10th March, 2015 Daily Global Rice E - Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Daily
Global
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine
Rice E-Newsletter
March 10 , 2015
V o l u m e 5, Issue I
www.ricepluss.com
R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine
Page 1
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Genetically altered rice variety yields for years without

replantin
Winifred Bird | March 10, 2015
Ten thousand years ago, Chinas ancient inhabitants harvested the grains of wild rice, a perennial
grass growing up to 15 feet tall in bogs and streams. The grains were small and red, maturing in
waves and often shattering into the water. Their descendants transformed that grain into the highyielding annual crop that today feeds half the worlds population.Today, with the climate
changing and far more land under intensive cultivation, rice farmers face a less certain future.An
international network of scientists is working toward a radical solution: perennial rice that yields
grain for many years without replanting.
By crossing domesticated rice with its wild predecessors, they hope to create deep-rooted
varieties that hold soils in place, require less labor, and survive extremes of temperature and
water supply. Plant breeders have been trying to do the same for wheat, sorghum, and other
crops for decades.With rice, the vision is finally nearing reality. Chinese scientists are preparing
to release a variety that they say performs well in lowland paddies and, with more breeding
work, could eventually thrive on marginal land as well.
Still, progress is uneven due to differences in genetics, breeding techniques, growing conditions,
and research interest for various grains. Perennial wheat a key crop at the Land Institute
remains decades from yield parity with annual wheat, according to Crews. Perennial maize
research is even farther behind. Among major staples, only perennial rice is approaching
reality, according to the proceedings of the 2013 FAO meeting.
http://geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/03/10/genetically-altered-rice-variety-yields-for-years-withoutreplanting/
Rice production in ARMM gets boost

March 10, 2015 12:01 am
by JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL
REPORTER
COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao: Rice production in the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) can more than double to 7.7 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha) with the
successful trial of Green Super Rice by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) in
the region.The GSR is part of DAF-ARMMs P3-million technology-driven programs designed
to help increase the productivity of rice farmers in the region with the use of modern technology
in farming.ARMM Agriculture Secretary Macmod Mending Jr. said they are pushing for the
commercialization of this variety for increased productivity and better income for our farmers
following a successful harvest at a 2-hectare demonstration farm in Maguindanao.
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The GSR was developed by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the International
Rice Research Institute to be climate resilient and resistant to rice diseases such as sheath blight,
bacterial leaf streak viruses and false smut, according to Mending.The GSR variety can lead to
more stable yield with lesser fertilizer and pesticide inputs, he added.ARMM currently ranks
18th in terms of rice production in the country with a 3.1 mt/ha yield. Mending said they expect
to increase this to 7.7 mt/ha with the introduction of GSR.The DAF-ARMM has distributed GSR
seeds to 500 farmers during the rice farmers field day and harvest festival held in Sultan
Mastura town, Maguindanao last month.
The technology-driven programs of DAF-ARMM include the Rice Crop Manager (RCM),
Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM), and the Next Generation (NextGen) farmers.The
RCM is an Internet-based application that provides recommendations on nutrients, pest, weeds,
and water management based on the variety of input and site-specific conditions.PRISM is a
system provides data and maps out rice growing areas affected by natural calamities and pest
outbreaks. Meanwhile, NextGen involves the introduction and adoption of high-yielding rice
varieties and hybrids, such as the GSR, with tolerance to biotic and abiotic strain in rice
production.
DAF-ARMM also provided a P1.6 million worth combined harvester to the farmers in the town
of Sultan Mastura. The machine can simultaneously reap, harvest and thresh rice.ARMM aims
to address the challenges on farming by taking advantage of new technologies that increases
farm productivity, and making them available even to the poor farmers in the region, Mending
said.
http://www.manilatimes.net/rice-production-in-armm-gets-boost/168255/
State disburse K2.7m for rice production

Posted in Business on March 10, 2015 by Online User
KALONDE NYATI, Lusaka

GOVERNMENT will soon disburse about K2.7 million to boost rice production in Nalolo and
Limulunga in Western Province.This follows the recent shortlisting of 45 business applications
for rice-related projects in the two districts under the Citizens Economic Empowerment
Commission (CEEC) industrial cluster programme.Commerce, Trade and Industry permanent
secretary Siazongo Siakalenge, however, said the disbursement awaits final approval of the
shortlisted candidates and funding from the treasury.Of the total amount, K1.4 million will be
disbursed to 21 beneficiaries in Nalolo while 24 beneficiaries will receive K1.3 million in
Limulunga.
In response to the constraints noted in the rice subsector of these districts, Government through
CEEC has shortlisted 45 rice-related business applications for in Nalolo and Limulunga, Mr
Siakalenge said recently when he appeared before the parliamentary committee on Government
assurances.He said the two districts have potential for primary rice production and value addition
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but undermined due to high cost of machinery for processing rice, inadequate skills and
technology for rice seed production, and lack of irrigation facilities.
Mr Siakalenge cited weak private and public sector support institutions, ineffective coordination
and limited access to high cost appropriate finance as some of the challenges affecting the
growth of the industry.He said Governments move to players in rice production will boost the
sector and contribute to food security.Government has since formulated a national rice
development strategy to develop the sector through value chain initiatives and strong stakeholder
participation.
https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/?p=22775
PDS rice scam: Congress demands Chhattisgarh CM's

resignation
New Delhi, Mar. 10 ANI8 hours ago
The Congress on Tuesday demanded Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh's resignation
over the unfolding of the PDS rice scam in the state.Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi led
the protests against Dr. Singh, calling the allegations against him 'very serious'.'The Congress
party demands the resignation of the Chhattisgarh CM and a time bound judicial probe into the
PDS Rice scam. The allegations against him are of a very serious nature. Documents found
during the probe refer to involvement of his wife and sister-in-law. The nature of allegations are
of a very serious nature and most direct," Singhvi told the media.
'It is a matter of shame that the probe documents refer to the adulteration of rice. Millers supplied
this rice to Chhattisgarh public distribution system. They mixed good rice with bad rice. Can
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there be anything more deplorable than taking commission on this? The Chhattisgarh CM should
resign,' he added.Singhvi further said that Dr. Singh had now joined Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in 'resisting' a probe into alleged scams.
'This is the Chhattisgarh CM who talked about zero tolerance with respect to corruption but is
now silent. The CM of his neighboring State, Madhya Pradesh, is resisting inquiry with the same
ferocity, into the Vyapam scam. It is the story of two states, both ruled by the BJP, whose CMs
are resisting inquiries into big scams against them,' he said.'This is an extremely serious matter.
In both cases there is complicity with culpability. The PM should show he can match action with
words. Raman Singh is known as 'Chawal Baba', and in his state, rice is adulterated. What can be
worse than this?' he added.
Earlier, the Chhattisgarh Police Anti-Corruption Bureau raided the state Civil Supplies
Corporation offices and reportedly recovered around Rs 3.5 crore. The authorities also seized
several documents that named many top functionaries of the state as the scam beneficiaries.
http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-29565.html
INDIAN BASMATI RICE EXPORTS TO IRAN LIKELY

TO START FROM APRIL 2015
Irans decision to import Indias basmati rice was eagerly awaited by Indian exporters
associations like Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation (FIEO), Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), among others.
Sai Nikesh | The Dollar Business
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The Indian exporters of basmati rice may expect good days ahead in the upcoming financial year
that is going to start from April 2015.According to latest reports, the Government of Iran is likely
to restart importing of Indias basmati rice in the new financial year, opening its doors for India
after a temporary stoppage since October 2014.
https://www.thedollarbusiness.com/contact-us/
GREENPEACE CO-FOUNDER SUPPORTS GMO GOLDEN RICE

published by Asianpost on Tue, 03/10/2015 - 20:17
A Vancouver-based eco-crusader is raising the heckles of

farmers across Asia as he mounts a campaign to promote a
genetically modified variety of rice in the Philippines and
India.The so-called 'Golden' rice is a genetically engineered
(GE) rice variety that has been developed by industry to
produce pro-vitamin A (beta-carotene). Its proponents have
hyped GE 'Golden' rice as a high-tech, quick-fix solution to
vitamin A deficiency , which is prevalent in developing
countries and can lead to blindness.
But Greenpeace says that is all hype and that the rice is environmentally irresponsible, poses
risks to human health, and could compromise food, nutrition and financial security.Ironically the
person behind the Allow Golden Rice Campaign is Dr Patrick Moore, who co-founded
Greenpeace and the quit the organization in 1986 saying the eco-group no longer cares about
people and that it had become more interested in politics than science.Greenpeace says Dr Moore
is a paid spokesman for the nuclear industry, the logging industry, and genetic engineering
industry and that he exploits long gone ties with Greenpeace to sell himself as a speaker and
pro-corporate spokesperson, usually taking positions that Greenpeace opposes.
One of the issues that Greenpeace opposes vehemently is Moores current Allow Golden Rice
Campaign which tours Philippines, Bangladesh, and India where vitamin A deficiency is a major
cause of child mortality. The Allow Golden Rice Society is actively campaigning for the
approval of Golden Rice so it can be delivered to the 200 million children who are deficient in
vitamin A.Two million children and many mothers die each year from a lack of this essential
vitamin. It is the greatest cause of child death today. Golden Rice is the obvious cure, but
because it was created with genetic science Greenpeace and the anti-GMO movement fervently
oppose it, states Moore.
Moore said that on August 8, 2013, Greenpeace instigated the destruction of Golden Rice
scientific field trials at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines.If Golden
Rice were a cure for cancer, malaria, or Ebola, it would have been approved 10 years ago. In that
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time 20 million people, mostly children, have died.This is a crime against humanity, stated Dr.
Patrick Moore, leader of the campaign. All we ask is that Greenpeace and their allies make an
exception for Golden Rice to their opposition to GM crops, continued Dr. Moore. Millions of
lives are at stake.
Moore who just concluded his visit to the Philippines, moves on to Dhaka, Bangladesh and
Mumbai and New Delhi in India.Anti-GM crop activist Benedicto Snchez wrote that in the
Philippines, Moore will find Negros Occidental inhospitable for his dubious gospel of
development.The provinces Gov. Alfredo Maraon Jr. targetting Moores tour said: We have
an ordinance, they cannot come in. In Negros we are GMO-free, we are an organic island, while
emphasizing the need for vigilance against such products.For its part, the Hotel and Restaurant
Association of Negros Occidental said: We believe that there is still no adequate proof that
GMO, such as golden rice are safe for the environment or human health, and, as our
commitment to our customers, we refuse to serve genetically modified rice in our
establishments.
No, Mr. Patrick Moore. You are persona non grata with the Negrenses wrote in the local
paper.MASIPAG, a Filipino farmer-led network of peoples organizations, NGOs and scientists
has launched a Facebook campaign to stop Moores advicacy for Golden Rice.We reiterate the
opposition of Filipino farmers to genetically modified (GM) crops and we will register our
resistance against Golden Rice and other GM crops, it states.Our opposition to Golden Rice
and other GM crops are founded on solid arguments and actual experiences of Filipino farmers
on GM crops. Filipino farmers who have been planting GM crops suffered negative income,
health problems and poisoned environment.
In India, The pro-technology Modi government is desperate to introduce genetically modified
(GM) crops. It is now holding closed-door meetings with the right wing-affiliated groups the
Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) and the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) to end their opposition to
the crops."The aim is to dispel fears about GM crops, so that the country can join the US, China
and Canada. GM crops are very important for India's agriculture growth," says a senior
agriculture ministry official.Greenpeace India is already mobilizing its troops to debunk Dr
Moores assertions.
GE 'Golden' rice does not address the underlying causes of Vitamin A Deficiency, which are
mainly poverty and lack of access to a healthy and varied diet. This GE rice is a technological fix
that may generate new problems. For example, the single-crop approach of GE 'Golden' rice
could make malnutrition worse because it encourages a diet based solely on rice, rather than
increasing access to a diverse diet of fruits and vegetables, considered crucial to combatting
VAD and other nutrient deficiencies.
http://www.asianpacificpost.com/article/6770-greenpeace-co-founder-supports-gmo-goldenrice.html
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PH rice inventory continues to shrink, report shows

Ronnel W. Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
3:40 AM | Tuesday, March 10th, 2015
The countrys total rice reserve shrank for the second month in a row to settle at 69 days worth
of consumption as of Feb. 1, nine days less than the buffer at the start of the year, according to
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).Inventory fell to 2.35 million tons from 2.66 million
tons on Jan. 1 as farmers prepare their fields for this years dry season crop.Still, data from the
PSA showed that the National Food Authoritys stock of milled rice climbed to 530,000 tons
from 520,000 tons, although 97 percent of this was imported.As of Feb. 1, the NFAs stock was
still at its mandated minimum volume, at 15 days consumption.
Supplies held in commercial warehouses went down by 40,000 tons to 770,000 tons. Likewise,
household stocks dropped by 280,000 tons to settle at 1.05 million tons.Households keep grains
good for 31 days while commercial warehouses maintain supplies good for 24 days.Two weeks
ago, the NFA announced that it was preparing for the possible importation of 250,000 tons of
well-milled rice from Thailand and Vietnam. The volume was valued at P9.5 billion.Answering a
call for tenders, Thailands Ministry of Commerce gave the best offer for 100,000 tons of wellmilled, long-grain white rice with 15 percent brokens at $441 per ton.Thailands offer was also
the best for 100,000 tons with 25 percent brokens at $421 per ton.
Vietnam Southern Food Corp. matched Thailands prices for the remaining supplies of 150,000
tons for each lot.The NFA has called for tenders in an effort to beef up its stock of the staple
grain in time for the domestic lean production months that start in July.In December, the Food
and Agriculture Organization said the Philippines production of palay for the current crop year
that would end in June 2015 was expected to ease by 0.4 percent to 18.8 million tons.The FAO
said this was due to farm damage caused by Typhoon Ruby as well as the farmers fears of the
El Nio phenomenon.
However, in its latest market monitoring report issued on March 5, the Agriculture Market
Information System (Amis) has stopped giving updates on the probability of a prolonged drought
this year while maintaining its assessment that conditions on rice production were favorable.In
the previous report published in February, the Amis noted that the probability of the El Nio
occurring had climbed back to 70 percent, but atmospheric signs had yet to materialize.[The
criteria for an] El Nio, however, have not been met because these conditions have not been in
place long enough, and certain atmospheric features have not yet appeared, the Amis said. A
strong event is not expected, in any case.
http://business.inquirer.net/188195/ph-rice-inventory-continues-to-shrink-reportshows#ixzz3U3lf8RTf
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Specialised rice growing areas to be formed in Mekong Delta

The establishment of five new specialised rice-growing areas is underway in the Mekong Delta
to meet the growing demand of domestic and international markets, said Le Thanh Tung from the
Department of Plant Cultivation under the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development.
The five areas include the Ca Mau Peninsula, the Tay
Song Hau (western Hau River) area, the Tu Giac Long
Xuyen region, alluvia soil along the Tien and Hau
Rivers, and the Dong Thap Muoi region cultivating
specific rice varieties in large-scale fields in
accordance with their conditions.According to the
Department, the Mekong Delta should review and
focus on ensuring a variety of rice types to promote
high-quality and high-yield production.The Mekong
Delta region, the nations largest granary, currently
has a large-scale rice field area of around 100,000 hectares.The rice field area in the Mekong
Delta will be expanded to 800,000 hectares by 2020, equal to 20 percent of the annual riceproducing area of the region and producing an output of 4.5 million tonnes of brown rice,
according to Vinafood 2.
VNA
Tags:Specialised rice growing areas to be formed in Mekong Delta,
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/125067/specialised-rice-growing-areas-to-be-formed-in-mekongdelta.html
Rice Shipments From Vietnam Climbing on Lower Prices,

China
byDiep Ngoc Pham
10:43 PM EDT ,March 9, 2015
(Bloomberg) -- Rice exports from Vietnam, the worlds third-largest shipper, will probably
rebound this year as lower prices boost demand, while competition with Thailand keeps the gain
to single digits, according to the government.The Chinese market will definitely become active
again after quiet periods late 2014 and early this year, said Tran Tuan Anh, deputy minister of
industry and trade. Competitive prices, suitable varieties, and geographic proximity in particular
to China, are Vietnams advantages over Thailand, the top shipper. Exports may rise less than
10 percent in 2015, he said in an interview in Hanoi on March 4.Global output is set to be near
last years record, and Thailand will ship more this year than any country ever, U.S. government
data show.
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Futures fell to a four-year low in Chicago, helping cut food costs to the lowest since 2010. While
Thailands export prices will be pressured as the country sells about 17 million metric tons in
state reserves over the next two years, they have been higher than that of Vietnam, India and
Pakistan, the Thai Rice Exporters Association says.While generally, Vietnamese rice costs less,
Thailand does offer lower prices sometimes, Anh said, without giving an estimate. Thailand is
trying to increase access to Africa, where India and Pakistan also compete fiercely, he
said.Prices for Vietnams double-water-polished milled-rice with 5 percent broken were quoted
at $355 per ton, the lowest since July 2010 and $50 less than Thailands 5 percent broken for the
week ending Feb. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report dated Feb. 12.
Thai Prices
The Thai variety was at $419 a ton on March 4, according to exporters association data. Chareon
Laothamatas, president of the group, said on Feb. 3 that the price was about $405 to $410 and
compares with $355 in Vietnam, $370 in Pakistan and $380 in India. The sale of stockpiled rice
will continue to weigh on prices, Chareon said.Thailands record stockpiles are the legacy of the
previous governments rice-purchase policy. Yingluck Shinawatras administration spent $27
billion buying at guaranteed, above-market rates to aid farmers. She was ousted in May by
military leaders, who now plan to auction the grain.
Futures traded at $10.53 per 100 pounds on the Chicago Board of Trade on Tuesday after
plunging to $10.01 on Feb. 3, the lowest since July 2010.
Vietnam Sales
Exports from Vietnam dropped to 6.4 million tons in 2014 from 6.7 million a year earlier,
General Statistics Office data show. Sales in the first two months of 2015 may reach 515,000
tons, down 34 percent from a year ago, the office estimates.Shipments will pick up from the
second quarter and bring the total this year to match or exceed last years figure by a little bit,
Anh said, without giving exact figures.Global milled production may decline to 474.6 million
tons in 2014-15 from an all-time high of 477.1 million tons a year earlier, according to the
USDA.
Thai shipments will climb to 11 million tons in 2015 from 10.2 million tons last year, according
to the Food & Agriculture Organization. India will export 8.2 million tons from 10 million tons,
it said. Chinas imports may reach 4.3 million tons in 2014-15 from 4.1 million, the USDA
report shows.Vietnam will also continue to count on demand from its traditional markets like the
Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, Anh said. While the countries are trying to boost
production and become self-sufficient, their efforts will take time and demand is still high this
year, he said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Diep Ngoc Pham in Hanoi at dpham5@bloomberg.net
To
contact
the
editors
responsible
for
this
story:
atjlloydsmith@bloomberg.net Ovais Subhani, Claudia Carpenter
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-10/rice-shipments-from-vietnam-seen-climbing-onlower-prices-china
Japan weather bureau raises chance of El Nino emerging by

summer
TOKYO Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:26am EDT
(Reuters) - Japan's weather bureau said on Tuesday that the possibility of an El Nino pattern
forming by summer is higher than the 50 percent it projected in its previous monthly
forecast.Normal weather patterns may continue, but there is higher chance of an El Nino, which
is often linked to heavy rainfall in some regions and drought in others, emerging by summer, the
bureau said.The El Nino weather pattern - a warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific can trigger drought in Southeast Asia and Australia, and floods in South America, hitting
production of key foods such as rice, wheat and sugar.
(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Ryan Woo)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/10/us-weather-elnino-japan-idUSKBN0M60CM20150310
Palay, corn production forecast down in Q1

Contraction in harvest areas and drop in yield due to typhoons, among others, pull down
the forecast for the quarter, says the Philippine Statistics Authority
Rappler.com
Published 12:21 PM, Mar 10, 2015
Updated 12:22 PM, Mar 10, 2015
DOWN. Contraction in harvest areas and drop in yield due to typhoons, among related issues pull down the
forecast for the quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority says. File photo
MANILA, Philippines The palay and corn production forecast for the first quarter was
downgraded due to contraction in harvest areas, drop in yield, water supply issues, and pests and
diseases, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.The contraction in harvest area and
drop in yield are attributed to the damage caused by typhoons Seniang (international name:
Jangmi) that hit Capiz and Negros Occidental in December 2014 and typhoon Amang
(international name Mekkhala) that hit Camarines Sur in January 2015.
In Iloilo, Tarlac, Mindoro Oriental, and Cagayan, insufficient water supply and intense heat
during the vegetative and reproductive stages of palay may reduce yield.Stemborer and rice
black bug infestation in Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Cavite, and Laguna may
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also contribute to lower production.Strong winds that occurred in Quezon, Laguna, Antique, and
Zambales also lodged crops during the reproductive stage is also expected to reduce yield.
Downgrades
Palay production for the January to March period is now estimated at 4.46 million metric tons
(MT), down by 2.8% from the January forecast of 4.59 million MT.The new first
quarter palay production forecast though is 3.6% higher than the output of 4.32 million MT in
the same period last year.The harvest area is expected to remain the same at 1.16 million hectares
instead of 1.17 million hectares as earlier forecasted.Yield per hectare is expected at 3.84 per
hectare instead of at 3.93 MT per hectare as earlier set, PSA reported.
Out of the 1.60 million hectares of standing palay crop, 55.6% were at vegetative stage, 32.8%
were at reproductive stage, and 22.6% were at maturity stage.Corn production forecast has also
been downgraded to 2.43 million MT, 0.6% below the earlier forecast of 2.44 million MT. The
new production forecast for the first quarter is 6.6% higher than the output of 2.28 million MT in
the same period last year.The harvest area may cover 719,170 hectares, lower compared to
719,780 hectares as earlier forecast. Yield may fall to 3.38 MT from 3.39 MT per hectare.
Rappler.com
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http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/247-agriculture/86329-palay-corn-production-forecast-downq1-2015
Rice shipments from Vietnam increase

10 Mar 2015 at 11:10
WRITER: BLOOMBERG NEWS
A farmer scatters seedlings to plant them on a rice paddy field in Ngoc Nu village, south of
Hanoi. (Reuters photo)
NOI Rice exports from Vietnam, the worlds third-largest shipper, will probably rebound this
year as lower prices boost demand, while competition with Thailand keeps the gain to single
digits, according to the government."The Chinese market will definitely become active again
after quiet periods late 2014 and early this year," said Tran Tuan Anh, deputy minister of
industry and trade. Competitive prices, suitable varieties, and geographic proximity, particularly
to China, are Vietnam's advantages over Thailand, the top shipper. Exports may rise "less than
10%" in 2015, he said in an interview.
Global output is set to be near last year's record, and Thailand will ship more this year than any
country ever, US government data show. Futures fell to a four-year low in Chicago, helping cut
food costs to the lowest since 2010. While Thailand's export prices will be pressured as the
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country sells about 17 million tonnes in state reserves over the next two years, they have been
higher than that of Vietnam, India and Pakistan, the Thai Rice Exporters Association says.
"While generally, Vietnamese rice costs less, Thailand does offer lower prices sometimes," Mr
Tran said, without giving an estimate. Thailand is trying to increase access to Africa, where India
and Pakistan also compete "fiercely," he said.Prices for Vietnam's double-water-polished milledrice with 5% broken were quoted at US$355 per tonne, the lowest since July 2010 and $50 less
than Thailand's 5% broken for the week ending Feb 10, the US Department of Agriculture said in
a report dated Feb 12.
Thai prices
The Thai variety was at $419 a tonne on March 4, according to exporters association data.
Chareon Laothamatas, president of the group, said on Feb 3 that the price was about $405 to
$410 and compares with $355 in Vietnam, $370 in Pakistan and $380 in India. The sale of
stockpiled rice will continue to weigh on prices, Mr Chareon said.
Farmers plant rice on a paddy field in Tien Duong village, outside Hanoi Feb 27. Rice exports
from Vietnam, the worlds third-largest shipper, will probably rebound this year as lower prices
boost demand. (Reuters photo)
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Thailand's record stockpiles are the legacy of the previous government's rice-purchase policy.
Yingluck Shinawatra's administration spent $27 billion buying at guaranteed, above- market
rates to aid farmers.Futures traded at $10.53 per 100 pounds on the Chicago Board of Trade on
Tuesday after plunging to $10.01 on Feb 3, the lowest since July 2010.
Vietnam sales
Exports from Vietnam dropped to 6.4 million tonnes in 2014 from 6.7 million a year earlier,
General Statistics Office data show. Sales in the first two months of 2015 may reach 515,000
tons, down 34% from a year ago, the office estimates.Shipments will pick up from the second
quarter and bring the total this year to match or exceed last year's figure by "a little bit," Mr Tran
said, without giving exact figures.
Global milled production may decline to 474.6 million tonnes in 2014-15 from an all-time high
of 477.1 million tonnes a year earlier, according to the USDA.Thai shipments will climb to 11
million tonnes in 2015 from 10.2 million tonnes last year, according to the Food & Agriculture
Organization. India will export 8.2 million tonnes from 10 million tons, it said. China's imports
may reach 4.3 million tonnes in 2014-15 from 4.1 million, the USDA report shows.Vietnam will
also continue to count on demand from its traditional markets like the Philippines, Malaysia, and
Indonesia, Mr Tran said. While the countries are trying to boost production and become selfsufficient, their efforts will take time and demand is still high this year, he said.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/493276/rice-shipments-from-vietnam-seen-climbing-on-lowerprices-china
Farm bill update: Medium grain rice and peanuts

Mar 9, 2015Bobby Coats Delta Farm Press
Editor's note: Bobby Coats is a professor, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Medium grain rice
A number of questions have been asked about medium grain rice ARC/PLC program
participation. The presentation at the following link provides some perspective on this issue.This
article builds on our previous article where we looked at a simple comparison of expected PLC
and ARC-CO payments for long grain rice, soybeans, corn, and wheat. The accompanying tables
to the presentation below provide real perspective on possible PLC (SCO Not Included) and
ARC payments by county and years 2014-2018. Note the probabilities.I will restate: If one (for
any number of reasons) is simply not going to use a farm bill decision aid and wants to gain an
increased understanding of their farm by farm and crop by crop options, this discussion may
provide some insight into ARC-CO and PLC (SCO-Not Included) program options.
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One option is to use the Texas A&M and Missouri FAPRI ARC/PLC Evaluator for Generic Base
Module or Decision Tool.This tool compares expected PLC and ARC-CO payments (the average
payment across many possible future realizations of prices and yields) for a county of your choice. In
the calculations, they use two key assumptions.
First, they assume that you would have a PLC Payment Yield equal to the default value assigned
by FSA in the absence of a yield history.
Second, they assume expected prices equal to the latest FAPRI projections.
The output reflects only expected payments for PLC and ARC-CO. It should be noted, that choosing
ARC-CO precludes one from purchasing the crop insurance Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO).
Expected net SCO indemnities are not reflected in the output.
Peanut: 2014 Farm bill and outlook webinar
Dr. Nathan Smith, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, did an
excellent job of discussing the 2014 farm bill peanut program and peanut outlook in our webinar. He
is recognized domestically and globally as a leading authority on economic, policy and farm bill
issues related to peanuts.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/farm-bill-update-medium-grain-rice-andpeanuts?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+10%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&ut
m_medium=email
Feds to California farmers: 'no water for you this year'

State water project looks to make minimal deliveries to growers
Mar 8, 2015Todd Fitchette Western Farm Press
The Feb. 27 announcement of zero federal water to California farmers is another crushing blow
to a state trying to gain economic traction and slow the bleeding of underground aquifers.For a
second consecutive year the Bureau of Reclamation will allocate zero water to California farmers
via the Central Valley Project (CVP). The zero allocation applies to all agricultural water users
with federal contracts in California.In making its decision the Bureau of Reclamation also
declared a Shasta-critical year, meaning water contractors north of the Delta will not have
irrigation water as the agency determines quantities to hold back for senior water rights holders
and wildlife refuges in the Central Valley.
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For northern California rice growers this Shasta-critical designation can signal less available
water and forced fallowing of rice land, which doubles as habitat for migratory birds and other
wildlife along the Pacific Flyway.
Rice plantings last year were reduced by about 25 percent, said Jim Morris, spokesman for the
California Rice Commission.Farmers grow increasingly frustrated over decisions like this
because data shows there was ample water in 2014 to supply minimal deliveries to growers
based on previous dry years with similar or less water in the federal water system.Using a chart
labeled doing less with more Mike Wade, executive director of the California Farm Water
Coalition illustrated this by showing that in 1992 nearly one million fewer acre feet of water was
available in lakes Folsom and Shasta than there is today; that year agricultural contractors
received 25 percent of their federal allotment.The short answer to that discrepancy can be seen in
actions taken under the federal Endangered Species Act and the 1992 Central Valley Project
Improvement Act, which over the years have throttled back agricultural access to water longconsidered available to California farmers.
This was exacerbated in recent years with pumping restrictions from the California Delta region
into San Luis Reservoir near Los Banos to protect fish species in the Delta. San Luis Reservoir
was built in the 1960s to stabilize water deliveries south of the Delta and help provide irrigation
water to millions of acres of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley.According to Wade, from Dec.
15, 2014 through Jan. 26 the impacts of regulatory constrictions on Delta pumping meant that
over 315,000 acre feet of water that could have been stored in San Luis Reservoir instead was
allowed to flow out to sea.By comparison the 1992 federal surface water allocation to farmers
was about 500,000 acre feet.
This is not the drought causing this problem, Wade said. Its the regulators doing this.Wade
has consistently challenged the states success at protecting fish as environmental regulations
that went into effect decades ago to protect endangered fish still seem to not be working.Water
shortages to districts like Westlands Water District, which covers 614,000 acres of land in Fresno
and Kings Counties, has severely cut back the acreage of crops like processing tomatoes, melons,
garlic, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage and cotton.It has also hurt the 100,000-plus acres of permanent
crops grown in Americas largest agricultural water district.Gayle Holman, spokesperson for
Westlands Water District, said farmers there fallowed 220,000 acres over 340 square miles of
farmland due to the Bureau of Reclamations decision to curb agricultural water deliveries in
California.
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Now were looking at another zero allocation and anticipate that last years figure of 220,000
acres may go even higher, Holman said.Westlands has federal contracts to provide water to 700
family-owned farms averaging 875 acres in size that historically have produced more than 60
different commodities.For senior water rights holders like Los Banos farmer Canon Michael this
years news, though expected, still stings.This is just horrible behavior on their part, said
Michael, who farms several thousand acres in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley.Last
years water shortage forced Michael to fallow about 1,000 acres of prime land that could have
grown melons and other annual crops.
Michael is making cropping decisions for 2015 and expects to fallow at least what was left idle
last year, though that number could grow as water availability is arguably worse than last
year.Michael says he does not expect to receive the minimum 75 percent water allocation the
federal government is mandated to provide him under terms of the water contract he has with
them.Michael says he will likely focus on planting processing tomatoes and extra-long staple
cotton. California tomato canneries say they want 15 million tons for their operations while ELS
cotton prices have been positive, he said.
Along with the thousand acres left idle last year, Michael cut irrigation schedules to his alfalfa
crop, leaving him with five cuttings instead of his typical seven.According to Michael, a decision
earlier this year by State Water Board Executive Director Thomas Howard to stop pumping pulse
flows from storm runoff into San Luis Reservoir killed any opportunity for the state to bank
water and allocates it to farms.Any pumping at all during these storms would have helped,
Michael said.Howards decision seems to fly in the face of the emergency drought declaration
California Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr. signed last year that ordered state agencies to streamline
water transfers and relax regulatory restrictions on Delta pumping into San Luis Reservoir.
California Citrus Mutual President Joel Nelsen said Howards decision to halt pumping did not
need to take place when it did and arguably should have been made by the full board, though the
water board did grant Howard the authority to make such a decision if necessary.For the Friant
Water Authority, which moves water along the San Joaquin Valleys east side from Chowchilla
to Bakersfield via the Friant-Kern Canal, the water they consistently rely upon has likewise dried
up as the Bureau of Reclamation takes water otherwise earmarked for FWA and gives it to senior
water rights holders elsewhere in the Valley.Friant saw its first-ever zero allocation in 2014 and
now faces a back-to-back allotment of no water.
According to FWA General Manager Ron Jacobsma the district is in worse shape this year
because carry-over water is no longer available and groundwater resources are severely
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stressed.Last year over 200,000 acre feet of Friant water from Millerton Lake near Fresno was
channeled down the San Joaquin River to the Mendota Pool to meet federal obligations with
exchange contractors these are the senior-rights holders that includes Michael and others in his
area.That move drained Millerton to less than 200,000 acre feet of storage today. Early 2015
snow surveys reveal very little snowpack in the watershed that feeds Millerton, meaning the lake
will suffer further as the year progresses. Its capacity is 520,000 acre feet.
Jacobsma predicts water prices for farmers able to find it could eclipse last years prices, which
according to reports exceeded $3,000 per acre foot to growers.Growers of permanent crops like
tree nuts and citrus are particularly hard hit by this second year of zero allocation.Almond and
pistachio growers saw lighter-than-expected harvests in part due to lack of water. Chilling hours
for the crops were also thought to play a role in the shorter crops.Citrus growers too in
California many of these groves are served by FWA expect considerably worse conditions in
2015 as some have no groundwater.
Nelsen estimates that about 10,000 acres of California citrus was impacted by the zero allocation
with upwards of 50,000 acres made vulnerable by short groundwater supplies.In a statement
released by CCM, Nelsen wrote: Since 1992 over seven million acre feet of water has been
transferred away from landowners in the southern San Joaquin Valley with no accountability as
to the environmental successes achieved. Since 1992 those sourcing water from the Friant system
have been paying additional dollars per acre foot for environmental enhancements with no
accountability.
The state of California has over 320 species listed as endangered and yet all the efforts have not
led to one species being removed from the ESA list.During last years report to county
supervisors on the state of Fresno County agriculture, county Agricultural Commissioner Les
Wright said the 2013 crop report revealed only a partial impact to county Ag values as the
drought and water allocations primarily impacted growers on the western half of the county.
For the first time in modern history Fresno Countys Ag value fell two years in a row from its
record high in 2011. Because of water constraints, Wright expects his total Ag value which
typically has been the highest in the nation to fall once again when 2014 numbers are
compiled.We have to be the only state in the nation and the only nation on earth establishing
policies that destroys the production of food, said Nelsen.
http://westernfarmpress.com/irrigation/feds-california-farmers-no-water-youyear?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+10%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+
2013&utm_medium=email
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EDF Voices: People on the Planet

How a California rice farmer uses the market to protect
wildlife - and boost profits
Ann Hayden / Published March 10, 2015 in Ecosystems
Meet John Brennan, a farm

manager for the Knaggs Ranch in
Californias Central Valley who is
exploring
the
latest
market
incentives to boost farm profits
while protecting his land.Farmers
are
environmentalists,
too,
Brennan says. Programs like this
will help us fulfill our responsibility
to
nature
and
to
coming
generations.It's all coming together
on sprawling, water-soaked rice
fields that are part of the 1,700-acre
farm he has overseen for the past 10-plus years and co-owned of since 2011.
Exchange compensates farmers
A project on Knaggs Ranch is helping to keep water on the fields during a time and at a volume
critical to support salmon nurseries while providing beneficial habitat for water fowl and shore
birds.By adjusting land management to benefit such species, Brennan is generating conservation
outcomes that he hopes can be sold as a commodity to private and public investors through
the Central Valley Habitat Exchange. Potential investors include state agencies seeking credits to
meet mitigation requirements or restoration mandates.
The region southwest of Sacramento was once dominated by marshes that flanked the
Sacramento River and its tributaries and created vital seasonal floodplain habitat for waterfowl
and fish such as the Chinook salmon. Only 5 percent of these floodplain habitats remain after a
century of agricultural expansion and reservoir construction.Brennan has committed to the
Exchange because he believes that compensating landowners for good management practices
and helping them diversify their income beyond just farming can be one of the best ways for
agriculture to accommodate native species. He also believes that once other land managers learn
of the program and its rewards, theyll get onboard, too.
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Adding carbon credits to the mix
There may soon be yet another opportunity to levy market forces for the benefit of Knaggs
Ranch.This spring, the California Air Resources Board is expected to approve the first cropbased standards for rice farmers to generate carbon credits in the state's cap-and-trade market.
Brennan hopes the program will help his farm earn new revenue as it reduces greenhouse gas
emissions from its rice fields.
With proven success in the field for Habitat Exchanges as well as carbon markets, such programs
are now ready to be scaled up to boost food production while maintaining profitable farms, a safe
environment and healthy people.Agriculture accounts for about 10 percent of greenhouse gas
emissions released in the United States today, and forward-looking farmers such as Brennan see
an opportunity to help cut such pollution without hurting their bottom line.Such incentive-based
programs "help us diversify our income beyond just farming," he says.
http://www.edf.org/blog/2015/03/10/how-california-rice-farmer-uses-market-protect-wildlife-and-boostprofits?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+10%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email
Brantley Reminds Farm Bill Extended Deadlines

Approach
Now or never
ENGLAND, AR -- USA Rice Federation Chairman Dow

Brantley already updated yields and reallocated base acres
for his Lonoke County, Arkansas farm, but he knows not
everyone has done the same. He warns time is running
out."USDA extended that deadline to March 31, and I doubt
they'll extend it again," he said. "Rice growers need to get
into their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office, fill out
the paperwork, and also make their ARC or PLC decision. I
did it, it's done, and now I can get back to farming."
FSA officials point out that they are there to help growers understand all their choices as the
deadlines approach."Delaying decisions will make things more difficult for growers and the
Farm Service Agency as we approach the March 31 deadline," said Craig McCain, state
executive director of the Louisiana FSA. "If growers are unsure of what to do, I encourage them
to ask questions. County Offices are there to direct growers to available resources so they may
become more comfortable with the decisions they need to make."
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McCain said sign-ups across the state are going well and that rice growers are coming in and
making their elections, but he doesn't want people to wait any longer than necessary. Neither
does Brantley."You just need to make the best choice you can with the information you have," he
said. "These programs are there to help, and while the process can be intimidating, and you're
going to have to live with the decisions you make today for the duration of this Farm Bill, just
letting the deadline lapse is definitely not the right answer. Growers need to exercise their
choices."Brantley added that in addition to getting help from local FSA offices, there are several
decision aid tools available online, and one he found personally helpful was Texas
A&M'sdeveloped by Dr. Joe Outlaw and his team.
Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458
WASDE Report Released

WASHINGTON, DC -- The changes made to the U.S. 2014/15 rice supply and use balances this
month are confined to forecast exports, ending stocks, and prices. The 2014/15 all rice export
projection is raised 1 million cwt to 104 million. Long-grain exports are forecast at 72 million,
up 1 million from last month based on larger expected exports to markets in the Western
Hemisphere. The combined medium- and short-grain export projection is unchanged at 32
million. All rice ending stocks are projected at 40.9 million cwt, down 1 million from a month
ago-all in long-grain rice.
Long-grain rice ending stocks are projected at 27.1 million cwt, the
largest since 2010/11. Medium- and short-grain ending stocks are
unchanged at 11.5 million. The 2014/15 long-grain season-average rice
price range is projected at $12.20 to $12.80 per cwt, up 30 cents on each
end of the range. The all combined medium- and short-grain seasonaverage price range is forecast at $18.10 to $18.90 per cwt, up 20 cents
per cwt on each end of the range. The California medium- and shortgrain rice price is increased 30 cents per cwt to $19.80 to $20.80 per cwt.
The Other States medium- and short-grain rice price is unchanged at
$14.80 to $15.40 per cwt.
Global 2014/15 rice ending stocks are lowered 0.6 million tons primarily due to increase in
consumption. Total supplies for 2014/15 are lowered 37,000 tons as the increase in production is
insufficient to offset the decrease in beginning stocks. Global production is increased 300,000
tons based primarily on increases for India (+500,000) and Sri Lanka (+150,000), partially offset
by a reduction for Thailand(-350,000). The increase in India is based on an expected larger Rabi
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crop. Sri Lanka rice production is raised because of an expected increase in plantings and yield
for the Maha crop.
Thailand 2014/15 rice crop is lowered 350,000 tons to 19.15 million due to a reduction in dryseason plantings resulting from an on-going drought and a reduction in irrigation water
availability concentrated in the Central Region. Thailand 2014/15 crop would be the smallest
since 2006/07. The reduction in 2014/15 global beginning stocks is due primarily to reductions
for Burma and Malaysia. Global rice consumption (includes residual) is 500,000 tons with the
largest increases for China and India. Global rice exports are raised 400,000 tons due mostly to
increases for Burma, India, and the United States. Global imports are raised for China, Saudi
Arabia, and Venezuela.
Read the full report here.
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for March 10

Month
Price
Net Change
March 2015
$10.290
- $0.015
May 2015
$10.520
- $0.015
July 2015
$10.775
- $0.010
September 2015
$10.910
- $0.020
November 2015
$11.070
- $0.020
January 2016
$11.210
- $0.020
March 2016
$11.210
- $0.020
USA Rice Federation
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10th March, 2015 Daily Global Rice E - Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Genetically altered rice variety yields for years without

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State disburse K2.7m for rice production

KALONDE NYATI, Lusaka

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PH rice inventory continues to shrink, report shows

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Specialised rice growing areas to be formed in Mekong Delta

Rice Shipments From Vietnam Climbing on Lower Prices,

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Japan weather bureau raises chance of El Nino emerging by

Palay, corn production forecast down in Q1

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Rice shipments from Vietnam increase

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Farm bill update: Medium grain rice and peanuts

Editor's note: Bobby Coats is a professor, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

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Feds to California farmers: 'no water for you this year'

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EDF Voices: People on the Planet

Meet John Brennan, a farm

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Brantley Reminds Farm Bill Extended Deadlines

ENGLAND, AR -- USA Rice Federation Chairman Dow