18th december (thursday),2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine www.ricepluss.com

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 18 December, 2014

Volume 4 Issue: XI

th

Vol 4, Issue XII

Today’s News Headlines…  Arkansas County natives named to Rice Leadership program  Louisiana benefits from improved U.S.- Cuban relations  Updated Cuba policy could spell out big money for Ark. rice growers  Prices of rice here remain stable: NFA  SETX rice industry mary benefit from possible Cuban embargo lift  Thailand Regains Position As Top Rice Exporter  Ex-president Kufuor in big rice business  India rubs Iran the wrong way, rice farmers pay the price  Basmati exports set to decline  Thailand dominates rice trade amid sale of reserves  Tax Extender Bill Impacts Farming Communities  Agriculture Committee Assignments for 114th Congress Announced  Yunnan Province Department of Agriculture Visits USA Rice  Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported  CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures  Permit levels could make good irrigation targets for farmers  SE Texas rice farmers optimistic about end to Cuba embargo  Strain: Farmers would benefit by Cuba trade  What will major shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba mean for agriculture?  High levels of arsenic found in rice  Global rice exports surge in 2014

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine News Detail‌.

Arkansas County natives named to Rice Leadership program Rice Foundation Chairman Todd Burich praised all the applicants for the extremely competitive program and asked rice industry representatives to encourage finalists to reapply next year.

Submitted PhotoPictured are Rice Leadership Development Class members Greg Van Dyke (from left), Dustin Harrell, Paul Johnson, Hudgens Jeter, Collin Holzhauer, Nat McKnight and Nicole Creason.

By USA Rice Federation Posted Dec. 17, 2014 @ 12:42 pm STUTTGART —

The seven members of the 26th Rice Leadership Development Class were announced during the USA Rice Outlook Conference annual luncheon last week. The program is an intensive two-year study of all aspects of the rice industry and includes media training and leadership development.Rice Foundation Chairman Todd Burich praised all the applicants for

the extremely competitive program and asked rice industry representatives to encourage finalists to reapply next year."The rice industry enjoys strong leadership, and has a bright future," Burch said. "This program plays a critical role thanks to the high caliber participants, their dedication to our industry, and the training they receive."

The new class includes producers Nicole Orlicek Creason of Jonesboro; Hudgens Jeter of Stuttgart; Paul Johnson of Welsh, Louisiana; Nat McKnight of Cleveland, Mississippi; and Greg Van Dyke of Pleasant Grove, California. Industry related members are Dustin Harrell of Rayne, Louisiana, with the LSU AgCenter; and Collin Holzhauer of Harrisburg with Southern Rice and Cotton.Candidates for the program must be between 25 and 45 years of age at the time of application and derive their primary livelihood from some aspect of the rice industry.

Over the next two years, class members will attend four one-week sessions designed to strengthen their leadership skills and enhance their understanding of every aspect of the rice industry. Rice Leadership alumni are currently serving in key positions on many industry boards and committees.John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc. and American Commodity Company sponsor the Rice Leadership Development Program through a grant to the Rice Foundation. The USA Rice Federation administers the program.

Read more: http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20 141217/News/141219679#ixzz3MJBh7RN0

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Louisiana benefits from improved U.S.- Cuban relations Scott Rogers, The News-Star9 p.m. CST December 17, 2014 One of the state‘s largest rice growers praised Wednesday‘s announcement of a possible improved relationship between the United States and Cuba saying it would provide an economic boost across Louisiana.

Elton Kennedy of Morehouse Parish, perhaps the state's largest rice grower and a leader in the USA Rice Federation, hopes Congress will move forward in ending the embargo now that President Barack Obama said his administration would work toward resuming diplomatic relations and trade with Cuba for the first time in more than 50 years.―It will definitely be a great boost especially to rice growers. We need the market so bad because our exports have been lacking. It‘s great news and something

that should have already happened. I hope Congress will make it happen because we need it badly. It‘s so natural for us because Cuba is close to our shore. It‘s sad because all this (embargo) has done is hurt ourselves.

It‘s time to do something,‖ Kennedy said.

Cuba once was Louisiana‘s biggest market and Kennedy said Cubans prefer Louisiana rice.Fred Franklin of Richland Parish, whose family plants more than a thousand acres of rice, said Cuba consumed about 600,000 metric tons of rice per year and imports about 60 percent of its rice. He believes the United States could provide 400,000 metric tons a year through an improved relationship.―One word ... tremendous,‖ Franklin said of improving trade with Cuba. ―We lost that business a long time ago and they were our largest exporter. We are so close by that nobody could compete with us just because of the proximity. It would be fantastic for rice growers, rice mills and everybody. Trade with Cuba would be tremendous because of so much rice Cuba consumes. It just confuses us farmers how we will trade with other countries we‘ve had issues with but not Cuba. This thing has been going on since the 50s.‖ U.S. farmers can sell their rice to Cuba now, but it must be an up-front cash transaction and must be conducted through a foreign bank, restrictions that are usually prohibitive to trade.Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain said resumed trade would be a boon for the Port of New Orleans. A half-century ago, before the trade embargo with Cuba, 65

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine percent of all trade goods to and from Cuba traveled through the Port of New Orleans. ―It‘s going to be extremely positive for Louisiana, specifically for rice and poultry,‖ Strain said. ―They‘re our closest trading partner We‘re poised to reconnect with Cuba. They want and need our products and because of our proximity to the island we can get them there cheaper than other countries.‖Gov. Bobby Jindal issued a statement Wednesday calling on Congress to stop the president‘s plan with Cuba, saying it jeopardizes the safety of Americans. ―I am happy that Alan Gross has returned to his family after being imprisoned — but he should have been released without conditions. This is just one more sign that shows the President has no strategy for leading on an international stage. His policy of appeasement toward Cuba and other threats is endangering national security and the American people. Negotiations like these confuse our friends and reward our enemies.

Ruthless dictators like Assad, Putin and Castro think Obama is an easy mark and will be sorry to see him go.

With today‘s announcement, the President is appeasing a Communist dictatorship headed by the Castro brothers that takes political prisoners and completely disregards basic human dignity. Taking steps to normalize relations with Cuba only serves to reward them, and it is a disservice to those in Cuba who wish to be free and who live in fear of a dictatorial regime. The U.S. should be a beacon and fearless advocate for freedom and democracy – instead, the President is

validating the Castro way of governing and only allowing the brothers to tighten their grip on the island. We must be willing to stand for freedom around the globe. The safety of the American people depends on it,‖ Jindal said.However a local church leader who has conducted countless mission trips to Cuba over the past two decades believes the embargo continues to hurt Cuban citizens and hampers Louisiana‘s exports.

Northminster Church of Monroe has conducted mission trips to Cuba annually for the past 20 years, traveling to Ciego de Avila, Cuba, to partner with its sister church, Iglesia Bautista Enmanuel for community projects.Northminster Church member Craig Henry said the last trip to Cuba was conducted in October. He believes an improved relationship between both countries will help the citizens - many who live in poverty - and bring Cuba into the 21st century.―It‘s great news today and a really positive movement, finally,‖ Henry said. ―There are so many positive aspects for Louisiana and hopefully our rice farmers will be able to sell rice more easily,‖ Henry said.Cuba buys most of its rice from China, but Henry said Louisiana could provide the country with a cheaper alternative which helps Cubans and increases business for rice farmers and Louisiana ports.―I think the more open we are with our Cuban brothers and sisters the sooner Cuba can enter the 21st century. Things are better since we first went in 1994 but it‘s still tough on the

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine average Cuban. It‘s tough to live there when the average Cuban makes $1 a day. I‘m confident as we move into this new relationship things will improve and life will be better for them,‖ Henry said.

Updated Cuba policy could spell out big money for Ark. rice growers Posted: Dec 17, 2014 8:26 PM PSTUpdated: Dec 17, 2014 8:26 PM PST

By Matt Mershon, Reporter

and Arkansas rice growers would like to see that be the case again. ―From what we know, we have an opportunity to reestablish some commercial trade that's been away for much too long,‖ said Ben Noble, executive director of the Arkansas Rice Federation. Noble admits the announcement made on Wednesday doesn't include many details surrounding potential trade with the communist nation, but he remains optimistic. For years Arkansas has pushed for the easing of trade restrictions on Cuba.

In a letter penned by Governor Mike Beebe to the National Governor's Association back in 2009, he stressed how big open rice and poultry trade with Cuba could be for the Natural State.

“Arkansas is uniquely situated to provide products that Cuba's people need. Cuba currently imports most of its rice from Vietnam. Given our proximity to Cuba, however, we could ship products there in less time and send goods on smaller ships, allowing access to a greater number of ports around the country, not just the capital, Havana.” - Gov. Mike Beebe

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) -President Obama's call for open travel and commercial opportunities between Cuba and the U.S. is being met with criticism by some and excitement by others here at home. The move more than 50 years in the making is welcome news for Arkansas rice growers who would like to reunite with their once largest customer. On Wednesday, President Obama announced an update to the U.S. Cuba policy, including the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries – including travel and commercial trade.

Pre-embargo back in 1961, Cuba was the number one market for U.S. rice exports,

State rice producers were able to conduct rice trade with Cuba after 2000, when trade restrictions were lifted to allow for ―cash in advance‖ purchases. Noble said ―cash in advance‖ hurts a commodity like rice, and in 2005 harder trade restrictions were put in place on Cuba. Noble mentioned after 2005, rice trade from the US to Cuba was nearly non-existant. ―Certainly any amount of increased trading opportunities will be of benefit to this state,‖ commented Noble.

Estimates suggest the United States on a whole could see exports of rice to Cuba valued at over $200 million. With that much money on the line, trade mission trips are already being lined up. ―The state chamber already had plans to go to Cuba in the summer with this type of focus,‖ said Noble.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine ―I would expect that the announcement [Wednesday] will increase the attention on that trip and probably the interest in participation.‖ http://www.katv.com/story/27656859/updatedcuba-policy-could-spell-out-big-money-for-arkrice-growers

Prices of rice here remain stable: NFA

By Reuel John F. Lumawag Thursday, December 18, 2014 THE National Food Authority (NFA-Davao City) said prices of rice in the city have remained stable as of Thursday.Based on the agency's monitoring, the retail price of regular milled rice is from P31 to P39 per kilograms (kg) with a prevailing price of P35/kg while the wholesale price is at P30 to P36/kg with a prevailing price of P33/kg.Well milled rice is at P35 to P42/kg with a prevailing price of P38.50/kg while the wholesale price is at P32 to P39 with a prevailing of P35.50/kg.

The prices of Fancy rice, Special rice B and Special rice A, also remain stable.The price of Special rice B, which includes organic rice and the 160 toner variety among others, is at P36 to P50/kg with a prevailing price of P43/kg.Special rice A, the most expensive varieties of rice that includes glutinous rice, red, brown, and black rice among others, is at P42 to P74/kg with a prevailing price of P58/kg.NFA Davao City provincial director Virgilio B. Alerta, in a phone interview with Sun.Star Davao yesterday, said the stability in the price of rice is due to the increase in

supply brought by the harvest months of October, November, and December.There is now harvest coming from the rice producing provinces of the region, which are Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Davao Oriental.

Alerta said the region is moderately self sufficient when it comes to rice production.He also said the surplus of rice production from North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato are also being sold in the markets here.Alerta said consumers can expect the stability in the price of rice up until the first quarter or early second quarter of next year. Based on the cycle of rice production, he said the price would increase around April, the beginning of the lean months, and will last until September.He said they will closely monitor the prices of rice around February or March next year.Alerta also said consumers can be assured that there is sufficient supply of NFA rice. At present, they have some 900,000 sacks of rice in their warehouses.NFA rice is being sold at P27/kg for regular milled rice and P32 for well milled rice http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2 014/12/18/prices-rice-here-remain-stablenfa-382711

SETX rice industry mary benefit from possible Cuban embargo lift

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine SETX rice industry may benefit from possible Cuban embargo lift Updated: Thursday, December 18 2014, 01:24 AM CST BEAUMONT - by Kara Dixon Douget's Rice Mill has been operating in Southeast Texas for more than three decades. Vice president Greg Devillier said the rice industry has been profitable for for the past few years. "The past year, the price of rice has dropped pretty good," said Devillier.

On Wednesday, President Obama announced steps the White House will take to establish a relationship with Cuba. One of them is to lessen restrictions that would allow commercial travel and business between the countries. Devillier said that lifted embargo will help the rice industry.

"We get another buyer of U.S. grown rice. It always helps the price of rice," Devillier said.

The embargo was put in place by Congress in 1960 shortly after the Cuban Revolution and influx of Cuban Exiles to the U.S. Devillier said the embargo was not a great idea because Cuba was the rice industry's top customer. "My understanding of the embargo is that we can't sell products to Cuba. That doesn't make business sense at all because at the time the embargo came, they were our top customer," said Devillier.

Retired Lamar University professor Dr. Bruce Drury does not think the embargo has been effective. If lifted, he said it may take time for anyone to feel the effects.

"They don't have any money right now," said Dr.Drury. "They've got to change the

economy and generate some money."

President Obama's statements on Cuba have received mixed reaction on Capitol Hill.

Texas District 1U.S. House Republican Representative Randy Weber released a statement. Weber said there was no communication between the President Obama and Congress regarding the numerous policy changes. "The President needs to come to Congress moving forward with anymore policy changes that greatly affect this nation's economy and wellbeing," said Weber. "These policy changes will have a direct impact on Southeast Texas, including economic ones.

I will stay active in the debate particularly through my role on the foreign affairs committee to ensure that what's done, is in the best interests of Texas District 14," Weber said. Drury said since Congress voted to put the embargo in place, they also have to lift it. He thinks it will pass. He also said the Cuban government needs to do its part.

"It all depends on President Castro and his government turning things around allowing people to express ideas, establishing businesses and allowing foreign capital into the country," Drury said. If the Cuban economy makes money, he said rice isn't the only industry that would prosper. "They'll not only buy rice, they'll buy automobiles, heavy equipment...all sorts of things. It will be a win win for everybody," Drury said.

While it is not certain what the outcome may be if the embargo is lifted, he believes the humanitarian effects may outweigh the economic effect.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine "It will be much better for the Cubans. It will be much better for the CubanAmericans and much better for Americans," Drury said. Here's a look back at U-S relations with Cuba since Cuba‘s revolution: Key events in U.S.-Cuba relations: -- Jan. 1, 1959: Fidel Castro's rebels take power as dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba. The United States soon recognizes the new government. -- June 1960: Relations begin to sour as Castro veers left. Cuba nationalizes U.S.-owned oil refineries after they refuse to process Soviet oil. Nearly all other U.S. businesses are expropriated by October. -- October 1960: Start of U.S. embargo: Washington bans exports to Cuba, other than food and medicine.

-- Jan. 3, 1961: U.S. breaks relations with Cuba and closes embassy. -April 16, 1961: Castro declares Cuba a socialist state.

-- April 17, 1961: U.S.trained Cuban exiles stage the failed Bay of Pigs invasion aimed at toppling Castro. U.S. intelligence agencies also stage repeated attempts over the years to kill the Cuban leader. -- Feb, 7, 1962: President John F. Kennedy expands embargo, banning almost all Cuban imports. -- October 1962: U.S. blockade forces removal of Soviet nuclear missiles from Cuba. U.S. President John F. Kennedy agrees privately not to invade Cuba. -- April 1980: Mariel boatlift: Cuba says anyone can leave; some 125,000 Cubans flee, causing a refugee crisis for the United States. -- December 1991: Collapse of Soviet Union devastates Cuban economy.

-- August 1994: Castro declares he will not stop Cubans trying to leave; some 40,000 take to sea heading for United States. --

Sept. 12, 1998: Five Cuban spies arrested in the United States. They are later convicted.

Cuba mounts an international campaign to free them, saying they were defending island against U.S.-based terror attempts. -- July 31, 2006: Fidel Castro announces he has had operation, temporarily cedes power to brother Raul. Fidel resigns as president two years later.

-- Dec. 3, 2009: USAID contractor Alan Gross arrested in Havana, stifling incipient efforts to improve U.S.Cuba ties under President Barack Obama. -- Dec. 17, 2014: Gross freed and remaining members of Cuban Five spy ring freed as part of prisoner exchange

watchVideo: http://fox4beaumont.com/community/featur es/community-news/stories/setx-riceindustry-may-benefit-possible-cubanembargo-lift-611.shtml source with thanks: http://fox4beaumont.com/community/fea tures/community-news/stories/setx-riceindustry-may-benefit-possible-cuban-embargolift-611.shtml

Thailand Regains Position As Top Rice Exporter

By Minggu Simon Lhasa

BANGKOK, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- Thailand is projected to regain its title as the world's top rice exporter this year, toppling India.Increased exports of Thai rice to other

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine countries in the Far East and Africa are expected to propel Thai rice exports to 10.2 million tonnes in 2014, which, if confirmed, would stand only 500,000 tonnes short of the 2011 record exports, according to the Rice Market Monitor (RMM).This was revealed at a briefing by Vili Fuavao, Deputy Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) here this afternoon.

year.While final figures won't be confirmed until early next year, FAO's last quarterly report for 2014 indicates much of the forecast growth in 2014 global trade in rice is likely to be due to a surge in exports from Thailand, which again will claim the title as the world's top rice exporter.Global rice production has remained steady, down only slightly from the previous record-setting year, with weather conditions contributing to a 0.5 per cent decrease in Asia.

A development dominating the international rice trade this year has been the resurgence of Thailand as a leading rice exporter, "an advance made possible by key policy changes regarding government market intervention, namely the suspension of the paddy pledging programme and public stock sales," the report states."The ensuing restoration of its competitive edge has permitted Thailand to recapture much of the market share lost to India and Vietnam over the past two years," it adds.The RMM predicts that rice deliveries by India will fall by five per cent to 10.0 million tonnes in 2014, depressed by a combination of heightened competition for markets and a reduction in demand in its major Basmati outlets.

At 744.7 million tonnes (496.6 million tonnes, milled basis), the resulting 2014 global production forecast is expected to be only slightly lower this year compared with last year (down 0.2 per cent or 1.6 million tonnes).It reflects a 0.1 per cent contraction of both plantings and yields to 162.9 million hectares and 4.57 tonnes per hectare, respectively, brought about by unfavourable weather conditions.Overall global trade in rice is expected to hit 40.2 million tonnes in 2014 and could reach 40.5 million tonnes in the 2015 calendar year, the RMM states.

The export outlook is also bleak for Vietnam, the RMM states, with official deliveries now projected to remain close to the 2013 depressed level of 6.6 million tonnes, as the country is out-priced in Africa and rivalled by Thailand in important Far Eastern markets such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.Malaysia is expected to import one million tonnes of rice this year, almost unchanged from last

The anticipated growth in global rice trade in 2014 is forecast to be sustained by a near 2.0 million tonne surge in shipments to Asian countries to 18.9 million tonnes.

At a country level, the increase would mostly mirror a resurgence of demand from the Philippines, in the aftermath of damage incurred as a result of typhoon Haiyan and depleted inventories.The country may close the year with delivery of 1.8 million tonnes, up 1.1 million tonnes year-on-year, part of which is to reconstitute public rice reserves, the report states.

-- BERNAMA

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Ex-president Kufuor in big rice business For every business magnate, US$400 million (GHC1.28 bil-lion) is money that cannot be put into a competitor‘s pocket. In the world of a president, that is an amount of money that can put up several classroom blocks, supply water, or even purchase enough fuel to deal with ‗dumso.‘ What about an ex-president? It is dif-ficult to tell, but the answer may not be far if you read the mind of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.That Ghana spends US$400 million on importation of rice is a headache to the former president. That amount is 147 short of the $547 million Millennium Challenge Account first compact which the United States awarded his administra-tion to construct the N1 (George Bush) Highway, the Mallam interchange and other road networks, especially in the Afram Plains area of the Eastern Region.

It is also about $112 million less than the amount of money the current adminis-tration received on oil exports over Janu-ary to December 2014.Now, the former president, who was awarded the World Food Prize in 2011 along with Brazilian Lula da Silva, has put the machinery of the John A. Kufuor (JAK) Foundation, which he chairs, into motion to advocate in favour of domestic production of rice.

By this act, he is seeking to beat down the amount of money spent on rice im-ports and help to channel a chunk, if not all, of the amount

into the hands of local rice farmers to produce the staple, which has now become the first choice meal for majority of Ghanaian households.―All we want to do is to ensure that appropriate policy environment is created for the production through processing and marketing of local rice,‖ Professor Baf­four Agyemang-Duah, Chief Executive Officer of the JAK Foundation, spoke of the former president‘s intentions.He was speaking on Tuesday in Accra where the JAK Foundation, in col-laboration with the Ghana Rice Inter-professional Body, GRIB, outdoored a Public-Private National Dialogue Council on Rice, a vehicle that will facilitate the sharing of ideas by private sector actors and public sector institutions on policy and regulatory improvements for the rice industry in Ghana.

According to Prof. Agyemang-Duah, the PublicPrivate National Dialogue Council on Rice (or Rice Council) is ―an effort, in collaboration with other partners, to revive the Ghanaian spirit especially in the area of Ghanaian rice production.―We want to today, constitute a council and inaugurate it…so that the public sector, which is normally controlled by government, and the private sector where individuals, independent people and com-panies are operating can come together, have a common platform to dialogue on the best, appropriate policies for our rice industry to meet local demand,‖ he intimated.

In real terms, the value of the rice industry per annum is worth more than the US$400 giving that local rice produc-tion is calculated to be in the region of 30 percent of national need.The JAK Foundation has, therefore, taken a strategic initiative to ensure that if the local production is not propped, in the least, the existing quota for local farmers can be preserved.Looking three to four decades back, however, one gets a picture of massive retrogression. Here, Prof.

Agyemang-Duah recalled: ―…we know that in

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine the early 70s this country started exporting rice.

I was a young man, and I saw it myself under the government of General (Ignatius Kutu) Acheampong. Through a very, very vigorous policy of operation feed yourself, we produced so much rice we started exporting rice to our neigh­bouring countries.‖ Sprint into 2014, and you will find that Ghana is a pale shadow of its former self. Prof.

Agyemang-Duah acknowledges that ―We‘ve been told many times by governments that we spend a chunk of our scarce resources on importing rice. And I understand that currently we spend about 400 million dollars a year on rice importation. The assumption is that if we can produce our own rice then we will be saving ourselves that much.‖His lamentation is that ―the whole idea of relying on imported rice is the problem just as we relying on so many goods im­ported for our livelihoods is a problem.‖ He expatiates that ―Now we know we are importing not only rice, we are also im-porting tomatoes, some vegetables, plan-tain; things that in our very youthful days we will just walk behind the backyard and just get them free of charge to our homes for our meals.‖ According to the Ministry of Trade, a minimum US$500 million is spent on rice imports and even that is modest because many importers engage in under-invoicing or under declaration of actual value of their imports in order to avoid tax.Evans Sackey, Executive Secretary at GRIB, supplies that current rice consump-tion is at 1.6 million metric tonnes, up almost three-fold from the 2008 figure of 600,000 metric tonnes. Per the statistics, not more than 500,000 metric tonnes, or 31 percent, is supplied by local producers.

The inauguration of the Rice Council is, therefore, meant to address challenges to local production, which are mainly policy-related so that an enabling environ-ment can be created for

local production to thrive.―The expectation is that after this council is inaugurated, it will look at the rice strategy and validate the priorities therein. We will not end there. We are also hoping that zonal councils will also be launched in the regions where priorities of stakeholders will also be discussed. Then the findings at both the local and national levels will serve as the basis for the public-private dialogue on the rice industry,‖ said Prof. Agyemang-Duah.

He added, ―So, this is just the begin­ning. We are building the national archi-tecture, to be followed by the regional group.‖Beyond the short term, ―we envisage that in the near future, this council will link to the rice councils in other neigh-bouring countries, for instance in Nigeria and Burkina Faso, to constitute a West African rice council. And if we succeed in that, we can link that to other sub-regional councils as, for instance, we have in East Africa,‖ the CEO said.

Meanwhile, the JAK foundation is a partner to a major rice initiative – Com-petitive African Rice Initiative, CARI. In partnership with TechnoServe and Kilimo Trust of Tanzania, the project is designed to maximize rice production in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania.

This five-year project empowers small-scale rice farmers in these Sub-Saharan Africa countries and is sponsored by the Ger-man Cooperation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and managed by the German Development Corporation, GIZ.―The JAK Foundation is a partner han­dling mainly the advocacy and policy as-pects of the rice industry in Africa,‖ Prof. Agyemang-Duah stated. ―Through these four countries, we hope to create these councils that will, hopefully, cascade into an African kind of rice council so that in the future, all Africa can be self-reliant.‖ http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/Ne wsArchive/artikel.php?ID=339643

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine India rubs Iran the wrong way, rice farmers pay the price Thursday, 18 December 2014 - 7:05am IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency: dna

Iftikhar Gilani

Rice exporters and farmers are a sad lot these days. Their grouse is that Iran, the biggest buyer of their produce, has ditched them, for no fault of theirs. Iran, which used to impose an aromatic rice import duty of 10% earlier has now raised it to 45%. It has also started insisting on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certifications and ISO 2200 packaging protocols and low arsenic levels.

A delegation of exporters, which visited Teheran in October, returned empty-handed.

So, why is Iran doing this?

Iranians are particularly riled that, last September, when they sought a meeting between their president Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, it was declined. PMO attributed it to scheduling issues, but sources say a meeting with an Iranian president ahead of Modi's meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu could have

The invitation was handed over to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj early September on the sidelines of a summit of the Shangahi Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Tajik capital Dushanbe.

How much does Iran import from India?

Iran accounted for around 38% of India's total basmati rice exports. The country exported 3.7 million tonnes of basmati last fiscal. It declined to 4,23,431 tonnes in April-September 2014, which is about 30% of total basmati exports to Iran the previous year. The value of basmati exports in 201314 was Rs 28,187 crore. According to FAO, India's rice exports in 2014-15 are expected to decline by around 20%, with most of the decline in basmati rice to occur in key markets like Iran.

What

about

arsenic

levels?

Rice exports to Iran are likely to decline further due to the phytosanitary and other restrictions. In July 2014, Iran increased the accepted level of arsenic in rice from 80 ppb (parts per billion) to 120 ppb. Moreover, the Enforcement Directorate investigation into UCO Bank's dealings with Iranian importers has also hurt exports.

created a diplomatic ruckus. Earlier, Rouhani had invited Modi to Iran for talks.

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The impact is already being felt in Punjab,

Basmati exports set to decline

Haryana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Komal Amit Gera | Chandigarh

How bad are farmers hit?

Farmers in Punjab's Khanna mandi are realising just Rs 3,200 per quintal for Pusa-

December 18, 2014 Last Updated at 22:33 IST

1121 basmati crop against Rs 4,100 last year. The Parboiled Pusa-1121 Basmati rice is currently said to be fetching about $1,100 per tonne (landed cost, West Asia), compared to $1,400-plus at this time last year.

Will domestic prices be affected?

Farmers had extensively grown Basmati, depending on the trend in the last three years. Basmati paddy production this year is expected at 12 million tonnes, up from 8.5 mt in 2013-14. "The slump in exports may bring down prices in the domestic market.

That does not spell good for basmati rice producers," said Bal Krishna Mittal, MD, Gurdaspur Overseas Ltd, which deals in basmati rice. He wants the government to restore the Interest Subvention Scheme to avert a decline in rice exports and losses this year. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-indiarubs-iran-the-wrong-way-rice-farmers-pay-theprice-2044940

This year, earnings from the export of basmati rice are expected to fall 15-20 per cent, owing to Iran banning the import of the commodity from India.Iran purchases about 40 per cent of the basmati rice sold in the international market by Indian exporters.

Through the past few years, Iran has been charging an import duty on rice (basmati and non-basmati) to safeguard the interests of farmers in that country.

This was lifted once the local crop was consume d. Last year, the import duty was raised from 22.5 per cent to 40 per cent in July; the move was rolled back in December.

This year, however, Iran banned such imports.Mohinder Pal Jindal, president of the All India Rice Exporters' Association, told Business Standard though exporters had purchased about 80 per cent of the estimated export demand, there was no clarity on the demand from buyers in Iran.Besides Iran, Europe and Saudi Arabia are the major buyers of Indian basmati rice. Though

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine demand from these regions is stable, given the bumper crop in India, exporters are bracing up for low prices.

bought aggressively. Last year, Iran had imported 1,450,000 tonnes of rice from India; this year, that country's rice imports from India will stand at 900,000 tonnes.

Last year, the average realisation was $1,400 a tonne; as of now, the price stands at about $900 a tonne. It is expected if the import restrictions in Iran aren't lifted, the price will fall further.

Annual consumption of rice in Iran is about three million tonnes and production this year is reported at about two million tonnes.The official added a price correction for basmati was expected, as prices had become unrealistic. High production of food grain across the globe had led to a fall in the prices of various commodities and rice exporters couldn't remain insulated from this trend, he said.

http://www.businessstandard.com/article/markets/basmati-exportsset-to-decline-114121801568_1.html

Enthused by the high demand and remuneration last year, farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have diversified from non-basmati to basmati this year.

However, due to a fall in import demand and oversupply in the domestic market, prices have crashed from Rs 3,500-4,000 a quintal last year to Rs 2,200-2,800 a quintal this year.

A senior official in the Agriculture and Processed Food ProductsExports Development Authority said the slowdown in demand had resulted from the ban by Iran. He added in the past few years, basmati exporters had booked huge profits, as Iranian importers had

Thailand dominates rice trade amid sale of reserves   

Published: 18 Dec 2014 at 18.15 Online news: News Writer: Bloomberg News

Rice exports from Thailand will hit a record level next year as sales from reserves and the end of a price-support programme help the country retain its position as the largest shipper, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said. Farmers in Phrom Phiram district in Phitsanulok province bring in their harvest in September. The Food and Agriculture Organisation forecasts rice exports from the kingdom to surge next year. (Post Today photo).

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Shipments surged 54% to 10.2 million tonnes this year, helping Thailand to replace India as the biggest exporter in 2014, the Rome-based agency said in a quarterly report on Thursday. In 2015, Thai shipments will gain further to 11 million tonnes even as local production drops, while India's shipments will probably contract to 8.2 million tonnes from 10 million tonnes this year, the United Nations' agency said.The government halted a price-support programme in February that spurred the buildup of record stockpiles as exports fell, enabling India to become the largest supplier. The country's military, which took power in May, said that it would press on with sales from the holdings. Though dry weather has caused a water shortage that will cut the crop this season, Thai exports will keep on rising, the FAO said."A development dominating the international rice trade this year has been the resurgence of Thailand," it said, citing the end of the price-support programme and sales from public stockpiles. "The ensuing restoration of its competitive edge has permitted Thailand to recapture much of the market share lost to India and Vietnam over the past two years."Shipments from Vietnam, the third-ranked exporter, were seen steady at 6.6 million tonnes this year, but will rise to 6.9 million tonnes in 2015, the agency forecast. Global exports rose to a record 40.2 million tonnes this year, and may climb to 40.5 million tonnes next year, it said.

"Thailand's market dominance is expected to be largely unrivalled" in export markets in 2015, the FAO said. "The buoyant outlook is in spite of the likely output reduction this season, as potential shortfalls will be checked by the still-large government rice inventories."Global production is expected to drop 0.2% to 496.6 million tonnes on a milled basis in 2014-2015 as output in India falls because a weak monsoon delayed planting, the FAO said.World inventories may decline 2.1% to 177.5 million tonnes as demand rises 1.9% to 500.5 million tonnes, it said. Stockpiles in Thailand may contract to 16.1 million tonnes in 2015 from a record 17.8 million tonnes this year, it said.

The new government won't buy crops directly from farmers as it spurred oversupply, Agriculture Minister Petipong Puengbun Na Ayudhya, said on Oct 1.

Thailand is looking to sell 2 million tonnes to China for delivery in 2015-2016, Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya told reporters on Nov 14.

Tax Extender Bill Impacts Farming Communities Time for an upgrade?

WASHINGTON, DC -- On Tuesday, the Senate passed H.R. 5771, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. The $42 billion tax package applies tax breaks to the 2014 tax year, retroactively and until December 31, 2014.

Included in the legislation was an extension for Section 179, which according to Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) is "one of the most important provisions in the act" and provides a "depreciation and expensing provision for small businesses," including farms. Section 179, which has been reinstated to the original limit of $500,000, allows small business owners to immediately depreciate 100 percent of a capital

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine purchase, avoiding the hassle of depreciation

Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation

Agriculture Committee Assignments for 114th Congress Announced Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS)

over time and simultaneously lowering taxable income.

In addition to the extension, the bill reinstates 50 percent bonus depreciation, which allows for capital purchases of any size to be depreciated 50 percent in the first year. Though the extension leaves long-term tax issues unresolved, Hoeven said, "the short-term solution will allow farmers and other small businesses to expense and depreciate property they have purchased or repaired for their operations."Louisiana rice producer and USA Rice Producers' Group Chairman John Owen emphasized how important the extension is not just to farmers, but to rural communities.

WASHINGTON, DC -- This week, Senate and House Majority leadership announced assignments to the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture.Republicans who will accompany incoming Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) on the Senate Agriculture Committee include: John Boozman of Arkansas, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, David Perdue of Georgia, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, John Thune of South Dakota, and Thom Tillis of

"Section 179 is hugely important to small business owners and is a big boost to rural communities. The $500,000 limit encourages farmers to invest in machinery and improve their operating efficiency, which results in improvements to rural infrastructure that are key to keeping small businesses strong," Owen said.

Contact: Evan Spencer (703) 236-1476

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine North Carolina. The Senate Agriculture Committee will lose two democrat seats as a result of the new majority. The two Senators not returning to the Committee are Tom Harkin of Iowa who is retiring and John Walsh of Montana who dropped out of the general election.

Representative Mike Conaway (R-TX) Incoming House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-TX) announced eight new Republican members: Jackie Walorski of Indiana, Ralph Abraham of Louisiana, Rick Allen of Georgia, Mike Bost of Illinois, Tom Emmer of Minnesota, John Moolenaar of Michigan, Dan Newhouse of Washington, and David Rouzer of North Carolina."USA Rice has a strong history with Senators Boozman and Cochran, and with Representative Conaway," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice Federation vice president of government affairs. "We look forward to working with them to help educate new members of the committees on issues important to rice producers across the country."

interest to the Chinese team was U.S. rice production and the safety net for farmers provided in whole or in part by the U.S. government.The delegation leader, Mr. Bin Ke, Yunnan Province Department of Agriculture Division Director, explained he saw the visit as an opportunity to learn more about U.S. agriculture and to establish an international information exchange on new developments in the agricultural commodity industry, particularly regarding risk management and governmentsubsidized safety net measures.

"The questions were frank and the discussion lively," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice's vice president of international promotion. "The department chose USA Rice because we represent and advocate for the interests of the entire U.S. rice industry. We were happy to start this relationship off on a positive and collaborative note."Yunnan Province is located in southwestern China and has a population of more than 45 million.

Contact: Evan Spencer (703) 236-1476 Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation

Yunnan Province Department of Agriculture Visits USA Rice

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458 Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation

The agenda reads: RICE ARLINGTON, VA -- A team of policy and program directors from the China Yunnan Province Department of Agriculture met with USA Rice Federation staff on Tuesday to get a better sense of the U.S. industry. Of particular

Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 78,000 MT for 2014/2015 were down 10 percent from the previous week and 7 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report. Increases were reported for Japan (24,000 MT), Mexico (13,300 MT), Haiti (9,500 MT), Panama (9,500 MT), and Canada (4,500 MT).

Exports of 39,500 MT were down 64 percent from the previous week and 50 percent from the prior four-week average. The primary destinations were Mexico (16,700 MT), Japan (12,000 MT), Canada (3,100 MT), Honduras (2,100 MT), and Saudi Arabia (1,700 MT).This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period December 5-11.

Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for December 18

Month

Price

Net Change

January 2015

$12.110

- $0.005

March 2015

$12.330

- $0.005

May 2015

$12.605

- $0.005

July 2015

$12.760

- $0.025

September 2015

$12.125

- $0.015

November 2015

$12.090

+ $0.045

January 2016

$12.100

+ $0.045

Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation

Permit levels could make good irrigation targets for farmers Dec 17, 2014Forrest Laws | Delta Farm Press RSS 18 and 36. Those two numbers are likely to take on increasing significance in the months ahead as farmers, farm organization leaders and regulatory officials continue to grapple with the problem of a declining alluvial aquifer beneath the Mississippi Delta.Those are the maximum amounts of irrigation water growers can apply – 18 inches for cotton, corn, soybeans and grain sorghum and 36 inches for rice – under the irrigation well permits granted them by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.―I remember asking last year how many acre inches we can apply to corn, cotton and soybeans, and none of us knew,‖ says Jason Krutz, irrigation specialist with Mississippi State University and a speaker at the Mississippi Delta Irrigation Summit held at Stoneville, Miss., Dec. 10. ―That number is 18, and rice is 36.‖ Krutz said few producers have probably looked for that number and few cared until now even though the amounts are specified on the well permits.―But at the end of this season, 10 percent of those wells will be metered, and the information will be given to a regulatory agency,‖ he said. ―So

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine somebody cares now about how much water we‘re pumping out of the aquifer."For now, participation in the metering program is voluntary and will remain so as long as growers using the meters report their information for 2014 and enough additional growers sign up in 2015 to reach the 10 percent level. But presentations at the Summit indicated a number of growers are exceeding the 18- and 36-inch maximums on their permits.

On the other hand, if the metering program doesn‘t reach 10 percent participation by the June 30, 2015 deadline and the 2014 metering information isn‘t reported by the Feb. 15, 2015, deadline, MDEQ officials have said the program could become mandatory.Chris Wells, the MDEQ‘s chief of staff who was pinch hitting for Gary Rickard, executive director of the agency, noted that latest estimates say farmers in the Mississippi Delta can pump up to 1.5 billion gallons of day during peak irrigation use. ‖It‘s an astronomical number,‖ he said. ―I personally can‘t fathom that much water, and you can imagine the impact is that over several decades there has been a decline in the levels in the aquifer and not enough recharge during winter to replace all of that.‖Wells said that‘s what the Delta Sustainable Water Resources Task Force, which was created by the Department of Environmental Quality and consists of a number of farm and governmental organizations is charged with addressing.The Mississippi Delta Irrigation Summit, which was attended by nearly 200 producers from Mississippi and Arkansas, is also part of that effort, he noted.

Krutz said he believes farmers have charged Mississippi State University with the task of making them better furrow irrigators. ―That charges makes sense with 80 percent of our acres being furrow irrigated, and we need to

make strides in improving how we deliver water with that system.‖Mississippi State specialists have settled on three tools they believe will help growers make better use of their furrow irrigation systems. Those are software programs like Pipe Planner, surge irrigation and using soil moisture sensors for irrigation scheduling. ―What we did on all our Extension sites and what we‘re encouraging our producers to do is use Pipe Planner,‖ says Krutz. ―It is wellbased, free, fairly interactive, and it gives you a lot of information. It will tell you what size and type of polytubing you need and it will tell you the size, quantity and spacing of the holes you need to make sure all the water will hit the tail ditch at the same time which then improves our application efficiency.―And, by default, it‘s going to reduce our irrigation costs.‖ (Pipe Planner is a software program developed by Delta Plastics Inc., a Little Rock, Ark.-based company that provides disposable plastic tubing for irrigation. Delta Plastics is providing the software free as part of its new H2O Initiative.)

Surge irrigation, he said, ―takes care of problems we have in conventional irrigation.

We can have a lot of tail water runoff, which is inefficient, and what we can‘t see is that we can have a lot of deep percolation loss with water moving below the rooting zone, which means the plant cannot utilize it.‖It can be especially beneficial in silt loam soils or the traditional cotton soils, which tend to ―seal over‖ when water hits them, Krutz noted. Sending ―pulses‖ of water across the field so that it has time to soak in before another pulse pushes down the row improves irrigation efficiency about 25 percent.

Growers can choose from a number of soil moisture sensors that all do the same thing: ―They‘re going to tell you when the profile

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine is full and how much water is being utilized in the different regions of the root zone, and they can set a threshold at which point we think we will have yield loss or demonstrate a yield loss if we go beyond that,‖ he said.―That‘s a long ways off from just scheduling every Monday when we start turning the wells on. We‘ll see when we go into our different field locations where we‘ve paired up with you if this tool actually works.‖Krutz‘s comments seemed to be well-received by attendees, for the most part.

One grower was slightly skeptical.―Jason has been working in relatively wet conditions the last two years,‖ said one producer. ―We‘re waiting to see how this works when we go weeks without rainfall, and the crops are begging for moisture.‖ For more information on conserving irrigation water, visithttp://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/d etailfull/national/wntsc/?cid=nrcs143_023638

SE Texas rice farmers optimistic about end to Cuba embargo

By Manuella Libardi

Published 9:28 am, Thursday, December 18, 2014

Louis Broussard owner of Beaumont Rice Mils Inc. looks through paperwork in a small office at

the heart of the mill. Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise Photo: Guiseppe Barranco

An elderly woman working at a Havana market ran up to Nick Lampson, hugged him and offered her thanks for the thencongressman's effort to bring back the highquality, cheap rice that she once had on her table.

Lampson said he traveled to Cuba in 1999 with Southeast Texas rice farmers to meet with then-President Fidel Castro and his government in an attempt to call for renewed agricultural trade between the United States and Cuba. Before a 1960s trade embargo, Cuba imported virtually all of its rice from the U.S., Lampson said.

Americans and Cubans alike have longed for five decades to repair the divide, Lampson said on Wednesday, hours after President Barack Obamaannounced the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba.Louis Broussard, president of Beaumont Rice Mills and one of the farmers who accompanied Lampson to Cuba, said reestablishing economic relations with Cuba is what the rice industry has been waiting for, adding it would change the dynamics of the entire industry.Before the embargo, Southeast Texas numbered around 300 rice farmers, Lampson said. The number is now about 30 or 40, he said.Lifting the embargo could encourage farmers to get back in the game, Lampson speculated.

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Strain: Farmers would benefit by Cuba trade Ken

Stickney,

stickney@theadvertiser.com6:17 p.m. CST December 17, 2014 Resumed trade between the U.S. and Cuba would be of enormous benefit to Louisiana, which already ships some food to Cuba, high-ranking state leaders say."They are hungry people and they really need food," Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain said of the Cubans.In specific, with resumed trade Louisiana farmers could enjoy a "tremendous increase in market for poultry and rice," which the state produces in abundance, if the U.S. and Cuba eventually resume trade relations. But other possibilities abound.Gary P. LaGrange, president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans, said 23,775 tons of poultry has been shipped to Cuba through the port in 2014.

That's trade that resulted from agreements initiated between Louisiana and Cuba during a 2005 visit to Havana by then Gov. Kathleen Blanco. That trip enabled Louisiana to ship a limited array of goods to Cuba: building supplies, communications equipment and humanitarian aid.LaGrange said that rice is exported to Cuba through the Port of Lake Charles, also a result of that initial visit by Blanco, although the rice

must make a circuitous route to Cuba because of U.S. trade restrictions.President Obama on Wednesday said his administration would work toward resuming diplomatic relations and trade with Cuba for the first time in more than 50 years.

That announcement drew fire from Louisiana's governor, who said, "Taking steps to normalize relations with Cuba only serves to reward them, and it is a disservice to those in Cuba who wish to be free and who live in fear of a dictatorial regime. But not from all Louisianians criticized the president's initiative.Strain, a Republican, said resumed trade would be a boon for the Port of New Orleans. A half-century ago, before the trade embargo with Cuba, 65 percent of all trade goods to and from Cuba traveled through the Port of New Orleans.

LaGrange said Cuba was the Port of New Orleans' biggest trade partner prior to the embargo."Opening borders helps us," Strain said. "We stand at the gateway.

"Strain said Cuba needs what Louisiana can provide. Obama would permit some farm equipment to be exported to Cuba, whose farmers' production has suffered from poor soil.He said the state's poultry industry, which extends from Tangipahoa Parish to the upper reaches of the state, would benefit from exporting more food to Cuba.

LaGrange said Louisiana poultry is a good fit for Cuban consumers."They love their chicken.

Almost meal has a chicken," LaGrange said.Most meals have rice, too, and Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter's

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Rice Research Center in Crowley, said Louisiana can ship as much rice as Cuba can handle.

The state is coming off bountiful crop years."That's not an issue," Linscombe said of supplying Cuba with ample amounts of exported rice. "We are badly in need of exports."Linscombe said Cuba was the biggest export market for U.S. rice when the embargo was put in place a half-century ago.

The Cubans prefer long-grain rice, which Louisiana produces.Strain said that Cuba has suffered because of poor soil, and even its once touted sugar output has fallen off considerably.Jim Simon, general manager of the American Sugar Cane League in Louisiana, said his organization does not fear a short-term threat from Cuban sugar."Maybe in years to come," Simon said, but added that it takes many years to normalize trade relations.

He said that at one time Cuba was a "substantial sugar player," but is less significant now.LaGrange said beyond farm products and farm equipment, resumed trade relations with Cuba could open up new destinations for cruise ships that sail out of the Port of New Orleans. That's something that Port of New Orleans representatives and Cuban officials have discussed during some six of seven meetings over the past 15 years.

He said port officials have tried to keep doors open to Cuba over the years in case U.S. restrictions were lifted.

West, the Bahamas and Cuba would be a natural cruise."David Baker, Hesse/BORSF associate professor of marketing and international business at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, suggested in the medium-to-longer term oil exploration and oil services companies might do business in and around Cuba."However, recent exploratory wells drilled by companies Repsol from Spain, Petronas from Malaysia and Petroleos de Venezuela In Cuban waters have been unsuccessful," Baker said.

"The verdict is therefore still undetermined if there is significant potential for this sector."Strain said he supports resumed trade despite political differences between the two countries."We do business with China, Vietnam and other countries," he said. "We need to progressively open our relationships. Through trade and education, communism cannot stand."

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What will major shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba mean for agriculture?

Rice would benefit greatly if trade barriers lifted Dec 17, 2014David Bennett

"We will take about cruising to Cuba and making a call to Key West," LaGrange said of one possible cruise route. "A call to Key Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

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He may be a lame duck but President Obama wasn‘t limping when he took the podium Tuesday morning to announce a major shift in relations between the United States and Cuba.

The surprising announcement included a host of diplomatic, humanitarian and business bullet points intended to ease the island nation‘s isolation. ―In the most significant changes in our policy in more than 50 years, we will end an outdated approach that, for decades, has failed to advance our interests, and instead we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries,‖ said Obama. ―Through these changes, we intend to create more opportunities for the American and Cuban people, and begin a new chapter among the nations of the Americas.‖The president acknowledged his actions will not lift the trade embargo that has been in place for more than 50 years. However, the U.S. will open an embassy in Havana and Obama called on Congress to lift the trade ban.

Lawmakers with Cuban heritage immediately attacked the plan and signaled

the embargo would only be lifted after a bitter fight in both houses of Congress. In a statement, Arkansas Rep. Rick Crawford said, ―While I welcome the restoration of trade between the U.S. and Cuba on behalf of Arkansas agriculture and manufacturers, Congress must proceed with caution and deliberation in response to the president‘s decision. I pledge to lend my voice and the voice of Arkansas businesses to what promises to be a thorough and robust debate.‖What might the easing of sanctions mean for U.S. farmers? ―We‘re still trying to figure out exactly what all has been agreed to,‖ said Andrew Grobmyer, executive vice president of the Agriculture Council of Arkansas. ―But we‘re certainly excited to see some action brought by the Obama administration on Cuba. We hoped it would‘ve happened earlier and would‘ve been a unified effort by the White House and Congress. But we‘ll take this and hope it leads to the lifting of commerce and trade restrictions. ―We want this to provide open trade — especially with agricultural products in the near future. This might be enough to pressure Congress to move on the Cuban trade embargo.―We‘ve pushed for trade with Cuba for many years and through many presidents. Congress should be proactive and support this effort. Times have changed over the decades and the opportunity is ripe for this. By trading with Cuba, we can bring the country more in line with U.S.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine ideals.‖What specifically?

about

the

Mid-South

―I think it would be a boost for all crops,‖ said Grobmyer. ―However, rice would be a big winner because it‘s a big part of the Cuban diet. And think about how close the United States is to Cuba. Compared to other countries we export to, it‘s not a long way to haul from Arkansas to Cuba. From a trade perspective, because transportation costs would be low, it‘s kind of a natural fit.―Another industry that would be helped is poultry. Obviously, there‘s a lot of poultry raised in the state.‖ http://deltafarmpress.com/government/what-willmajor-shift-us-policy-toward-cuba-meanagriculture?page=1&utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily %2C+December+18%2C+2014&utm_campaign=Fri day%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=e mail

High levels of arsenic found in rice Posted: Dec 17, 2014 12:25 PM PSTUpdated: Dec 17, 2014 12:25 PM PST

Consumer Reports has issued new guidelines for limits on how much rice you and your children should eat. Consumer Reports analyzed Food and Drug Administration data on more than 600 foods that contain rice and found some with worrisome levels of inorganic arsenic, which is linked to several types of cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration recommends parents consider other options rather than rice cereal for their children's first solid food.

Consumer Reports' analysis found that hot rice cereal and rice pasta can have much more arsenic than its lab saw in previous tests.

So Consumer Reports now recommends that children rarely eat these foods, which means not more than twice a month. And Consumer Reports recommends children under five limit rice drinks, rice cakes and ready-to-eat rice cereals. Levels of arsenic vary. Consumer Reports based its recommendations on the higher levels in each food group to offer consumers the best protection.

By Brendan Clark As for rice itself, Consumer Reports' lab tests in 2012 found high levels of inorganic arsenic in white rice and even higher levels in brown rice. Consumer Reports has tested other types of rice and other grains and has found several alternatives with much lower levels of inorganic arsenic. Some good choices — sushi rice from the U.S. and white basmati rice from California, India and Pakistan. On Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine average they had half the amount of arsenic as most other types of rice. And brown basmati rice from California, India and Pakistan has about one third less inorganic arsenic than other brown rice. Other good options — bulgur, barley and faro, as well as gluten-free grains like amaranth, buckwheat, millet and quinoa.

In response to Consumer Reports' investigation, the USA Rice Federation issued this statement: ―Research conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. rice industry shows arsenic levels found in U.S.-grown rice are below safe maximum levels established this year by the World Health Organization. Studies show that including white or brown rice in the diet provides measurable health benefits that outweigh the potential risks associated with exposure to trace levels of arsenic. The U.S. rice industry is committed to growing a safe and healthy product; we continuously test our crop, and research ways of reducing the already low levels of arsenic found in rice even further.

The Food & Drug Administration issued this statement: The FDA's ongoing assessment of arsenic in rice remains a priority for the agency. Last year, the FDA released what we believe to be the largest set of test results to date on the presence of arsenic in rice and rice products, and we are planning to release a draft assessment of the potential health risks associated with the consumption of arsenic in these same foods.

continues to recommend that consumers, including pregnant women, eat a well-balanced diet containing a variety of grains. Parents should feed infants and toddlers a variety of grains as well, and consider options other than rice cereal for a child's first solid food.Published studies and ongoing FDA research indicate that cooking rice in excess volumes of water – five to six times that of the rice – and draining the water can reduce the arsenic content, though it may also reduce the nutritional value of the rice.Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports' website.

Subscribe toConsumerReports.org.

Global rice exports surge in 2014 Thursday, 18 December 2014 03:28

Bumper produce and a surge in demand for rice, particularly in the Far East Asia, have resulted in 2014 recording the highest rice export figures globally, FAO has announced

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Increased exports of Thai rice to other countries in the Far East Asia and Africa is expected to propel Thai rice exports to 10.2mn tonnes in 2014. (Image source: Mike Gifford/Flickr) While final figures wouldn‘t be confirmed until early next year, FAO‘s last quarterly report for 2014 Rice Market Monitor (RMM) indicated much of the forecast growth in 2014 global trade in rice was due to a surge in exports from Thailand, which regained the title of world‘s top rice exporter.―Indeed, a development dominating international rice trade in 2014 has been the resurgence of Thailand as a leading rice exporter, an advance made possible by key policy changes regarding government market intervention,‖ the report stated.Increased exports of Thai rice to other countries in the Far East Asia and Africa is expected to propel Thai rice exports to 10.2mn tonnes in 2014, which, if confirmed, would stand only 500,000 tonnes short of the 2011 record exports.―The ensuing restoration of its competitive edge has permitted Thailand to recapture much of the market share lost to India and Vietnam over the past two years,‖ it added.

The RMM predicted that rice deliveries by India will fall by five per cent to 10mn tonnes in 2014, depressed by a combination of heightened competition for markets and a reduction in demand in its major Basmati outlets. The export outlook is also bleak for Vietnam, the RMM stated, where official deliveries are now projected to remain close to the 2013 depressed level of 6.6mn tonnes, as the country is out-priced in Africa and rivalled by Thailand in important Far Eastern markets, such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Production remains steady Despite regional variations, overall, global rice production had remained steady, down only slightly from the previous recordsetting year. Weather conditions contributed to a 0.5 per cent decrease in Asia.At 744.7mn tonnes (496.6mn tonnes, milled basis), the resulting 2014 global production forecast is expected to be only slightly lower this year compared with last year (down 0.2 per cent or 1.6mn tonnes), reflecting a 0.1 per cent contraction of both plantings and yields to 162.9mn hectares and 4.57 tonnes per hectare, respectively, brought about by unfavourable weather conditions.Overall global trade in rice is expected to exceed 40mn tonnes in 2014 and could reach 40.5mn tonnes in the 2015 calendar year.

The anticipated growth in global rice trade in 2014 is forecast to be sustained by a near two million tonne surge in shipments to Asian countries to 18.9mn tonnes. At a country level, the increase mostly mirrored a resurgence of demand from the Philippines, in the aftermath of damages incurred as a result of typhoon Haiyan and depleted inventories. The country may close the year with delivery of 1.8mn tonnes, up 1.1mn tonnes year-on-year, part of which to reconstitute public rice reserves, the report stated.Traditionally a self-sufficient nation, Sri Lanka has also been compelled to rely on supplies from abroad to compensate for significant production shortfalls, with 280,000 tonnes assessed to have been purchased by the country. http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agri culture/global-rice-exports-surge-in-2014

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