USA and Canada

Last season’s drought could cause unpredictable soil N

A good portion of the plant nutrients applied last spring still sits in prairie soils.

Some agronomists have even found granular pellets of fertilizer still intact when taking soil tests this fall.

In most areas, there was enough moisture to dissolve fertilizer applied in the spring. However, drought conditions prevented crops from using these inputs across wide swaths of the Prairies last summer.

With fertilizer prices shooting for the moon, many producers will be eager to include high levels of residual nutrients when penciling in their fertility program.

This is especially the case with nitrogen that’s approximately double the price now compared to a year ago.

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 Integrated approach helps manage herbicide resistance

 New research from Pennsylvania State University has shown that no-till production can reduce herbicide use and maintain crop yields by implementing integrated weed-management methods.

Traditionally, no-till farmers rely more heavily on herbicides to control weed growth. To test whether herbicide applications could be reduced in no-till production, lessen environmental impact and control selection pressure by weeds for herbicide resistance, researchers at Penn State’s Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center in Rock Springs conducted a nine-year experiment using herbicide-reduction practices in a dairy crop rotation.

With more than 65 percent of agronomic crops under no-till production in Pennsylvania, weeds are spreading and becoming more difficult to control, reducing crop yields.

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Prairies canola crop pegged at 12.6 million tonnes

A Manitoba oilseed expert has pegged prairie canola production at 12.6 million tonnes.

If that’s correct, it would be the lowest tonnage since 2010 and a 36-37 percent reduction from 2020, when Canada produced 19.5 million tonnes of canola.

Dane Froese, oilseed specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, presented production estimates for the 2021 crop during a Canola Council of Canada meeting Nov. 30.

In a table summarizing production in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Froese said Saskatchewan had the largest drop in canola yields, by far.

The average yield across the Prairies was 27.5 bushels per acre, 34 percent below the five-year average.

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Canada’s crop production plummeted in 2021, says StatCan

It wasn’t a good year to be a crop farmer and Statistics Canada has the numbers to prove it.

Production of several major field crops, except for corn, fell across the country.

Manitoba saw wheat production decrease by 28.9 per cent to 3.8 million tonnes while yields fell by 21.9 per cent to 47.9 bushels per acre, according to StatCan.

Wheat yields across Canada fell by 38.5 per cent to 21.7 million tonnes with Saskatchewan taking the brunt of crop losses, seeing their yields plummet by 43.4 per cent to 26 bushels an acre.

It was hardly a banner year for canola, which fell to the lowest levels since 2007 with a 35.4 per cent drop in production.

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U.S. soy achieves record export volume

This year, U.S. soy set a new record for exporting more product in more international markets than ever before.

The United Soybean Board, U.S. Soybean Export Council, and American Soybean Association announced that the 20/21 market year set a record of 61.65 million metric tons of whole soybeans shipped to markets across the globe. That is a value of over $28 billion in revenue for the U.S. Soy industry!

“This record is a result of efforts to enhance access and usage of U.S. soy across the food, feed and livestock industries and across international markets by the U.S. soy farmers and industry, our customers, and governments around the world,” said Jim Sutter, CEO of U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). “Setting the new aggregate volume record demonstrates the value of the investment of U.S. soy farmers to create positive impact for our customers around the world to contribute to improved nutrition and food security, environmental sustainability, and livelihoods globally.”

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New Zealand

Boosting the quality of our dairy herd is vital for sector’s future

When the country’s largest milk processor declared milk supply in New Zealand was “likely to decline” and remain “flat at best”, it’s fair to say it was a reality check for our nation’s dairy farmers.

I know it was for me. As a fourth-generation dairy farmer this was the call-to-action moment I’d been waiting for, having contemplated the reality for some time.

As a sector we’ve accepted and become familiar with the term “peak cow”, but “peak milk” is uncharted territory being navigated by Fonterra’s new strategy and capital structure proposal.

 

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NZ agriculture is starting to see value in celebrating its provenance

Much of New Zealand’s agricultural produce is sold as unbranded commodities on global markets. But that’s starting to change as companies discover there is value in heralding their Kiwi provenance.

“New Zealand has got a really strong story and that’s something that we haven’t really told in the past,” says Lincoln University agribusiness and food marketing programme director Dr Nic Lees. “We are making progress. I think we have started on that journey.”

Fonterra, the country’s largest dairy company, has been vocal about its shift in focus under new chief executive Miles Hurrell. Where his predecessor Theo Spierings envisaged the co-operative becoming another big global conglomerate like Danone or Nestle, Hurrell has sold off overseas assets and pulled back to New Zealand to focus on getting more value from the “white gold” produced by local farmers.

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One of the country’s oldest pear trees now bearing fruit of a different kind

Under the watchful gaze of Taupiri Maunga, across the Waikato River, a lone pear tree stands in a paddock with its roots firmly embedded in New Zealand history.

The fruit tree was one of many planted by Reverend Benjamin Yate Ashwell near the Anglican mission school he established at Kāitōtehe about 20km north of Hamilton.

Ashwell made his way into the Waikato region in 1839 where he was given permission by Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, the first Kīngi Māori, to set up the mission on the edges of Kāitōtehe Pā, close to the Waikato River.

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Fonterra lifts farmgate milk price to record level; sees $13.2b economic boost

Fonterra has lifted its milk payment to farmers for this season to the highest level since it was founded 20 years ago, which it expects will contribute more than $13.2 billion to the economy.

The co-operative on Friday lifted and narrowed its forecast for the 2021/22 season a second time, and is now expecting to pay its farmer suppliers between $8.40 and $9 per kilogram of milk solids. That’s up from its forecast in late October of between $7.90 and $8.90 per kgMS.

The midpoint of the range, which farmers are paid off, increased to $8.70 per kgMS from $8.40 per kgMS, and would be the highest level since Fonterra was formed in 2001. The co-operative paid farmers $7.54 per kgMS last season, and its previous record was $8.40 per kgMS in the 2013/14 season.

Read more here…

Snail farming, cricket flour, algae and lab-grown fish; Welcome to the brave new world of alternative protein

Innovators of meat and dairy substitutes and new plant-based foods are tapping consumer demand for alternatives to animal-based production and New Zealand is not immune.

The country is delving into plant protein ingredients, lab-based animal proteins, new plant-based consumer brands, and hybrid models where agricultural producers include plant ingredients alongside their animal proteins.

With about 40 per cent of New Zealand goods exports coming from the meat and dairy sectors, the rise of alternative proteins is an area the Ministry for Primary Industries is keeping tabs on. While an expanding global population is expected to continue to stoke demand for animal proteins, a growing desire for more sustainable and healthier lifestyles is driving uptake of alternatives.

Read more here…

Australia

Australian wheat crop upgraded to a bin bursting record of 34.429 million tonnes

In most parts of the country, milling wheat prices have continued to tick along near their recent highs, including back to record levels in South Australia.

However, there have been a couple of hurdles thrown up on the supply side, firstly with the upgrade of the Australian crop to a bin bursting record of 34.429 million tonnes, an increase of 1.8 million tonnes from the September projections.

We have now also seen the Canadians increase the size of their bread wheat crop by 700,000 tonnes, to 16 million tonnes, when a reduction to below 15 million tonnes had been expected.

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Barley field trial sets 8t/ha benchmark

A BARLEY field trial attempting to raise the yield bar for the high rainfall zones in Western Australia, particularly on ameliorated soils, has achieved the aspirational goal of eight tonnes per hectare this season.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) high rainfall zone farming systems project is led by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), with the cereals component managed by Field Applied Research (FAR) Australia.

The experiments focused on developing new yield benchmarks on ameliorated soils comparing genetic, environmental and management factors that have the potential to drive yield and push productivity.

The small plot scale trial, run on the Whiting family’s farm at Gibson alongside large replicated farm trials, evaluated the impact of management such as defoliation (grazing), increased nitrogen applications and more intensive fungicide strategies, as well as the effect of the actual variety.

Read more here…

Big spreads emerge as farmers count cost of grain downgrades

THE SPREADS between milling and feed wheat are opening up to near record levels as the grain trade tries desperately to get hold of quality wheat to export in light of the massive crop downgrades in NSW.

The good news for growers with downgraded grain is that the feed wheat price is remaining solid and the milling grades are rising off that level rather than the spread emerging due to a fall in the feed value.

It is not just the prices of high protein grades of milling wheat, where a premium has existed for some time, that are soaring, APW, the nation’s standard wheat, has risen markedly over the past fortnight to sit at $120 a tonne over general purpose wheat and $140/t over feed wheat in most east coast port zones.

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Wheat prices surge as rain swamps NSW crops

Australian wheat prices surged higher last week after torrential rain in NSW swamped wheat fields waiting to be harvested.

Wide expanses of NSW cropping areas are under flood waters after cropping areas recorded 75 millimetres to more than 100mm late last week.

Flood levels rose rapidly in the worst affected areas around the Namoi and Lachlan rivers where paddocks were already saturated and dams were full.

Worst case scenarios are being factored in by farmers.

Harvest was advanced in northern NSW but was just starting in the central west and south.

Read more here…

‘We’re part of Australia’s meat industry’: v2foods

PROMINENT plant-based protein supplier v2foods says it is part of the meat industry and is working on sustainably feeding the planet, just like Australia’s red meat producers.

Appearing at the senate inquiry into definitions of meat, v2foods founder and chief executive officer Nick Hazell said plant-based protein companies were ‘certainly not about closing down the livestock sector or cannibalising its market.’

He emphatically declared his industry did not attempt to ‘drag down others’ and then proceeded to do precisely that.

“The red meat sector doesn’t want to call our product meat because that would allow consumers to directly compare our version with theirs,” he told senators.

Read more here…

South America

Argentina expected to plant even more corn

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — The Buenos Aires grains exchange has increased its forecast for corn plantings for 2021-22 to 7.3 million hectares from 7.1 million hectares, Reuters reported.

It maintained the record harvest figure at 55 million tonnes. Crops, including corn and soybeans, are in good condition, helped by recent rainfall.

Farmers have planted 31.1% of the expected corn area and 46.3% of the estimated soybean area. The soybean harvest is estimated at 44 million tonnes.

Wheat harvest is nearly half complete, with production estimated at a record 20.3 million tonnes.

Read More here…

Labour strife in port of Montevideo; increasing export volumes shipped from Rio Grande in Brazil

Recurrent labour strife in the port of Montevideo is not only frustrating but is also seriously limiting activities, and only this week did the Union of Uruguayan exporters make public a release regretting the fact that several vessels abandoned the port given what is known as pearled stoppages.

These actions impeded the loading of hundreds of containers ready for export, and at the same time the unloading of others, already delayed, with merchandise for Christmas and inputs for different industries.

This also further complicates the current global situation with insufficient containers, scarce hold capacity and vessels, plus exorbitant freight rates, pointed out in the release.

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Argentinian Cherry Crop Forecast To Fall 14% This Year

Data recently released by Argentina’s Rural Development Institute (Instituto de Desarrollo Rural) indicate that the Argentinian cherry crop will fall by 14% to 4,100 metric tons this year owing to frosts and droughts.

In terms of cultivars, the production volume of Bing cherries is forecast to decrease by 21% to 1,728 metric tons in 2021, while the output of Lapins cherries is expected to reach 684 metric tons, corresponding to a year-on-year increase of 48%.

Argentina’s annual cherry output has fluctuated considerably in recent years. In 2015, the production volume was only 2,035 metric tons. This soared to 5,901 metric tons in 2017 and then plummeted by 60% to 2,346 metric tons in 2018.

Read more here

Food Updates

Would a switch to a Mediterranean diet be kinder on the environment?

Researchers from Germany and Austria have found that a switch to a vegan or Mediterranean diet would benefit the environment, though both diets do come with their drawbacks.

It’s no secret that what we eat has consequences for our health and animal welfare. So when comparing diets, these aspects as a whole should be taken into account.

Experts refer to the optimal health of humans, animals and the environment as the “One Health” perspective. “Studies that apply this perspective to nutrition issues are still rare, however,” explained Juliana Paris of the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn (Germany).

Read more here…

Mythbreakers: Is coffee bad for your heart?

Is coffee bad for your heart? Dr Langer of the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee takes this popular myth to task and offers some hope for the coffee-lovers around the world.More than 95 million people in the UK regularly consume coffee and these consumers are increasingly curious about the health effects of their preferred beverage. Some of the more common questions are linked to coffee’s effect on the heart. British Heart Foundation statistics show there are around 7.6 million people living with cardiovascular disease in the UK. Public health awareness days, such as the recent World Heart Day, help promote messages on healthy living and the role of diet. Consequently, it’s no surprise that many want to know whether coffee will help them look after their heart – and if so, how?Read more here…

Bird flu outbreaks continue in UK

Concerns are mounting over cases of Bird Flu in the UK, as more cases of Avian flu are identified among birds in North Yorkshire and Wales.Further cases of bird flu have been detected across the UK as nationwide housing orders come into force.The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Christianne Glossop has confirmed the presence of avian influenza H5N1 on a mixed poultry premises near Crickhowell, Brecon and Radnorshire, Powys. Meanwhile, eight possible outbreaks have also been identified in North Yorkshire since November.The Welsh authorities have enforced a 3km Protection Zone in Crickhowell, a 10km Surveillance Zone and a 10km Restricted Zone have been declared around the infected premises, to limit the risk of disease spread.

Read more here…

Emerging risks from emerging proteins

Professor Chris Elliott raises concern over the potential for mass food recalls and allergic reactions, as we see an increase demand in alternatives proteins, including plant-based and insects.

My last article for New Food on alternative proteins and the potential for another melamine-like scandal raised quite a few eyebrows and drew a lot of attention; I was subsequently contacted by a number of businesses and trade associations to discuss this in more detail.

I never set out to be an alarmist, but I do believe that potential, future crises must be highlighted so that discussions between and within companies can be had. It also allows regulators to consider how they can help mitigate against possible, serious public health risks.

Read more here…

FDA and CDC investigating multistate E. Coli outbreak

The FDA and CDC are investigating an outbreak of E.Coli In multiple US states which is thought to have been caused by organic spinach.Public health authorities in the US are warning consumers not to consume a certain brand or organic spinach after multiple cases of E.coli were detected in several different states.The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating the outbreak. According to the CDC, as of November 15, 2021, 14 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from nine states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 13 to October 27, 2021. 10 people in this outbreak report eating spinach in the week before becoming sick and six people reported Josie’s Organics brand.

Read more here…

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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

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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

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.

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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.

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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.

Read More here…

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.

 

Read More here…

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.

Read more here…

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.

Read more here…

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.

Read more here…

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.

Read more here…

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.

Read more here

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.

Read more here …

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.

Read more here…

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.

Read More here…

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.

Read More here

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.

Read more here

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.

Read more here…

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).

Read more here…

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.

Read more here…

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.

Read more here…

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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USA and Canada

      Wheat prices expected to peak this winter

The tightness in high protein wheat markets bodes well for spring wheat prices, but farmers might have to wait until mid-winter to see the peak, says an analyst.

Brennan Turner, chief executive officer of the crop marketing hub Combyne, said this year is reminiscent of 2007-08.

Canada had a similar disappointing level of spring wheat production back then, and export prospects were also about the same.

Prices at the beginning of that year’s campaign were about the same as they are today.

They started to steadily climb when the calendar flipped to 2008, peaking at a whopping US$24 per bu. on Feb. 25 before dropping back down to the $9 level by the end of the year.

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Ag game changing and the intelligence is inside

Artificial intelligence is on the cusp of causing a sea change in agriculture that promises to quickly challenge conventional crop-production and farm management techniques.

Many components required to build autonomous, smart agricultural equipment for vegetable and grain production in North America are already proven technologies.

Sensors including camera, lidar, and radar, as well as components that enable the electrification of machines such as hydraulic pumps, batteries and control systems are also far more available now compared to a few years ago.

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Supply chain problems contribute to fertilizer worries

Matt Conacher has important advice for western Canadian farmers.

“Over the next few months buy a good portion of your fertilizer needs and, if you can, bring it to farm to assure your supply,” said the senior manager of fertilizer with Federated Co-operatives Limited.

All macro-nutrients are in short supply for a variety of reasons, resulting in the highest fertilizer prices in history.

Nitrogen fertilizer production is being curtailed all over the world due to a myriad of factors like sky-high natural gas prices in Europe, a hurricane in Louisiana and energy outages in China.

On top of that, supply chain logistics are a mess.

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Tough Western Canadian harvest means less grain on the dock in Thunder Bay

The Port of Thunder Bay is feeling the impact of a reduced shipments of Prairie grain as the Western Canadian harvest is suffering through a ten-year low.

Monthly grain loads were down 30 per cent in September, according to the Thunder Bay Port Authority, which said in a news release that this mirrors the estimates by crop analysts of a 30 per cent reduction in crop yields in 2022.

The port authority registered 640,037 tonnes of grain through Thunder Bay last month, down from 935,881 tonnes during September 2020.

The authority said year-to-date grain shipments through Thunder Bay are now five per cent below their five-year average.

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October WASDE holds a mixed bag for the grain markets

The October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates were bearish for the row crop sector but positive for wheat.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture increased soybean yield by nearly 1 bushel per acre over September to 51.5 bushel per acre in the report issued on Tuesday, Oct. 12. The largest production changes are for Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. Harvested acres were left unchanged from last month at 86.4 million acres but production was increased to 4.448 billion bushels which was up 74 million bushels from September.

However, with the increase in carry in from the September quarterly stocks that pushed ending stocks to 320 million bushels, which is a 135 million bushels increase.

 Read more…

New Zealand

New technology will change the way farming is managed in the future

A Kiwi brought you the electric fence, what future local technology leaps will change the way farming is managed?

Seaweed feed additive can reduce methane production – the future is…almost here

Studies have shown that the red seaweed Asparagopsis can inhibit methane production when given as feed additive to cattle, and it has been hailed as a product that will save the planet.

However, says Johan Svenson, science and group manager for algae and bioactives at the Cawthron Institute, despite media hype about it, this seaweed still needs to be studied at a number of levels and a commercial solution is some way off.

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Choosing the right farm animals for your lifestyle block

Just as animals come in all shapes and sizes, so too do the lifestyle blocks they are kept on, and some animals are better suited to smaller blocks up to 10 hectares than others.

With more and more Kiwis pulling up sticks to move to the country, more important than ever is that the right animals are kept on smaller sections.

Kate Brennan is a goat farmer who runs lifestyleblock.co.nz, a website where people can seek advice on the practicalities of a lifestyle block. She says proper research is the key when it comes to finding the right animals for your land.

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Market for high-quality sunflower oil creates new opportunity for farmers

Farmers could earn extra money by growing sunflowers as a rotational crop in the summer, new research from the Foundation for Arable Research has found.

Demand for hi-oleic sunflower oil, a quality oil with a high smoke point, was growing. The oil is low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fat, the foundation said.

The three-year project, which received $90,000 from the Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Farming Fund (now called the Sustainable Food and Fibres Future fund), looked at crop options that could raise profitability and provide alternative land uses.

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Comparing pasture-raised beef to grain finished beef and a plant-based alternative identified better human health outcomes for the pasture-raised product, just another key outcome from the science that supports NZ farmers

Over the next few weeks I am taking a look at the research New Zealand scientists are conducting to explore the differences between pasture-raised beef and lamb vs grain-fed beef and lamb and indeed alternative proteins.

The first two weeks I am talking with Agresearch scientist Scott Knowles to get an understanding of what the research is all about and what Scott’s particular involvement is.

This research is in four stages. The first compares the nutritional makeup of pasture-raised beef, grain-finished beef, and meat alternatives. 

Read more here…

Australia

WA farmers enjoy canola fields of gold

CANOLA’S stratospheric rise continues with prices cracking $1000 a tonne.

While prices in four figures have occurred in broadacre crops with smaller overall production, such as lentils and Kabuli type chickpeas, this is a record for a mainstream crop in Australia.

Prices earlier this month touched $1020 a tonne in Western Australia and just crept over the $1000/t mark delivered to crushers on the east coast.

Australian Oilseeds Federation (AOF) executive officer Nick Goddard said the current prices smashed previous highs out of the water.

Using Australian Bureau of Statistics export data, Mr Goddard said the average price was just $579/t as recently as the 2017-18 season.

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Nut export values plummet but volumes up

AUSTRALIA sent more nuts overseas but got less for them overall in 2020/21.

Rural Bank’s Australian Agricultural Trade 2020/21 report which examines the performance of agricultural exports in the financial year, gave a mixed analysis of Australian tree nut exports.

It said the value of Australian nut exports decreased by 7.9 per cent in 2020/21 despite a significant rise in the volume of exports following increased production across most major growing regions.

A substantial rise in global supply saw the average export price for Australian nuts fall by 27.9pc. Australia exported 130,018 tonnes of nuts in that period.

 Read more here…

New peas Taylor made for success

LOST in among the hype surrounding other pulse crops field peas continue to be a quiet achiever in the southern production zone, especially in lower rainfall zones where crops such as lentils are less suited.

Pulse Breeding Australia has released two new varieties set to improve the product offering to field pea producers.

PBA Taylor is a Kaspa type field pea, slightly earlier maturing than the popular Kaspa variety.

The main advantage of the variety is in its strong disease resistance package, with good resistance to both pea seed borne mosaic virus and bean leaf roll virus.

These two viruses are common causes of yield loss in field peas and the resistance package is a key reason why Taylor has consistently been the highest yielding field pea in trials over a range of environments.

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Chinese relations impact table grape and citrus exporters with value drops

TENSIONS with China have hit the Australian table grape export market to the tune of $168.4 million.

While much has been made of the wine sector’s losses due to Chinese tariff increases, the fresh fruit equivalent has experienced the largest decline in export value in 2020/21 of the Australian fruit sector, down 25.8 per cent to $485 million.

The figures were revealed in Rural Bank‘s Australian Agricultural Trade 2020/21 report released last month.

While China remained Australia’s largest table grape export destination, export value to the country declined by 40pc in 2020/21.

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Avocado oversupply is hurting growers

A swathe of new avocado trees coming online across the country combined with good growing conditions and locked down cafes has created an ‘avo-lanche’.

The avo oversupply has driven prices down to $1.10 at some supermarkets.

A swathe of new avocado trees coming online across the country combined with good growing conditions and locked down cafes has created an ‘avo-lanche’.

The avo oversupply has driven prices down to $1.10 at some supermarkets.

Sunnyspot Farms directors Sally and Daryl Boardman, who have 15,000 trees at Ravensbourne, Hampton and Bundaberg, said the situation was tough for growers.

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South America

Uruguayan authorities halt second beef shipment to China which failed to meet quality standards

Uruguay’s Agriculture and Livestock Minister Fernando Mattos explained during the weekend that in addition to a batch of Uruguayan beef turned down by China at the port of destination for containing excessive amounts of fat, a similar case had been detected in the port of Montevideo, which was ready to be shipped.

The second batch had been found after Mattos had ordered an enquiry earlier this month on beef shipments from the Frigorífico Rosario processing plant which had already failed to meet the required quality standards.

“We confirmed that non-compliant merchandise, which was detected in China, was also found here in Montevideo,” said Minister Fernando Mattos at a press conference at Expo Melo in Cerro Largo this weekend.

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Argentine government slaps more controls on corn exports

Argentina’s Agriculture Minister has decided to up the number of requirements and restrictions on corn exports after the sector reached the exportable balance of 38.5 million tons, it was reported.

Corn producers and exporters complained additional requirements, restrictions and paperwork were set in place for the clearance of their goods to be shipped abroad amid rumours which ranged from an increase in export taxes to a ban -or cap- on international sales.

“Last week more than two million tons were anticipated. It is intended to order the last section of the year. Exports will not be closed, but more data will be requested,” Agriculture Minister sources told the media.

Argentina is “at the limit in the supply” of corn, it was also reported.

 

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Maritime transport crisis affects Catamarca exports of must

Export of Argentine must through the San Francisco Path to Chile from the province of Catamarca have to wait due to the international logistics scenario, it was reported Thursday.

Faced with this situation, provincial authorities were said to be looking for an alternative, which will most likely be the port of Buenos Aires.

Catamarca’s Director of Provincial Exchange Gabriel Molina explained “what is happening in the world is that there are closures of the main ports, there are no containers available, you cannot get reservations in the ports of the Chilean sector, there is a complication in the shipping companies”.

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BRAZIL’S 2021/22 SOYBEAN PLANTING REACHES 10%, AGRURAL SAYS

SAO PAULO, Oct 11 (Reuters) – Planting of Brazil’s 2021/22 soybean crop reached 10% of the estimated area as of Oct. 7, up six percentage points from the previous week and compared to 3% in the same period of 2020/21, agribusiness consultancy AgRural said on Monday.

The sowing was boosted by rain in a large portion of the country, and Mato Grosso and Parana, the major grain-producing states, led the planting progress, AgRural said.

“There was rainfall in a large part of Brazil last week, which favored fieldwork in regions where the planting was already advanced and also allowed the sowing to start in regions where producers were waiting for better humidity conditions,” AgRural said in a statement.

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Food Updates

Whey protein transformation: looking to solve waste in the dairy industry

Global consumption of dairy products – and particularly milk products – is increasing, escalating the dairy industry’s production of waste. Here, food expert Evita Achmadi reflects on how we can turn by-product into value product.

According to USDA data, world milk consumption was approximately 190 million tons in 2020. India ranks top of this list, with 81 million tons of milk consumed last year  – a figure which is expected to rise to around 83 million tons in 2021. The European Union (EU) comes next with 33.4 million tons, followed by the US with 21.2 million tons.¹ This rise in milk consumption has encouraged growth in the dairy industry as well as the generation of more waste – the most significant of which is whey, given that this liquid by-product of cheese processing is already integrated into food products. 

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60 percent of Brits keen to grow food at home, says Samsung research

Electronics giant Samsung hopes that connected technology can enable more Brits to grow their own produce at home as it launches the UK’s first urban-farm-to-table pizzeria.

Samsung has today released research which shows that millions of Brits living in towns and cities across the UK are keen to start growing their own food. The findings reveal that 60 percent would like to grow their own produce at home, but it’s Gen Z urbanites who are proving themselves to be the next green-fingered generation, with almost three quarters (72 percent) of 18-24 year olds tending to mini crops or plants on windowsills (23 percent) and bedrooms (20 percent).

Read more here…

Arla Foods Ingredients open new innovation centre in Denmark

The ingredients arm of food manufacturing giant Arla Foods says the new innovation centre will enable it to “bridge the gap” between research and manufacturing sustainable food.

Arla Foods Ingredients (a subsidiary of Arla Foods)  has opened a new Innovation Centre, which it says aims to step change cutting edge technology and the development of new solutions within a wide range of specialised dairy and whey ingredients to meet the fast-growing global demand for nutritious and sustainable food.

The Innovation Centre will be the new home for the company’s own international scientists and innovators and will bridge the gap for world class research, clinical trials and collaboration across the globe.

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“Analyse the data” – top food chain actors urge Farm to Fork rethink

The group of European food chain organisations has urged the European Commission to rethink the Farm to Fork strategy so as not to destabilise the continent’s food supply.

A consortium of top agricultural organisations including Copa Cogeca, Fertilizers Europe, and the European Landowners Organisation have come together to question the cost of the European Commission’s Farm to Fork strategy on European farmers.  

The group claims that several recently published studies on the Farm to Fork strategy indicate that the current targets, if implemented as proposed, will come at a considerable cost for EU farmers and the viability of the entire European agribusiness sector.

 Read more here…

USDA hands out funding for National Institute for Cellular Agriculture

It’s hoped the funding will help elevate the US to a position of leadership within the cultured protein sector, which is seen a key solution to reducing the climate impact of the food industry.

The US Department of Agriculture will award Tufts University $10 million over five years to establish the National Institute for Cellular Agriculture: a flagship American cultivated protein research centre of excellence.

USDA awarded the grant as a part of a $146 million investment in sustainable agricultural research projects announced by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on 6 October.  This investment is being made by USDA-NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems program — the nation’s largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. 

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USA and Canada

        Record corn prices offset lower yields

Corn prices are at exceptionally high levels in Manitoba because of local demand. Feed mills in the province need corn to produce rations. They can either buy corn locally, truck it in from the U.S., or replace it with feed wheat or barley. But those feed grains are also expensive. | File photo

Corn yields are below average on many farms in Manitoba, but producers should pocket a decent profit because of record high prices this fall.

A number of growers have extremely poor yields of 50 to 70 bushels per acre, and others have reported yields around 100 to 130 bu. per acre.

“It’s all over the place. It’s going to be the wonkiest provincial average, ever,” said Morgan Cott, special crops agronomist with the Manitoba Crop Alliance. “I think a happy medium would be someone averaging in the low 100s. Which is pretty amazing, considering the prices they (growers) could be getting this year.”

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Drought results in a drop in North Dakota, Minnesota edible bean production

Total 2021 U.S. edible bean production is estimated at 23.3 million hundredweight, which is 19% lower than 2020, the August crop production report said.

The North Dakota and Minnesota 2021 dry edible bean harvest is nearly in the books, and, as expected, yields are all over the board.

Eighty-three percent of North Dakota’s edible beans were harvested as of Sunday, Oct. 3, 5% less than last year, but 10% more than the five-year-average, according to National Agricultural Statistics Service-North Dakota. In Minnesota, the edible bean harvest was 86% complete as of Oct. 3, the same amount as in 2020 and 5% more than the five-year average, National Agricultural Statistics-Minnesota said.

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Organic Fertilizers Market for North America is Projected to Reach $2.45 Billion by 2026

The “North America Organic Fertilizers Market – Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 – 2026)” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

The North American organic fertilizer market was valued at USD 1,116.6 million in 2020, and it is projected to reach a value of USD 2,456.0 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 13.4%, during the forecast period, 2021-2026.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a direct and negative impact on the value chain of the organic fertilizer market in the North American region. The lockdown in different countries, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, affected the export-import scenario and the distribution system adversely.

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Bill Gates’ green tech fund bets on farming robots

Reuters — As many parts of North America struggle under a crippling drought, a California startup that believes robots can grow produce more sustainably has raised US$50 million in a funding round led by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

Iron Ox uses robots that are integrated with a hydroponic system consuming 90 percent less water than traditional farms, said chief executive officer Brandon Alexander.

The company is putting that system to work at a 10,000-sq. foot greenhouse in Gilroy, California, where a self-driving robot named Grover moves pallets of Genovese basil and a robotic arm system lifts the pallets for inspection. Sensors check the water for nitrogen and acidity levels for healthy growth.

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Barchart Cuts Crop Production Forecasts and Yield for U.S. and Canada

Barchart, a leading provider of data services, software and technology to global commodity buyers, agriculture, and the food supply chain, has released their October 2021 Yield and Production forecasts for U.S. and Canadian field crops. This latest report indicates a decrease in U.S. crop production for both corn, soybeans and hard red winter wheat, as well as a decrease in Canadian production forecasts for spring wheat and soybeans.

“As we near the end of the 2021 growing season, our forecasts have adjusted to show a decrease in yield for U.S. corn (182.3 bu/ac vs. 183.4 in September) and soybeans (51.3 bu/ac vs. 51.6 bu/ac in September),” said Barchart CEO Mark Haraburda. “We are also seeing a decrease in yield for Canadian Spring Wheat (46.3 bu/ac vs. 47.8 bu/ac in September), while there has been a slight increase in yield for Canadian Soybeans (42.2 bu/ac vs. 42.1 bu/ac in September).”

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New Zealand

ANZ raises forecast for Fonterra milk payment this season

ANZ has raised its expectation for Fonterra’s farmgate milk price this season as dairy commodity prices push higher.

The bank’s agricultural economist Susan Kilsby on Thursday raised her forecast by 50 cents to $8.20 per kilogram of milk solids.

“Dairy commodity prices have trended higher as the season has progressed. Often prices weaken at this time of the season, but this season prices have instead firmed,” Kilsby said.

“While we don’t see further upside in these prices in the immediate term, they are now at a level that delivers a healthy return back to our farmers.”

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Online trading platforms for on-farm livestock provide a safe, transparent selling option, avoiding freight and yard fees, and avoiding the associated animal welfare issues

Livestock trading is a critical element for any farmer, whether they are a commercial breeder selling calves, or lambs on to traders or finishers.

This is a pretty important time as it’s money back in the gate, and it’s something the farmer needs to get right particularly if selling on the open market.

I know a number of beef breeders who with their very well bred Angus or Hereford calves have been selling to the same farmers for generations, it could be a family member, a neighbour, or a good friend. Quite often a price is agreed between the two parties on a per head basis and their per head price may not fluctuate in the same way that the open market can. Of course the other traditional option is sending stock to calf and lamb sales or the saleyards where eager purchasers await.

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New study highlights differences between grassfed and grain-finished beef

A new study indicates that the way New Zealand grass-fed beef is raised has an effect on health and digestion.

The research was done at the Riddet Institute, led by Lovedeep Kaur and Mike Boland at Massey University’s Manawatū campus. It was funded by the Meat Industry Association, Beef and Lamb NZ, the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Kaur said the research showed that while the composition of animal protein was largely determined by an animal’s genetics, its fat content, especially so-called “good fats”, was mostly determined by what it ate.

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‘Sustainable’ fresh milk comes with costs that will challenge consumers’ natural preference for low prices, despite what they tell pollsters

This week’s GDT result will not be doing anything to improve dairy farmers mood, especially those in the Waikato. The overall weighted average stayed at the same level as the previous auction and while Butter, Cheddar and SMP all had (very) small rises, and WMP a minor drop:

– Butter index up 0.4%, average price US$4,878/MT
– Cheddar index up 0.7%, average price US$4,297/MT
– SMP index up 0.5%, average price US$3,315/MT
– WMP index down 0.4%, average price US$3,749/MT

Read more here…

Australia

National crop big, but unlikely to reach last year’s levels

AUSTRALIA is likely to harvest another massive winter crop but areas of poorer crop mean it is unlikely to challenge last year’s record production.

James Maxwell, Australian Crop Forecasters, said there was still significant intrigue surrounding final production numbers.

“Most years you have a reasonable feel for production figures at this stage and if things are going to move you can be confident whether it is likely to go up or down,” Mr Maxwell said.

“This year all outcomes are still on the table, we could see things move up or down depending on what happens over the next month to six weeks.”

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Rains consolidate big winter crop

Soaking general rains across southern Queensland in the past week will guarantee a massive winter crop harvest.

Falls ranged from 15-45 millimetres across southern Queensland with 20-50mm across the southern half of the Central Highlands. The central Darling Downs received 15-20mm with 20-40mm across the western Downs.

Early barley harvesting around Goondiwindi has been stalled by the rain, but it came just in time benefit wheat crops. Farmers are saying it last week’s rain will lock in record high yields in many areas. Traders are saying the rain assures a 2 million tonnes plus state wheat crop for the first time in 14 years.

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Cotton Australia celebrates World Cotton Day 2021

THE nation’s cotton growers are being honoured as part of World Cotton Day as the industry braces for one of its best seasons in decades.

Strong international demand as well as promising seasonal conditions and water allocations have growers across the country buoyed by the upcoming season’s prospects.

The celebration comes as Australia’s cotton industry announced that it had virtually already sold out of cotton, despite China having signifanctly reducing its imports of the product a year ago.

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Nutrition Australia pushes vegetable consumption during 2021 National Nutrition Week

IN a time when population percentage figures are discussed daily, a worrying statistic has emerged which has nothing to do with vaccinations.

Only 7 per cent of adults and 5pc of children eat the recommended serves of vegetables each day.

That’s a figure Nutrition Australia has grasped hold of as it encourages Australians to lift their vegetable intake as part of National Nutrition Week happening this week.

Read more here …

The changing face of beef exports

Elevated global demand for red meat, combined with tightening cattle supply in key producing nations, is creating a backdrop of ongoing rising prices and exceptional opportunity for Australian beef suppliers.

At the same time, the pandemic has torn shreds out of supply chain logistics that have served the industry well for decades and exporters are facing a juggling act the likes of which they have never before encountered.

International beef trade dynamics are as dynamic as they have ever been but industry leaders believe the sector is in fantastic shape and positioned strongly in the global market.

Read more here…

South America

Argentine also affected by sharp increase in the price of freight

The Argentine Agroindustrial Council (CAA) Thursday issued a statement whereby it warned that “the marine logistics collapse is severely limiting agri-food exports.”

The CAA also explained there were sectors already suffering from the stalling of shipments abroad.

“Argentine foreign trade has been experiencing various inconveniences in maritime logistics that negatively impact exports and this situation has been worsening in recent weeks,” the CAA pointed out.

The council described the current situation as “distressing” and insisted it affects all “containerized” cargo shipped abroad which has been dented by the decrease in maritime flow to Argentina.

Read More here…

Chilean and Chinese Government, Industry Cooperate for Smooth 2021/22 Cherry Season

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cost lives and disrupt shipping and supply chains around the world, it is impossible to separate this issue from consideration of the upcoming Chilean cherry season in China, for which preliminary air shipments are expected to hit the market during October. In fact, parties in both Chile and China have been working hard on the issue of Chilean cherry exports to China since the close of the previous season in March. During a recent cherry season inauguration celebration in Chile, several parties including the Chinese Ambassador to Chile and representatives from the Chilean Agricultural and Livestock Service and the Chilean Cherry Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) voiced unanimous optimism about the upcoming season.

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Peruvian President launches Second Agrarian Reform from Cusco

Peru’s President Pedro Castillo Terrones Sunday announced the country’s Second Agrarian Reform, which seeks to promote the social inclusion of more than 2 million agricultural producers, according to the government’s plan.

Castillo Terrones was flanked by Prime Minister Guido Bellido, and other cabinet members when announcing the old Inca capital city of Cusco.

In a previous ceremony, Castillo had launched an agroindustrial event in the district of Pichari (Cusco), designed to promote the competitiveness of producers and companies linked to the coffee and cocoa chain.

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Food Updates

Get used to rising food prices – global supply chains feeling the pinch

Food prices around the world are on the up as a variety of factors come together to increase pressure on the food and beverage supply chain – is this something that consumers are simply going to have to get used to?

Consumers have been told to get used to higher food prices as the cost of essentials begins to rise in the wake of the global pandemic and supply chain issues.

The UK’s supply chain problems have been well documented, with the consensus being that a combination of the pandemic, as well as changes to immigration regulations as result of Brexit is to blame for the ongoing difficulties. This has, in addition, led to the average grocery shop costing more.

But the UK is not the only country facing this looming problem. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Food Price Index averaged 130 points in the month of September – up 32.8 percent on the same period last year.

Read more here…

Daily meat consumption falls in the UK, new research reveals

The decrease is not moving quick enough to keep up with targets set by the National Food Strategy however, which has recommended meat consumption fall by 30 percent in the next decade.Daily meat consumption in the UK has fallen by 17 percent over the past decade, according to a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health.

The speed of the decrease is not enough according to some though, after the UK’s National Food Strategy (the second part of which was published earlier this year) recommended that UK meat consumption fall by 30 percent over the next ten years.

“We now know we need a more substantial reduction,” lead researcher Cristina Stewart from the University of Oxford told the BBC.

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New research reveals scale of Vibrio contamination in UK prawns

An important study of UK prawns has revealed that nearly half of those surveyed were contaminated with Vibrio, with shell-on prawns more likely to be contaminated than peeled prawns.Quadram Institute researchers have carried out a survey of prawns in the UK for Vibrio bacteria, in an effort to understand the bacterium’s potential contribution to human disease and its resistance to antibiotics.

They found that whilst 46 percent of prawns were contaminated with Vibrio, the specific strains of bacteria identified found pose no immediate risk to food safety as they do not cause severe disease in humans. Furthermore, contamination was far lower in cooked prawns.

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Sweet potatoes hold steady in 2021

KANSAS CITY — As more and more consumers learn about the many health benefits of sweet potatoes, the vegetable long associated with Thanksgiving and Christmas is emerging as a year-round favorite.

It’s the annual goal of Nashville, N.C.-based Nash Produce to transition between old-crop and new-crop sweet potatoes so seamlessly that customers and consumers don’t even notice the changeover, said Rebecca Scott, the company’s grower accounting and marketing director.

This year’s late-season crop, for instance, looked and tasted just as good as new-crop product out of the fields last fall, Scott said.

“Our facilities have been growing over the past two years to include additional controlled temperature storage, which it a great benefit for extending the crop until the following year’s harvest occurs.”

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Study finds consumers more attracted to branded produce

CHICAGO — A new research study found that consumers prefer branded produce products. Conducted by Foodmix Marketing Communications, the study looked at branding within the fresh produce industry and how commodity growers can make a larger profit.The study surveyed more than 1,000 regular produce shoppers among Boomers, Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z generations.

The study found almost half of Gen X and Boomers consider it important that the fresh produce they buy is branded, while two-thirds of Millennials and Gen Z generations are more likely to purchase branded fresh produce.

With store brands and private labels currently in the forefront of the produce space, research shows that there is a significant opportunity for branded produce companies to generate considerably more share within the industry.

Read more here…