2nd november,2017 daily global regional & local rice e newsletter

Daily Global Rice

E-Newsletter

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November 2,2017 Vol 9 Issue XI

Rice News Headlines...  Pakistan Paddy update 01-Nov-17  Pakistan can earn huge foreign exchange through handmade furniture’  USA Rice Exhibits at 100th Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo  Thailand boosts rice exports to Hong Kong  Rice group eyes record exports  Rice gene FZP mutates in nature, can increase yields by 15%: scientists  US rice broadens market share in tight South Korean market  Wheat, rice basmati strengthen on increased offtake  Punjab procures nearly 140 lakh tonnes paddy in one month  Local rice producer laments threat of smuggling  Wheat, rice basmati strengthen on increased offtake  Over 5 million tonnes of rice exported in ten months  33 businesses to join rice export project  Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- November 02, 2017  Wheat, rice basmati strengthen on increased offtake  It’s a story of rice to riches for Kerala farmer  Iran issues tender to buy 30,000 tonnes rice from India - trade  Iran issues tender to buy 30,000 tonnes rice from India: traders  Over 5 million tonnes of rice exported in ten months  Harvesting rice by using a combine harvester (Photo: VNA)  Four varieties top national rice competition  New blended fertilisers double crop yields – research  Rice Marketing Board election: Ricegrowers compete for board

 Burning issue: Fire as a field prep tool Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com Monitor Latest Updates on www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

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News Detail...

Pakistan Paddy update 01-Nov-17 Nnon Basmati Supri paddy , same at 1275, Sella Supri Rice 2025, Lal 386, White Rice 2100, Supri sella Thingmore up, 2275/2300 Basmati, C1121 , visible sign of Price , going up on buying all around by major Millers & Export houses, still 1650 ex mill, will touch/end at 1675/1700 ex mill at the end of this week, Kamonke, Muridke ex mill 1625/1650, delivered from all origin.

Hafizabad1650/1730, NRSP, 1620/1630, Garh More Jhang 1550/, Pull Bagar 1530/1550 Kamalia/Pirmahal 1625/ Thingmor/Allahabad 1630/1700 Bahawalnagar 1800/1825, cutter, Hand cut ,1930/ MundiFaizabad, Mangatanwala ,1121 paddy is effected by disease, more empty shell,1600/1650, C1121.Sella Rice Okara, 4000/ , Bahawalnager 3900/3950, Thingmore 4000/ Super Basmati Paddy, arrival is picking up, not many buyer, due to cloudy weather, Kamonke Rs1540/1600 moisture 22/25%, Thingmore strong preference for Super Basmati. Super Basmati is still 2nd preference. , Super Basmati old Rice Rs3600, Good quality3700, stocks limited. Good time to buy Super Basmati for Millers having Paddy Dryers, as weather is getting cloudy, No sun.

Chief Editor (Hamlik)- Riceplus Magazine

Pakistan can earn huge foreign exchange through handmade furniture’ PARVEZ JABRI

NOV 1ST, 2017

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LAHORE: Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Chairman and Vice President Manzoor ul Haq Malik said on Wednesday that local furniture sector attached great importance to national economy and could make a substantial contribution of billions of dollars export annually if government properly patronizes it on priority for boosting export of Pak-handmade furniture.Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) headed by its chief executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq here, he appreciated the PFC for holding successful series of interiors Pakistan exhibitions in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.

Manzoor Malik urged the government to establish greater liaison with this sector to fully understand the market conditions and requirements of the industry needs for its protection, development and promotion.He said the government should also provide more visible support to furniture business in terms of simple and easily obtainable grants for exhibiting and travelling to trade shows and promoting Pak export as a success globally.He said currently, the textile sector was the country‘s largest industry in terms of exports, exporting US dollar 14 billion worth of goods annually.

He said the second largest segment was rice, which generates US dollar 2 billion through exports, but Pakistan‘s furniture exports stand at a meager US dollar 51 million.He said if the government extended its support to furniture companies, the volume of export could touch the figure of US dollar 5 billion for the next five years.FPCCI Regional Chairman suggested that a programme for developing and promoting the furniture sector both in rural and urban areas could be feasible, and also stressed the need for implementing modern techniques which not only enhance productivity, develop skills of labour and meet requirements of local and global markets.

PFC Chief Mian Kashif Ashfaq said, there was great potential in Pakistan‘s local furniture industry which needed a greater acknowledgment by the government.He praised the furniture carving industry of Chiniot, Gujrat and Gojra and said that it required the government‘s support

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to get promoted internationally.He mentioned, ―Around Rs 4 billion worth of furniture is imported but unfortunately, exports remain at Rs 0.7 billion, which clearly shows the condition of the local furniture industry,‖ he cited, while stressing the need to promote local industry.He said that if the required support was given to manufacturers and brands to reach out to international market, Pakistan‘s industry would contribute to the economy and furniture products would be considered leaders in the international market.

Mian Kashif said the PFC was playing a commendable role in bringing the latest technical knowhow in Pakistan for promotion of local furniture industry, manufacturing of quality products, and competitiveness in the international market.In order to boost furniture exports, he suggested, the government should take steps to curb ‗Sheesham‘ wood smuggling in the garb of raw material, besides awarding the furniture a status of full-fledged industry.On this occasion, PFC Secretary Hamid Mahmood said that the council was devising a strategy to enhance exports and this sector could touch more than US dollar 850 million export target by the year-end if training centers were opened in the country for imparting modern skills. https://www.brecorder.com/2017/11/01/378164/pakistan-can-earn-huge-foreign-exchangethrough-handmade-furniture/

USA Rice Exhibits at 100th Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo

By Cameron Jacobs

CHICAGO, IL -- Last week, more than 10,000 dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, healthcare providers, and food industry leaders from around the world gathered here to attend the 100th anniversary of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE). As an exhibitor, USA Rice promoted U.S. rice messaging, addressed nutrition and food safety questions, and distributed educational materials to conference attendees.

Visitors at the USA Rice booth were able to test their knowledge on the Think Rice trivia wheel,

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receive branded USBs containing recipes and nutrition information, interact with the domestic promotion team, and experience the difference in feel, smell, and look of various U.S.-grown rice varieties.

"FNCE is one of the most important trade shows we attend," said Katie Maher, USA Rice director of strategic initiatives. "The show provides a great platform for USA Rice to present itself as the ultimate resource when it comes to all aspects of the U.S. rice industry from nutrition to sourcing and recipe production."

In addition to the booth's traditional offerings, surveys were conducted by USA Rice of more than 175 health professionals to gain insight on rice attitudes and usage. Takeaways from the survey include 98.2 percent of respondents recommending rice and rice products as part of a healthy diet with whole grain brown rice, whole grain brown aromatic rice, and wild rice among the top recommended types.

Respondents also expressed a positive perception of rice pinpointing the top appealing attributes of rice as versatility (77.4%), affordability (68.7%), and taste (63%). When asked about health qualities associated with rice, whole grain (79%), complex carbohydrate (60%), gluten-free (59%), and a source of energy (53%) were identified as the top responses. Lastly, respondents were asked about barriers to acceptance and consumption of rice. Thirty percent identified the carbohydrate content of rice as the primary barrier, followed by misperception and confusion on rice cooking times and techniques at 19 percent.

"The conversations we're able to have here at FNCE are crucial in gaining reliable feedback to better understand consumer interests and needs, while reiterating our message that U.S.-grown rice is a central component of a healthy well-balanced diet in both schools and homes," said Maher.

Also while at the show, USA Rice joined more than thirty organizations at the USDA MyPlate National Strategic Partner meeting to learn about new partner research and MyPlate initiatives, and network with other strategic partners.

Thailand boosts rice exports to Hong Kong

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VNA THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2017 - 14:22:00 PRINT

Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce has bolstered rice exports to Hong Kong (China) and invited rice importers from Hong Kong to discuss the import of Thai rice in the coming time, reported Thai media on November 1 (Photo: Reuters) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand‘s Ministry of Commerce has bolstered rice exports to Hong Kong (China) and invited rice importers from Hong Kong to discuss the import of Thai rice in the coming time, reported Thai media on November 1.

A delegation of 37 major businesses led by the Chairman of the Rice Merchants‘ Association of Hong Kong arrived in Thailand last weekend to discuss rice markets.

The delegation held working sessions with about 100 rice producers of Thailand from October 30 to November 2.

Nearly 760 companies are expected to sign memorandum of understanding on buying 14,000 tonnes of jasmine rice, brown rice, organic rice and riceberry rice from Thailand.

Hong Kong is among major rice export markets of Thailand, with Thai rice accounting for 70 percent of the market share.-VNA

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Did Mexico Sign a Major Trade Deal With Argentina, In Retaliation Against Trump's Border Wall Plans?

Mexico is in trade talks with Argentina, but no deal has been finalized; the cost to American farmers would likely be lower than claimed.

780 CLAIM

In retaliation for Donald Trump's border wall plan, Mexico will soon shift all its imports of corn, rice, soy, and wheat from the United States to Argentina.

RATING Mexico is currently in trade negotiations with Argentina, which a Mexican government minister has said will likely involve Mexico importing grains from Argentina.

No deal has been finalized, and the catalyst for the negotiations is the uncertainty caused by Donald Trump's vow to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement — not his plan to build a border wall.

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ORIGIN

Two of Donald Trump‘s most prominent 2016 campaign pledges were to build a border wall along the Mexican border (or rather, to reinforce and extend it; a wall already exists along hundreds of miles of the international border), and to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, a 1994 arrangement between the United States, Canada and Mexico which he called ―the single worst trade deal ever approved in this country.‖ In October 2017, left-wing Facebook page ―The Other 98%‖ posted a widelyshared meme which claimed that Mexico had — in retaliation for Trump‘s border wall plans — signed a major agricultural trade agreement with Argentina, which would have very harmful effects on American farmers:

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They‘re trying to distract us from the fact that Mexico retaliated against the border wall by establishing an agricultural agreement with Argentina. Starting next year Mexico will be buying 100% of their corn, rice, wheat and soy from Argentina duty free. In exchange Mexico will ship cars to Argentina duty free. This will take away at least $13 billion annually from American farmers.

As of 1 November 2017, Mexico and Argentina have not signed an agreement like the one described by ―The Other 98%‖, but the two countries have held talks about a more limited (though still significant) trade deal involving grains and cars. Furthermore, the main catalyst for the negotiations has been the uncertainty caused by Donald Trump‘s vow to renegotiate NAFTA rather than his plans to build a border wall.

The source cited by ―The Other 98%‖ is a September 2017 article by Daily Kos, which reported: Mexico already retaliated against Trump and his insults earlier this year by establishing an agricultural agreement with Argentina. Starting next year Mexico will be buying 100% of her corn, rice, wheat and soy from Argentina duty free. In exchange Mexico will ship cars to Argentina, duty free. This will taken [sic] away $13 billion annually from American farmers.

It‘s not clear what the source of these claims is, but a similar meme appeared online earlier in 2017, which read: Mexico has retaliated against Trump‘s racial profiling and insistence that Mexico will pay for his border wall. Beginning in 2018, Mexico will be buying its corn, rice, wheat and soy from Argentina. Not America. American farmers stand to lose $13 billion. The ripple effect will be even more devastating. The fact that this announcement was made during Trump‘s Made in America week, is just karmic icing. ―Made in America Week‖ took place from 17-24 July 2017; we found no evidence of any deal between Mexico and Argentina being announced during that time period. However, talks have been ongoing between the two countries.

In the spring of 2017, Mexico‘s Deputy Economy Minister Juan Carlos Baker made several comments in interviews about his country‘s negotiations with Argentina and Brazil. On 26 March 2017, the Financial Times reported:

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Mexico, the world‘s biggest buyer of US corn, is considering offering duty-free access to Brazilian and Argentine maize as an alternative to American imports in a move that could have big consequences for US farmers worried about Donald Trump‘s trade and tax agenda. […] ―I am pretty optimistic about the possibility of having a deal with these countries soon,‖ Juan Carlos Baker, Mexico‘s deputy economy minister, told the Financial Times in an interview. ―We‘re pretty far advanced with Brazil . . . Argentina is a few steps behind,‖ he said….

The following month, Baker told Reuters that a deal with Argentina could be finalized by the end of 2017: Mexico, seeking closer ties with the rest of Latin America, expects to finish negotiations on a trade deal with Argentina involving cars and agricultural products around the end of the year, Mexico‘s deputy minister for foreign trade said in an interview on Tuesday. […]

Under the deal, Argentina could gain part of the lucrative grains market in Mexico, Latin America‘s No. 2 economy, Baker told Reuters. In 2015 Mexico imported $2.3 billion worth of U.S. corn and $1.4 billion of U.S. soy. But Baker said those numbers will likely decrease under a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement called for by Trump. ―The potential is there,‖ Baker said. ―The Argentine exporters could find attractive conditions in Mexico.‖ Mexico, in turn, could export cars to Argentina, he said. ―We have a very strong manufacturing industry and Argentina is an important market for us,‖ Baker said.

A trade deal between Mexico and Argentina may be in the works, but it has not yet been announced as of 1 November 2017. However, assuming a deal goes ahead to shift Mexico‘s importation of certain products from the United States to Argentina, the numbers are significant — but not as dramatic as they are in the meme.

According to United States Grain Council statistics, the United States exported $2.5 billion worth of corn to Mexico in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, the United States exported $2.9 billion worth of soy products to Mexico, according to the U.S. Soybean Export Council (page 19.)

According to Global Agricultural Trade System statistics for 2016, exports of wheat and rice were worth $612 million and $274 million, respectively.

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This yields a total of $6.3 billion in U.S. exports to Mexico of corn, rice, wheat and soy — the four products specified in the above meme. So even if Mexico did decide to stop importing all these products from the U.S., the likely annual financial cost to the American agriculture industry would be extremely significant, but still only around half the $13 billion claimed. https://www.snopes.com/mexico-argentina-trade-deal-border-wall/

Rice group eyes record exports

Economy November 02, 2017 01:00

By SOMLUCK SRIMALEE THE NATION UBON RATCHATHANI THE THAI Rice Association is confident that exports of the staple will this year come in at 11 million tonnes, which would mark a record high for overseas shipments.The optimism is based on strong demand in the market and the government‘s barn rice-pledging programme that has helped to maintain prices, the association‘s president, Pol Lt Charoen Laothamatas, said

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yesterday.―We are confident that rice exports this year will show growth both in terms of volume and value, as the demand for Thai rice has been strong,‖ Charoen said after taking rice importers from Hong Kong on a tour of a Hom Mali rice field in Ubon Ratchathani province yesterday. ―Prices have shown double-digit growth from last year, especially for Hom Mali rice that has been selling for between US$800 and US$860 per tonne this year, up US$200 per tonne from last year, when the export price was US$600 per tone.‖ He said Thailand exports more than 200,000 tonnes of Hom Mali rice to Hong Kong a year, with the country‘s share of the Hom Mali market in the Chinese territory reaching 70 per cent. Four years ago, Thailand‘s share was 40 per cent. ―Thailand‘s market share for Hom Mali rice in Hong Kong had been as high as 90 per cent 10 years ago, but then Thailand had some policies that impacted the country‘s rice production,‖ Charoen said. ―We lost market share, falling to as low as 40 per cent until 2014, when Thailand‘s rice policy changed. These changes led to exports of Thai Hom Mali to Hong Kong rising to 70 per cent.

We expect that to increase to 75 per cent next year.‖ Kenneth Chan, chairman of the Rice Merchants‘ Association of Hong Kong, said after visit the visit to the rice field yesterday that Thai Hom Mali rice was popular in Hong Kong. In the first nine months of this year Hong Kong imports of Thai Hom Mali rice totalled 155,000 tonnes.

He expects that to grow to 200,000 tonnes this year, translating into a 70 per cent share of the total rice market in Hong Kong, which stands at about 320,000 tonnes a year.In the Hong Kong market for Hom Mali rice, Thailand is followed by Vietnam, which has a market share of about 17 per cent, Chan said.Charoen said the association also has tried to expand the export market with new destinations such as in the Middle East, including Iran and Iraq, along with Latin America and Africa. They are considered challenging markets, he said.

Rice gene FZP mutates in nature, can increase yields by 15%: scientists 2017-10-31 14:09Ecns.cnEditor: Mo Hong'e

(ECNS) -- The Frizzy Panicle (FZP) of rice can mutate in nature, according to Chinese scientists, with the finding set to help increase rice yields by 15 percent.

A research team led by Professor Xing Yongzhong at the College of Life Science and Technology, Huangzhong Agricultural University, has published a paper in Nature Plants, a subsidiary of international journal Nature, that explains the close relationship between rice yields and the FZP gene.

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The gene could prevent the creation of an axillary meristem and help their transition into a floral meristem, Xing told Shanghai-based The Paper.

FZP is a key developmental gene in rice, and its encoded protein can't be altered, Xing said.

However, scientists could increase rice yields by controlling the expression contents of FZP. When the function of FZP is strengthened, rice particles will be bigger while their number decreases, and vice versa.

In rice samples from some East-Asia regions, including India and Bangladesh, Xing's team found 18bp fragments of FZP had mutated in nature and caused copy number variation (CNV). The mutation connected two 18bp fragments in series, and the improved gene sequence could help increase yields.

Increasing the grains of each rice spike was the most useful way to increase production, Xing said, adding that his research team was still trying to find further ways to maximize rice yields.

US rice broadens market share in tight South Korean market 11/01/17 6:25 AM By Bill Tomson KEYWORDS china exports food rice South Korea trade USA Rice Federation

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2017 – As improbable as it may sound, South Koreans are eating less rice these days.

And even more unlikely sounding, the U.S. is exporting more than it ever has to the Asian nation that doesn‘t allow private companies to import the grain directly.The U.S. exported about 139,500 metric tons of rice to South Korea in the first eight months of this year, according to data maintained by the USA Rice Federation. That‘s about 30 percent more than in the same time period last year and almost triple what the U.S. exported to South Korea in all of 2014, the last year the U.S. had a dedicated, country-specific quota.

The primary reason for the U.S. success, USA Rice officials say, is a strong outreach program to South Korean buyers that is essential now that the country isn‘t required under World Trade Organization rules to buy U.S. rice.

Up until January of 2015, South Korea was required to buy at least 50,076 tons of U.S. rice because of the deal the country made when it joined the WTO. That was just part of the overall

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408,700-ton quota for total imports. In 2015 the U.S. lost that assured market. The overall quota remained, but countries like the U.S., China, Taiwan and Vietnam had to begin fighting to get a portion of it.

It can be extremely difficult to outbid exporters in those countries that subsidize rice production, and the South Korean government is making it even harder by pushing down domestic prices.

South Korean farmers had a bumper crop last year, producing about 4.2 million tons of rice, according to USA Rice data. In order to support domestic producers, the government is planning on buying 720,000 tons and placing it in storage, contributing to the country‘s 2-million-ton surplus.

USA Rice began intense conversations with buyers, promoting the quality of the medium grain rice that‘s mostly grown in California. But it wasn‘t that simple. About three years ago the group recognized a growing shift in demographics and a sea change in the way that South Koreans ate at home. ―Rice is still a basic commodity that everyone in Korea eats,‖ said Jim Guinn, director of international promotion programs for USA Rice. ―They‘re just eating less of it as table rice and we‘re seeing a trend of ready-to-eat foods being the preferred source by this new demographic.‖ That new demographic shift, he said, is an increasing number of one- and two-member

households that have less time to cook. ―We‘re focusing a lot of our efforts on food manufacturers and food processors, whereas in the past we focused more of our efforts on the retail market,‖ Guinn said. ―About three years ago we started focusing on rice cake manufacturers … and we‘ve since expanded that to other products as well.‖

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Steve Vargas, senior vice president for global rice trade at the California-based Sun Valley Rice, attributed much of the U.S. success to funds from the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development program (FMD) that are run by the USDA to promote and help sell U.S. farm commodities around the world.

Those programs helped USA Rice work with South Korean food manufacturers, who then demanded U.S. rice.

It‘s the South Korean government that imports the rice, so U.S. exporters have to have faith that their work with private buyers will spur them to demand U.S. product. ―It‘s mostly based on what the government perceives the demand is in the market,‖ Guinn said. ―If the government understands that there‘s demand for U.S. medium grain rice in the marketplace, then that‘s what they‘re going to import.‖ And that‘s exactly what has been happening, said Vargas, who stressed that the popularity of California‘s Calrose rice, together with the extensive promotion efforts, are paying off.

"This is a direct benefit of MAP and FMD,‖ he said. ―It‘s government funds well-spent.‖ The result of all of that work is completely new ―home meal replacement‖ dishes that are made with U.S. rice and are already popular with shoppers in South Korean grocery stores, said Guinn.

Just this year, a large South Korean manufacturer began selling a new line of the ―convenience‖ foods that include rice cake soup and stir-fried rice dinners that only contain U.S. rice. Another major manufacturer is now gearing up to produce and sell an array of meals that are based on Southern U.S. style cooking and Latin American dishes. Those are scheduled to hit retailers next spring. ―I think this validates our strategy in promoting U.S. rice to food manufacturers (and) processors,‖ Vargas said in a report generated by USA Rice. ―We began this strategy three years ago when our contractor first recognized the demographic trends that have led to this surge in demand for ready-to-eat products. We expect to build on this trend in future years.‖

Wheat, rice basmati strengthen on increased offtake PTI | Nov 1, 2017, 14:37 IST New Delhi, Nov 1 () Prices of wheat and rice basmati strengthened by up to Rs 50 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to increased offtake.

Traders said pick-up in demand from flour mills mainly kept wheat prices higher.

Rising demand from retailers helped rice basmati to trade higher, they said.

In the national capital, Wheat MP (desi) edged up to Rs 2,145-2,375 from previous level of Rs 2,1252,375, while wheat dara (for mills) advanced by Rs 20 to Rs 1,855-1,860 per quintal.

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16 Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded higher by a similar margin to Rs 1,860-1,865 per 90 kg.

Atta flour mills, maize and sooji too traded higher by Rs 20 each to Rs 1,000- 1,010, Rs 1,030-1,040 and Rs 1,060-1,100 per 50 kg, respectively in line with wheat trend.

Rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety also edged higher by Rs 50 each to Rs 7,750-7,850 and Rs 6,250-6,350 per quintal, respectively.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,145-2,375, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,855-1,860, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,8601,865, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 1,0001,010 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,030-1,040 (50kg)and Sooji Rs 1,080-1,100 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,750-7,850, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,250-6,350, Permal raw Rs 2,2502,300, Permal wand Rs 2,300-2,350, Sela Rs 2,500-2,700 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,900-1,925, Bajra Rs 1,160-1,165, Jowar yellow Rs 1,350-1,400, white Rs 2,700-2,800, Maize Rs 1,300- 1,305, Barley Rs 1,500-1,510. SUN KPS SBT Punjab procures nearly 140 lakh tonnes paddy in one month

Local rice producer laments threat of smuggling Nov 2, 2017 in Business | David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi IANS | Chandigarh Last Updated at November 1, 2017 22:43 IST SC to Punjab and Haryana: Construct SYL canal firstHisar records 46.2 degrees; heat wave returns to Haryana, PunjabDera chief case: Home Ministry apprised of situation by Punjab, HaryanaHaryana, Punjab on edge ahead of Dera chief sentencingNo fresh talks with Punjab on SYL: Haryana 'Green Revolution' state Punjab has procured nearly 140 lakh tonnes of paddy this season within one month of the procurement process, while neighbouring Haryana has also procured nearly 60 lakh tonnes, officials said on Wednesday The procurement of paddy began in both states on October 1. The paddy arrival and procurement will continue till the end of November.Heading towards another bumper crop, both agrarian states have procured nearly 200 lakh tonne of paddy this season so far, Food and Supplies Department officials said here on Wednesday.

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Punjab Food Secretary K.A.P. Sinha had said on Monday that Punjab was heading towards an all-time record of procuring over 182 lakh tonne of paddy this season. 1The state had procured over 168 lakh tonne of paddy in a bumper crop season last year.

Sinha said payment of over Rs 16,000 crore had already been made to nearly 7.75 lakh farmers for the paddy procured and the remaining amount will be disbursed in the coming days. The Reserve Bank of India has sanctioned an amount of nearly Rs 28,263 crore to Punjab to make payments to farmers for the paddy procured.The Punjab government, which had sought over Rs 33,800 crore for paddy procurement this Kharif season, has sought another Rs 5,537 crore.

Both states are expecting a bumper crop this year and officials said that this could be over 230 lakh tonnes this season.Government agencies have procured 98 per cent of the paddy arriving in grain markets in Punjab. In Haryana, government agencies have procured nearly 95 per cent of the paddy arrivals. The rest of the paddy has been procured by rice millers and traders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/punjab-procures-nearly-140-lakh-tonnespaddy-in-one-month-117110101544_1.html

Wheat, rice basmati strengthen on increased offtake PTI | Nov 1, 2017, 14:37 IST New Delhi, Nov 1 () Prices of wheat and rice basmati strengthened by up to Rs 50 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to increased offtake.

Traders said pick-up in demand from flour mills mainly kept wheat prices higher.Rising demand from retailers helped rice basmati to trade higher, they said.

In the national capital, Wheat MP (desi) edged up to Rs 2,145-2,375 from previous level of Rs 2,125-2,375, while wheat dara (for mills) advanced by Rs 20 to Rs 1,855-1,860 per quintal.

Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded higher by a similar margin to Rs 1,860-1,865 per 90 kg. Atta flour mills, maize and sooji too traded higher by Rs 20 each to Rs 1,000- 1,010, Rs 1,030-1,040 and Rs 1,060-1,100 per 50 kg, respectively in line with wheat trend.

Rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety also edged higher by Rs 50 each to Rs 7,750-7,850 and Rs 6,250-6,350 per quintal, respectively.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):

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Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,145-2,375, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,855-1,860, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,860-1,865, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 1,000-1,010 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,030-1,040 (50kg)and Sooji Rs 1,080-1,100 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,750-7,850, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,250-6,350, Permal raw Rs 2,2502,300, Permal wand Rs 2,300-2,350, Sela Rs 2,500-2,700 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,900-1,925, Bajra Rs 1,160-1,165, Jowar yellow Rs 1,350-1,400, white Rs 2,700-2,800, Maize Rs 1,300- 1,305, Barley Rs 1,500-1,510. SUN KPS SBT

Local rice producer laments threat of smuggling

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A rice miller and Chief Executive Officer of Stine Industries Limited, Amichi, Anambra State, Chief Akai Egwuonwu, has lamented that the activities of smugglers at Nigerian borders are stiffling the growth of local rice production. Egwuonwu who spoke recently on the menace of rice smuggling warned that the trend if not checked, would ruin many of the local rice industries who may be forced to close shop and lay off their workers. e noted that it was painful and unimaginable that men of Customs and Excise could not come out with any water-tight measure to checkmate the rampaging smugglers. The rice miller was of the opinion that the Comptroller of Customs should resign if he could no longer contain the ugly trend of rising smuggling activities.―Porous border is really affecting local rice producers negatively. That is the major problem we are facing now. Smuggling has been the bane of our upward movement in this sector. Our production has been stalled and all the rice millers are operating in an unhealthy environment. Let the Customs close the borders and man them very well so that we can survive,‖ Chief Egwuonwu said. He noted that apart from being economic sabotage, brands of rice brought into the country are of low quality, comparatively and not quite safe for human consumption. ―Though prices are beginning to go down because of the efforts of the Federal Government and Anambra state government under Governor Willie Obiano who is helping farmers including rice millers, but this needs to be sustained and complemented with closure of borders. This will make Nigeria a net rice exporter in the next three years begin to export rice to other countries,‖ he submitted. https://www.nigeriatoday.ng/2017/11/local-rice-producer-laments-threat-of-smuggling/ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/wheat-rice-basmati-strengthen-onincreased-offtake/articleshow/61400616.cms

Over 5 million tonnes of rice exported in ten months VNA THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2017 - 9:38:00

Harvesting rice by using a combine harvester (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam shipped 5.05 million tonnes of rice worth 2.25 billion USD in the first ten months of 2017, up 22.3 percent in volume and 21.1 percent in value year on year, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The country earned 206 million USD from exporting 430,000 tonnes of rice in October alone.

From January to October, China remained the biggest importer of Vietnamese rice when it was the destination of 39.3 percent of Vietnam‘s exported rice. It is followed by the Philippines (9.6

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percent) and Malaysia (8 percent).

According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), regional countries‘ demand for imported rice will rise sharply in the last months of the year. The recent serious flooding in Bangladesh damaged about 1million tonnes of rice in this country, turning the South Asian nation into a big rice importer with a forecast volume of up to 1.5 million tonnes in 2017.

The Philippines‘s rice stockpile declined, forcing its Government to step up purchasing rice.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is predicted to import 650,000 tonnes of rice this year, compared to just 60,000 tonnes in 2016. African markets are also recovering their rice import, the association said.

Amid positive signs like a strong increase in the number of contracts registered for export in the remaining months, the VFA raised the rice export target this year from 5.2 million tonnes to 5.6 million tonnes.-VNA https://en.vietnamplus.vn/over-5-million-tonnes-of-rice-exported-in-ten-months/120448.vnp

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33 businesses to join rice export project 8:00 pm, November 01, 2017 Jiji PressTOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan‘s agriculture ministry said Tuesday that 33 businesses, including wholesalers and trading houses, have announced their intention to join its project to export 100,000 tons of rice in 2019.

The overall amount of rice that the exporters aim to ship that year stands at 125,000 tons, topping the target set by the government, an official of the ministry‘s Crop Production Policy Planning Division said.

In September, the ministry announced the project aimed at expanding overseas markets for Japanese rice.

The 33 exporters include major rice wholesaler Shinmei Co. and Kitoku Shinryo Co., as well as the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, or JA Zen-Noh, which acts as a trading house of the whole JA group.

They hope to increase rice exports particularly to China, Southeast Asia, North America and the Middle East.

As for production of cheaper rice for export, 181 parties, mostly agricultural cooperatives, showed their willingness to take part

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004038856 NOVEMBER 2, 2017 / 2:15 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- November 02, 2017 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-November 2 Nagpur, Nov 2 (Reuters) – Gram prices recovered strongly in Nagpur Agriculture Produce MarketingCommittee (APMC) on good demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing belts.

Notable rise on NCDEX, upward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and enquiries from South-basedmillers also boosted prices, according to sources.

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FOODGRAINS & PULSES

GRAM * Desi gram firmed up in open market here on renewed seasonal demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions.

TUAR

* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market but demand was poor.

* Wheat mill quality reported higher in open market on good demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions.

* In Akola, Tuar New – 3,950-4,075, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,700-6,000, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,700-8,300, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,900-7,200, Gram – 4,700-4,800, Gram Super best – 7,100-7,300

* Wheat, other varieties of rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in limited trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

FOODGRAINS Gram Auction

Available prices 3,700-4,800

Previous close 3,600-4,800

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Gram Pink Auction

n.a.

Tuar Auction

2,100-2,600

n.a.

Moong Auction

3,500-3,935

n.a.

Udid Auction

n.a.

Masoor Auction

3,900-4,200 4,300-4,500

n.a.

Wheat Mill quality Auction

2,600-2,800 1,600-1,690

Gram Super Best Bold

1,600-1,685

7,500-7,800

Gram Super Best

n.a.

Gram Medium Best

7,500-7,800

n.a.

6,200-7,000

6,200-7,000

Gram Dal Medium

n.a.

Gram Mill Quality

5,000-5,100

5,000-5,100

Desi gram Raw

4,800-4,850

4,800-4,850

Gram Kabuli

n.a

12,500-13,200

Tuar Fataka Best-New

12,500-13,200

6,200-6,400

Tuar Fataka Medium-New

6,000-6,400

5,700-6,000

Tuar Dal Best Phod-New

5,700-6,000

5,300-5,600

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New Tuar Gavarani New

5,300-5,600

4,750-5,150

3,750-3,850

4,800-5,200

3,750-3,850

Tuar Karnataka

4,100-4,400

4,100-4,400

Masoor dal best

4,900-5,400

4,900-5,400

Masoor dal medium Masoor

4,500-4,800 n.a.

4,500-4,800

n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New)

6,800-7,400

Moong Mogar Medium

6,300-6,600

Moong dal Chilka

5,600-6,200

6,800-7,400 6,300-6,600

5,600-6,200

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Moong Mill quality

n.a.

n.a.

Moong Chamki best

7,000-7,500

7,000-7,500

Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,000-8,500

8,000-8,500

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)

6,100-7,100

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) Batri dal (100 INR/KG)

6,100-7,100

5,200-6,200

5,000-5,400

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)

5,000-5,400

2,800-3,000

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)

2,800-3,000

2,900-3,000

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)

5,200-6,100

3,400-3,800

1,900-2,000

Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)

2,900-3,000 3,400-3,800

1,900-2,000

1,750-1,900

1,700-1,850

2,100-2,300

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)

2,100-2,300

2,200-2,450

2,200-2,400

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,150 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)

n.a.

Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)

2,200-2,700

Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)

3,000-3,500

2,300-2,400

3,600-4,000 3,250-3,600 4,600-5,000

2,800-2,900

2,200-2,400

2,500-2,600

Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)

2,200-2,700

2,800-2,900

2,200-2,400

Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)

Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)

3,000-3,600

3,000-3,500

Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)

n.a.

3,000-3,600

MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)

1,900-2,100

2,500-2,600 2,300-2,400 3,600-4,000 3,250-3,600 4,600-5,000

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Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)

4,200-4,500

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)

10,000-14,000

Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)

Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)

10,000-14,000

5,000-7,500

5,000-5,500

Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)

4,200-4,400

5,000-5,500

4,700-5,000

2,000-2,200 1,800-2,000

5,000-7,500

4,700-5,000 2,000-2,100

1,700-2,000

WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 31.9 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 16.3 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 32 and 15 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-november-02-2017idINL4N1N83KO

Wheat, rice basmati strengthen on increased offtake New Delhi, Nov 1 Prices of wheat and rice basmati strengthened by up to Rs 50 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to increased offtake.

Traders said pick-up in demand from flour mills mainly kept wheat prices higher.

Rising demand from retailers helped rice basmati to trade higher, they said.

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In the national capital, Wheat MP (desi) edged up to Rs 2,145-2,375 from previous level of Rs 2,125-2,375, while wheat dara (for mills) advanced by Rs 20 to Rs 1,8551,860 per quintal.

Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded higher by a similar margin to Rs 1,8601,865 per 90 kg. Atta flour mills, maize and sooji too traded higher by Rs 20 each to Rs 1,000- 1,010, Rs 1,030-1,040 and Rs 1,060-1,100 per 50 kg, respectively in line with wheat trend.

Rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety also edged higher by Rs 50 each to Rs 7,750-7,850 and Rs 6,250-6,350 per quintal, respectively.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,145-2,375, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,855-1,860, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,860-1,865, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 1,000-1,010 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,030-1,040 (50kg)and Sooji Rs 1,080-1,100 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,750-7,850, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,250-6,350, Permal raw Rs 2,250-2,300, Permal wand Rs 2,300-2,350, Sela Rs 2,500-2,700 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,900-1,925, Bajra Rs 1,160-1,165, Jowar yellow Rs 1,350-1,400, white Rs 2,700-2,800, Maize Rs 1,300- 1,305, Barley Rs 1,500-1,510 https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/wheat-rice-basmati-strengthen-onincreased-offtake/

It’s a story of rice to riches for Kerala farmer Against the grain: Praseed Kumar with his children in his progressive farm at Sulthan Bathery. When others moved to cash crops to cut losses, he brought Gujarat and Punjab varieties to WayanadIndia‘s traditional rice diversity has brought riches to a farmer in northern Kerala.Praseed Kumar from Thayyil at Sulthan Bathery went against the tide, when his peers in the loss-hit farming community in Wayanad switched to cash crops such as plantain and arecanut a few years ago.

The 43-year-old progressive farmer got a small packet of rice seeds from a friend in Gujarat, which stood out with its violet-coloured chaff. He decided to propagate this variety. Initially, it was on just one cent of land, but later, it was expanded to one hectare.

Mr. Kumar has been conserving the ‗Krishna Kamod‘, a basmati rice variety from Gujarat known for its taste, colour and aroma on one hectare for the past seven years.

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27 Last year, he harvested nearly 2,500 kg of this paddy and sold it as seeds to farmers at ₹ 200 a kg, rather than in the open market.

―While farmers procure the rare rice variety as seed, others buy it as a gift, or keep it in their pooja rooms and offer it to temples,‖ Mr. Kumar said.Fights drought, pests He spent ₹ 85,000 as costs and earned ₹ 5 lakh. The Agriculture Department, which finds the rice attractive, chipped in with ₹18,000 as incentive.―It seems quite suitable for Kerala and its pest and drought resistance are plus points,‖ said M.K. Mariyumma, Agricultural Officer, Krishi Bhavan, Nenmeni. Many farmers coming under Krishi Bhavan are eager to cultivate it.

The farmer has become famous for growing 15 varieties of rice. These include Mahamaya, a hybrid with an average yield of 4.3 tonnes an acre, Ramli, a traditional Punjab rice, Navara and Rakthashali, with medicinal properties, Black Jasmine, a violet medicinal Assamese type, two basmati variants from Jammu and Kashmir, besides Valichoori and Adukkan, both indigenous varieties.Mr. Kumar is looking at rented land now, to grow even more http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/its-a-story-of-rice-to-riches-for-keralafarmer/article19957655.ece

Iran issues tender to buy 30,000 tonnes rice from India trade

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HAMBURG (Reuters) - Iran‘s state grains buyer GTC has issued an international tender to buy 30,000 tonnes of rice to be sourced from India, European traders said on Wednesday.A farmer winnows rice in a field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, November 4, 2016.

REUTERS/Amit Dave/Files The tender closes on Dec. 12.The rice is sought in three consignments of 10,000 tonnes for shipment in early 2018, they said. https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-rice/iran-issues-tender-to-buy-30000-tonnes-rice-from-india-tradeidINKBN1D14RV

Basmati exporters reap rich dividends

Register 25% more returnsThanks to high basmati prices in the overseas market, exporters have registered a better realisation in the first six months of the current fiscal as compared to the previous year. While the export of basmati has risen marginally by 3% during the period, the realisation was 26% more per tonne in dollar terms in the current year. As per the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) data, basmati exports during April-September (2017-18) was 21.32 lakh tonne as compared to 20.67 lakh tonne during the corresponding period previous year.

Further, in the current fiscal, the per-tonne realisation was $997 as compared to $789 in the corresponding period last year.The total export value during the period was $2,126 million (Rs 13,690 crore) in 2017-18 as compared to $1,631 (Rs 10,923 crore). Gurnam Arora, Joint MD, Kohinoor Foods, said, ―Basmati exports have been encouraging because of demand from Iran in the first four months of the current fiscal. As far as realisation is concerned, it was due to high price of the commodity in the domestic market and better price in the overseas market.‖On being asked about the outlook for the current year, he said, ―It is very difficult to predict at this moment as Iran has again discontinued the import of basmati rice from India.

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So, resumption of import by Iran will decide the fate of exporters and volume.‖ He, however, said Iran might resume the import by this month. ―Rating agency, ICRA expects the demand concerns in the form of Iran import ban and sluggishness in other countries would be overcome and export volumes in FY2018 to be around 4.1 million MT i.e 4% higher than FY2017. It also added that higher paddy prices in the last procurement season and current procurement season are expected to push up the average realisations in FY2018.Arora said basmati production this year is down by 7-8% and total production would be anywhere between 90 and 95 lakh tonne. In the current season, there has been rainfall deficit in the key basmati producing states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. These factors can translate into lower paddy production in the current crop season, and thus the paddy prices are likely to open firm in the upcoming procurement season. http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/business/basmati-exporters-reap-rich-dividends/490976.html

Iran issues tender to buy 30,000 tonnes rice from India: traders Iran's state grains buyer GTC has issued an international tender to buy 30,000 tonnes of rice to be sourced from India, European traders said on Wednesday.The tender closes on Dec. 12.The rice is sought in three consignments of 10,000 tonnes for shipment in early 2018, they said. http://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2017/nov/01/iran-issues-tender-to-buy-30000tonnes-rice-from-india-traders-1689315.html

Over 5 million tonnes of rice exported in ten months Vietnam shipped 5.05 million tonnes of rice worth US$2.25 billion in the first ten months of 2017, up 22.3% in volume and 21.1% in value year on year, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.The country earned US$206 million from exporting 430,000 tonnes of rice in October alone.From January to October, China remained the biggest importer of Vietnamese rice when it was the destination of 39.3% of Vietnam‘s exported rice. It is followed by the Philippines (9.6%) and Malaysia

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(8%).According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), regional countries‘ demand for imported rice will rise sharply in the last months of the year. The recent serious flooding in Bangladesh damaged about 1million tonnes of rice in this country, turning the South Asian nation into a big rice importer with a forecast volume of up to 1.5 million tonnes in 2017.

The Philippines‘s rice stockpile declined, forcing its Government to step up purchasing rice.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is predicted to import 650,000 tonnes of rice this year, compared to just 60,000 tonnes in 2016. African markets are also recovering their rice import, the association said.Amid positive signs like a strong increase in the number of contracts registered for export in the remaining months, the VFA raised the rice export target this year from 5.2 million tonnes to 5.6 million tonnes

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/over-5-million-tonnes-of-rice-exported-in-ten-months/120448.vnp

Harvesting rice by using a combine harvester Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam shipped 5.05 million tonnes of rice worth 2.25 billion USD in the first ten months of 2017, up 22.3 percent in volume and 21.1 percent in value year on year, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The country earned 206 million USD from exporting 430,000 tonnes of rice in October alone. From January to October, China remained the biggest importer of Vietnamese rice when it was the destination of 39.3 percent of Vietnam‘s exported rice. It is followed by the Philippines (9.6 percent) and Malaysia (8 percent).

According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), regional countries‘ demand for imported rice will rise sharply in the last months of the year. The recent serious flooding in Bangladesh damaged about 1million tonnes of rice in this country, turning the South Asian nation into a big rice importer with a forecast volume of up to 1.5 million tonnes in 2017. [Vietnam to reform rice production, improve exports] The Philippines‘s rice stockpile declined, forcing its Government to step up purchasing rice.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is predicted to import 650,000 tonnes of rice this year, compared to just 60,000 tonnes in 2016. African markets are also recovering their rice import, the association said. Amid positive signs like a strong increase in the number of contracts registered for export in the remaining months, the VFA raised the rice export target this year from 5.2 million tonnes to 5.6 million tonnes.-VNA https://en.vietnamplus.vn/over-5-million-tonnes-of-rice-exported-in-ten-months/120448.vnp

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Four varieties top national rice competition

Four varieties of premium fragrant rice and one variety of fragrant rice have come out on top at a national rice competition held yesterday and will be representing the kingdom in this year‘s World‘s Best Rice Competition later this month in Macau, China. he chosen premium fragrant rice varieties were Phka Rumduol, Phka Rumdeng, Somaly and Phka Knhei, while the fragrant rice was Sen Kra Oub.Twelve premium fragrant rice varieties, eight brands of fragrant rice and three types of long grain white rice were entered in the competition, vying for the title of best rice in Cambodia.The 20-member judge panel was composed of representatives from the Cambodia Chef Association, the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), the Cambodia Agricultural Research and Development Institute and a number of other international rice experts, who sampled the rice for external appearance and taste.

Millers and agricultural communities from across the nation sent samples of their grain to the competition, said CRF vice-president Hun Lak.―The competition is very important because it has given us the opportunity to choose Cambodia‘s best rice,‖ Mr Lak said. ―Now we have a strong contender for the title of world‘s best rice. If we win, our rice will attain even more international recognition.‖The winners of yesterday‘s competition will receive their certificates in an annual rice forum that will take place in mid-November.

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The judging panel of the rice competition. KT/Chor Sokunthea CRF president Sok Puthyvuth applauded the fact that agricultural communities entered the competition, saying it represents progress for the rice sector.―We are proud this year‘s contest has drawn in agricultural communities, which means they also want their rice and their millers to be recognised nationally and internationally,‖ Mr Puthyvuth said.Cambodian rice variety Phka Rumduol, often called Phka Malis or Cambodia jasmine rice by millers and traders, won the international competition from 2012 to 2014, but lost its crown in 2015 to a rice variety from California.―I cannot say whether or not Cambodia will win the international contest this year, but I can tell you that, as a sector, we have improved in a variety of areas, including production efficiency, quality of rice and quality of packaging,‖ Mr Puthyvuth said.

Phou Puy, the president of Green Rice Miller in Battambang province, said participating in the international contest alone will enhance the reputation of the Cambodian grain.―It is an important contest and can make our brands be known internationally,‖ Mr Puy said.

Mr Puy said purchases of Cambodian rice will increase following the competition, whether a Cambodian brand comes out on top or not.―Whether we win or lose, we can expect more orders from international buyers, as the competition will serve as a window to showcase our products,‖ he said.From January to September 2017, Cambodia exported 422,000 tonnes of milled rice, a 16 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier.

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New blended fertilisers double crop yields – research By: MICHEL NKURUNZIZA PUBLISHED: November 02, 2017

New blended fertilisers composed of micro-nutrients of Sulphur, Zinc, Boron and Copper added to NPK have potential to increase average yields of rice to 7 tonnes per hectare from the current average of 5 tonnes per hectare, research has shown.

The results from the research, which started in 2014, were observed during field tour of farms on which blended fertilisers trials were carried out in Cyunuzi marshland on 460 hectares in Kirehe District.

The marshland is owned by 3,222 farmers in Kirehe and Ngoma districts.

The farmers used to harvest 2,667 tonnes of rice but now expect more produce once new blended fertilisers start to be applied, according to Patrick Maniraguha, head of a farmers cooperative COOPRIKI. The research is being conducted on rice, Irish potatoes and maize gardens.

It will be extended to wheat, soya beans and beans, officials said. The exercise is supported by OCP-Africa, a Moroccan company committed to the development of the agricultural ecosystem in Africa.

Jeanne Uwizeyimana, one of the farmers whose pieces of land serve as demonstration farm, explained the difference between using only NPK and new blended fertilisers. ―I used the same rice variety and grew one acre on one side with only NPK and produced only 60kg while the side where I used the new blended fertilisers produced 80 kilogrammes of rice,‖ she said.

Now in the current plantation where I used only NPK, one plant has ten stems and less while where I used blended fertilisers, a rice plant has over 20 stems each with ear of grains,‖ she told the media and researchers at Cyunuzi marshland.

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John Kayumba, one of the researchers of Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) working on the project, said that by using new blended fertilisers and urea briquettes, farmers get additional 2.2 tonnes of rice yields per hectare to the current average of 5.2 tonnes per hectare.

He said the cost of new formula is $268.3 per hectare while the current cost without using new fertiliser formula is $225 per hectare.

This means that a farmer only needs additional $43.3 (about Rwf30,000) per hectare. ―Additional cost of investment of Rwf30,000 per hectare by adapting new blended fertilisers is very little money considering that it helps to add a profit of up to 2.2 tonnes per hectare,‖ he explained.

Soil testing and mapping Telesphore Ndabamenye, the Head of Crop Production and Food Security Department at RAB, explained that researchers had to test soil to know the causes of low yields per hectare and then carry out research on blended fertilisers suitable for each selected crop and each type of soil in different agro-ecological zones across the country. ―We first carried out a test on why crop yields are still low considering that potential yields per hectare even fall to between two and five tonnes per hectare. We realised that although we use fertilisers of NPK, there is micronutrients deficiency in plants due to intensive cultivation and imbalanced application of fertilisers,‖ he noted.

He said they started carrying out research on fertiliser formulas from which the ‗ best recommended blended fertilisers‘ were selected which, together with good varieties of rice seeds and irrigation, increase to even over 8 tonnes per hectares.

He said the experiment was also carried out in Kanyonyombya and Bugarama marshlands with rice growing. ―After successful results from the research, we have to extend to farmers who will be getting new blended fertilisers on a subsidy scheme. We will soon have a factory that produces such blended fertilisers in Rwanda,‖ he said.

He said a local plant producing fertilisers will reduce cost on imported fertiliser. RAB imports fertiliser worth over Rwf6.3bn per year.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

35

Peter Simon Bwire, an agronomist and soil scientist from OCP Africa, who is part of the research team, said they have been dealing with soil mapping, setting up fertilisers blending plant, fertiliser formula development, irrigation.

He said, with new blended fertilisers, they realised that Irish potatoes yields reached 40 tonnes per hectare while the current average is 25 tonnes per hectare. editorial@newtimes.co.rw http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/222857/

Rice Marketing Board election: Ricegrowers compete for board The Weekly Times November 2, 2017 4:09am

SEVEN rice growers are vying for the three available directorships on the Rice Marketing Board.The RMB holds the vesting rights over export rice, and its objective is to ensure rice growers receive the best return from monopoly marketing rights managed by SunRice.

And the successful candidates will also serve on the board of export company SunRice.

Incumbent directors John Braford, from Blighty, and Gillian Kirkup, from Yanco, are standing for re-election, as well as Numerka organic mill owner Paul Kayess, Tocumwal grower Ted

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

36

Hatty and Leeton grower Debbie Buller.Incumbent: Current RMB board member Gillian Kirkup is vying for another term Former SunRice director Alan Walsh, who lost his bid to retain his SunRice directorship in August 2015 and is SunRice‘s sixth-largest shareholder, is also a candidate.

Another candidate is rice research and development committee chairman Ian Mason, who farms between Finley and Jerilderie.Mr Mason said he was standing for the role because he believed his involvement in rice research, which includes a decade in his current role with the rice research body, would be an asset for the RMB. ―(Rice) faces increased competition, that‘s why research and development, marketing and building markets is important,‖ he said.―Water is getting more valuable and more scarce, we have to make sure we have to make rice a profitable crop for growers.‖ Paul Kayess is a former rice grower, who has run Organic Harvest rice mill in Numurkah for the more than 20 years.And 16 years ago was a loggerheads with the RMB when the marketing board exercised its power to compulsorily acquire organic rice grown on his family‘s Griffith farm and wouldn‘t allow it to be sent to Numurkah to be processed.Mr Kayess said he is now licenced to buy rice out of NSW by the RMB which he said was an ―an unnecessary thing‖ and ―organic wheat growers traders don‘t have such restrictions‖.

He said he was standing for the RMB board to agitate for improvements across the industry and

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

37

―give the board a wider breath of experience.―I‘ve been in the organic industry for a while and I think there are people out there that might need to understand it better,‖ Mr Kayess said.

Newcomer: Tocumwal rice grower Ted Hatty is trying to win a spot on the RMB for the first time.

Ted Hatty at Tocumwal said he would bring his experience on the NSW Irrigators Council, and as Southern Riverina Irrigators Chair to the RMB.―I believe we should make sure we are increasing paddy (rice) price to rice growers and to do that we need to target our marketing,‖ he said.―I think I will bring a new perspective and fresh ideas, which I can bring to the board, (and) add value to the marketing program.‖ John Bradford, who was elected two years ago following a vacancy created when Gerry Lane stepped down, said he found the time on the RMB board so far ―very fulfilling‖.―I‘ve been a strong advocate for the rice industry. It‘s one of the best stories to tell in agriculture,‖ he said.Mr Bradford who was a staunch opponent of Spanish company Ebro Food‘s takeover bid of SunRice in 2011, said younger growers in the industry considering the profitability of growing rice rather than other crops. ―(Farmers) use to grow rice because it‘s the right thing to do, but now if the numbers don‘t stack up people won‘t grow it,‖ he said.―There is a competition for water, rice has really good nice markets and we need to push high end rice markers, and this will make the it the summer crop of choice.‖The remaining four RMB board members are nominated by the NSW Minister for Primary Industries.

Voting is by postal ballot and closes on November 20. If growers do not receive their ballots in the next week they can contact the NSW Electoral Commission on 02 9290 5924 http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/cropping/rice-marketing-board-electionricegrowers-compete-for-board/news-story/7d1f717f10350961ee2c24c51528769d

Burning issue: Fire as a field prep tool for rice growers By the U of A System Division of Agriculture Nov 1, 2017 at 10:30 AMUpdated Nov 1, 2017 at 1:34 PM STUTTGART– Following harvest season, it‘s not uncommon to see plumes of smoke rising in the flatness of the Arkansas Delta. Many of the fires are intentional with the flames used as a production practice by rice and other crop producers, said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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38

―Contrary to many beliefs out there, burning of crop residue is a recommended crop management practice,‖ Hardke said.

Because crop residue can serve as an effective wintertime shelter for insects, weeds and disease, ―there is a need to burn crop residue as a means of pest management,‖ he said. ―In addition, hard-to-control weed species can be eliminated by burning residue. This practice is another tool in the toolbox for growers to effectively manage their farms.‖ Burning is used by rice, wheat, soybean and corn growers. Rice growers use it the most, with about 25 percent of Arkansas rice fields being burned. Fire isn‘t always necessary, but it‘s especially helpful in rice to manage problematic residue.―Rice residue can be slow to break down,‖ Hardke said. ―To prepare the field for the next season, it can be very beneficial to remove residue by burning, because tillage alone is not always sufficient to remove it for fall field preparation.‖ Waiting on the residue to break down over winter can be a gamble. Winter conditions can slow breakdown and result in increased tillage and delayed planting, resulting in increased production costs and lowered yields in some cases. In fields that cannot rotate to crops other than rice, excessive remaining residue in the field can be detrimental to the establishment of the next rice crop.

There are many factors that can affect a burn and the amount of smoke it produces, including the length of time and weather conditions since harvest and the way the residue has been managed with tillage equipment. In many rice fields only 30-40 percent of residue — mostly loose straw — may be burned. Where the residue has been laid flat to the soil, about 80 percent may be burned. The amount of moisture or still-green matter left in plant residue can impact the amount of smoke produced from a burn.

Burning in crop fields can mimic what nature does to prairie land and other ecosystems, Hardke said. ―If we weren‘t here and this was all still prairie, it would burn and regrow every few years,‖ he said. ―Fire is nature‘s way of reducing residue in some systems and we can continue to use it to our advantage.‖However, burning is not a necessity in every case.―Nutrients are tied up in residue and some of these can be lost if residue is burned,‖ Hardke said. ―So, where there is not a definable benefit for burning, it‘s advised to avoid the practice.‖

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39

Residue burning has attracted criticism because of its potential effects on air quality. There are online petitions seeking to end the practice of burning, and when smoky haze appears around cities and communities, speculation in social media often points to rice fields. ―To be clear, there are many sources of haze and even low-lying smoke during different parts of the year,‖ Hardke said. ―In production agriculture, most farmers make a legitimate effort not to affect any neighbor when they need to burn a field. However, winds change and inversion conditions can set in without warning. These are not excuses, just acknowledgement that sometimes even the best intentions can be overturned by unpredictable conditions.‖ Hardke also said that while research and extension can improve practices and timing over time,farmers still need to be able to burn crop residue to effectively manage their land in many situations.―We need to work together on solutions in this and many other agricultural matters today,‖ he said.

To learn more about effective farmland management, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.edu.

About the Division of Agriculture The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture‘s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation‘s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. http://www.pbcommercial.com/news/20171101/burning-issue-fire-as-field-prep-tool-forrice-growers

New blended fertilisers double crop yields – research By: MICHEL NKURUNZIZA

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40

November 02, 2017 Uwizeyimana, one of the farmers whose yields increased, shows how one rice plant has more ears with grains than the other without blended fertilisers. (Michel Nkurunziza) New blended fertilisers composed of micro-nutrients of Sulphur, Zinc, Boron and Copper added to NPK have potential to increase average yields of rice to 7 tonnes per hectare from the current average of 5 tonnes per hectare, research has shown.The results from the research, which started in 2014, were observed during field tour of farms on which blended fertilisers trials were carried out in Cyunuzi marshland on 460 hectares in Kirehe District.

The marshland is owned by 3,222 farmers in Kirehe and Ngoma districts.The farmers used to harvest 2,667 tonnes of rice but now expect more produce once new blended fertilisers start to be applied, according to Patrick Maniraguha, head of a farmers cooperative COOPRIKI. The research is being conducted on rice, Irish potatoes and maize gardens.It will be extended to wheat, soya beans and beans, officials said. The exercise is supported by OCP-Africa, a Moroccan company committed to the development of the agricultural ecosystem in Africa.

Jeanne Uwizeyimana, one of the farmers whose pieces of land serve as demonstration farm, explained the difference between using only NPK and new blended fertilisers. ―I used the same rice variety and grew one acre on one side with only NPK and produced only 60kg while the side where I used the new blended fertilisers produced 80 kilogrammes of rice,‖ she said.

Now in the current plantation where I used only NPK, one plant has ten stems and less while where I used blended fertilisers, a rice plant has over 20 stems each with ear of grains,‖ she told the media and researchers at Cyunuzi marshland.

John Kayumba, one of the researchers of Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) working on the project, said that by using new blended fertilisers and urea briquettes, farmers get additional 2.2 tonnes of rice yields per hectare to the current average of 5.2 tonnes per hectare.

He said the cost of new formula is $268.3 per hectare while the current cost without using new fertiliser formula is $225 per hectare.

This means that a farmer only needs additional $43.3 (about Rwf30,000) per hectare.―Additional cost of investment of Rwf30,000 per hectare by adapting new blended fertilisers is very little money considering that it helps to add a profit of up to 2.2 tonnes per hectare,‖ he explained.

Soil testing and mapping Telesphore Ndabamenye, the Head of Crop Production and Food Security Department at RAB, explained that researchers had to test soil to know the causes of low yields per hectare and then carry out research on blended fertilisers suitable for each selected crop and each type of soil in different agro-ecological zones across the country.

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41

―We first carried out a test on why crop yields are still low considering that potential yields per hectare even fall to between two and five tonnes per hectare. We realised that although we use fertilisers of NPK, there is micronutrients deficiency in plants due to intensive cultivation and imbalanced application of fertilisers,‖ he noted.

He said they started carrying out research on fertiliser formulas from which the ‗ best recommended blended fertilisers‘ were selected which, together with good varieties of rice seeds and irrigation, increase to even over 8 tonnes per hectares.

He said the experiment was also carried out in Kanyonyombya and Bugarama marshlands with rice growing. ―After successful results from the research, we have to extend to farmers who will be getting new blended fertilisers on a subsidy scheme. We will soon have a factory that produces such blended fertilisers in Rwanda,‖ he said.

He said a local plant producing fertilisers will reduce cost on imported fertiliser. RAB imports fertiliser worth over Rwf6.3bn per year.

Peter Simon Bwire, an agronomist and soil scientist from OCP Africa, who is part of the research team, said they have been dealing with soil mapping, setting up fertilisers blending plant, fertiliser formula development, irrigation.

He said, with new blended fertilisers, they realised that Irish potatoes yields reached 40 tonnes per hectare while the current average is 25 tonnes per hectare. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

New blended fertilisers double crop yields – research By: MICHEL NKURUNZIZA PUBLISHED: November 02, 2017

New blended fertilisers composed of micro-nutrients of Sulphur, Zinc, Boron and Copper added to NPK have potential to increase average yields of rice to 7 tonnes per hectare from the current average of 5 tonnes per hectare, research has shown.

The results from the research, which started in 2014, were observed during field tour of farms on which blended fertilisers trials were carried out in Cyunuzi marshland on 460 hectares in Kirehe District.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

42

The marshland is owned by 3,222 farmers in Kirehe and Ngoma districts.The farmers used to harvest 2,667 tonnes of rice but now expect more produce once new blended fertilisers start to be applied, according to Patrick Maniraguha, head of a farmers cooperative COOPRIKI. The research is being conducted on rice, Irish potatoes and maize gardens.It will be extended to wheat, soya beans and beans, officials said. The exercise is supported by OCP-Africa, a Moroccan company committed to the development of the agricultural ecosystem in Africa.

Jeanne Uwizeyimana, one of the farmers whose pieces of land serve as demonstration farm, explained the difference between using only NPK and new blended fertilisers. ―I used the same rice variety and grew one acre on one side with only NPK and produced only 60kg while the side where I used the new blended fertilisers produced 80 kilogrammes of rice,‖ she said.

Now in the current plantation where I used only NPK, one plant has ten stems and less while where I used blended fertilisers, a rice plant has over 20 stems each with ear of grains,‖ she told the media and researchers at Cyunuzi marshland.

John Kayumba, one of the researchers of Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) working on the project, said that by using new blended fertilisers and urea briquettes, farmers get additional 2.2 tonnes of rice yields per hectare to the current average of 5.2 tonnes per hectare.

He said the cost of new formula is $268.3 per hectare while the current cost without using new fertiliser formula is $225 per hectare.This means that a farmer only needs additional $43.3 (about Rwf30,000) per hectare. ―Additional cost of investment of Rwf30,000 per hectare by adapting new blended fertilisers is very little money considering that it helps to add a profit of up to 2.2 tonnes per hectare,‖ he explained.

Soil testing and mapping Telesphore Ndabamenye, the Head of Crop Production and Food Security Department at RAB, explained that researchers had to test soil to know the causes of low yields per hectare and then carry out research on blended fertilisers suitable for each selected crop and each type of soil in different agro-ecological zones across the country.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

43

―We first carried out a test on why crop yields are still low considering that potential yields per hectare even fall to between two and five tonnes per hectare. We realised that although we use fertilisers of NPK, there is micronutrients deficiency in plants due to intensive cultivation and imbalanced application of fertilisers,‖ he noted.

He said they started carrying out research on fertiliser formulas from which the ‗ best recommended blended fertilisers‘ were selected which, together with good varieties of rice seeds and irrigation, increase to even over 8 tonnes per hectares.

He said the experiment was also carried out in Kanyonyombya and Bugarama marshlands with rice growing. ―After successful results from the research, we have to extend to farmers who will be getting new blended fertilisers on a subsidy scheme. We will soon have a factory that produces such blended fertilisers in Rwanda,‖ he said.

He said a local plant producing fertilisers will reduce cost on imported fertiliser. RAB imports fertiliser worth over Rwf6.3bn per year.

Peter Simon Bwire, an agronomist and soil scientist from OCP Africa, who is part of the research team, said they have been dealing with soil mapping, setting up fertilisers blending plant, fertiliser formula development, irrigation.

He said, with new blended fertilisers, they realised that Irish potatoes yields reached 40 tonnes per hectare while the current average is 25 tonnes per hectare. editorial@newtimes.co.rw http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/222857/

Rice Marketing Board election: Ricegrowers compete for board The Weekly Times November 2, 2017 4:09am SEVEN rice growers are vying for the three available directorships on the Rice Marketing Board.The RMB holds the vesting rights over export rice, and its objective is to ensure rice growers receive the best return from monopoly marketing rights managed by SunRice.And the successful candidates will also serve on the board of export company SunRice.

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44

Incumbent directors John Braford, from Blighty, and Gillian Kirkup, from Yanco, are standing for re-election, as well as Numerka organic mill owner Paul Kayess, Tocumwal grower Ted Hatty and Leeton grower Debbie Buller.

Incumbent: Current RMB board member Gillian Kirkup is vying for another term Former SunRice director Alan Walsh, who lost his bid to retain his SunRice directorship in August 2015 and is SunRice‘s sixth-largest shareholder, is also a candidate.

Another candidate is rice research and development committee chairman Ian Mason, who farms between Finley and Jerilderie.

Mr Mason said he was standing for the role because he believed his involvement in rice research, which includes a decade in his current role with the rice research body, would be an asset for the RMB. ―(Rice) faces increased competition, that‘s why research and development, marketing and building markets is important,‖ he said.―Water is getting more valuable and more scarce, we have to make sure we have to make rice a profitable crop for growers.‖Paul Kayess is a former rice grower, who has run Organic Harvest rice mill in Numurkah for the more than 20 years.

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45

And 16 years ago was a loggerheads with the RMB when the marketing board exercised its power to compulsorily acquire organic rice grown on his family‘s Griffith farm and wouldn‘t allow it to be sent to Numurkah to be processed.

Mr Kayess said he is now licenced to buy rice out of NSW by the RMB which he said was an ―an unnecessary thing‖ and ―organic wheat growers traders don‘t have such restrictions‖.

He said he was standing for the RMB board to agitate for improvements across the industry and ―give the board a wider breath of experience.―I‘ve been in the organic industry for a while and I think there are people out there that might need to understand it better,‖ Mr Kayess said.

Newcomer: Tocumwal rice grower Ted Hatty is trying to win a spot on the RMB for the first time.

Ted Hatty at Tocumwal said he would bring his experience on the NSW Irrigators Council, and as Southern Riverina Irrigators Chair to the RMB.―I believe we should make sure we are increasing paddy (rice) price to rice growers and to do that we need to target our marketing,‖ he said. ―I think I will bring a new perspective and fresh ideas, which I can bring to the board, (and) add value to the marketing program.‖John Bradford, who was elected two years ago following a vacancy created when Gerry Lane stepped down, said he found the time on the RMB board so

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

46

far ―very fulfilling‖.―I‘ve been a strong advocate for the rice industry. It‘s one of the best stories to tell in agriculture,‖ he said.Mr Bradford who was a staunch opponent of Spanish company Ebro Food‘s takeover bid of SunRice in 2011, said younger growers in the industry considering the profitability of growing rice rather than other crops. ―(Farmers) use to grow rice because it‘s the right thing to do, but now if the numbers don‘t stack up people won‘t grow it,‖ he said. ―There is a competition for water, rice has really good nice markets and we need to push high end rice markers, and this will make the it the summer crop of choice.‖ The remaining four RMB board members are nominated by the NSW Minister for Primary Industries.

Voting is by postal ballot and closes on November 20. If growers do not receive their ballots in the next week they can contact the NSW Electoral Commission on 02 9290 5924 http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/cropping/rice-marketing-board-election-ricegrowerscompete-for-board/news-story/7d1f717f10350961ee2c24c51528769d

Burning issue: Fire as a field prep tool for rice growers By the U of A System Division of Agriculture Nov 1, 2017 at 10:30 AMUpdated Nov 1, 2017 at 1:34 PM STUTTGART– Following harvest season, it‘s not uncommon to see plumes of smoke rising in the flatness of the Arkansas Delta. Many of the fires are intentional with the flames used as a production practice by rice and other crop producers, said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. ―Contrary to many beliefs out there, burning of crop residue is a recommended crop management practice,‖ Hardke said.

Because crop residue can serve as an effective wintertime shelter for insects, weeds and disease, ―there is a need to burn crop residue as a means of pest management,‖ he said. ―In addition, hard-to-control weed species can be eliminated by burning residue. This practice is another tool in the toolbox for growers to effectively manage their farms.‖

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

47

Burning is used by rice, wheat, soybean and corn growers. Rice growers use it the most, with about 25 percent of Arkansas rice fields being burned. Fire isn‘t always necessary, but it‘s especially helpful in rice to manage problematic residue. ―Rice residue can be slow to break down,‖ Hardke said. ―To prepare the field for the next season, it can be very beneficial to remove residue by burning, because tillage alone is not always sufficient to remove it for fall field preparation.‖ Waiting on the residue to break down over winter can be a gamble. Winter conditions can slow breakdown and result in increased tillage and delayed planting, resulting in increased production costs and lowered yields in some cases. In fields that cannot rotate to crops other than rice, excessive remaining residue in the field can be detrimental to the establishment of the next rice crop.

There are many factors that can affect a burn and the amount of smoke it produces, including the length of time and weather conditions since harvest and the way the residue has been managed with tillage equipment. In many rice fields only 30-40 percent of residue — mostly loose straw — may be burned. Where the residue has been laid flat to the soil, about 80 percent may be burned. The amount of moisture or still-green matter left in plant residue can impact the amount of smoke produced from a burn.

Burning in crop fields can mimic what nature does to prairie land and other ecosystems, Hardke said. ―If we weren‘t here and this was all still prairie, it would burn and regrow every few years,‖ he said. ―Fire is nature‘s way of reducing residue in some systems and we can continue to use it to our advantage.‖ However, burning is not a necessity in every case. ―Nutrients are tied up in residue and some of these can be lost if residue is burned,‖ Hardke said. ―So, where there is not a definable benefit for burning, it‘s advised to avoid the practice.‖ Residue burning has attracted criticism because of its potential effects on air quality. There are online petitions seeking to end the practice of burning, and when smoky haze appears around cities and communities, speculation in social media often points to rice fields. ―To be clear, there are many sources of haze and even low-lying smoke during different parts of the year,‖ Hardke said. ―In production agriculture, most farmers make a legitimate effort not to

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

48

affect any neighbor when they need to burn a field. However, winds change and inversion conditions can set in without warning. These are not excuses, just acknowledgement that sometimes even the best intentions can be overturned by unpredictable conditions.‖ Hardke also said that while research and extension can improve practices and timing over time, farmers still need to be able to burn crop residue to effectively manage their land in many situations. ―We need to work together on solutions in this and many other agricultural matters today,‖ he said.

To learn more about effective farmland management, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.edu.

About the Division of Agriculture The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture‘s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation‘s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. http://www.pbcommercial.com/news/20171101/burning-issue-fire-as-field-prep-tool-forrice-growers

Iron Mining Suppliers' View: MPCA's wild rice sulfate proposal wrong for everyone

By Iron Mining Association of Minnesota on Nov 1, 2017 at 8:55 p.m.

3

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49

As vendor board members of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota who represent the 150 businesses in Northeastern Minnesota that supply goods and services to the iron mines, we are deeply concerned about the severe repercussions of the wild rice sulfate rule proposed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency ("Wild-rice hearing draws ire on Range," Oct. 25).

All told, the mining industry employs roughly 15,000 people; so much is at stake for our businesses and the economy of Northeastern Minnesota.

Recently, the MPCA published its proposed updated wild rice sulfate rule. Our concern with this new rule is that it relies on flawed science. Furthermore, the rule may not actually protect our valuable state grain, wild rice. We all want to see wild rice flourish in northern Minnesota, but this rule and its only viable treatment solution may have unintended consequences for wild rice.

According to the MPCA, the only way to comply with this proposed standard would be to invest in reverse-osmosis systems. These systems are costly to install and maintain, and they require a lot of energy. If the iron mines and municipal wastewater treatment plants across the region have to comply with this proposed standard, billions of dollars will need to be spent on investments that may not actually help protect the very resource the proposed standard is intended to protect.

The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District has explained that it, too, may be impacted.

A peer-review panel found important shortcomings in the wild-rice science used by the MPCA, and the MPCA acknowledged that the proposed rule has an error rate for each water body's sulfate standard as high as 20 percent. Furthermore, the MPCA still can't guarantee any benefit to wild rice.

State agencies pride themselves on getting standards right, but this proposed rule is wrong for everyone and everything it will impact. It won't protect wild rice, jobs, the economy, or our communities. We are calling on the MPCA to incorporate the best-available science and consider the recommendations of its own peer-review panel before taking any further action on a wild rice sulfate standard.There will be one last chance to make your voice heard on this. Today at the Duluth MPCA office, 525 S. Lake Ave., a video-conference hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 9 p.m

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