USA and Canada

B.C. mulls state of emergency after floods, food shortages reported

ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia, Nov 17 (Reuters) – British Columbia could introduce a state of emergency on Wednesday to help deal with massive floods that cut access to the country’s largest port and stranded thousands.

Mudslides triggered by heavy rains destroyed several major roads and killed at least one person. Officials say the death toll could rise, because other people are missing.

“What we’re seeing is a natural disaster,” provincial Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth told a briefing late on Tuesday. “A province-wide state of emergency is very much on the table.”

Several towns have been completely cut off and at least one reported that food was starting to run low.

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   Grain shipments uncertain amid B.C. floods 

It is too early to determine the effect of massive floods in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland on grain movement, according to the company monitoring Canada’s grain handling and transportation system.

As much as 200 millimetres of rain earlier this week have triggered mudslides and cut access to rail lines and highways east of Vancouver. The natural disaster has forced the Port of Vancouver to halt all rail shipments going in and out. Vancouver’s port moves $550 million worth of goods a day, according to Reuters, which will also negatively affect consumers and Canada’s two major railways, Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway

“Right now, it’s a kind of a situation where the railways don’t know how bad it is,” said Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp. from Edmonton.

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Infrastructure package could include cover crop incentives, but concerns remain

Some state and federal lawmakers are very focused on incentivizing more farmers and landowners to plant cover crops.

If you looked closely at my farm earlier this fall, you could see the hillsides starting to green up. Sprouts of rye were emerging through the corn stover that was left in the field after harvest, offering a winter blanket of protection for the soil and nutrients.

It was an investment in seed, equipment and labor but planting cover crops is something that both my young renter and I agree will be a good practice over the long-run, along with moving to no-till. He purchased a drill and was able to get this year’s cover crop planted and growing before the frost.

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North American Grain and Oilseed Review: Lower edible oils pull down canola

WINNIPEG, Nov. 19 (MarketsFarm) – Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) canola futures were lower on Friday, due to weakness in other edible oils. In particular, Chicago soyoil and European rapeseed which were down hard today.

Losses in canola were tempered by gains in Chicago soymeal, as well as tight supplies and price rationing. Rolling out of the January contract remained a feature in canola trading.

A backlog of grain vessels and train cars continued to build up on either side of Vancouver. Washed out rail lines remain closed for the time being, but in excess of 200,000 tonnes of grain in cars has built up so far. However, with grain exports being generally lower this marketing year, the impact of the blockages is not as severe as it could be.

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Drug, feed ingredient shortages hit U.S. livestock producers

Supply-chain disruptions are hitting America’s meat producers and sending them scrambling for alternatives as they seek to care for farm animals and keep down costs.

CHICAGO, Nov 18 (Reuters) – Michigan dairy farmer Doug Chapin has been unable to buy bottles of veterinary penicillin for his cows for more than a month.

In Minnesota, pig farmer Randy Spronk reformulated feed rations due to a shortage of the widely used ingredient lysine, an amino acid that helps livestock grow.

Supply-chain disruptions are hitting America’s meat producers and sending them scrambling for alternatives as they seek to care for farm animals and keep down costs.

Read more…

New Zealand

Agricultural contractors face worst season yet as labour shortage continues

Agricultural contractors are facing another season with a shortage of skilled labour, estimated to be between 250 and 300 workers, due to border closures.

Rural Contractors New Zealand chief executive Andrew Olsen​ said last year was difficult, but this year was really bad.

“People are suffering, physically, mentally, business are going to break. We’re well past reaching a crunch, we’re in it.”

There weren’t enough trained people in the country to remediate the situation and trainees would take at least five years to get up to speed driving highly specialised machinery, he said.

Read More here…

Using data driven insights to boost agri-business

The agricultural sector is the backbone of the New Zealand economy, especially for an export-reliant country. Not only do Kiwi farmers have a reputation for being hard-working and resilient, they have long been recognised as highly innovative and adaptable, using advances in technology to produce one of the most efficient and productive agricultural pastoral land in the world.

Primary industries produced a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of between 5.4 per cent and 6.9 per cent between 2015 and 2020 (according to Stats NZ). New Zealand exported NZ$46.4 billion worth of agricultural products (both raw and manufactured) in the 12 months to June 2019 – which was around 80 per cent of the country’s total exported goods. Beyond New Zealand’s traditional exports we’re known for globally, such as dairy and meat, NZ is also the world’s biggest exporter of concentrated milk, rough wood, butter, casein, and honey.

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Regulations hinder farmers’ ability to be best in world, Waikato protesters say

It’s not unusual to see a tractor around the streets of Hamilton but put 20 or more in a convoy, flanked with about 50 utes and people will stop, look and listen.

That’s what the Hamilton organisers of Groundswell NZ’s “Mother of all Protests” hoped for when the group set off from Te Rapa for the city’s CBD on Sunday.

“We are food producers and the best at it in the world,” one of the organisers Sharon Martin told Stuff.

“But all of these regulations the Government wants us to take on will seriously affect our ability to keep on being the best producers we can.”

Read More here

With a record high dairy payout in sight, Guy Trafford checks what it will take to lock it in. He also shows what artisan cheese makers are up against, both from EU subsidies and local bureaucracy

Much has been made of the forecast milk price from Fonterra to its suppliers. It is being compared to the previous record high of the 2013/14 season. Currently for the 2021/22 season the mid-point of the range is $8.40 per kg of MS, a considerable jump from the previous season ($7.54).

While the current season still has plenty of months to run, hence the broad range, at $8.40 it would equal the 2013/14 season.

This drove me to have a look to see how that year’s GDT auctions stacked up against the current seasons. While not all milk is sold via the auction process it does provide a useful comparison and WMP is where the predominant dairy returns come from.

Read more here…

New Emissions Trading Scheme targets plus foreshadowed changes to forestry rules add new uncertainties to carbon investment decisions

Each time I write about carbon farming, I think it will be the last time I do so for quite some time. But then something new comes up and there is a new twist to be explored. Right now, there are two new twists, potentially pulling in different directions.

First, just prior to the COP26 talkfest in Glasgow, James Shaw and Jacinda Ardern issued a joint press release stating that New Zealand will increase the carbon targets to be achieved by 2030. The specifics are more than a little obscure, but the increase is going to be considerable.

The changes are made more complex by changes in the accounting methods. Here, I am talking about carbon accounting, not dollar accounting.

Read more here…

Australia

GrainCorp bounces back into profit after strong season

AFTER the tough years of the east coast drought in 2018-19 agribusiness GrainCorp has bounced back with a vengeance, with earnings of $331 million and profits after tax of $139 million for the 2021 reporting year.

And with a big crop on the way this season GrainCorp managing director Robert Spurway is optimistic about the medium term for the business.

“This is an exceptional result for the business,” Mr Spurway said at the results presentation last week, saying earnings in particular had exceeded expectations, sitting right at the top of the estimated range handed down earlier in the year.

Read more here…

Grower and overseas prices disconnected

MANY Australian growers are rightly rejoicing in a season of strong yields and historically high prices which will hopefully lead to strong returns for their businesses this season.

However, many analysts that monitor the real value of grain being offered from other exporter countries versus the value of grain bid to growers here in Australia, point out that current prices bid to growers are well below international values on an equivalent basis.

In other words, grain prices bid to Australian growers are currently below export parity.

So what’s going on?

Some bearish and bullish factors are outlined below.

Read more here…

GIWA upgrades WA crop estimate to 20.5mt

WITH the majority of the huge volume of grain still in the paddock, harvest in Western Australia has been a stop-start affair due to continued rainfall events and the unseasonal cool conditions slowing down the finish of crops.

According to the Grain Industry Association of WA’s (GIWA) November Crop Report, released last Friday, growers are finding all crops are yielding better than expected except for the badly frosted areas in the north-eastern and far eastern regions of the State.

As a result the October estimate of 19.2 million tonnes has been upgraded to 20.5mt.

Report author Michael Lamond said the cool conditions in spring have had a major impact on allowing crops to fill heads and add weight in all regions.

Read more here

Global wheat values rally

Major international wheat futures contracts ended last week sharply higher as investors react rain threatening the quality of Australia’s harvest.

French milling wheat futures surged to record highs of 300 euros a tonne and United States winter wheat futures finished the week 7 per cent higher. Investors turned aggressive buyers after the USDA raised its forecast for global wheat trade on the unrelenting demand from key Middle Eastern and African destinations, further tightening wheat stocks in the major exporting countries.

USDA lifted its forecast for wheat imports for the 2021-22 marketing year by 3.6 million tonnes after lifting imports into Algeria, Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

Read more here…

Perfection Fresh launches augmented reality experience via produce packaging

Fresh produce suppliers Perfection Fresh have developed a new way to engage with consumers.

QR codes will soon appear on the packaging of Qukes, Broccolini, Perfection Tomatoes, Calypso Mangoes and other lines.

Consumers will be able to scan the code and go to an immersive and interactive augmented reality experience.

Perfection Fresh’s new AR offering educates its customers on the unique farming environments that are integral to growing quality fresh produce by Perfection Fresh’s own farms and growers right around Australia.

Read more here…

South America

Brazil rice exports in 2021 should reach 1,2 million tons

Brazil’s rice exports are expected to reach 1.2 million tons this year according to estimates from ABIARROZ (the Brazilian rice industry association), based on overseas sales between January and October which totalled 958,000 tons.

In the same period of 2020, an exceptional year, rice exports totalled 1.68 million tons. Likewise in 2019 overseas sales reached 1,43 million tons.

“Marking the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the year 2020 was atypical, with great worldwide demand for rice. Now, in 2021 with the disease much more under control, we are returning to normality with numbers close to those of 2019, that is, before the sanitary crisis”, Gustavo Trevisan, Director of International Affairs at Abiarroz said.

Read More here…

Mato Grosso gains could offset Southern Brazil yield losses

Brazil soybean planting progress now exceeds 80%.  With Mato Grosso finished along with much of the Center West region, most of what remains to be planted is found in Rio Grande do Sul (33% complete) to the South, along with the northeast region of Brazil, referred to as MAPITOBA.

It’s been a successful planting season to date, and that’s why CONAB, the Brazilian government’s food supply and statistics agency, increased soybean crop prospects to 142 MMT, up from 140.8 MMT.  This still falls short of where the USDA has had the Brazilian crop, pegged at 144 MMT for the past several months.

The ten-day rainfall accumulation shows heavy rain occurring over most of Central Brazil. However, rainfall has been lacking in Southern Brazil, especially in Rio Grande do Sul.

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FAST PLANTING MAKES BRAZIL SOY MORE COMPETITIVE AGAINST RIVAL U.S.

SAO PAULO, Nov 11 (Reuters) – Soybean planting for the 2021/22 season is proceeding at such a fast pace that futures prices for Brazilian soy are falling and making it more competitive against its main rival, the United States, according to experts consulted by Reuters.

Data from consultancy Safras & Mercado show soybean port premiums at Paranagua are 130 cents per bushel for January and 50 cents per bushel for February. Last year, when the start of the harvest was delayed due to lack of rain, the port premium for February soy was 125 cents a bushel.

“Premiums for early 2022 are well in line with a market that will have a harvest in January and will have carryover stocks,” said Safras analyst Luiz Fernando Roque.

Read more here

Food Updates

Leaf browning genes in sorghum identified by new research

Researchers in Japan have identified the green which causes leaf-browning in sorghum after it has been treated with pesticides, paving the way for breeding improvements.

Sorghum, an underrated ancient grain, is slowly becoming well known as a superfood due to its nutrient-dense and gluten-free nature. Sorghum syrup is widely used as a healthy alternative to molasses in the food industry, and this cereal is also used to make gluten-free flour.

Researchers from Okayama University, Japan, have been studying the cellular mechanisms that cause organophosphate sensitivity (OPS) in sorghum plants. In their recent study published in Scientific Reports, they reveal that the genes encoding the NB-LRR protein are responsible for OPS in sorghum.

Read more here…

Antibiotic misuse could be infiltrating supermarket shelves

The Alliance to Save our Antibiotics has expressed concern that trade talks with between the UK and over countries could lead to products manufactured with different antibiotics policies making their way onto shelves.Meat, dairy and eggs produced with the misuse of antibiotics could still be making its way on to UK supermarket shelves, according to a new report launched today by the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics.

The report claims that despite some improvements in supermarket antibiotic policies, most imports and branded products are not covered by the supermarket’s own rules for responsible antibiotic use. Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics says this means that there is no reliable way for shoppers to avoid buying food produced with “irresponsible antibiotic use.”

Read more here…

Language matters when it comes to health claims

The way in which health claims are understood on food packaging varies greatly between different countries, where differences in language can change the meaning and perception of health claims.A team of researchers has found that communicating health claims on food packages in a way that consumers can understand and that is compliant with the European Union’s regulation on health claims (which has been retained for use in Britain) can be challenging because of differences in culture, language and enforcement policies among the different member states.

The ‘Health Claims Unpacked’ project is funded by EIT Food and supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The project includes partners from across Europe, including the British Nutrition Foundation.

Read more here…

Plant-based foods are actually bad for your health, another study warns

A diet of plant-based foods may actually be bad for you.

Those on a vegan or vegetarian diet have been warned they risk their mental health by chowing down on the highly processed products flooding onto supermarket shelves.

The findings of an Australian study reinforce claims made by domestic livestock industries warning about the ingredients of fake meat products.

The new research has found plant-eaters with a taste for processed foods are more susceptible to depression than peers with diets high in fresh produce.

Read more here…

Japan hot drinks market to grow to $27.2bn through coffee rush

 

 

The Japanese hot drinks market is set to experience a period of real growth, driven by the hot coffee market which continues to thrive in the country.The Japanese hot drinks market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8 percent from JPY 2,144.0bn (US$20.1bn) in 2020 to JPY 2,585.9bn (US$27.2bn) – with the hot coffee sector the main driver behind this growth.

That’s according to analytics company GlobalData, whose report ‘Japan Hot drinks – Market Assessment and Forecasts to 2025’, reveals that the hot coffee category is forecast to register the fastest value CAGR of 4.2 percent during 2020–2025. Hot coffee is followed by hot tea, which is expected to record a CAGR of 3.1 percent during the same period.

Read more here…

USA and Canada

North American Grain and Oilseed Review: More contract highs for canola

WINNIPEG (MarketsFarm) – Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) canola futures were stronger on Friday as gains back away from another round of new contract highs.

At one point the January contract topped off at C$1,028.90 per tonne, with the March hitting C$997.10.

A trader noted that new crop contracts have pushed well past C$800 per tonne, which he called “phenomenal.” The trader pointed to spec funds as pushing contracts higher.

Support came from increases in European rapeseed and Malaysian palm oil, along with Chicago soybeans and soymeal.

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     Producers might farm-out robotic agricultural tools

Agricultural robots have opened the door for more farm operations to be contracted out to service companies. 

The pace of new robotic-based agricultural platforms being developed and tested on North American fields is accelerating, and many of these companies are targeting a service model for their business plan. 

Traditional ag retailers plan to get a piece of this robotic action.

A precision dealer survey by Purdue University that was published this summer found dealers see a big promise for UAVs in the future, both for data gathering and for applications.

In 2021, 14 percent of dealers in the United States offered a service that uses a drone to apply crop inputs, but by 2024, 29 percent of respondents expect to offer this service.

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Salinity: don’t try to fix it until you understand it

In severe situations, saline soils can cause in-soil working tools to rust. It’s not the biggest salinity cost, but it demonstrates the impact salt has on roots.

That’s how Alan Blaylock began his presentation Soil Salinity and Sodicity during the Nutrien eKonomics event Oct. 15.

Blaylock pointed out that soils with excessive total salts and those with high exchangeable sodium present the most difficult problems to manage.

Sodicity is the presence of a high proportion of sodium ions. Sodicity occurs when sodium salts leach through the soil and some sodium remains bound to clay particles, thus displacing other cations. Soils are considered sodic when the amount of sodium impacts soil structure.

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Weekly grain movement: Soy prices rise on bullish export data

Soybean export shipments were the star of this week’s Export Sales report from USDA, rising 10% above last week’s marketing year high to 97.4 million bushels for the week ending November 4. It marked the highest weekly shipping volume on record for the 2021/22 marketing year and was the largest weekly soybean export shipment volume since the week ending Dec. 3, 2020.

Chicago soybean futures had been trading at a $0.01-$0.03/bushel loss in the moments leading up to the report’s release. In the aftermath, soybean futures rose $0.02-$0.03/bushel on the prospect of improving shipping volumes.

China was the top destination for U.S. soybeans last week, with nearly 85.9 million bushels, or 63% of the weekly total, shipped to the world’s second largest economy. Germany (11.4M bu.) and Egypt (5.2M bu.) rounded out the top three for the week.

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Weed Wars: Laser Beam Technology May Fundamentally Change Farming

A raised rectangular vehicle, slightly smaller than a compact sedan, rolls across farmland and shoots concentrated bursts of infrared light into the rows. Audible crackles and pops rise above the furrows, followed by the distinct smell of burning vegetation as weeds smolder beside unscathed crops.

Technology enabling farmers to blast weeds with pinpoint lasers would be a fundamental, transformative moment of change for agriculture, akin to the advent of the gin, tractor, or combine. Paul Mikesell believes the moment has arrived, carried into fields by the Autonomous LaserWeeder.

According to Mikesell, founder and CEO of Carbon Robotics, the unmanned Autonomous LaserWeeder covers 15-20 acres per day and kills 100,000 weeds per hour, delivered from eight lasers beneath its undercarriage. 

 Read more…

New Zealand

Farming must adapt says Leaderbrand chief after crops damaged in flood

Farming practices have to change to adapt to increasingly volatile weather, says Leaderbrand chief executive Richard Burke​​.

The Gisborne flood last week damaged Leaderbrand crops, that were due to soon be covered by a mega-greenhouse. The unfortunate timing has left the company mopping up and assessing damage to its spinach, rocket and corn crops. Burke said there could be supply gaps early next year for corn.

Some areas around Tairāwhiti Gisborne received more than 200 millimetres of rain on Thursday – almost three times the average for November.

“This was not the worst storm we’ve seen but weather events such as last week’s deluge of rain are becoming more frequent as the country’s climate continues to be impacted.

Read More here…

South Taranaki cheeses please judges at international awards

Taranaki-made cheeses have helped Fonterra scoop a swathe of medals and trophies at a prestigious international cheese competition.

The co-op picked up a total of eight gold medals, eight silvers and eight bronzes at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards, in Staffordshire in the United Kingdom, in late October, communications manager Grant Elliott said.

Of the awards, 14 were for cheeses made at Eltham and one at Whareroa.

The standout wins were five trophies, two of them going to Kāpiti’s Kahurangi Creamy Blue (the Reserve Supreme Champion Overseas Cheese and the Capital H Challenge Cup for the Best Soft, Semi Soft or Cream Cheese).

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New data tool allows kiwifruit growers to harvest at exactly the right time

A new automated system for testing the quality and maturity of kiwifruit will tell growers the optimal time to harvest.

If fruit was harvested at the right moment, it would better survive shipping and get to market looking and tasting great, Zespri chief digital officer Dave Scullin​ said.

Zespri worked with the data, analytics and AI arm of Spark, called Qrious, to develop the system.

Kiwifruit matured at different rates, depending on the soil it was grown in, ground aspect and wind and frost exposure. Zespri had a process in place to assess fruit readiness in particular areas of an orchard, but had outgrown the system and needed to develop a replacement for the upcoming season, he said.

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Livestock farmers may get a good boost in income and improve environmental outcomes by integrating some horticulture into their operations

This week I have an interview I did a while back with Brent Clothier who is the principal scientist at Plant and Food Research. He fills me in on some of the work he has done around integrating horticulture into sheep and beef farming systems in the North Canterbury region.

Plant & Food Research carried out a desktop study assessing the suitability of different horticultural and plant-based foods in response to land and weather characteristics in selected areas of North Canterbury. The Suitability Assessment was undertaken for the Post Quake Farming Project, a programme to support the recovery of farming businesses and future land use decisions in the area affected by the Kaikoura Earthquakes.

Read more here…

Compostable apple sticker deadline could mean more fruit sold in plastic bags – packaging company

For 10 years, Jenkins Freshpac Systems has been working to create a compostable fruit sticker that ticks all the certification boxes, but it’s yet to find a viable solution.

“That’s the million dollar question,” said general manager Jamie Lunam​ when asked when a home compostable solution might be ready. “We’re not looking for the quick fix, we’re looking for the right fix.”

It wasn’t just about making the label compostable, but the ink, adhesive and backing material also had to fit the bill.

“Those are all the pieces that need to be developed, all of which need to be home compostable in order to get the certification,” Lunam explained. “It has to be effectively edible, and then it has to be home compostable.”  

Read more here…

Australia

Local grain keeps rolling out the door

The Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the country’s September international trade data last week.

This completed the national grain export picture for the 2020-21 marketing year, which finished on September 30.

A feature of the 2020-21 grain export program was robust sales in the final three months of the marketing year due to production issues in Russia, Canada and the United States – and quality issues in the European Union.

Exports of wheat, barley, sorghum and canola totaled 36.336 million tonnes for the 12-month period.

Read more here…

Harvest off to a slow start across zones

SLOW – that is the word that farmers around Western Australia are using to describe their harvest progress so far this season.

With two million tonnes having now been delivered into the CBH network, receivals have been ramping up since harvest officially began on September 23.

However ongoing rainfall has been a nuisance for those who have started, while for those who haven’t, it’s further delayed them even getting into a header.

CBH chief operations officer Mick Daw said it had been a relatively early, but slow start to harvest, but that receivals significantly picked up last week.

“While recent rainfall events slowed most growers down, we have started to see the pace of deliveries ramp back up, with about 1,423,000t delivered throughout the last week (until Monday morning),” Mr Daw said.

 Read more here…

Red wheat proves its worth against frost

A WHEAT type that appears to be less prone to stem frost.

It sounds too good to be true, but that’s what Cordering farmer Ray Harrington has found after growing red wheat for the past four years.

Mr Harrington, along with his nephew Tim Harrington who has overseen the day-to-day running of the farm for almost a decade, had not grown any type of wheat for many years.

But after being approached by Bunge to give a couple of red varieties a try, the pair decided to have a punt and seeded 40 hectares in 2018 to RGT Accroc (winter wheat) and LRPB Beaufort (spring wheat).

“My first reaction was absolutely not as I had grown white wheat for many years and could never get it to yield within at least half a tonne of barley,” Mr Harrington said.

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Links between grain and meat industries grow closer

RESEARCH commissioned by Agribusiness Australia has found the links between the grains and meat sectors have grown closer in recent years.

The research found Australia’s burgeoning domestic market for grain was largely spurred by demand from the meat sector.

“Domestic demand for grain grew 38 per cent between 2015 and 2019, with the beef and pork industries leading the way in terms of buying more grain,” said Agribusiness Australia chairman Mark Allison.

“Some of this growth was due to the drought and more animals being on feed but this trend has continued since and we’re seeing no let-up in the numbers of animals on feed,” Mr Allison said.

Read more here…

Wheat prices surge on quality concerns

Milling wheat values surged higher on torrential rain forecast to fall on unharvested wheat crops across southern Queensland and northern NSW in the coming days.

Weather models are forecasting areas around Goondiwindi and along the NSW border could receive upwards of 100mm of rain by the end of the week.

Timing on the forecast rain is jeopardising wheat quality. A week of wet weather could see wheat crops normally used for bread wheat production in Australia and throughout Asia reduced to feed quality, only suitable to feed livestock.

ASX wheat surged higher on the forecast wet weather. ASX east coast milling wheat futures, which are based on APW1 quality, finished the week $22 higher at $352 a tonne as exporters chased sound milling wheat to fulfil existing commitments to overseas buyers.

Read more here…

South America

Argentine exporters vow safeguards to keep GM wheat out of shipments

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 8 (Reuters) – Argentine grains exporters have asked the government to identify farmers who are growing drought-resistant genetically modified (GM) wheat, so they can halt sales from those areas until top importer Brazil approves the technology.

Exporters say if any GM wheat is shipped from Argentina, all international sales of the grain may be shunned due to concern about possible cross-contamination from GM to non-GM cargos, given some consumers’ aversion to bread made with GM flour.

Argentine biotech firm Bioceres said in September that 55,000 hectares of its GM drought-resistant HB4 wheat had been planted by farmers in Argentina in what it called “an inventory ramp-up” ahead of “expected pending regulatory approval from Brazil”.

Read More here…

Official Projections: Chilean Cherry Exports To Rise in 2021/22

Chile’s exports of fresh cherries for the 2021/22 season are forecast to rise by 9.8% compared to last season, reaching 387,268 tons, according to official projections released on Nov. 10 by the Chilean Cherry Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX), the member companies of which represent more than 82% of Chile’s cherry exports. Amid this overall rise in export volume, ASOEX expects a modest year-on-year decline in the proportion of cherry exports destined for the China market.

The cherry harvest is already underway in Chile, with exporters having shipped 44,162 boxes of cherries to the world as of Nov. 10, according to ASOEX figures.

“We have started a new cherry export season,” said Ronald Bown, president of ASOEX. “We have prepared ourselves to deliver high-quality and safe fruit to consumers around the world.

 

Read More here

FAST PLANTING MAKES BRAZIL SOY MORE COMPETITIVE AGAINST RIVAL U.S.

SAO PAULO, Nov 11 (Reuters) – Soybean planting for the 2021/22 season is proceeding at such a fast pace that futures prices for Brazilian soy are falling and making it more competitive against its main rival, the United States, according to experts consulted by Reuters.

Data from consultancy Safras & Mercado show soybean port premiums at Paranagua are 130 cents per bushel for January and 50 cents per bushel for February. Last year, when the start of the harvest was delayed due to lack of rain, the port premium for February soy was 125 cents a bushel.

“Premiums for early 2022 are well in line with a market that will have a harvest in January and will have carryover stocks,” said Safras analyst Luiz Fernando Roque.

Read more here

Food Updates

The future of dairy

The dairy industry and market have seen a transformation in recent years, with new plant-based dairy alternative products emerging to cater to consumer tastes. However, rather than having a detrimental effect on the category, milk-based dairy products experienced an increase in sales from €439,239 million in 2019 to €455,939 million in 2021. Sales are expected to continue rising to reach €473,850 million by the end of 2022 worldwide.¹

The growth of this market segment presents food and beverage manufacturers with an opportunity to expand their offering or diversify their portfolio, to tap into growing demand for dairy‑based products.

Here, Tara Bane, EMEA Marketing Manager at Glanbia Nutritionals, discusses dairy trends and considers the key buoyant sectors of the market alongside new products that are rising to prominence.

Read more here…

The promise of pea and fava

Although the ‘Green Revolution’ of the ‘60s significantly boosted the food supply and provided millions of people with calorie-rich foods, billions of people, even today, suffer from malnutrition in its two poles: obesity and hunger. There is thus a wide scientific consensus that a dietary shift is crucial to drive our food systems towards being healthier, fairer and more respectful with our planet.¹ In this article, we explain why pulses can be part of the solution.

The term pulse refers specifically to any dry legume seed used as human or animal food. Interesting examples include peas and fava beans, which are increasingly receiving attention because of their high nutritional value, affordability, agronomic adaptability and culinary versatility. These benefits therefore make them very attractive food products and also a promising source of nutritious and functional food ingredients.

Read more here…

Plant based alternative consumption doubled in UK, says survey

The rise in plant-based food consumption was largest amongst younger generations, and women were also more likely to go plant-based than men.

The proportion of UK people reporting eating and drinking plant-based alternative foods such as plant-based milk, vegan sausages and vegetable burgers nearly doubled between 2008–2011 and 2017–2019, according to a new study in Science of the Total Environment.

The study was led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), with partners the University of Oxford. It is believed to be the first analysis of plant-based alternative foods (PBAF) consumption trends in the UK.

Trends from more than 15,000 individuals aged 1.5 years and over were analysed using consumption data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008–20191. 

Read more here…

UK attitudes towards healthy and sustainable diets

Michelle Patel outlines the results of the Food Standards Agency’s survey around Britain’s stance on health, environmentally friendly food and who should be taking the reins.

People tend not to distinguish between different parts of the machinery of government, they see the world of food more holistically. We strive to understand the consumer interest in food – you can’t do that without considering the consumer interest in sustainability.

When people are confronted with the challenges, they start to interrogate their own consumption patterns and whether these are sustainable in the global context. They begin at home, considering the changes they can make; buying less and wasting less, eating less meat, or re-thinking their purchasing habits (eg, buying out of season). Others prefer not to change and would rather steps be taken to allow them to maintain their current lifestyles.

 Read more here…

Dairy vs. dairy alternative spreads

There are currently 7.2 million people following a meat-free diet in the UK. This represents a growth of 40 percent over the last 12 months and is predicted to increase to 13 million¹ people by the end of 2021, as Brits look to follow vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets.

This growth in plant-based eating has resulted in a 23 percent rise in plant-based dairy alternative sales, with three quarters of those who have tried plant-based dairy alternatives saying they would repurchase.² In 2020, a report by Mintel supported this finding, revealing that nearly a quarter of Brits were consuming plant-based dairy products, including plant-based spreads. As a result, plant‑based spreads are expected to grow a further three percent across all BSM (butters, spreads and margarines) products.³ Despite dairy sales also growing by seven percent,⁴ dairy alternatives are attracting new customers across all subcategories. For example, plant-based dairy milk alternatives have achieved a 10 percent share of its parent category, which in turn has created a decline in milk sales.⁵

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USA and Canada

       Growth in global pulse trade brings expanded pulse data reporting

The International Grains Council is expanding its reporting on pulse crops.

The IGC started collecting more information on pulses in 2019, publishing a bimonthly update on the global pulses trade outlook and a production forecast for dry peas, lentils and chickpeas in its Grain Market Report (GMR).

It also publishes supply and demand projections for the major exporters of peas, lentils and chickpeas every month on its web site and in its Grains Monthly Report.

But with global trade in pulses expanding continuously over the past five years to reach an estimated 16 to 17 million tonnes in 2021, it has decided to add pulses in the definition of “Grains,” which will gradually increase the amount of information it publishes going forward.

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October rains bring relief to some, drought persists

October rains brought much-needed drought relief to portions of the American Northern Plains and Canadian Prairies.

The welcome fall precipitation was particularly plentiful in the Dakotas, western Minnesota and central and southern Manitoba.

“This rain event that took place across these areas was huge in at least reducing some of the fear that we wouldn’t be able to get a crop in the ground,” said Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc.

He stressed that the October moisture has not eliminated the drought. There are still many areas that are “critically dry” such as eastern and southern Alberta, the western two-thirds of Saskatchewan and portions of Montana.

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Cost of dairy products could spike in Canada next year

The Canadian Dairy Commission is recommending an 8.4 per cent increase in farm gate milk prices, a large hike that is expected to raise the cost of dairy products on store shelves in the new year.

The federal Crown corporation says the price increase is expected to be approved by provincial authorities next month and take effect Feb. 1.

The commission says the higher price processors will pay will help offset increased production costs for farmers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It says feed, energy and fertilizer costs have all been particularly impacted, causing farmer revenues to fall below the cost of production.

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Leveraging stewardship data for end users and markets

Keeping the data straight for every field and crop might be optional for now, but traceability is the next reality

The world’s food system is slowly moving away from the bulk commodity model to one where stories on production techniques accompany products from farmgate to end users.

These emerging markets require traceability standards to help differentiate food or fuel in ways that a bulk commodity system for commodities like grain does not allow.

Two Canadian companies, Croptimistic Technology and Combyne Ag, are among those agricultural companies changing their business models to make this transition. They recently formed a new relationship.

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Reduced Crop Yields, Orchard Removals and Herd Sell-Offs — New AFBF Survey Results Reveal How Farmers and Ranchers are Dealing with Drought

With over 70% of the American West, Southwest and Northern Plains categorized in D3 (severe) drought or higher since June, AFBF has designed and distributed a second round of its Assessing Western Drought Conditions survey to evaluate drought’s continued impact on farm and ranch businesses. This Market Intel, part of a series of drought-focused articles, summarizes the results of the October survey. A summarization of June survey results can be foundhere. Past articles have also monitored state-specific hardships faced by farm and ranch families including: Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and California.

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New Zealand

New Zealand wine in high demand despite labour and supply chain challenges

The value of New Zealand wine exports hit $600 million in the September quarter, up 9 per cent on the same period last year, with no sign of slowing.

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said international demand was high, reflected in its price per litre, which was also up 4 per cent.

The demand proved that New Zealand wine’s distinctive flavours, quality and sustainability credentials were resonating with global consumers, he said.

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Organic sector aims to contribute $4.7 billion to GDP by 2030

The country’s organic producers and operators have an ambitious plan to increase their contribution to GDP to $4.7 billion by the end of the decade.

The sector’s strategy to develop the country’s organic production sector was launched on Friday. Taking Action for a Better New Zealand was commissioned by umbrella group Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) with funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Chief executive Viv Williams​ said international research showed organic and regenerative farming sequestered more carbon and released less carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the air than conventional farming.

 

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Beef exports top 100,000 tonnes in third quarter for first time

Red meat exports rose 28 per cent year-on-year to hit $2.2 billion for the third quarter of this year, while beef exports topped 100,000 tonnes for the first time, the Meat Industry Association says.

The red meat sector has seen strong growth in recent months with September exports alone reaching $642m.

Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva​ said major markets were China, with exports up 57 per cent to $830m, the United States, up 35 per cent to $542m and Japan, up 61 per cent to $109m.

The sector was earning important revenue for the country when other parts of the economy were significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, she said.

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Ongoing research at the Riddet Institute is proving the health benefits of pasture-raised beef over grain-based feedlot beef, even plant-based pretenders

This week we are continuing to explore the research that compares pasture-raised beef and lamb versus grain-finished livestock, and versus protein alternatives.

On the show I have Dr Lovedeep Kaur from Massey University and the Riddet Institute reviewing the interim results of the second stage of research that explores how the human digestion system responds to these alternatives and how their nutrients are then absorbed by the body.

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Keith Woodford points out that no-one has found an alternative to dairy for New Zealand’s export-led economy

The New Zealand economy is export-led. That is the way it has to be for a small mountainous country in the South Pacific, largely bereft of mineral resources and with minimal manufacturing, but blessed with a temperate maritime climate and lots of rain.

Alas, both history and current realities tell us that New Zealand has limited international competitive advantage in relation to technology-based engineering. That statement will be offensive to some, but the hard reality is that we cannot be considered world-leading in relation to chemical, electrical or mechanical engineering beyond small niche areas. Nor are we internationally competitive in relation to manufacture of pharmaceuticals.

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Australia

Pulse producers urged to be patient as supply chain issues bite

WHILE there is a rosy outlook ahead for producers of most grain crops this year, world shipping and supply chain woes are making life difficult for Australian pulse exporters.

A shortage of shipping containers in particular is hurting legume exporters, with a far larger percentage of pulses exported in containers as opposed to bulk shipments than with commodities such as wheat.

Working through the supply chain this has meant limited inquiry for pulses at a farmgate level as exporters deem it too risky to write business given the current uncertainties regarding export executions.

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Crop industry urged to prepare for more severe, more frequent viruses

JUST as in human health, the plant breeding sector says preparedness for novel disease is critical in ensuring the grains industry can handle any unexpected disease incursions.

A researcher from The University of Western Australia’s Institute of Agriculture has led a comprehensive review of virus disease research in Australia’s cereal and oilseed crops since the 1950s and has some sobering news for the Aussie grains industry.

UWA adjunct professor Roger Jones said Aussie ag needed to prepare for ‘potentially devastating’ future virus disease epidemics.

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Supply issues for wheat market

Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures have just had their fifth monthly gain in a row. That is the longest rally in wheat futures since 2007. While wheat stocks are not as tight as in the 2007/08 period, it illustrates that there is a fundamental supply issue in the wheat market right now.

In particular, exports from Russia have been slow this year against lower production, and ongoing taxes on Russian exports. This is leaving a bit of a supply gap in the global wheat market.

It has been assumed that big crops in Australia and Argentina will provide a much-needed boost to exportable supplies of milling wheats for the global market, but concerns are now mounting that harvest rains will restrict our volumes of high protein milling wheat.

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Local wheat and barley prices tumble

Southern Queensland grain prices tumbled last week under the weight of increased farmer selling.

Stockfeed wheat bids plunged $15 to $320 a tonne delivered into the Darling Downs while feed barley was down $10 to $285.

Local silo bids were also sharply lower for most grades. Benchmark APW tumbled by $18/t to $331/t on Brisbane equivalent terms. ASW and Hard2 were also down by a similar amount while APH grades were only modestly lower.

Similar declines were seen for new crop prices across NSW and Victoria. Old crop prices in southern NSW and Victoria, where grain harvest won’t start for a few weeks, remain firm.

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East coast prepares for grain storage squeeze

FACING successive massive harvests, large carryover and the prospect of big tracts of crop ripening at the same time bulk handler GrainCorp remains confident it will be able to handle the east coast crop in a timely manner.

There has been some concern from the farming community, especially in NSW’s Central West, that there will be long delays caused by a lack of space in the bulk handling network.

With a forecast wet late spring and early summer there is the fear crop could be downgraded due to weather damage if it cannot be harvested in a timely manner due to a lack of space to store it.

However, GrainCorp general manager of operations Nigel Lotz said he believed the company was up to the challenge.

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South America

Uruguayan exports on the rise, report shows

Beef, meat by-products and wood have boosted Uruguayan exports, which were reported to have grown 17.2% overall in October, it was announced Monday in Montevideo. Meat sales once again reached record figures.

Export applications —including duty-free zones— totalled US $ 897 million in October, which represented an increase of 17.2% compared to the same month in 2020, the Uruguay XXI Institute reported Monday.

Meanwhile, exports from customs -that is outside duty-free zones- reached US $ 782 million last month, a 16.6% growth compared to October last year.

Between January and October 2021, exports grew 31% YoY and 12% above pre-pandemic figures from January to October 2019, according to Uruguay XXI.

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Paraguay: Beef exports reach all-time high

Over 283,214 tons of beef have been exported by Paraguay between January and October 2021, in what has become a historical record for the country, according to the National Service for Animal Quality and Health (Senacsa).

A Senacsa detailed report released Tuesday also showed Paraguay has shipped 283,214,243.57 kilos of meat worth US $ 1,372,943,994.63 in the first ten months of 2021.

The document also revealed a total of 50,747,649.06 kilos of bovine giblets worth US $ 104,527,687.40 had been place abroad, while 117,344 heads of cattle have been slaughtered to yield 28,731,587 kilograms of beef.

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Wine production in South America booming: Chile 30% up and Argentina 16%

Wine production in Chile this season is expected to increase 30% because of the excellent climate conditions. Some 13,4 million hectoliters are estimated which will also be a record production for Chile and most probably will overtake Argentina.

The International Organization of Vine and Wine, OIV, made the official presentation of production estimates for 2021, which given the absence of major climate incidents so far, has meant a considerable jump in grape harvest and wine production in most South American producing countries.

Likewise Chile and Argentina, according to OIV, are strong candidates to fill the vacuum left by Australia in its banned sales to China.

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Belize resumes shipment of corn to Guatemala

Belize has resumed shipment of corn to Guatemala, 13 years after the last shipment, even though the two countries have signed a preferential trade agreement in 2006 that came into effect four years later.

A consignment of grain destined for Guatemala City from the Valley of Peace Farms Limited departed last Thursday, signalling the resumption of trade in corn between the two countries. The corn was shipped to Gruma, a Mexican multinational company.

“About three weeks ago, Maseca reached out and said that they have a need for corn and we said that we have corn.

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Food Updates

Is the plant-based sector set for an investment boom in 2022?

The research suggests that plant-based products are set for an investment boom in 2022, as manufacturers respond to an increasing consumer trend towards the movement.

New research commissioned by Atura Proteins, UK-based manufacturer of naturally produced pulse protein ingredients, reveals food and drink brand owners and manufacturers are most likely (56 percent) to invest their new product development budgets in the development of plant-based products in 2022.

Broadening product ranges to appeal to flexitarians ie, those who eat a plant-based diet without eliminating meat completely (48 percent), and vegans (47 percent) was the most common reason for plant-based investment, with interest from retail customers and environmental concerns both on par (36 percent).

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The key to a healthy heart? You need to look at the full picture

The key to a healthy heart is a balanced diet, rather than avoiding certain foods, new research from the American Heart Association has recommended today.A new statement from the American Heart Association has suggested that it’s the whole picture, rather than individual dietary elements, that make a difference when it comes to good heart health.The AHA statement stresses the importance of looking at the total dietary pattern rather than “good” or “bad” individual foods or nutrients. A dietary pattern refers to the balance, variety, amounts and combination of foods and beverages regularly eaten. The statement also highlights the critical role of nutrition education, starting healthy eating early in life and maintaining throughout the lifespan, as well as societal and other challenges that may make it harder to adopt or maintain a heart-healthy diet pattern.

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Everything you need to know about personalised nutrition

As we see a drive for functional food, New Food’s Editor, Bethan Grylls, interviews Dr Jeffrey Blumberg on the topic of personalised nutrition to see whether this could be the next megatrend.There is no doubt that we’re seeing an evolving health movement; consumers are becoming ever more conscious and empowered regarding both their physical and mental health. As such we are witnessing a demand for functional foods, a concept first regulated in Japan in the 1980s. There isn’t a legal definition for functional foods yet in Europe or the US, but there is regulation around nutrition and health claims which dictate what brands can and cannot say – and you can read about regulation, functional foods and EU regulation here. But generally, functional foods are considered foods developed to promote health or reduce the risk of disease.

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The future of trust and transparency in the food supply chain

Globally, the food and beverage sector remains on shaky ground, according to a recent report from Edelman on trust. Following an increase in institutional trust between May 2020 and January 2021, consumers’ faith in the food and drink sector has plummeted.¹

This is unsurprising considering the disquiet that’s been dominating the headlines in recent year – from Brexit and worker shortages, to food insecurity, climate change, GMOs, pesticides and antibiotic resistance.

Among subsectors, brewing and spirits has been hit the worst, although it seems that makers of food additives are the least trusted by consumers overall. Despite also seeing a decline, farmers and fisheries remain the most trusted division of the food and drink chain.^1,3

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Butchers have climate change in mind, says new industry survey

Results of a survey completed by National Craft Butchers (NCB) has revealed the steps local butchers are taking to try to improve the climate credentials of their trade.National Craft Butchers (NCB), the trade body representing quality independent retail butchers, launched their first ever survey of British Butchers in July 2021, reaching out butchery businesses across Britain. The NCB claims its results demonstrate an ongoing commitment by butchers in the UK to tackling climate change and improving the sustainability of the meat sector.87 percent of respondents to the survey prioritise local produce in their shops, while six out of 10 prefer to sell Grass fed, Organic or Free-Range meat. In addition, 38 percent said they buy animals live direct from market for full traceability, while two-thirds rely on a small local abattoir to supply their meat.

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