25th november,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine (1)

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine www.ricepluss.com Vol 4,Issue XI

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

25th November, 2014

Today’s News Headlines… 

Vietnam and IRRI jointly craft strategy to boost country’s rice industry

 Bühler signs optical rice sorters supply deal with Riceland International in Thailand  Iranian rice importers due tomorrow  3 types of rice ready for climate change  Why rice is dangerous to feed your children  A ‘galloping’ seafood delight  Haryana government lowers employees' retirement age by 2 years  Langley Honored by Riceland Foods  CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures  Harvests trump drought in Yuba-Sutter  Burdekin growers gather to consider rice growing future  Rice yield increase of 30 percent enabled  Louisiana Rice: Last of Verification Fields Harvested, Yields Good  Rice raised on classical music harvested  Report Warns Burma on Rice Price Volatility  Japan 2014 Cereal Production Forecast to Remain High  Government's rice procurement still lags at 10.35 million tonnes

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

Vietnam and IRRI jointly craft strategy to boost country’s rice industry on 26 November 2014.

Hanoi—Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) this week put its full weight behind a national strategy designed to make rice production an even larger engine of inclusive economic growth.

Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat and Vice Minister Le Quoc Doanh convened a multistakeholder effort to refine key elements of the strategy, which includes developing rice varieties with high export value, adopting advanced crop management techniques, and more intensive use of machines and other technologies in rice farming.

Together with the top leadership of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and other public and private sector partners, MARD seeks the rapid and sustained growth of the agriculture sector, especially the rice subsector in which Vietnam is already a global leader. The rice industryserves as the foundation of Vietnam's inclusive development success story.This week‘s

collaborative effort advances, in the country's rice sector, the June 2013 Vietnam government decision QD-889, or Approving the Project on Agricultural Restructuring Toward Raising Added Values and Sustainable Development. In response to this decision and to MARD priorities, IRRI has offered support to Vietnam-led rice sectorimprovement efforts in key areas.

During a technical workshop on Wednesday, 26 November, MARD officials and partners discussed IRRI‘s proposed technical assistance package. Co-chaired by MARD Vice Minister Le Quoc Doanh and IRRI Deputy Director General V. Bruce J. Tolentino, topics included high-quality rice varieties and commercial production of specialty rice for domestic and export markets; branding of Vietnamese rice; reduced pre- and postharvest losses; climate change adaptation and low carbon emission measures in rice production; support for small farmers; and policy advice to further enhance the country's formidable rice sector.

On Thursday, 27 November, MARD Minister Cao Duc Phat and IRRI Director General Robert Zeigler will sign a host country agreement that will facilitate more robust international exchange among Vietnamese and IRRI scientists and experts who will refine and implement Vietnam's rice sector strategy. This also makes IRRI the first international agricultural research center to be officially recognized as an international organization by the Government of Vietnam.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Source: http://irri.org/news/mediareleases/vietnam-and-irri-jointly-craftstrategy-to-boost-country-s-rice-industry

Bühler signs optical rice sorters supply deal with Riceland International in Thailand Monday, 24 November 2014 09:16 In addition to relevant government agencies, other participants in the working sessions included academic partners, such as the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture Sciences and the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, as well as key industry players like Vinafood and the Vietnam Food Association.

This week‘s developments raise to a higher level the decades-long partnership between Vietnam and IRRI, which started in 1963 when the first Vietnamese scientist studied at the rice institute. A 2011 report from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research found that between 1985 and 2009, IRRI varieties and breeding lines contributed, on average, 50% of the annual yield increases in southern Vietnam and the use of new varieties increased Vietnamese rice farmers‘ income by US$127 per hectare (in 2009 values) per year during the study period.

Since 1963, IRRI has enabled more than 100 Vietnamese scholars to gain advanced degrees in rice science. In addition, more than 700 Vietnamese rice specialists, of whom more than one-third are women, have received training in rice technologies at IRRI.

Bühler has signed an agreement with Riceland International in Thailand for the supply of SORTEX S UltraVision Optical Sorters in the Southeast Asian country Vichai Sriprasert, president CEO of Riceland International with Ye Aung, senior rice technologist at Bühler Thailand. (Image source: Bühler)

According to the rice processing and optical sorting solutions firm, this contract for seven sorters, signed at the International Rice Congress 2014, marked a further milestone in Bühler‘s continuing expansion in rice processing across Asia and is strategically significant for Bühler Thailand‘s position in the important Thai rice market. It added that as one of the top 10 exporters of rice by volume, with annual sales consistently in the region of 400,000 metric tons, Riceland International is a key customer for Bühler Thailand.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine The deal also demonstrated Bühler‘s significant investment in its customer partnerships, technical innovations and localised service and support, which is fuelling the demands for processing and optical sorting solutions from rice processors around the world, according to the group.Mark Ledson, MD of Bühler Thailand, said, ―The agreement with Riceland International demonstrates our commitment to help our customers develop state of the art processing solutions.―It is also an acknowledgement of our global capability to supply complete process engineered solutions to leading rice processors, driven by our leadership in rice research and technical excellence. We look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with Riceland International.‖ http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/index.php?option=co m_content&view=article&id=4383:buehler-signs-opticalrice-sorters-supply-deal-with-riceland-international-inthailand&catid=1099&Itemid=101

Iranian rice importers due tomorrow our correspondent Tuesday, November 25, 2014 From Print Edition LAHORE: A 19-member Iranian Rice Importers Association delegation is coming to Lahore from November 26 to 28 to visit different rice factories, farms and laboratories in perspective of Pak-Iran mutual rice trade business, a statement said on Monday.

The delegation intends to evaluate the opportunities for increasing the import of quality rice from Pakistan, it said. The delegates would focus on assessing health certifications in Pakistani rice factories.They

will also get engaged with the banking authorities in Pakistan in sorting out various banking issues, including payment mechanism.Iran has emerged as the largest importer of rice in the world, as it imports around 11 percent of the world rice worth $2.5 billion, the statement said. According to the International Trade Centre, the demand for rice in Iran has doubled during 2012-13 and in the last five years, import of rice grew more than 35 percent.

Hence, there exists a huge opportunity for the exporters of Pakistani rice.Presently, almost 90 percent of rice is from India although import from Pakistan would be more economical, it said.Pakistan is the fourth largest exporter of rice in the world with exports of more than $2 billion.This high-level delegation is an opportunity to maximise the huge potential of trade between Pakistan and Iran.Rice exporters are hopeful the visit will help them penetrate in the Iranian market.The Iranian delegation is being facilitated by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.

Source with thanks: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysNews-3-286202-Iranian-rice-importers-duetomorrow#sthash.rpa2WTJy.dpuf

3 types of rice ready for climate change New types of rice can survive drought, floods and salt water intrusion – all impacts of climate change Pia Ranada Published 8:02 AM, Nov 25, 2014 Updated 8:19 AM, Nov 25, 2014 LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – Can you imagine a world without rice?

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine nature/environment/75979-climate-changeready-rice

Why rice is dangerous to feed your children Mark Koebrich and Consumer Reports, News 1010:26 a.m. EST November 24, 2014

If climate change has its way, that may be the kind of world that awaits us, or at the very least, our children.Rice, with its dependence on water and sensitivity to heat, is one of many crops threatened by global warming. In the Philippines, every 1 degree Celsius increase in night-time temperature could reduce the amount of harvested rice by as much as 10%, according to the Department of Agriculture.Rice, which feeds almost half of the human population, is already suffering from other impacts of the global phenomenon such as rising sea levels, drought and stronger typhoons.

Add this to the fact that by 2050, the world will have to feed an estimated 2 billion more people. With more mouths to feed, limited land to grow rice and climate change, the world is looking bleak for rice-lovers.That's why scientists all over the world are coming up with new types of rice that can withstand the worst of climate change and still end up in people's plates.Here are new kinds of rice developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Ba単os, Laguna using advanced breeding technology Source with thanks:http://www.rappler.com/science-

(Photo: JAY DIRECTO, AFP/Getty Images)

CONSUMER REPORTS - 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

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine of arsenic vary. Consumer Reports based its recommendations on the higher levels in each food group to offer consumers the best protection.

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 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.

Until that review is completed, the agency continues to recommend that consumers, including pregnant women, eat a wellbalanced 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.

A ‗galloping‘ seafood delight

By DON AND CARLENE CULLIMORE Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 1:00 pm The July 29 column by Tribune Food Editor Marcia Vanderlip stirred memories of a rich seafood dish created by chef Graham Kerr, the octogenarian ―Galloping Gourmet‖ who has been a food writer-kitchen celebrity for more than half a century. I became acquainted with Kerr through his TV cooking show that was airing in the 1970s.

The series began in the ‘60s in Canada and later was syndicated in the United States.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Graham acquired the intriguing moniker ―Galloping Gourmet‖ early in his career when he undertook a 35-day tour of the finest restaurants around the world while promoting a new cookbook. Known for his sense of humor, Graham devised a clever way to start his TV shows — entering the kitchen while leaping over a piece of furniture before coming to a grinning halt in front of the cameras. His live audiences surely watched his aerial acrobatics anxiously lest he trip and make a crash landing.

The name of Graham‘s seafood dish I learned to cook escapes me. I had written down the recipe while watching the TV show but lost it some years later when moving. However, the ingredients and general instructions for creating the dish are still with me, although I had not prepared it for many years until last week.

It‘s a dish I prepared for my wife when we were first dating and I was living in a rustic Oregon beach house in the small community of Manzanita. Reminiscent of a classic French seafood dish containing ample quantities of clarified butter and cream and fortified with wine, it is not for those who are counting calories or cholesterol.

It became an immediate hit with our Oregon friends when we entertained. I prepared it numerous times before leaving the Northwest to move to Florida in 1989, but it disappeared from our table fare as new foods in a new place replaced it in our culinary adventures.

The combination of butter, cream and other flavorful fats was typical of Kerr‘s early cooking shows and recipes, but he moved on to more healthy kitchen fare in later years

after his wife — and producer of his many TV shows — Treena suffered some serious health issues that prompted a change of diet to one featuring less saturated fats and more healthful food choices.

SEAFOOD IN A BUTTER-CREAM-WINE SAUCE 1 cup basmati rice, steamed 12 scallops 12 medium-size shrimp, shelled 16 ounces cod, cut into squares approximately 1 inch thick by 2 inches 1-1/4 sticks butter, clarified 2 medium cloves garlic, mashed and skins off 1 cup cream 1/3 cup dry white wine 1 teaspoon dry dill (more if fresh) Pinch of salt (to taste) 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 2 to 3 tablespoons arrowroot thickener Precook rice and keep warm atop stove while preparing seafood. Clarify butter in sauce pan, skimming sediment off the top, then pour into larger pan or skillet on lowmedium heat. Place mashed garlic in pan and let simmer until golden-brown, then remove cloves and discard. Add wine to butter and increase heat to medium-high for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and add cream, dill, salt and pepper.

Wait until mixture is at medium heat and add cod and set a kitchen timer for 10 minutes. After 4 minutes, add scallops; after 5 minutes, add shrimp. At this time, mix arrowroot in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water until smooth and pour into pan and stir until mixture thickens. Do not overcook fish; it will become rubbery if you continue cooking beyond 10 minutes.When done, pour seafood mixture over rice. Serve with simple green salad and crusty French bread.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Servings: 4-5.

Hooda had increased the retirement age of state

Classically trained, Carlene Cullimore‘s professional cooking career spanned 30 years. Don Cullimore is a freelance writer and editor. Reach them at ccullimore@sbcglobal.net.

government employees by two years to 60. It

Source with thanks 2014 Columbia Daily Tribune

Haryana government lowers employees' retirement age by 2 years

By PTI | 25 Nov, 2014, 11.18PM IST Manohar Lal Khattar-led government in Haryana decided to roll back the Congress regime's decision to enhance the retirement age of state employees by two years.

ET SPECIAL:

was enhanced to 62 years for Class IV employees and persons with disabilities.

The decision to roll back the retirement age will be

implemented

immediately,

Chief

Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told reporters after the Cabinet meeting this evening. "All employees who had completed 58 or 60 years in their respective categories and are still serving would be retired on November 30, 2014.The upper age limit for fresh recruitment would remain (unchanged at) 42 years. This decision had been taken to ensure maximum employment opportunity to the youth," he said. he Cabinet also decided to increase VAT on diesel from the present 9.24 per cent to 12.07 per cent, with the Chief Minister saying the exchequer would earn an additional Rs 750 crore annually following the move. However, opposition Congress termed the decision to increase the VAT on diesel as "anti-farmer".

CHANDIGARH: The Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government in Haryana today decided to roll back the erstwhile Congress regime's decision to enhance the retirementage of state employees by two years, evoking sharp reaction from the opposition.

"This is the most unfortunate anti-people and anti-farmer

decision.

This

will

lead

to

inflationary pressure on the market as a whole, besides putting unwarranted burden on the farming community who are already browbeaten by astronomical low prices of cotton and

At a Cabinet meeting here, the BJP government

basmati rice," Congress national spokesman and

decided to lower the retirement age from 60 to

former

58 years and to hike VAT on diesel from the

Surjewala told over phone.The Congress leader

present 9.24 per cent to 12.07 per cent. Shortly

was also critical of the rollback of some of the

before the October 15 Assembly polls, the

decisions of the Congress regime including the

Congress government led by Bhupinder Singh

lowering of the retirement age. Among other

Haryana

minister

Randeep

Singh

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine decisions, Khattar said the state government had also decided to remove the Chairman and members

of

Haryana

Staff

Selection

Commission and to revoke the Act of Haryana Teacher Service Selection Board. He said a new system would soon be introduced for teachers recruitment.

Source with thanks: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/ policy/haryana-government-lowers-employeesretirement-age-by-2-years/articleshow/45276403.cms

Reece excelled at both. In Washington, Reece is considered one of the top ag policy guys on Capitol Hill."Langley joined the USA Rice in 2005 and recently took a position with the National Cotton Council as their vice president of Washington operations.

(Left to Right): Rich Hillman, Vice Chairman of RFI Board; Roger Pohlner, Chairman of RFI Board; Langley; Danny Kennedy, President & CEO RFI Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

Langley Honored by Riceland Foods Langley honored by Riceland

STUT TGA RT, AR At their annua l meeti ng last Thursday, Riceland Foods honored Reece Langley with the company's 'Friend of the Farmer' award for his advocacy for the rice industry during his tenure as the USA Rice Federation's vice president of government affairs.While at USA Rice, Langley worked on two different Farm Bills -- the first, in 2008, and, most recently, the groundbreaking Agricultural Act of 2014.

Of that experience, Riceland President and CEO Danny Kennedy said, "The 2014 Farm Bill required patience and perseverance, and

News shared by USA Rice Federation's

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 25

Month

Price

Net Change

January 2015

$12.370

- $0.075

March 2015

$12.645

- $0.075

May 2015

$12.885

- $0.075

July 2015

$13.090

- $0.075

September 2015

$12.245

- $0.075

November 2015

$12.145

- $0.075

January 2016

$12.145

- $0.075

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Harvests trump drought in Yuba-Sutter David Bitton/Appeal-Democrat 112414_db_walnuts_049.jpg David Bitton/Appeal-Democrat Employees keep busy sorting walnuts for quality at Sacramento Valley Walnut Growers south of Yuba City on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014.

Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 12:15 am By Andrew Creasey/ acreasey@appealdemocrat.com

Harvest season is over, and both mainstays of Yuba-Sutter agriculture reported a strong year despite a withering drought.Rice growers reported strong production per acre, although the overall yield suffered due to water shortages and fallowed fields.And while official numbers aren't in, several growers said this year's local walnut crop could be record-breaking. California, statewide, is on track for a record year with an expected crop of 545,000 tons, 11 percent bigger than last year, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

And it's no different in Yuba-Sutter, said Mat Conant, a Sutter County walnut grower."I think overall production will make this crop the best ever in this area. I'd be

surprised if it wasn't," Conant said. "But I don't think anyone has their total yet to figure that out."A surge in walnut prices during the past few years caused a spike in acres planted to walnuts in Yuba-Sutter.

There are almost 30,000 more acres of producing walnut trees than in 2008, and 13,000 more acres are planted but have not reached productive years. That increase in acreage is a large part of the expected record production year, said Raj Kumar Sharma, owner of Sunrise Orchards in Yuba County.

"Every year for the next few years, we're going to see an increase in tonnage because more trees will come into production," Sharma said. "But there is more demand than supply, so even if there is a little more crop, it is still salable."The price is still strong, although global demand from China and Turkey has lagged, which has depressed the market slightly, Conant said.Conant said prices have reached $2.12 a pound, but he said it will likely end a little lower.

The drought has impacted the quality of the walnut crop, causing a smaller nut size and a duller color, said Sarb Johl, who farms about 1,000 acres in Sutter and Yuba counties.The edible yield — the weight of the crop that can be eaten — is also expected to be slightly lower this year, said Dan Silva, a walnut grower and processor with the California Valley Nut Company.Usually, the walnut industry wants to see half the weight of the nut be edible, but Silva said this year the number will be around 42 to 46 percent.Part of the reduction in quality and nut size is due to a series of warm days in January, which broke the dormancy cycles that help set the blossoms to develop a strong nut, Silva said.

Rice turns out Although about 25 percent of rice fields throughout the state went unplanted due to

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine the drought, local rice growers reported a strong season for the rice they could plant.Overall production this year is at 3.6 billion pounds, which is a 24 percent decrease from last year, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.But local rice growers reported near-record yields in production per acre due to a strong growing season that featured few days with temperatures higher than 100 degrees and a dry and cool, but not cold, August and September, said Charley Mathews Jr., a Yuba County rice grower .The price of rice is up, but still below the high prices of 2008, Mathews said."There is still a lot of competition in the world for our exports," Mathews said.Growers are getting between $24 and $25 per 100 pounds of rice, which is well up from a year ago, when prices were between $16 and $17 per 100 pounds, Mathews said.

Rain needed With harvest season ending, farmers are now turning an eye to the winter weather forecasts, hoping for a robust rainy season that breaks the three-year drought."Everyone's a little nervous about what the water year will look like," said Charley Mathews Jr., a Yuba County rice grower. "We're well behind of where we were 12 months ago in terms of water storage."Raj Kumar Sharma, owner of Sunrise Orchards in Yuba County, said he was encouraged by the start of the wet season."We had a really good storm last week, and they are predicting more rain, and we are just in November," Sharma said. "I am excited about it. I think we will be OK."

Source with thanks :http://www.appealdemocrat.com/news/harvests-trump-drought-inyuba-sutter/article_119dfb9c-7472-11e4-ab914f4b5a455e01.html

Burdekin growers gather to consider rice growing future ABC Rural

By Carmen Brown Updated Mon at 4:52pmMon 24 Nov 2014, 4:52pm PHOTO: Growers inspected a crop variety trial near Home Hill as part of the Sunrice information session yesterday (Carmen Brown) MAP: Townsville 4810 Plans to establish a large-scale rice industry in Queensland's Burdekin region are gaining momentum, with Australia's largest processor holding its first grower meeting in the region yesterday.

Almost 100 farmers attended the Sunrice information session in Brandon, to learn more about the practicalities and economics of production.

We haven't come up here lightly, we've spent a lot of money already Sunrice acquired the milling assets of Blue Ribbon Rice earlier this month, and is now

CONTACT reporter Andrew Creasey at 749-4780 and on Twitter @AD_Creasey.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine working hard to recruit local farmers to grow its first wet-season crop.General manager, David Keldie, says despite the challenges of growing rice in northern Australia, the company is committed to developing a sustainable industry in the Burdekin."We haven't come up here lightly, we've spent a lot of money already," he said.

Source with thanks : http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-1125/burdekin-rice-industry-push-gainsmomentum/5915482

Rice yield increase of 30 percent enabled Scientists at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have found that they can harness photosynthesis – the process that plants use to convert light energy to chemical energy – to increase rice yields by up to 30 percent.

"Prior to buying Blue Ribbon's rice milling assets we had already spent $1 million researching and developing varietals that suit this climate."So it's a big commitment, we've taken a big step and we're going to continue to invest as it's commercially viable, and we hope the farmers support us.

"Mr Keldie says marketing Burdekin rice as a premium north Queensland product will also be key to the industry's viability."The prices we're paying farmers are quite healthy now up here, so it would allow us to maintain that and be more specialised in the varieties that we grow," he said."And to steer those varietals and the crop we do grow up here into more premium markets."Obviously we have to market the rice as well, we have to package it, there's a lot of costs associated with that."So by branding and utilising the north Queensland brand, from a provenance perspective, allows us to sustain that model."

PHOTO: Almost 100 growers attended an information

session and crop variety tour hosted by Sunrice yesterday (Carmen Brow

Posted Nov. 24, 2014 @ 12:05 pm A research group led by Andy Pereira of the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department faculty examined a protein that acts as a ―switch‖ to activate genes that can enhance the photosynthesis activity of rice plants. The researchers discovered that the protein, known as higher yield rice (HYR), could enable the plants to survive stress, thrive and increase productivity.The results of the research are published in Nature Communications, an online multidisciplinary journal of the natural sciences athttp://bit.ly/109ZzHl. The project received support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the National Science Foundation. ―The regulator HYR does regulate photosynthesis, a complex process,‖ said Pereira, who holds the Anheuser-Busch and Arkansas Wholesalers Professorship in Plant Molecular Genetics. ―I saw in the greenhouse that the plants using the HYR regulator were much greener than any

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine others. It was because of more chlorophyll.

It had higher photosynthesis. All the rest followed. ‖What followed was a process that capitalized on nature‘s use of photosynthesis, in which plants take in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen. If rice and other plants are under too much stress, photosynthesis will shut down. ―That might be a good survival mechanism, and many plants want just to survive,‖ Pereira said. ―But we don‘t want crops to just survive.

We want them to keep producing. ‖A plant‘s natural reaction under stress is to shut down photosynthesis to keep it from producing reactive oxygen, which is damaging to the plant. This is where the HYR regulator protein comes in by keeping the whole photosynthesis machinery active and maintaining productivity, Pereira explained. Before Pereira‘s research on the project began a few years ago at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech – where he remains an adjunct faculty member – there was consensus among scientists that increasing photosynthesis capacity would probably increase productivity and yield.

No one had proven it until Pereira‘s group demonstrated grain yield increases as high as 29.7 percent by using the HYR regulator.The research showed that a plant needs to have the higher capacity to increase its production. ―Increased light will produce more photosynthesis, but if a plant doesn‘t have the capacity to use it, there won‘t be more production.

HYR increases photosynthesis, which increases sugars, which increases biomass and finally leads to more grain yield among normal rice cultivars,‖ Pereira said. Higher

photosynthesis leads to greater stress tolerance in HYR rice plants. The increased tolerance enables higher rice grain production under drought and heat stress with maintenance of good grain quality. ―Most importantly, the suite of genes regulated by HYR is the blueprint for development of similar rice varieties using non-GMO methods,‖ Pereira added.

Source with thanks :http://www.newportindependent.com/article/20 141124/NEWS/141129799/10082/NEWS

Louisiana Rice: Last of Verification Fields Harvested, Yields Good AgFax.Com - Your Online Ag News Source

By Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter

Nobody can accuse the verification program of not representing the real world. We were about an hour or so into harvesting our second crop field in Vermilion parish and yields were looking good, harvest was going well and the weather was cold but cooperating. Nearly three hours later we were rolling again, but ran out of time and had to finish the next morning.Going, going, gone; the last of the verification fields for 2014 were harvested on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine This was not the latest rice harvest — last year in Jeff Davis the second crop was harvested on November 30 — but it was definitely the coldest. When the sun dipped below the horizon we really got chilled down. The next day was much better.In spite of the more difficult growing season than last year, the yields were only slightly lower than 2013 yields. Actually, the total green weight is slightly higher than last year. If you wonder about the average yield of second crop it is computed by multiplying the second crop by the field acreage then dividing by the total acreage of all fields because we treat all fields together as a single farm.

The average of both crops is computed by adding the yield of first and second crop for each field, then multiplying that number by the field acreage, then dividing that figure by the total acreage in the program.Basically it is determining total production for all fields then dividing by total acreage for all fields. Got that? Here is what it looks like mathematically (for dry cwt/A): [(23 X 78.65) + (20.7 X 74.83) + (42.6 X 137.74) + (41.0 X 103.74) + (32.2 X 83.29)] divided by 159.5 = 100.79. If you try the numbers as reported there will be a slight difference because I used Excel which did not round off. That is the way I would figure a yield if this was my farm and it is the way we determine the state average. We multiply each parish yield by each parish acreage then divide by the entire state acreage.

This will be my last edition of Field Notes. It started when we were just entering the world of digital photography. I took a picture of something we had seen in the field that day and I sent it out to the rice agents in the state from a hotel room that night with the admonition to be aware of it. Wish I could remember what it was, but that is too many years ago.

Dr. Linscombe

immediately answered the e-mail with a comment to the effect that I should do this in the form of a newsletter. At first I regretted copying him on the message, but realized he was right and I should put together a newsletter.

The rest, as they say, is history. I began to look forward to doing it each week and hope you have learned something from them.One of the reasons for the success of the rice program has been excellent rice agents. I have no doubt we have the best rice agents in the country and for that I am truly grateful. Someone once asked the famous baseball manage Casey Stengel what made a good manager. He answered, ―Good players.‖ I have been fortunate to work with good players. Another reason is the extremely competent network of company field representatives and consultants.

Their phone calls often were the basis for investigating a problem or writing about some topic I would otherwise have neglected.The rice industry has undergone many changes since I started this job. In the early 1990‘s there were over 3,000 rice farmers in the state and now we are down to 1,000 or less. Those who have remained are better farmers and have to be to survive in this economic climate. The past few years have been among the most rewarding because of you.Years ago one of my mentors exposed me to this statement written by Etienne de Grellet, a Quaker missionary. It has been a guiding light to me so I thought I would share it with you: “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer no neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine AgCenter News, rice fields, rice yields

verification

Source with thanks: http://agfax.com/2014/11/24/louisiana-ricelast-verification-fields-harvested-yieldsgood/#sthash.R4XabWKX.dpuf

Rice raised on classical music harvested 2014/11/25 21:20:27 Taipei, Nov. 25 (CNA) Rice that has been grown to the strains of classical music by such maestros as Beethoven and Mozart over the past four months in eastern Taiwan was harvested Tuesday.The "rice listening to the music" program, initiated by Poca A Poca Music Education Foundation, started in July, with a giant "rice music box" set up by the side of the famous Mr. Brown boulevard in Taitung's Chihshang Township.

Every day, music by Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky was played to "nourish the rice" in the township, which is famous for its namesake rice.The foundation then invited the children of Wan'an Elementary School to join farmers in harvesting the crop.One farmer said he originally thought the rice, like himself, could only appreciate songs by famous Taiwanese singers such as Chris Hung and Jody Chiang, but after more than 100 days of listening to the maestros, he said proudly that "I now also know Beethoven.

"The rice, harvested from a 3.2-hectare paddy, has been packed into 7,000 bags that will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going toward the promotion of classical

music in remote areas.According to the foundation, playing classical music to rice is like letting unborn children listen to Mozart or playing music to dairy cows.Athough the effects on the rice are unknown, the project has created an environment of musical culture."We don't need to dress up in suits and ties and go to the National Concert Hall to appreciate classical music. We can also put sound systems beside rice fields and enjoy the music while watching the dancing ears of rice," said You Chao-ming, chairman of the foundation.

(By Tyson Lu and Lilian Wu) ENDITEM/J Source with thanks http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201411250027. aspx

Report Warns Burma on Rice Price Volatility

By KYAW HSU MON / THE IRRAWADDY| Tuesday, November 25, 2014 |

RANGOON — A new World Bank study warns that instability in the price of rice in Burma is posing challenges to the country‘s largely impoverished farmers.The study finds that ―rice price volatility in Burma is the highest among net rice exporting countries in Asia, preventing farmers from earning high profits and keeping many families at or close to poverty income levels.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine ‖The price of the commodity has particularly far-reaching implications in majority agrarian Burma, according to Abdoulaye Seck, the World Bank‘s country manager in Burma.―Agriculture is at the heart of poverty reduction in Myanmar.

Changes in rice prices affect nearly 50 percent of the population whose livelihood depends on rice production,‖ he said.According to the World Bank report, rice prices have risen by 40 percent between 2009-13, risking Burma‘s overall food security and export competitiveness. ―A majority of rural population lives close to the poverty line and spends more than 60 percent of their incomes on food. Even temporary increase in rice prices reduces real income and households‘ spending on health, education or more nutritious food.

Rice price volatility, indeed, should concern everyone in Myanmar,‖ Seck said.

The rice market in Burma had until recently been in a downward spiral. A Chinese ban on rice imports from Burma and a rise in rice exports by neighboring Thailand were cited as leading to the price fall. Rice exports bottomed out at US$280 per 100 baskets (about 1.5 tons) in the middle of October, before rebounding this month as heavy rains led traders to speculate that this year might see a reduced harvest.

Rice rose to $380 per 100 baskets last week.―Paddy price is going up about 10 percent these days because of heavy rain— traders think prices will increase again,‖ said Chit Khine, chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation.The World Bank‘s report said price volatility in Burma was mostly due to the fact that rice production is heavily

concentrated in just two months of the year, November and December.The report added that ―fragmented seed market, poor roads, weak phone coverage, unreliable market information, low export diversification, and high costs for rice mills to maintain rice stocks amplify these price fluctuations even further. ‖The World Bank recommended that rice production be better spread across a given year, and promoted efforts to lower the cost of doing business for farmers and traders, including by improving road and telecommunications links.―Any strategy for stabilizing rice price volatility has to address its structural causes,‖ said Ulrich Zachau, the World Bank‘s country director for Myanmar.The global lender also advised against short-term measures to stabilize the rice market. ―Stable prices per se do not generate longterm agricultural growth if it is achieved through shortsighted policies,‖ said Sergiy Zorya, a Word Bank senior agricultural economist and lead author of the report. ―Short-term measures such as export restrictions, minimum farm prices or government-owned stocks might reduce some volatility but rarely produce positive outcomes for food security and poverty reduction in the long term.‖Burma was once the world‘s leading rice exporter, but the industry all but collapsed under the former military regime.

According to the Myanmar Rice Exporters Association, Burma‘s rice exports in 201314 stood at about 1.2 million tons, down from 1.47 million tons the year before.

President Thein Sein has set a target to

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine export 4 million tons of rice by 2020.A boy sits nearby while his parents plant rice seedlings in a paddy field on the outskirts of Rangoon in 2012. (Photo: Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters)

NEW

DELHI:

Rice

procurement

by

government

agencies continues to

Source with Thanks:Irrawaddy

lag

million

at

10.35 tonnes

(MT) in the marketing year 2014-15 so far

Japan 2014 Cereal Production Forecast to Remain High 25 November 2014

as against 10.9 MT in the corresponding period last year.The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies undertake procurement of rice and wheat to ensure that

JAPAN - Harvesting of the 2014 paddy crop is currently underway and will continue until the end of November.FAO‘s latest forecast points to a paddy harvest slightly below last year‘s bumper output, at 10.6 million tonnes, as a result of a small decrease in plantings due to low prices at sowing time.The 2014 winter wheat harvest, concluded in July, is estimated by FAO at 840,000 tonnes, slightly higher than the level of 2013 but over 100,000 tonnes higher than the average for 2009-2013.Aggregate cereal production for 2014 is forecast at 11.6 million tonnes, close to last year‘s level and above the average recorded for the period 2009-2013.

farmers get a minimum support price (MSP)."Rice procurement as on November 24 is slightly lower than year ago.

Procurement in Punjab and Haryanais nearing end. Other states like Telangana have started buying," a senior FCI official told PTI. Rice marketing year runs from October to September and the annual procurement target for this year is 30 MT.In Punjab, rice procurement so far this year has been 7.7 MT, as against 8 MT in the year-ago period, while in Haryana, it reached 1.98 MT as against 2.4 MT in the review period.In Telangana, about 3,88,000 tonnes of rice has been procured so far this year.Last year,

Government's rice procurement still lags at 10.35 million tonnes

kharif rice procurement was 26.6 MT as against the target of 32.06 MT. http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

PTI Nov 25, 2014, 03.19PM IST

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