the Alps," he says. “In those places, the chance of picking up a disease from a honeybee is almost nil.”The Arctic species Bombus hyperboreus, living in the Scandinavian tundra and Russia, is vulnerable because global warming is shrinking its habitat, the study says.Populations of the critically endangered Bombus cullumanus, now found only in France, have fallen by more than 80 percent in the past decade, apparently because of a reduction in the amount of meadows with clover, its favorite forage, the study adds.Only queen bumblebees survive the winter.Honeybees, living in longer-lasting colonies of thousands of bees make honeycombs largely to ensure that the insects have food to survive months with no nectar-making flowers. - See more at: http://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/23043/#sthash.XBGtQlP5.dpuf
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European Union Reforms Organic Agriculture~~EU reforms organic farming 02/04/2014 - 17:31 Organic Farming represents a turnover of €20 billion. [Subbotina Anna/ Shutterstock] The European Commission has proposed new regulation on organic food production. However, increasing regulation in order to improve credibility is controversial. EurActiv France reports. The toughening of regulation on organic farming has stirred debate. On 24 March, the European Commission presented a proposal for regulation aimed at improving the sometimes diverse rules of organic farming. “Organic products do not constitute a niche market. They now represent a turnover of almost €20 billion per year” stated Dacian Ciolos, European commissioner for agriculture and rural development. The turnover of organic products has increased by 8% per year since 2008. According to the Commission, 500,000 hectares of land is dedicated to organic farming in the EU every year. Despite this, the demand for organic produce is higher than the supply. The Commission's proposal wants to end organic farming and non-organic farming on the same land. The control and testing of organic porduce will be improved by applying obligatory tests on traders, and also the adoption of sanctions when a non-authorised substance is detected in organic products. The proposal plans to adopt a group certification system in order to help small farmers enter the supply chain. Exports of organic products from EU member states will also be increased. “Organic products that come from countries outside the EU are subject to strict specifications put in place by the Commission, which guarantee the same product quality” claims Valérie To of the French “Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité”, or INAO (national institute for origin and quality). Excessive regulation fears Germany, Europe's largest organic food market, is wary of the proposal. “I would not like to see crushing bureaucratic restrictions imposed on organic farmers”, stated German Minister for Agriculture Christian Schmidt, asking decision makers to “use common sense ”. French agricultural cooperatives share these fears. “Despite a bit of progress, […] many provisions will jeopardise the development of organic agriculture” claims Coop de France. Farming co-ops denounced the end of export diversity, which “will reduce converstions to organic farming and slow down the boom of agro-ecology”. They also criticise annual testing and the end of exemptions. José Bové, the French Green MEP, highlights the need to harmonise support to organic farmers in the EU. He fears the cost of new restrictions, making specific reference to tests for the presence of pesticides. Bové highlights the difficulty of producing organic products without the presence of pesticides, especially when neighbouring plots are using them. “We must take into account how difficult it is to produce organic food, when conventional farmers nearby do not take measures to prevent polluting your plot. The costs of extra testing cannot be borne by organic farmers alone. It makes more sense to apply a “whoever pollutes pays” principal when traces of pesticides are found” explains José Bové. He continues: “The economic responsibility of unintentional pollution caused by exterior sources can lead to removing products or economic losses to organic farmers. They must be protected and compensated by those at the origin of the damages ." A more credible label According to Valérie To, this new regulation answers the demands of consumers: “The tougher conditions of production and testing ensure a credible label. The Commission sees a need to reinforce the label's credibility in order to maintain its sustainability, and this is exactly what is needed ." France's Agence Bio published a report in which it claims that the consumption of organic products represented €22.2 billion in the EU in 2012. This number has been growing for decades. According to statistics by the European Commission, there are more than 180,000 organic farms in Europe, accounting for 9.6 million hectares, or 5.4% of the EU's agricultural land. “The new regulation is to deal with the rising demand for organic products. In order to guarantee a label of quality for the increasing number of consumers, the Commission had to reinforce certain rules”, states Valérie. The Commission will grant farmers a conversion period to apply the new regulation. This time period should give enough time to stop producing both organic and nonorganic food on the same land. “There will be a conversion period of two or three years during which diversity will be possible. Therefore the application of the new regulation will not be brutal, but progressive. It is in the best interest of consumers and producers”, assures Valérie. Christophe Lecuyer, President of the Commission on organic food supply of the Coop of France states that “The Coop of France fears that these provisions do not only ignore the realities of organic holdings, but threaten the future development of the sector and the trust of consumers. The coop will remain actively committed over the next two years for the Parliament and the Council to reject the Commission's proposal”
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U.S. wants more share of Canadian agricultural market~~U.S. says it wants more access to Canadian agriculture market By Alexander Panetta The Canadian Press WASHINGTON - The U.S. government says it's been pressing Canada to offer agricultural concessions in trade talks, without much success so far. The administration's trade representative provided an update Thursday on negotiations toward a historic, 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. “On Canada, it's the only country in TPP that has not yet given us a market-access offer on agricultural issues like dairy and poultry," Michael Froman told a congressional panel. “We are pressing them to do so. Because those are important priorities for us… We're addressing their priorities in a number of ways. And we want them to come to the table as part of an overall package." Canada's supply-management system sets limits on the production and imports of certain products, potentially limiting choices and bargains for consumers while protecting farmers. Canada has already promised to relax some of the import limits on European cheese in its recently concluded trade agreement with the EU, and the Americans appear to expect similar concessions. In the U.S., Congress is responsible for approving trade deals. The Senate chamber has failed to provide the administration with so-called fast-track authority to get a deal, but lawmakers are being kept in the loop on negotiations. READ MORE: Hey U.S., the EU called and it wants its Parmesan cheese back Froman's appearance before a House committee contained only brief references to Canada - he was asked far more questions about major trade irritants with Japan, which have prompted questions about whether that country might be excluded from a deal. But a New Jersey lawmaker did express concern about Canadian courts striking down patents for U.S. pharmaceuticals in what he called an abusive interpretation of patent laws. “Those decisions in Canada in recent years … go against our neighbour's international commitments," said Rep. Bill Pascrell. “Canadian courts have ruled that certain pharmaceutical patents - including many belonging to companies in my home state of New Jersey - are invalid due to what I believe to be an inappropriate interpretation of international patent standards. “This policy is designed to benefit their manufacturers at the expense of our own." Froman said protection of patents was before the courts in both countries, and was also being addressed at the bargaining table: “It's something we're monitoring very closely - it's part of TPP as well." At one point, another congressman applauded Canada for taking steps to protect film copyright with anti-camcording laws and expressed hope that other countries in the partnership might adopt similar measures.
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Global wheat production estimates cut by 2 million tonnes in 2014/15Global wheat production estimates cut by 2 million tonnes in 2014/15 2014-04-04 09:50 | source: China Grain Network | the World Food Supply and Demand Bulletin released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Thursday stated that the global wheat production in 2014/15 is expected to be 0.702 billion tons, which is 2 million tons lower than the March forecast and 2% lower than the previous year's record production.%. The report said lower wheat acreage in Canada could lead to a significant 22 per cent lower yield than in 2013/14. In contrast, although the US winter wheat crop is adversely affected by the persistent dry weather, US wheat production is still expected to increase by 3.5 per cent from 2013/14. In the EU, the wheat crop is in good condition and production is expected to increase in 2014/15. In Australia, due to dry weather, wheat production may be lower than the high level in 2013/14. China's wheat production in 2014/15 is expected to be slightly higher than last year's high yield, mainly due to the increase in planting area. India officially forecasts record wheat production in 2014/15. In the main wheat producing countries of the CIS, wheat yields are expected to be lower than the relatively high levels in 2013, which may lead to lower wheat production in Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine. (Source: Master Boyi)
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Brazilian soybean production may be lowered in 13/14Analysis Forecast: Brazil's Soybean Production May Be Downgraded in 13/14 2014-04-08 9:35 Source: China Grease Network the U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its April supply and demand report on Wednesday (April 9). According to a Dow Jones survey of analysts from 17 industry institutions, analysts on average expect the report to show that Brazil's soybean production in 2013/14 is 87.4 million tons, lower than the USDA's forecast of 88.5 million tons last month, but this is still a record production scale, far higher than the output of 82 million tons in 2012/13. The forecast range of 17 institutional analysts is 86.5 million tons to 88.5 million tons. Macquarie Bank has the lowest forecast and EDF Man Capital has the highest forecast.