Rice is a staple in any kitchen, and with so many different types, it lends itself to a limitless number of recipes. Before you add the same type of rice to every recipe you prepare, however, think twice. Substituting one type of rice for another can really alter the result of a recipe. Each type of rice has its own taste, texture, and unique properties that work well with different cooking applications. So how do you know which one is the best type of rice to use? This guide examines factors that differentiate types of rice, from nutty basmati to fragrant jasmine and more!
Types of Rice
Length and Shape
Rice is often characterized as one of three varieties – long grain, medium grain, or short grain rice. These varieties refer to the length and shape of the grain. Simply speaking, long grain rice will have a longer cylindrical shape, whereas short grain rice will be shorter and wider.
This rice has milled grains that are at least three to four times as long as they are wide. Due to its starch composition, it is separate, light and fluffy when cooked.
Medium Grain Rice
When compared to long grain rice, medium grain rice has a shorter, wider kernel. Since the cooked grains are more moist and tender than long grain rice, the rice has a greater tendency to stick together.
Featuring grains that are less than twice as long as they are wide, this rice is short and best for sushi. It has a sticky texture when cooked.
Texture
When cooking rice dishes, you’ll want to think about the desired texture of the rice. The starch content varies from rice type to rice type. It will affect whether rice is sticky or light and fluffy.
Sticky Rice
Also known as sweet rice, sticky rice is grown mainly in Southeast and East Asia and is used in many traditional Asian dishes, desserts, and sweets. When cooked, sticky rice is especially sticky and is often ground into rice flour.
This “rough” rice has gone through a steam-pressure process before milling that gelatinizes the starch in the grain. This process produces a more separate grain that is light and fluffy when cooked. Converted rice is a type of parboiled rice that has been further pre-cooked, which ultimately allows you to whip up dishes of rice even faster.
Color
Rice is naturally brown after harvesting, but once the nutrient-rich outer layer of bran is removed, it is white in color. Red rice, black rice, and purple rice all feature unique pigmentation in the bran. For these colorful rice varieties, the bran layer usually remains for added visual appeal and added nutritional value.
Polished Rice
The term “polished” simply refers to white rice that has had its outer brown layer of bran and germ removed. Rice that has shed its bran layers can also be referred to as “milled rice.”
This healthful rice sheds its outer husk and retains its bran and germ layers that give it a characteristic tan color. Though brown rice takes a little longer to cook than white rice, the nutrient-dense layers are rich in vitamins and minerals.
Forbidden Black Rice
High in nutritional value, this rice is also known as black rice and has a mild nutty flavor. Slightly sticky when cooked, it is used in a variety of Chinese or Thai dishes, including Chinese black rice cake and mango sticky rice. Mix it with white rice, and it also adds color to any rice pilaf or rice bowl.
Wild Rice
Wild rice grains are harvested from the genus Zizania of grasses. High in protein, wild rice adds a colorful, exotic flair to any rice dish. Serve it with stir frys, mushroom soups, or casseroles for something new.
Aroma
Aroma is another factor to consider when cooking with rice. Certain rice varieties give off pleasing fragrances while being cooked. Add a sensory element to your guests’ dining experience with these rice types.
Basmati rice is a type of long-grain rice that is popular among Indian cuisine and other ethnic dishes. Cooked basmati rice imparts a subtle nutty or popcorn-like flavor and aroma.
Jasmine rice, sometimes known as Thai fragrant rice, is a type of long grain rice with a long kernel and slightly sticky texture when cooked. Use it to infuse a subtle jasmine flavor and aroma into your dishes.
Different Types of Rice and Their Uses
As shown above, there are a variety of factors involved in choosing what rice will best suit your establishment’s needs. Take a look at these types of rice to determine which flavor profile, color, length, and texture will work best for your next signature recipe.
Arborio
Arborio rice is a medium grain rice that is wider in size and has a characteristic white dot at the center of the grain. It is named after the town of Arborio in the Po Valley of Italy, where it is grown. Due to the high starch content of Arborio rice, it has a slightly chewy and sticky consistency and develops a creamy texture when cooked.
When cooked, basmati rice grains are long, dry, and separate. They impart a pleasant, nutty aroma and flavor in any dish. It is common in Indian and Asian cuisine, but it can be used in a variety of flavorful recipes. Serve it plain or with fresh herbs, green onions, coconut, or vegetables for a signature pilaf.
Brown rice grains have a chewy texture when cooked. They impart a pleasant, slightly nutty flavor in any dish. The nutritious bran layers are left on brown rice so it can retain its natural goodness and tan color. Rich in vitamins and minerals, brown rice is a 100% whole grain food. It is a versatile rice that becomes light and fluffy when cooked, ensuring it won’t stick together.
Cultivated in Thailand, jasmine rice will bring an exotic flair and flavorful accent to any dish. It develops a pleasant jasmine aroma while it is cooking. Use it when making a variety of traditional Asian dishes, including curries and stir-frys. The moist, soft texture is ideal for soaking up spices and flavors.
Length: Long grain
Flavor Profile: Floral, jasmine flavor and aroma
Ideal For: Curry, stir-fry dishes, and other Thai and Asian cuisine
White
Due to the starch composition of white long grain rice, it has a slightly sticky consistency that’s useful in stuffing, casseroles, and stir-fry dishes. It is arguably the most familiar and easily recognizable rice in traditional American recipes, and it’s also popular in Asian and Mexican cuisine. Compared to other varieties of rice, it has a mild flavor and light and fluffy texture when cooked.
Food scientist, Maria Costa, outlines why bacteriophages are a promising future solution to improving food safety and reducing wastage.
In the food industry, processing is very important, and ensuring food safety across the food chain is imperative. Even with the strict regulations around the world regarding food safety to ensure food is safe for consumption, every year there are outbreaks related to food bacterial contaminations leading to numerous deaths and foodborne diseases, contributing to severe economic losses related to health costs and food losses.1,2
Plant-based burgers are old news now, but next on the horizon are plant-based ‘fish’ options. These vegan alternatives do their best to mimic the taste, texture and nutritional value of popular fish such as salmon and tuna; look out for Good Catch’s vegan ‘tuna’, which is widely available in the US and now in the UK, plus new Swedish start-up Hooked, which recently raised $600,000 (£424,000) to launch its flaked Toona and Salmoon in 2021.
Alt seafood to surge in growth Report showed that the global plant-based fish market is projected to surge at an impressive CAGR of around 28% from 2021 to 2031, to top a valuation of US$ 1.3 billion by 2031. Interestingly, the report found that plant-based shrimp is to emerge as the most consumed type.
It explored the biggest trends in alternative proteins and explores the opportunities and challenges for manufacturers today and for future market development. Consumer interest in plant-based fish alternatives is growing and is poised for a rapid rise like other alternative protein products.
If you would like more information, please click here to see our product page!
Food scientist, Maria Costa, outlines why bacteriophages are a promising future solution to improving food safety and reducing wastage.In the food industry, processing is very important, and ensuring food safety across the food chain is imperative. Even with the strict regulations around the world regarding food safety to ensure food is safe for consumption, every year there are outbreaks related to food bacterial contaminations leading to numerous deaths and foodborne diseases, contributing to severe economic losses related to health costs and food losses.1,2Read more here…
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola up ahead of long weekend
WINNIPEG, Feb. 18 (MarketsFarm) – The ICE Futures canola market was stronger on Friday, with the largest gains in the old crop contracts as gains in Chicago Board of Trade soyoil provided some spillover support and traders adjusted positions ahead of the long weekend.
The canola market will be closed Monday for Manitoba’s Louis Riel Day, while markets in the United States will close for Presidents’ Day. Provincial holidays across most of Canada will also see many other markets and financial institutions closed.
Ongoing concerns over tight canola supplies and the need to ration demand remained supportive, although end-users are thought to be well covered for the time being.
About 14,629 canola contracts traded on Friday, which compares with Thursday when 15,438 contracts changed hands. Spreading accounted for 8,120 of the contracts traded.
SOYBEAN futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were stronger on Friday, as solid export demand provided support and traders adjusted positions ahead of the Presidents’ Day long weekend.
Barley producers increase research spending in Sask.
In efforts to attract more attention to barley, a producer-led commission is using its reserves to boost research spending to $2.63 million.
Promoting the development of things such as improved varieties of barley is vital to making the crop more profitable for western Canadian farmers, said former vice-chair Jason Skotheim of the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley).
“It’s a long-term investment that just compounds year after year … so it becomes incredibly important for producers.”
During a recent annual general meeting, he told participants a report commissioned by SaskBarley showed every dollar invested in variety development resulted in a return of $26.
“And so, if this plays out, it’s bringing in (roughly) $50 million into barley just in the last year alone in future value,” he said. “This is by far the biggest bang for the buck that we can do.”
Sweet corn thrives in its own crowded company and, when planted at high densities, its yield potentially increases.
Recent research from the University of Illinois looked at the historical tolerance of corn density since the 1930s and results showed it has steadily contributed to genetic yield gain in field corn.
The study focused on crowding tolerance in hybrids from 1934 to 2014. Researchers found that marketable ear mass increased by 2.58 tonnes per acre over the 80-year time period, or 0.32 tonnes per acre per decade when grown at high densities.
“Over time, steady improvement in plant density tolerance has contributed greatly to genetic yield gain in field corn,” said Daljeet Dhaliwal, a doctoral student in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois.
While recent research indicated plant density tolerance in modern sweet corn hybrids could be exploited for yield gain, historical changes in density tolerance were unknown.
The volatility is starting to increase in the grain complex. Not that there wasn’t volatility before, but the moves are starting to become a little more erratic and the size of the moves are increasing. This is a sign that the market is getting closer to changing its trend. That was a real concern toward the end of the second week of February.
On Wednesday Feb. 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its February Crop Production/Supply and Demand report. For the most part, the report was uneventful to the grains, but there were a few nuggets found in the numbers.
On the U.S. wheat estimates, USDA made no adjustments to the 2020 numbers, which was as expected. For 2021, USDA left production unchanged but did lower demand 20 million bushels. The decrease in demand was due to a 3 million bushel cut in food demand, 2 million bushel cut in seed demand and a 15 million bushel cut in exports. That put U.S. wheat ending stocks at 648 million bushels, up 20 million bushels from the previous month and 16 million bushels above expectations.
Soybean School: How climate could impact Canadian production in 2030 and beyond
How might a changing climate affect soybean production across Canada?
On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Soybean School, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientist Ward Smith shares how he and his colleagues have been studying agroecosystem models to predict the impact changing climates have on soybean production.
During the virtual Northern Soybean Summit hosted by last month by Soy Canada, Smith indicated that many Canadian growers can expect to see manageable heat, sufficient moisture and a longer growing season heading into 2030 and beyond.
Citing ongoing work with colleagues Budong Qian, Yong Min Kim, Qi Jing, Brian Grant, Guillaume Jego, Scott Duguid, Ken Hester and Alison Nelson, Smith notes that a warming climate should allow soybean production to expand in Western Canada in the black and some of the dark grey Chernozem soils.
The annual kiwifruit harvest is under way and first cab off the rank is the new “RubyRed” variety.
The red-fleshed kiwifruit are being sold commercially here and overseas for the first time. They are said to have a sweet, berry taste.
Zespri’s chief grower, industry and sustainability officer, Carol Ward says for the first year commercial volumes of Zespri RubyRed kiwifruit are going on the market and are “keenly anticipated” by consumers here and in Singapore, Japan and China.
Despite a shortage of seasonal workers because thousands of people couldn’t come to New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic, the harvest is on, and the industry is optimistic.
The harvest could be the biggest on record, industry grower group New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers (NZKGI) says.
Apple growers in the Nelson region are approaching crunch time as they start harvesting crops while struggling with a major labour shortage.
Motueka Fruit Growers Association president Richard Clarkson said harvesting of some apple crops, such as Royal Gala, had already begun at some blocks in the region within the past week. This was about five days ahead of normal, he said.
While prolonged rain this month had caused splitting on some Royal Gala it was not a big percentage of the region’s crop, and overall the rain had helped increase the size of the fruit, contributing to good quality apples this season, Clarkson said.
However, a major labour shortage in the region which was impacting employers in all sectors, was going to make this year’s harvest difficult, he said, and growers would find it harder to get the fruit off the trees and get it packed.
Dairy prices jump 4.2% at auction to hit their highest level in almost 9 years
Dairy prices jumped 4.2 per cent overnight to hit their highest level in almost nine years, cementing expectations for record milk prices for farmers this season and bolstering the outlook for next season.
The Global Dairy Trade price index reached 1516, just shy of the all-time record of 1573 set in April 2013. Prices rose more than 4 per cent for the third consecutive fortnightly auction.
The average price for whole milk powder, which has the most impact on what farmers are paid, rose 4.2 per cent to US$4503 (NZ$6649) a tonne, the highest level since 2013. Whole milk powder has gained 16.5 per cent over the last three auctions and is sitting 25 per cent higher than at the same time last year.
Dairy prices have been rising as tight milk supply in New Zealand and overseas underpins demand. Fonterra, the world’s largest dairy exporter, has forecast a record farmgate milk payment to farmers for this season which runs to the end of May, and economists say the latest auction also bodes well for prices next season.
Jobs and kiwifruit ripe for the picking as industry calls out for workers
The top of the south’s upcoming kiwifruit harvest looks set to be a bumper one, with expectations it will exceed the $71 million generated last year.
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc chief executive Colin Bond said this year’s harvest in the Nelson region looked positive, with good volumes and good quality fruit.
Nationally, the kiwifruit harvest kicked off last week with a new red variety, RubyRed, being picked in the Bay of Plenty. However, to Bond’s knowledge, RubyRed was not being grown in the Nelson region, where gold and green kiwifruit would start being harvested from March, he said.
There are about 125 kiwifruit growers in the Nelson region.
Last year the upper South Island’s kiwifruit industry generated $71 million, and Bond said it would potentially be higher this year as there would be more crop available.
Australia in driver’s seat for new pulse opportunities
THE AUSTRALIAN pulse industry is set to enjoy a number of new opportunities in coming years as consumers across the world become increasing aware of their benefits and versatility and new technologies allow legumes to be utilised in new forms.
This is the opinion of Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre managing director Mirjana Prica, who said the Australian industry was primed to move from a bulk-focused outlook to concentrating further on premium markets.
“If the bulk market represents a supermarket I see Australia being more of a delicatessen,” Dr Prica said.
“Even if only 10pc of our pulse production can be diverted to high value markets that is a huge opportunity for the industry.”
WITH the curtain officially drawn on the 2021 season, attention has turned to the 2022 growing season and the cost of putting a crop in has gone up substantially.
That’s primarily due to high fertiliser and herbicide prices due to supply constraints and will result in less area sown and subtle swaps in crop types.
According to the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA) crop report author Michael Lamond, there will be more fallow in the low rainfall regions unless there was another exceptional start and more canola will be planted in the medium and high rainfall zones.
“The total area sown to crop in the low rainfall zones will be strongly driven by the amount and timing of rainfall in April and May,” Mr Lamond said.
“Barley will be swapped out for wheat in the higher rainfall zones due to the current lack of upside potential to price compared to wheat.
“There will be more crop and pasture legumes sown to provide nitrogen for crops sown in 2023.”
Australian sorghum crop of more than 2.5 million tonnes set to be the largest in 14 years
Expectations that Australia’s 2022 sorghum harvest will end up north of 2.5 million tonnes is likely to cap prices in the coming months.
Sorghum prices are holding in the mid $290s delivered into the Darling Downs, as improved harvesting weather allows more of the crops to be cut.
Brisbane port values have been steady around $310 a tonne.
Domestic feed grain buyers are showing little interest in utilising sorghum at current prices, which are only at a modest discount to stockfeed wheat into the southern Queensland feedlots, pig, and poultry markets.
Most feed grain users are intent on maximising the volume of stockfeed wheat in rations where supplies are abundant following the wet winter crop harvest in NSW.
THE Australian grains industry exhibits low greenhouse gas emissions for each tonne of grain produced compared to our competing regions and countries, including the European Union, the United States, Canada, Russia and Ukraine.
That’s according to a new report, which CSIRO was commissioned to prepare, released last week by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
The report, Australian Grains Baseline and Mitigation Assessment, found that Australian graingrowers are producing low emissions intensity, high quality cereals, pulses and oilseeds.
GRDC chairman John Woods said the report was designed to establish a detailed and robust greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions baseline for the Australian grains sector and explore mitigation opportunities that maintain or increase profitability.
Record harvest may be even bigger than first thought
THE RECORD breaking 2021-22 Australian winter crop may be even larger than previously thought according to one leading private grains analyst.
IKON Commodities released its updated 2021-22 production estimates and came out with figures substantially higher than those issued by the official forecaster the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).
ABARES’ most recent update was in November, when it predicted a national record 58.4 million tonnes, including 34.4m tonnes of wheat.
IKON’s estimate of 39.04 million tonnes of production sits a healthy 13 per cent above the ABARES figure.
Chief executive at IKON Ole Houe said there was a key area where IKON and ABARES estimates differed.
South American soybean crop estimates lowered again
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “massive” reduction in its South American soybean crop production estimate wasn’t drastic enough, according to analysts.
And that bodes well for soybean and other oilseed prices.
“If realized, this massive decrease in the South American soybean crop is likely to significantly constrict global trade,” stated the USDA.
Ben Buckner, grains analyst with AgResource Company, said it will be realized and more.
His team in Sao Paulo came up with a Brazilian production estimate of 125 million tonnes in mid-January, well below the USDA’s February number of 134 million tonnes.
Chilean Blueberries Hitting Peak in China With Record Volumes
The Chilean blueberry selling season in China has already entered its peak period starting from mid-January. With strong export volumes coming out of Chile during January, the 2021/22 season in China is forecast to continue heating up throughout February. According to the Chilean Blueberry Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX), January 2022 saw a higher weekly average of blueberry exports than all previous seasons.
The peak of Chilean blueberry availability in China coincides with several holidays, including Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day, and both the wholesale and retail markets for fresh fruit are moving product briskly at this time of year. It is the off-season for China’s domestic blueberry production and Peruvian imports are already tailing off. This means that Chilean blueberries are moving to the forefront of consumers’ tables.
As with several other Chilean fruit products, the Chilean Blueberry Committee undertakes active promotion of blueberries to stimulate consumption in the China market. As part of this campaign, representatives of the committee have recently been traveling around the country to see the season’s progress, as well as holding events, such as seminars at wholesale markets in Qingdao and elsewhere.
Soybeans were higher on commercial and technical buying, closing out a higher week with nearby contracts back above $16. Rain was in the forecast for Argentina and southern Brazil in the coming week, but coverage was uncertain. Production in Paraguay is expected to be well below year ago levels. The USDA’s next look at supply and demand numbers is in the upcoming Ag Outlook Forum, while CONAB’s updated outlook for Brazil is out March 10th. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange held its soybean production estimate for Argentina unchanged at 42 million tons, compared to 43.1 million a year ago. Unknown destinations bought 198,000 tons of mostly new crop U.S. beans Friday morning, with 66,000 tons for 2021/22 and 132,000 tons for 2021/22. That was the third business day in a row with an announced sale for a total of 450,000 tons, 186,000 of that old crop and 264,000 of that new crop. Those sales to unknown might end up being delivered to China. At least to some degree, the lower production estimates for South America have influenced this recent uptick in purchases. Soybean meal was lower and bean oil was higher on the adjustment of product spreads. India has reportedly contracted to buy 100,000 tons of U.S. soybean oil due to record palm oil prices and uncertainties about production in South America.
BRAZIL CORN WATCH: Prices stable amid strong progress in planting
Corn prices have stabilized over the week ended Feb. 11 in Brazil as rapid progress in the sowing of second-corn crop and high prices kept buyers on the sidelines, the local government agency and consultancies said in their reports.
Corn prices are likely to be stable in the coming days as there is an expectation that the second-corn crop will be planted within the ideal window, raising hopes of higher production this season, national agricultural agency Conab said.
Second-corn planting in the key states of Brazil, which account for 92% of the forecast area for marketing year 2021-22, continued the strong pace seen over the last few days, reaching 35.1% as of Feb.12 and well ahead of 10.2% recorded around the same period in the previous year, Conab said.
Brazil’s 2021-22 corn crop will be marketed during February 2022-January 2023.
Why are consumers and manufacturers choosing almonds?
New data released by the Food Foundation reports that 8.8 percent of households (4.7 millio
There is no let-up in the progress of plant-based as a sector, nor in the snack market either. A crucial group of ingredients underpinning the current growth in both is nuts, and more specifically the humble almond which is predicted to experience healthy growth over the next couple of years or so.
Some are anticipating the almond market to reach a global value of more than $12 billion by 2025. One of the main drivers behind this boom is the adoption of almonds by a variety of food manufacturers as a key ingredient, whether that’s in snacks or as a milk alternative.
Potato milk is now on shelves at Waitrose and is tipped to become a best-seller. This alternative to dairy milk comes as UK consumers seek more vegan options for their diet. “There’s a growing consumer demand for vegan, eco-friendly products and potato milk ticks both of those boxes. Touted to be the most suitable alternative to cow’s milk on the market, potato milk is free-from lactose, soy, gluten and nuts”, said Tina Manahai, Co-owner and Managing Director at Healthy Supplies, one of the UK’s biggest independent online health food specialist retailers.
She continued: “Potatoes can be cultivated almost anywhere in the world, and with a low carbon footprint, the milk requires just half as much land as oat ‘milk’ and 56 times less than almond ‘milk’ for production. Most potato ‘milks’ also have added nutrients like vitamin B and C as well as pea protein, which not many people know about.”
Also in the UK, Papa John’s announced that it has become the first global quick service restaurant brand to put superfood hemp seeds on the menu, with the launch of its new limited-edition Hemp Sticks.
Vegetables do not protect against cardiovascular disease, study suggests
A large-scale study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that – despite popular belief – consuming vegetables does not always lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Is there a link between vegetable consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)? Researchers from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of Bristol conducted a study to find out.
The researchers used the UK Biobank for their study; this follows the health of half a million adults in the UK by linking to their healthcare records. Upon their enrolment in 2006-2010, these volunteers were interviewed about their diet, lifestyle, medical and reproductive history, among other factors.
The researchers used the responses of almost 400,000 participants to question their current daily average consumption of uncooked versus cooked vegetables.
Study reveals the five biggest challenges faced by fast food restaurants
A new study by NSF International discovers the challenges that are impacting food safety standards, as one in 10 franchise managers and employees believe food safety has been at risk on their site recently.
Global public health and safety organisation, National Sanitation Foundation International, better known as NSF International, has commissioned an independent study into the state of quick service restaurant (QSR) operations in the UK. The survey revealed the top five key areas of concern:
Covid-19 regulatory requirements
The rise of home delivery
Equipment malfunctions
Training and staff turnover
“We know that many of the trends and corresponding challenges brought about by the pandemic are here to stay, so restaurant owners and managers need to adapt in order to survive – and to do so safely,” said John Rowley, VP, Global Food Division for NSF.
A new study has revealed support for edible packaging across multiple global regions, includ
Brand insights agency Nepa asked more than 5,600 consumers what they wished they would find on supermarket shelves in 10 years’ time, revealing new opportunities for brands that want to be a step ahead.
It won’t come as a surprise to many that sustainability is a growing concern, and although some seem averse to giving up meat, Nepa’s study has revealed that many would be willing to eat the packaging their food comes in. Whether it’s made from rice flour, wheat or sorghum, it appears as if people are ready to eat their cereal boxes for a more sustainable future. It’s a thumbs up from all markets too, with over 70 percent of respondents in India and China, 55 percent in Brazil, and 44 percent in the UK saying yes to edible packaging.
U.S. legislation targets shipping container crisis
Exporters of Canadian agricultural products are looking with envy at legislation wending its way through the U.S. Congress.
The House of Representatives and Senate have both passed versions of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which would give more regulatory oversight to the Federal Maritime Commission.
The legislation is in response to shipper complaints about the unwillingness of ocean carriers to provide empty containers for the export of U.S. products, including agricultural goods.
Greg Northey, vice-president of corporate affairs with Pulse Canada and spokesperson for the Coalition to Fix the Container Crunch, applauds what is happening south of the border.
Survey shows North Dakota cropland sales rose 28% in 2021 to highest level ever
FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota farmland values increased by 28% in 2021 to an average of $3,172 per acre statewide, according to an annual survey by an appraiser group. That’s the highest since the $2,953 high set in 2013, beating the old record by $219 per acre.
Land rents also rose heading into 2022, but not as much as land values, and both are expected to “hold steady” into the coming year, according to an annual survey of a farmland appraisal group. This 25th year the North Dakota chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers have compiled a value and cash rent survey.
The non-profit professional organization chapter has about 50 members. The survey, produced through cooperation among competitors, includes actual sales and land rents, but counts only “arms-length” transactions.
The soybean market, Randy Martinson of Martinson Ag Risk Management says, is in need of retracement.
But with constant new reports trimming expectations of the South American crop and constant new buyers coming to the U.S. for beans, the price just keeps climbing.
Michelle Rook of AgweekTV said soybeans have gained $2.70 since Jan. 18, which Martinson called “just phenomenal.”
Rook asked Martinson, if this continues, how high could it go? On this week’s Agweek Market Wrap, Martinson said if the price climbs above contract highs, he could see it climbing to $16.70 or, “and I hate to say it,” even $17.
Conab made a 15 million metric ton cut to Brazilian soybean estimates, far more than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cut of 5 million metric tons. And Martinson said that number could get trimmed even more if forecasts of more hot, dry conditions come true.
Selling by the box: Avocado industry adjusts to changing world
Switching to selling avocados directly to online purchasers, and not to buyers for supermarkets has been a profitable move for Corey Ramage, who launched Grower Outlet mid-June.
He planted 1200 more trees last year in his Te Puna orchard, adding to his orchard with 30-year-old trees. He is planning to plant again this spring.
Ramage says customer demand for his avocados ordered online by the box was growing. He said selling this way was more satisfying than seeing contractors, drivers and retailers clipping the ticket along the way.
Because of Covid-19, many people were avoiding supermarkets, he said, which helped drive demand for home deliveries.
Vintage machinery enthusiast recreates photo to mark milestone
A man with a passion for vintage farm machinery has recreated an image of his 100-year-old grain binder from the 1930s to celebrate its century of service.
Nigel Gamble, of Totara Valley, near Pleasant Point in South Canterbury, thought the best way to celebrate that milestone was to turn back the clock to 1933 and recreate an image of the binder at work.
With the help of his friend, Ian Urquhart, Gamble decided to recreate a photo of the machine taken in action at Orari Gorge Station – with Urquhart providing the 1924 Ford tractor.
Gamble believes the binder he now owns is the same machine in the black and white photograph.
“It’s something Ian and I have talked about for a few years now,” Gamble said.
“The binder turns a hundred this year, and we thought it would be a nostalgic way to celebrate it.”
Omicron: Wine industry welcomes new critical workers’ exemption
With harvest around the corner and an unprecedented labour shortage, the Government’s new exemption scheme will help the wine industry, said New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said..
The new scheme revealed by the Government on Thursday enables close contacts to keep going to work instead of isolating if they return a daily negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
This will come into effect at phase two of the Omicron plan, when case numbers increase significantly, which is likely to happen within two weeks as the spread of the virus accelerates.
In addition, close contacts who work alone can continue to operate in a bubble of one.
“Our focus is ensuring that our people can continue to work, or can return to work as quickly as possible,” said Gregan.
Kiwifruit growing licences not subject to council rates
A group of Kiwifruit growers has won a ratings battle against the Gisborne District Council, with a tribunal concluding that licence fees for G3 Gold Kiwifruit cannot be counted as improvements to the land and would therefore not subject to ratings.
The standoff between growers and council began after the Gisborne District Council included licence costs for the G3 gold Kiwifruit in rating valuations for orchards in the region in 2020. This decision meant a significant increase in rates for growers, with some reporting up to 300 per cent increases as a result.
NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) did not agree with the council that licences were an improvement to land.
Tim Tietjen, from Bushmere Trust, supported by the NZKGI, brought a case before the Land Valuation Tribunal in 2021. This month the tribunal agreed the council was wrong to include the value of gold kiwifruit licences in its assessment of capital value.
OVER the course of the 2021/22 harvest, Western Australian farmers delivered enough grain to CBH Group sites to fill Optus Stadium 17 times over.
The co-operative officially called the end of harvest last Thursday after receiving a record breaking 21.3 million tonnes.
That number surpasses the previous record in 2016/17 of 16.65mt and is 50 per cent more than the five-year average of 14.2mt.
Of the 130 sites that received grain, 40 set new highs for tonnes delivered in one day and 54 exceeded their previous record for total tonnes delivered to the site in one harvest.
CBH acting chief operations officer Mick Daw said the harvest had exceeded all expectations.
GRAINCORP continues to take advantage of the near ideal grain growing conditions through its east coast footprint, this week announcing beefed up earnings advice.
The bulk handler said it expected full year 2022 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in the range of $480 – 540million, a big step up from FY21’s $331 million.
It is a similar story for net profit after tax (NPAT) with a forecast of a FY22 underlying NPAT2 of $235 – 280 million, up from $139 million for FY21.
GrainCorp managing director Robert Spurway said the strong outlook reflects a big year for the company’s supply chain business, continued delivery of operating initiatives, and high global demand for Australian grain and oilseeds.
“GrainCorp delivered an excellent result in FY21, and I am pleased to report that we expect this performance to be further improved in FY22,” Mr Spurway said.
He said the results were not just down to the good grain growing conditions.
Green Atlas’s orchard mapping examined for effectiveness in WA
A PROJECT will evaluate the effectiveness of orchard mapping and monitoring technology to see if it has commercial viability for Western Australian orchards.
The one year project will examine the technology developed by Australian company Green Atlas, which uses a combination of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) remote sensing data and digital images to map and monitor orchard growth, with in-kind support from local supplier Aero Vines.
The project is evaluating the use of the technology to inform orchard thinning and improve the management of the number of fruit on trees, known as crop loads.
Grain exports kicked in December as new season’s shipments begin to find their way into overseas markets.
Government trade data showed that Australia shipped 2.22 million tonnes of wheat, more than 1mt of barley and 288,000 tonnes of canola in December. Combined December wheat, barley, and canola exports of about 3.5mt were around 850,000t higher than November.
A further 80,000t of sorghum was also exported in December, with most of this shipped out of Queensland ports.
Australia’s combined wheat, barley and canola grain shipments are expected to top 4mt in January. Shipping stem data indicated that Australia’s grain exports will be operating at full capacity in January and are expected to maintain this pace well into 2022.
FINAL receival statistics from Western Australian bulk handler CBH back up the extent of the record harvest in the west.
CBH last week reported it had taken 21.3 million tonnes for harvest with receivals virtually finished.
This smashes the previous record into the CBH system of 16.7m tonnes in 2016-17 and is around 50 per cent higher than the long term average of 14.2m tonnes.
Of the 130 sites that received grain, 40 set new highs for tonnes delivered in one day and 54 exceeded their previous record for total tonnes delivered to the site in one harvest.
CBH acting chief operations officer Mick Daw said the figures exceeded all expectations.
Excellent prospects for Mercosur beef exports, except Argentina
The Argentine beef industry is optimistic about world meat production and global demand this year, with China again playing a leading market role. A report issued by Argentina’s Rosario Stock Exchange (BCR) and the Mercado Ganadero Department (Rosgan), world beef production will reach 58 million tons, representing a 1% increase over 2021.
This prospect would reverse the downward trend seen in 2021, mainly because of the recovery of the meat-packing industries in Brazil and Australia, the world’s first and third-largest meat exporters, respectively.
As for the global flow of imports, the expected average, according to analysts at BCR/Rosgan, is 10 million tons, which would imply an increase of 2.7% compared to last year.
China, which reduced the pace of international beef purchases in 2021 to 950,000 tons compared to more than 1.1 million tons in 2020 will once again represent 32% of global consumption. According to BCR/Rosgan, China accounted for 13% of global meat demand in 2017.
Argentina Slashes Corn Harvest Outlook Over Drought
Argentina’s Buenos Aires grains exchange cut its forecast for the country’s 2021/22 corn harvest to 51 million tonnes on Thursday, down from its previous estimate of 57 million tonnes due to drought that has singed crops in recent months.
According to Reuters, the South American country, the world’s second largest exporter of corn and the top seller of processed soybeans, suffered a prolonged drought from December to mid-January and concerns are rising again about a new dry spell.
“The drop in expected yields in the early planted areas of the grain leads us to cut our harvest projection by 6 million tonnes,” said the exchange in a weekly report, adding rainfall would be key to maintain the new forecast. “Rainfall in the remainder of February will be key to sustaining this volume.”
Last week, the exchange reduced its estimate for Argentina’s soybean crop 2021/22 by 2 million tonnes to 42 million tonnes due to the dry weather at the start of the year.
Brazilian rains slow soybean harvest, help second crop corn
The soybean harvest continues to move swiftly in Mato Grosso, reaching 50% complete this week, with the second crop of corn following close behind at nearly 45% complete. Rainfall continues to envelope most of the state this past week and more rain is forecast for this weekend. While this may slow up the soybean harvest, overall these rains are welcomed as it guarantees solid germination for what has been planted so far for the second crop of corn.
The soybean harvest pace is slightly above the historical average and so stopping for a couple days is not a material issue. Due to the sandy soils and no-till system, farmers could receive an inch of rain and still being out in the field the next day with enough sunlight.
Bears would point out that Mato Grosso is looking for a record planted area of second crop corn — 15.5 million acres. Additionally, there are still at least 11 days left in the ideal planting window for second crop corn. We consider Feb. 20 to be the end of the ideal planting window. That is not to say you cannot reach target yields beyond that, but the risk increases each day as the rainy season begins to slow down before the growing season has ended.
Conab cuts Brazil 2021-22 corn output forecast to 112.3 mil mt
The reduction in the 2021-22 corn production forecast was primarily due to drought, mainly between November and December 2021, in the southern states of Brazil, which was expected to lower the yield of the first corn crop.
Corn yield forecast for the first corn crop has been cut to 5.39 mt/hectare for 2021-22, from 5.495 mt/hectare in the January report.
The first corn crop in Brazil is planted during September-December and harvested February-May, while the second crop is planted February-March and harvested June-July.
Conab also cut its 2021-22 corn export forecast to 35 million mt from 36.68 million mt.
Brazil is one of the top three exporters of corn in the world.
Data shows millions in the UK have experienced food insecurity recently
New data released by the Food Foundation reports that 8.8 percent of households (4.7 million adults) have experienced food insecurity in the past month.
Research by the Food Foundation reveals that 4.7 million adults in the UK have experienced food insecurity in the last month, with one million adults reported that they or someone in their household has had to go a whole day without eating in the past month because they couldn’t afford or access food.
As the need to be ‘green’ becomes ever more present, New Food’s Editorial Assistant, Abi Sritharan, investigates the challenges and opportunities of using surplus ingredients to create upcycled food products.
You’ve probably heard of the term upcycling – it is most commonly referred to when someone renovates a piece of old furniture – but have you heard of upcycled food? If not, you’re not alone; a 2021 study published in Food and Nutrition Sciences revealed that only 10 percent of consumers were familiar with this term. Interestingly, the research also uncovered that once acquainted with the concept of upcycled food, 80 percent would seek out such products.
Similarly, in a more recent poll by New Food, 43 percent of readers stated they did not know what upcycled food is, while 41 percent said they would – or do – purchase upcycled products.
USDA to publish rule allowing serving of flavoured milk in schools
The International Dairy Food Association has announced its support of the US Department of Agriculture’s final rule maintaining low-fat, flavoured milk in schools.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it will allow school meal operators participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to continue serving low-fat flavoured milk to students through the 2023-2024 school year without needing to secure a waiver.
“The announcement from USDA clears up several years of confusion and takes a positive step toward restoring more varieties of milk to the school meals program”, said, Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), in a statement. “The final rule allows schools to continue to serve milk that students prefer to drink while remaining consistent with the Dietary Guidelines. The rule gives clarity to school meals professionals and food makers as they plan ahead amid supply chain challenges, and it will improve students’ access to dairy products”.
World food prices are soaring and approaching record levels that were last seen over a decade ago. This news won’t come as a surprise to many as warnings and discussions around price hikes continue to dominate our news and socials feeds, but what was once hearsay has now transformed into our bleak reality. The price increases have arrived – and have become somewhat more noticeable over recent months.
In fact, data from Kantar shows that in December alone, the four-week grocery price inflation stood at 3.8 percent, with the average monthly household food bill increasing by £15 or more during this period. In a previous Chris’ Corner, I predicted – unfortunately correctly – that this would be the case.
My forecasts were based on three main factors. Firstly, the major retailers I spoke to were already seeing costs increases and knew that this could only be absorbed by themselves and their supply chains for a short time. Secondly, the fallout of the pandemic was likely to result in massive increases in transportation and labour costs due to border closures, lockdowns and illness – and did. The third reason was around the number of reported crop failures we’d been seeing across many parts of the world due to our ongoing climate crisis.
Research claims UK adults shun essential jobs, including those in food
Research claims that sectors critical to putting food on the table and looking after people’s health are at risk as working age adults shun many of the essential jobs that keep society running including food production and logistics to health and social care.
New research from leading skills development organisation, City & Guilds, claims that adults of a working age do not apply for essential jobs in the UK. The research finds that despite key workers seeing the nation through the pandemic, the UK’s most vital industries are being threatened by growing skills shortages, as poor reputations and concerns about low pay turn off potential new recruits.
Based on an Opinium survey of 10,000 working age people in the UK and economic analysis from labour market economists, Emsi Burning Glass UK, data found that, on average, only a quarter of the UK’s talent pool are interested in key worker jobs. This is despite essential roles accounting for half of all UK employment opportunities, demonstrating the gap between the jobs society needs people to do, and their desire to do them, according to City & Guilds.
Soy slump delivers a dose of realism to proponents
Soybeans have faced a sobering slap down in Western Canada.
From being lauded as the next Cinderella crop and projected by some to assume a core role in most farmers’ rotations, the crop has experienced a big slump.
Rather than hitting three million acres in Manitoba, which many expected by now, the crop’s acreage has fallen to about 1.3 million acres, or one million fewer than in 2017.
A host of issues have hit growers: repeated years of drought; low protein leading to discounts; troubles marketing the crop; high seed costs crushing margins.
However, the industry still believes better times lie ahead for the crop.
The pulse crop has significant potential, but researchers are still attempting to solve significant agronomic challenges
Lupin is a promising crop that will likely get a foothold on the Canadian Prairies, but more research is needed into the pulse before this can happen.
“I just want to caution the industry right now to not move too quickly. There’s so much demand and so many questions about lupin seed, and I just want everybody to hold their horses if they wouldn’t mind while we figure out some of these questions,” said Robyne Bowness Davidson, a pulse specialist at Lakeland College.
Bowness Davidson, who has been working with lupin since 2004, said the crop can have protein levels of up to 40 percent, which is much higher than any other pulse crop grown on the Prairies.
Farming Input Costs Are Rising – How Producers are Managing the Risk
Farmers enjoyed rising crop prices in 2021, but rising input prices across the board are eating into producer profits.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts net farm income rose 20% in 2020 relative to 2019, and is forecast to be up 23% in 2021. However, with higher costs across the board for inputs, farmers are cautious going into spring planting and are reviewing their risk-management strategies to protect income.
In December, the Ag Economy Barometer from CME Group and Purdue University revealed that 57% of surveyed producers said they expect farm input prices in 2022 to rise by more than 20% compared to 2021. Nearly 40% said they expect input prices to rise by more than 30%.
Economists at the University of Illinois estimate positive farmer returns for 2022, at $61 an acre for corn and $67 an acre for soybeans. However, that is down considerably from 2021’s projected returns of $378 an acre for corn and $305 for soybeans.
Will North Dakota corn wet milling plant give the region’s farm economy a boost?
GRAND FORKS, North Dakota — The Fufeng Group Ltd. wet corn milling plant proposed in Grand Forks has potential to benefit the region’s agricultural industry, but whether that happens depends on the answers to an abundance of yet-unanswered questions.
In November 2021, Fufeng Group Ltd., a Chinese-based bio-fermentation company, chose Grand Forks from among four U.S. locations that were finalist for locations to build a wet milling corn plant that would initially have capacity to process 25 millions bushels of corn annually.
The wet corn milling processing plant, which is proposed to be located on a 370-acre site in northwest Grand Forks, primarily would manufacture food additives, animal feed and other products, according to Keith Lund, Grand Forks Region Economic Development president and CEO. The plant’s finished products would be the amino acids lysine and threonine, which are an essential ingredient in animal nutrition formulas.
Canada’s common wheat exports fall 29% on week, durum wheat shipments rise
Canadian common wheat exports fell 29% week on week to 187,100 mt in the week ended Jan. 9, Canadian Grain Commission data released Jan. 16 showed.
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Exports of the food grain fell in the week to Jan. 9 as wheat prices globally declined and demand for crops from other origins increased. Export prices of Canadian wheat have also seen some volatility amid choppy trade in the past two weeks, traders said.
However, exports of durum wheat rose to 19,600 mt in the week to Jan. 9 from 13,100 mt the week before, the data showed.
Durum wheat exports over Aug. 1-Jan. 9 totaled 1.2 million mt, down more than 52% from the same period of of MY 2020-21.
New Zealand’s red meat sector exports reached $10 billion last year, a 9 per cent increase compared to 2020.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) figures show that for the month of December 2021, the value of red meat exports was up 22 per cent on December 2020, at just over $1 billion for the month.
China is New Zealand’s largest beef export market. It took 46 per cent of exports for the final quarter, followed by the US and Japan.
Despite no change in the volume of beef exported to China for the 2021 final quarter compared to the 2020 quarter, the dollar value of those exports rose by a third.
Halter company manager Steve Crowhurst said expanding that to allow remote drafting was a “wow moment” for farmers and a world first.
“The collar device takes thousands of readings from a cow and can identify issues more quickly than what would be observed in the milk shed for example,” Crowhurst said.
“We are able to get what we call a cowgorithm, which is a full status report on an individual cow.
“Cows are drafted, or separated, for a number of reasons, namely the springers, on heat or for sickness. They might need extra feed, they might need to be assessed for lameness, or they might need to be artificially inseminated during mating.”
Despite the lure of high prices, dairy farmers may be accepting lower production levels, by being less tempted to use off-farm feed supplements like PKE. High prices make that choice easier
Following on from Fonterra lifting their forecast farm gate price (mid-point $9.20 per kg MS) Synlait have followed suit with a forecast price of $9.25. (See here.)
As well as both listing international demand as the major reason, Fonterra added the lower production figures for the year as a contributing reason while Synlait added that the lowering NZ$ as a major reason. Synlait’s next update will be in May.
The latest Global Dairy Trade auction held yesterday reinforced the companies’ decisions by lifting +4.1% and WMP leading the way with a +5.8% lift. Product prices are shown below with the New Zealand price at todays US dollar value, [0.6648] in brackets.
Butter index up 3.3%, average price US$6,359/MT ($9,565)
Ched index up 2.4%, average price US$5,684/MT ($8,550)
Australia’s sprouted wheat is an Asian market option
INTERNATIONAL feed grain buyers are receiving expert advice on how to incorporate sprouted wheat into animal rations, following a wet Australian harvest in some areas, resulting in sprouted crops.
Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) chief executive officer Richard Simonaitis said they quickly moved to support Australian grain traders and international customers with technical information on the use of sprouted wheat for animal feed.
“Sprouted wheat is actually equivalent to non-sprouted wheat in nutritional value for animal feed, unless the sprouting is extensive,” Mr Simonaitis said.
“In most cases, sprouted wheat can be used freely as a feed component, as long as all the standard quality parameters are in place.
THE Australian cotton sector is set to consolidate its post-drought renaissance with forecasters tipping the 2021-22 crop to be the second best on record.
Cotton Australia says favourable conditions across most of Australia’s cotton growing regions mean production estimates sit at 5.2 million bales, almost ten times larger than the drought impacted 2019-20 crop of 590,000 bales.
As well as good irrigated cotton plantings with solid water allocations there is also a significant dryland cotton plant.
Cotton Australia chief executive Adam Kay said after a reasonable crop in 2020-21 of 2.8m tonnes this year’s forecast product was set to boost the nation’s cotton sector.
He said it had not been a perfect season with slightly dry conditions through January in some parts and floodplain flooding in others causing yield reductions but he added many growers were pleased.
High input costs and supply chain challenges stack up
WITH seeding in Western Australia just around the corner, higher than normal input costs are front of mind for growers and the significant supply chain challenges across the globe aren’t doing anything to allay those fears.
Freight services worldwide have increased in cost and become increasingly hard to source, reliability of shipment dates has reduced and production of crop protection active ingredients has been constrained in key countries.
Combine all of that together and the agricultural chemical industry is facing never before seen challenges when it comes to global supply chains.
Nufarm Australia commercial general manager Peter O’Keeffe said there were a few factors at play starting with global supply, as molecules including 2,4-D and glyphosate have been tight globally in the second half of 2021.
Numbers on feed likely to stay over the million head mark
The shift in producer mindset towards selling younger males to feedlots rather than feeding them out on grass to processor rates is expected to continue as grain-fed beef demand goes from strength to strength.
Last year, for the first time ever, 50 per cent of domestically consumed beef was from lot-fed cattle.
Numbers on feed have now been above the 1 million mark for 15 consecutive quarters and analysts believe it’s unlikely they will ever again drop below that.
Feedlots are currently buying more than 50pc of Eastern Young Cattle Indicator eligible cattle.
Meat & Livestock Australia’s February cattle industry projections show feedlot capacity is at a record level of 1.4m head, with utilisation at 77 per cent.
Paraguay foresees worst soybean harvest in 25 years
The Union of Production Guilds Paraguay Wednesday said it foresaw 2022 will be a tough year for the agricultural sector due to the current drought which will mean, among other setbacks, the worst soybean harvest in the last 25 years, or US $ 2 billion less to the country’s economy.
Union of Production Guilds leader Héctor Cristaldo said that in December there was a rainfall deficit which was already beginning to be noticed. Based on that, the worst scenarios was projected, resembling that of 2012, with only 1,367 kilos of soybean per hectare harvested. Inin 2021, output stood at 2,800 kilos per hectare and that was already worrying, Cristaldo explained.
“Now that the harvest is advanced, 80% in the south, 70% in the center of the Eastern Region and 30% in the north, we are below that number and a harvest that is going to have a strong impact on the entire movement of foreign currency income for the country, more than US $ 2 billion“ which will impact logistics and the entire economy nationwide, Cristaldo added.
Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying, capping off a week of strong gains after Thursday’s pause, with March hitting multi-year highs. Traders continued to watch weather in South America, with further reductions in yield estimates expected. According to one private firm, significant amounts of beans in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay have been lost to the hot, dry weather associated with a La Nina pattern, which will shift a lot of attention and export business to the U.S. and could lead to an increase in U.S. planted area in 2022. The Rosario Grain Exchange has Argentina’s soybean crop at 40 million tons. Argentina is the world’s biggest exporter of soybean products, while Brazil has the top spot for soybeans. Unknown destinations bought 295,000 tons of U.S. beans, mostly old crop. The announced sales total for the week was 936,000 tons, combined old and new crop, all to either China or unknown destinations. Soybean meal was higher and bean oil was lower on the adjustment of product spreads. India says it will place limits on the amount of oilseed and vegetable oil supplies held by processors and traders to limit further price inflation and hoarding. India is the world’s largest importer of vegetable oils.
Brazil’s Jan soybean exports at 2.47 mil mt dwarf 50,000 mt a year earlier
Brazil’s soybean exports surged to 2.47 million mt over Jan. 1-30 from 49,498 mt a year earlier, the country’s foreign trade department Secex said in a report Feb. 1, likely supporting local oilseed prices.
The country is the world’s biggest soybean producer and exporter, and the bulk of its soybean exports in January were to China, the world’s largest soybean importer, according to local traders.
Brazil’s soybean harvest for crop year 2021-22 (September-August) started well ahead of the typical schedule, supporting export volumes, with the harvest in the states of Mato Grosso and Parana almost three weeks ahead of last year’s pace.
Agricultural consultancy AgRural said Brazil’s harvest had reached 10% of the projected area of 40.4 million hectares by Jan. 27, up from 2% a year earlier.
Soybean buyers stung by a smaller and slower harvest than expected in Brazil are turning to the U.S. for supply, driving up prices and threatening to worsen food inflation.
What was expected to be a record crop in Brazil is now looking far smaller, with lower yields and harvest delays caused by adverse weather catching traders and end-users shorthanded. The uncertainty has driven buyers into the U.S. market.
More than 110 ships have been chartered on a preliminary basis to load crops at ports in the Pacific Northwest, according to Bill Tierney, chief economist for AgResource Co. in Chicago.
The rush by traders and financial players has driven up futures in Chicago by 30% since early November to an eight-month high, with the premium for July contracts over November surging eight-fold.
Can fortifying foods with fibre reduce the risk of disease?
A new study has found that increasing the fibre content of everyday food items could lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.Increasing the fibre content of everyday UK foods, such as baked goods, dairy products, soups and smoothies, will enable 50 percent more adults to get the recommended daily amount of fibre in their diets and lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes for the majority of UK adults claims a new study by Tate & Lyle PLC.In the study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, scientists from Tate & Lyle, worked with specialist data analytics company Crème Global, to find the effects of reformulating everyday foods with added fibre. According to their research, adding more fibre to food reduced the risk of cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risk for 72 percent of the adult population, and saw six percent of the UK population lose weight due to the higher fibre consumption.Read more here…
Picture warnings on sugary drinks may help fight obesity, study suggests
A new study has examined whether pictorial health warnings on sugary drinks influence which beverages parents buy for their children. global average.
A study published in the journal PLOS Medicineassessed whether health warnings in the form of pictures on sugary drinks — like juice and soda — influence which beverages parents buy for their children.
The study found that these warnings reduced parental purchases of sugary drinks for their children by 17 percent.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health ran the study in a unique laboratory called the ‘UNC Mini Mart’.
A side of plastic: what can we do to stop it getting into our food?
The ocean contains thousands of pieces of plastic that could be entering some our favourite dishes, but what can you do to help?
Did you know that the average Londoner buys more than three single use plastic (SUP) water bottles every week? That adds up to be an eye-watering 175 bottles every year per person, making that a grand total of 7.7 billion plastic bottles purchased across the UK every year. Not only is this a huge contributor to SUP waste, but it is now impacting our surrounding ocean and the marine life that live within it.
Recent data collected by the PADI AWARE Foundation, a non-profit working with recreational SCUBA divers, shows that there is now eight million pieces of plastic entering the ocean every day, with 46,000 pieces of plastic in the ocean per square mile.
Plant pathologists leading fight against damaging corn disease tar spot
Tar spot causes millions of corn bushels to be lost each year, but now a group of pathologists are hoping to limit the disease’s spread.Scientists from institutions across the US, Canada and Mexico have come together in a bid to halt the spread of tar spot, a disease which affects corn yields across the American continents.Foliar disease tar spot has had a significant impact on corn production around the world. Between 2018 and 2020 in the US alone, the disease resulted in a loss of 242.6 million bushels of corn – and this number is expected to grow after the 2021 season.Tar spot in corn was first spotted in Mexico in 1904 and spread to 15 additional countries throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. In 2015 the disease was detected in Indiana and Illinois, and since then it has spread to a further eight states as well as southwest Ontario in Canada.
Does offering more meatless options result in a permanent switch?
A study looking at thousands of cafeteria meal choices has found that increasing the vegetarian options also increases the proportion of plant-A new research study published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, tested menus from a university cafeteria, a workplace cafeteria and an online survey to examine the impact of altering the availability of meat-free meals on meal selection.The online study used a representative sample of 2,200 UK adults and found that when three of four meal options were meat-based, 12 percent chose the plant-based option. But when three of four meal options were vegetarian, 48 percent chose the vegetarian meal. The effect was the same whether the participants were female or male, rich or poor.A similar result was found in an Oxford University cafeteria, which had chosen to switch from a mostly meat-based menu to one that was mostly plant-based.
