14th may ,2016 daily global,regional & local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016

www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali [email protected] 0321 369 2874

1

www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

Vol 7,Issue V May 14 ,2016



2

Editorial Board Chief Editor

Hamlik Managing Editor

Abdul Sattar Shah

Rahmat Ullah

Rozeen Shaukat English Editor

Maryam Editor

Legal Advisor

Advocate Zaheer Minhas

Editorial Associates

Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Javed Islam Agha

Ch.Hamid Malhi

Dr.Akhtar Hussain

Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui

Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)

Islam Akhtar Khan Editorial Advisory Board

Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim Assistant Professor, Gomal University DIK

Dr.Hasina Gul Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK

Dr.Hidayat Ullah Assistant Professor, University of Swabi

Dr.Abdul Basir Assistant Professor, University of Swabi

Zahid Mehmood PSO,NIFA Peshawar

Falak Naz Shah Head Food Science & Technology ART, Peshawar

Today Rice News Headlines...

REAP wins Iran rice export order but lack of banking channel still a

hurdle

Pakistan again enters Iranian market after six years gap

Project IPaD produces new breed of extension workers

Ag School Senior Named Presidential Scholar For Her Many

Research Projects

Robert Coats: Rice supply, demand: USDA estimates - May 2016

California Rice Farmers Optimistic After Wet Winter, Spring

A crazy decision led Thailand to stockpile tons of rice, but everything

could be about to change

Thailand's plan to sell stockpiled rice sparks concerns

Agriculture ministry to repair dams, bolster rice production

Climate pendulum is swinging rapidly from El Niño to La Niña

Egypt to import 80,000 tonnes of rice ahead of Ramadan

Monsoon to hit Kerala between May 28 & 30: Skymet


05/13/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Spring Whole Grain is Packed Full and on the Way

Arkansas NRCS Ups the EQIP Ante

Upcoming Rice Field Days: Mark Your Calendar and Plan to Attend

the Event in Your Area

Rice millers still reeling from loss of Venezuelan market– Millers and

Exporters assoc.

APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1472

NAC likely to finalise GDP figure on 16th

U of A Chancellor to visit Stuttgart

News Detail...

REAP wins Iran rice export order but lack of

banking channel still a hurdle May 14, 2016

Salman Abduhu



3

LAHORE - Country’s rice

exporters have booked new orders

to export around 30,000 tonnes of

rice to Iran after a gap of more

than six years.This was disclosed

by Rice Exporters Association of

Pakistan Chairman Ch Shafique

after a 22-member exporters’

delegation, headed by him,

returned to home after a week-

long visit to Iran.

―We had very fruitful meetings

with Iranian buyers and most of

REAP members have booked

their orders of rice export for

May-June, 2016.

But there is still a problem of

currency swap arrangements with

Iranian banks,‖ he said.

Iran is one of the biggest

importers of Basmati Rice, he informed.

The delegation visited Tehran as well as the city of Mashhad where they had meetings with

Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines and Mashhad Chamber of Commerce and

Industry.The deliberations were aimed at increasing bilateral trade and investment between the

two friendly countries.He said the REAP discussed the issues related to the resumption of rice

exports, which nosedived after sanctions, from Pakistan, implementation of currency swap

agreement and the condition of good manufacturing practices (GMP) certification with Iranian

authorities.

These dialogues between the leading businessmen and industrialists were meant to inspire the

Iranian importers as well as investors to explore the healthy business opportunities in Pakistan,

and foster new profitable ventures.

The REAP members also invited the Iranians to visit Pakistan, where Association could arrange

fruitful B2B meetings with progressive business groups, to seek fresh collaborative ventures.

Pakistan exporters’ team also held meetings with Government Trading Corporation (GTC) of

Iran, besides meeting with Health Ministry officials to raise the issue of GMP certification for

Pakistani rice exporters, which presently has become a major hurdle in the way of rice export to

Iran.

With a view to enhance liaison between the businessmen of two countries, the REAP members’

group held B2B meetings with Rice Importers Association of Iran.



4

The REAP chairman also called on the Pakistan commercial counsel in Mashhad.―I hope that the

country would regain its share in the Iranian market, which can become the good destination for

their basmati exports.‖

Shafique Ch said that the restart of rice export to Iran remained ineffective, as no appropriate

currency transfer arrangements have been made through State Bank of Pakistan so far.

―Although rice exporters have managed to book orders of around 30,000 tons rice export but we

don’t seem to take advantage of this opportunity yet, because lack of proper banking channel still

remains a major hurdle.

‖ Though our Gulf rice market has squeezed yet we can compensate this loss by diverting our

supply to Iran, he claimed.―Keeping in view of the current situation we request the Finance

Minister Ishaq Dar, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and SBP to look into the matter

and try to arrange currency channel for issuance of ―E‖ Form from the commercial banks

through Swift Bank in Euro or to open irrevocable letter of credit in favour of the exporters.

‖

The REAP chairman also requested the government to approve new rice seed variety developed

by the Kalashah Kaku Research Institute and National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic

Engineering to enhance our yield.

http://nation.com.pk/business/14-May-2016/reap-wins-iran-rice-export-order-but-lack-of-banking-channel-

still-a-hurdle

Pakistan again enters Iranian market after six years gap May 13, 2016, 6:37 pm

Salman Abduhu

Pakistan has reentered the Iranian market after a gap of more than six years, as the country’s rice

exporters have booked new orders of around 30,000 tons of rice export during their visit to

Tehran.

This was stated by Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Chairman Ch Shafique while

returning to home after a weeklong visit to Iran along with a 22-member delegation with a view

to explore trade and investment opportunities and enhance rice export to Iran.

―We had very fruitful meetings with Iranian buyers and most of our members have booked their

orders of export for May-June, 2016 but there is still a problem of Currency Swap arrangements

with Iranian Banks. Iran is one of the biggest importer of Basmati Rice and our export share in

Iranian market drastically down due to non-availability of Currency Channel.‖

The delegation, led by REAP chairman Shafique Ch, visited Tehran as well as the city of

Mashhad where they had meetings with Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines

and Mashhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The deliberations were aimed at increasing

http://nation.com.pk/Reporter/salman-abduhu



5

bilateral trade and investment between the two friendly countries.

He said the REAP discussed the issues related to the resumption of rice exports, which nosedived

after sanctions, from Pakistan, implementation of currency swap agreement and the condition of

good manufacturing practices (GMP) certification with Iranian authorities.

These dialogues between the leading businessmen and industrialists were meant to inspire the

Iranian importers as well as investors to explore the healthy business opportunities in Pakistan,

and foster new profitable ventures.

The REAP members also invited the Iranians to visit Pakistan, where Association could arrange

fruitful B2B meetings with progressive business groups, to seek fresh collaborative ventures.

The Pakistan exporters’ team also held meetings with Government Trading Corporation (GTC)

of Iran, besides meeting with Health Ministry to raise the issue of GMP certification for

Pakistani rice exporters, which presently has become a major hurdle in the way of rice export to

Iran.



6

With a view to enhance liaison between the businessmen of two countries, the REAP members’

group held B2B meetings with Rice Importers Association of Iran. The REAP chairman also

called on the Pakistan commercial counsel in Mashhad.

―I hope that the country would regain its share in the Iranian market, which can become the good

destination for their basmati exports.‖

Shafique Ch said that the restart of rice export to Iran remained ineffective, as no appropriate

currency transfer arrangements have been made through State Bank of Pakistan so far.

―Although rice exporters have managed to book orders of around 30,000 tons rice export but we

don’t seem to take advantage of this opportunity yet, because lack of Pak-Iran proper banking

channel and absence of research & development in the country, have become major hurdle.

He requested the government to approve new rice seed variety developed by the Kalashah Kaku

Research Institute and National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering to enhance

our yield. Though our Gulf rice market has squeezed yet we can compensate this loss by

diverting our supply to Iran, he added.

―Keeping in view of the current situation we request the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Trade

Development Authority of Pakistan and SBP to look into the matter and try to arrange Currency

Channel for issuance of ―E‖ Form from the Commercial Banks through Swift Bank in Euro or to

open Irrevocable Letter of Credit in favour of the exporters.‖

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:3uON_4umdbUJ:nation.com.pk/business/13-

May-2016/pakistan-again-enters-iranian-market-after-six-years-gap+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk

Project IPaD produces new breed of extension workers

Posted by Web Team Posted on May - 13 - 2016

Better extension service can be expected from 67 AgRiDOCs (Agricultural Development

Officers of the Community) who completed a 4-month training at the Philippine Rice Research

Institute (PhilRice), April 21.

Titled Enabling the AgRiDOC: A New Breed of Agricultural Development and Extension

Officers of the Community, the training prepared the AgRiDOCs to help raise the bar of

extension services to develop sustainable, competitive, and resilient farming communities.

The AgRiDOC training is a major component of the project Improving Technology Promotion

and Delivery through Capability Enhancement of Next-Gen Rice Extension Professionals and

Other Intermediaries (IPaD).

Dr. Karen Eloisa T. Barroga, IPaD project lead, explained that AgRiDOCs have a broader and

more active role in the development process, a renewed capacity and attitude in performing their

usual roles, and a new set of knowledge and skills to deal with current and future challenges in

http://www.philrice.gov.ph/project-ipad-produces-new-breed-extension-workers/



7

agriculture.

―The training is unique from any other training I have attended,‖ said Nashjeehani G. Umbi,

AgRiDOC graduate from Cotabato.

―It has renewed my passion for my work as extension worker. I now have a vision to transform

the lives of the people in my community,‖ Umbi said.

Dr. Asterio P. Saliot, ATI director, graced the commencement ceremonies and led the

confirmation of graduates. In his speech, he emphasized that AgRiDOCs should have the will,

heart, and passion to overcome future challenges of extension work.

―You may not be able to see the fruits of your labor, but if you do something for our farmers as

early as today, the future generations will surely reap something. What you have started now, if

sustained, will replicate a thousand fold,‖ Saliot said.

The training roll-out jumpstarted in November 2015 to multiply the number of AgRiDOCs

nationwide. With ATI leading the coordination, it was simultaneously conducted in four clusters

– cluster 1 and 2 in Luzon, cluster 3 in Visayas, and cluster 4 in Mindanao. Since the conduct of

two pilot-tests in 2014, 116 AgRiDOCs have already been produced from different provinces in

the country.

Regular course offerings of the training curriculum are expected to begin in 2017.

Project IPaD is being implemented by DA-PhilRice, DA-ATI, and International Rice Research

Institute with funding from the DA-National Rice Program through the Bureau of Agricultural

Research

http://www.philrice.gov.ph/project-ipad-produces-new-breed-extension-

workers/#sthash.2mXIIWOB.dpuf

http://www.philrice.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Agridoc-graduation.jpg



8

Ag School Senior Named Presidential Scholar For Her Many

Research Projects

By Howard Ludwig | May 13, 2016 8:26am

Madeline Poole of Beverly is among the 160 nationwide recipients of the U.S. Presidential Scholars

Program. The senior at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences studied various types of seeds,

including rice, during her tenure at the Mount Greenwood school. Here she holds a seedling pepper plant

in the school's greenhouse. View Full Caption

DNAinfo/Howard A. Ludwig

MOUNT GREENWOOD — Madeline Poole hopes to shake the hand of Barack Obama or

perhaps snap a selfie with the 44th President of the United States this summer.

Poole, 18, is one of just 160 students nationwide to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. The

senior at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences will visit Washington, D.C. on an

expense-paid trip from June 19-21.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/about-us/our-team/editorial-team/howard-ludwig

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160513/mt-greenwood/ag-school-senior-named-presidential-scholar-for-her-many-research-projects

http://www.chicagoagr.org/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=403620&id=0

http://www.biography.com/people/barack-obama-12782369

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/index.html

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/places/chicago-high-school-for-agricultural-sciences

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/about-us/our-team/editorial-team/howard-ludwig




9

The president typically greets the scholars, who receive a special medallion at the White House.

These high school students have historically been recognized for outstanding achievement in

academics, merit and the arts, said Poole, a Beverly resident.

This year, 20 more names were added to the list to honor students with exemplary effort in the

field of career and technical education. Poole, a graduate of Sutherland Elementary School, is

among the first to be honored in this new category.

"I think it's the research I've done," Poole said Thursday when asked why she believes she

received the award.

Poole — who is also valedictorian of her graduating class — has been busy exploring the

scientific aspects of agriculture throughout her tenure at the school at 3857 W. 111th St. in

Mount Greenwood.

Madeline Poole is a senior at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences in Mount Greenwood.

She plans to attend the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in the fall and study agriculture and

biological engineering. View Full Caption

DNAinfo/Howard A. Ludwig

A visit to Jalna, India is among the highlights of her high school research. There she studied rice

seeds and bacteria for Mahyco, a hybrid seed company.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/places/sutherland-elementary-school


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalna,_Maharashtra

http://www.mahyco.com/




10

Poole was among a team that sought to improve rice production in India by studying the natural

bacteria that helps plants like weeds and native grasses thrive along the roadside. These plants

grow without frequent watering or fertilizer.

Poole's team helped to isolate the bacteria that benefits such wild plants and then soaked rice

seeds in it. The results were impressive and led to another finding about local rice production

efforts.

"Basically, farmers are using way to much fertilizer in the soil," Poole said.

She added that unlike the natural bacteria, chemical fertilizers now used in India boost crop

production only temporarily. The long-term affects include leaching the soil of important

nutrients.

Two days after returning from India, Poole visited Japan as part of a cultural exchange program.

She's also studied biofuels while at the Ag School, comparing canola, corn and soybean oil for a

science fair project that sought to determine which is the best energy source. Canola, a flowering

plant commonly grown in Canada, came out on top, Poole said.

In summer 2015, Poole also spent seven weeks at the University of Illinois in Urbana-

Champaign studying hot water that goes down the drain when taking a shower.

Poole's group sought to develop a heat exchange system that would recapture some of that heat

to warm up water for the next shower.

Besides research, Poole also rarely passes an opportunity to be involved in school programs, Ag

School principal Bill Hook said.

She's president of the school's FFA or Future Farmers of America chapter, worked as part of

team to bring a new community garden to Robert H. Metcalfe Community Academy in West

Pullman last month and packed backpacks filled with needed supplies for homeless men and

women in Chicago last year.

Poole plans to attend the U of I next year to further study agriculture and biological engineering.

Unfortunately, her latest award doesn't provide any financial assistance, but her previous

research projects should give her a leg up as she's already met many of her professors.

Hook is confident Poole will succeed both at the university and beyond.

"You could not ask for a more complete student," he said

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160513/mt-greenwood/ag-school-senior-named-presidential-scholar-

for-her-many-research-projects

http://www.uscanola.com/what-is-canola/

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/places/university-of-illinois

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/people/william-hook

https://www.ffa.org/home

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160418/west-pullman/ag-school-students-build-community-garden-for-kids-living-food-desert

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160418/west-pullman/ag-school-students-build-community-garden-for-kids-living-food-desert

http://www.metcalfe.cps.edu/

http://www.lead2feed.org/news/ag-school-students-behind-effort-to-give-backpacks-of-food-to-homeless/

http://www.lead2feed.org/news/ag-school-students-behind-effort-to-give-backpacks-of-food-to-homeless/



11

Robert Coats: Rice supply, demand: USDA estimates - May

2016 May 13, 2016 Robert Coats, University of Arkansas | Delta Farm Press

The first of the year into February looked very dismal for equities and many commodity prices.

Part of the problem was bearish supply and demand fundamentals for many commodities in an

anemic global economy.Another other part of the problem was an array of unfolding macro

factors being driven to a large extent by unfolding fiscal and monetary policy.

Coming into the year the Federal Reserve had signaled hawkish intentions of potential

aggressive rate hikes this year into next year.

As this year got under way, market participants had real concern about building global weakness

and potential fiscal and monetary policy intervention impacts.

First, market participants were increasingly concerned about the strengthening dollar’s potential

negative impact on U.S. business and farm exports and their profitability.

Second, they were concerned about the potential continuation of falling equity and commodity

prices due to dollar dominance.

Also, large chunks of global debt are financed with dollars by other countries. Thus a rising

dollar would likely inject further weakness into global economies especially debt-ridden

economies.



12

In January the U.S. Central Bank leadership addressed these concerns and signaled a more

dovish position indicating concern that neither the U.S. economy or many global economies

were strong enough for aggressive multiple Fed rate hikes over the next year.

This was followed by the Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank, to name a couple,

increasingly embracing negative interest rates, which coupled with an increasingly dovish U.S.

Central Bank started generating demand for U.S. and many global equities and attracting global

monies into commodity markets in general — a good example being the soybean market.

The current global market dynamics have now been in place at varying levels since mid-

February and the intervention fiscal and monetary policy activities have reflated the global

economy and generated demand for many commodities.

These intervention activities are now in transition, which will likely lead to price uncertainty and

even price weakness without some fundamental reason for rice, cotton, and grain prices to

advance.

U.S. RICE

USDA’s May 10 release of its first 2016-17 world agricultural supply and demand estimates for

U.S. long grain rice shows the following:

2016-17 U.S. Long Grain Rice

• 2016 harvested area is up 32 percent from last year at 2.4 million acres, the largest in six

years. The previous 10-year average was 2,120,300 acres and the five-year average was

1,904,800 acres.

• 2016-17 beginning stocks of 22.5 million hundredweight are 4 million hundredweight below

2015-16 and the third lowest in the current 7 marketing periods.

• Production of 181 million hundredweight is the second largest on record following the 2010

record of 183.3 million hundredweight. (2011, 116.4 million hundredweight; 2012, 144.3

million hundredweight; 2013, 131.9 million hundredweight; 2014, 162.7 million

hundredweight; 2015, 133 million hundredweight)

• Total supply of 224 million hundredweight if achieved will be a record (2010, 222 million

hundredweight; 2011, 169 million hundredweight; 2012, 187 million hundredweight; 2013,

173 million hundredweight; 2014, 200 million hundredweight; 2015, 180 million

hundredweight)

• Domestic and residual use is projected to be the second highest on record at 105 million

hundredweight following 2010-11’s 108.6 million hundredweight. and 19-percent higher than

2015-16 marketing period.



13

• Total exports are projected at 81 million hundredweight the highest since 2005-06’s 92

million hundredweight.

• Total use is projected to be the second highest on record at 186 million hundredweight,

which is slightly above 2010-11’s 186.5 million hundredweight.

• Of major concern: 2016-17 end stocks are presently projected to be the highest since 1985-

86 or the third highest since 1982. Previous highs were 1984, 38 million hundredweight and

1985, 49 million hundredweight. The previous 10-year ending stocks average was 23.8

million hundredweight and the previous five-year average was 22.3 million hundredweight.

• Long-grain rice 2016-17 average farm price is estimated in a range of $9.50 to $10.50 per

hundredweight, which compares to 2014-15’s $11.90 and 2015-16’s range of $10.80 to

$11.20 per hundredweight.

2016-17 World Rice: Key Points

• World rice harvested acreage is up 1.8-percent at 160.6 million hectares or 397 million

acres. The record world rice acreage was 161.8 million hectares or 400 million acres.

• Rice production is estimated at a record 480.7 million tons. The previous 10 year average

was 456 million tons and the previous 5 year average was 474 million tons.

• World rice trade at 40.7 million tons continues to decline from 2013-14’s 44.1 million tons;

2014-15, 42.8; and 2015-16, 41.4.

• Rice total use is forecast at a record 480.5 million tons slightly below production of 480.7

million tons.

• World rice ending stocks or slightly above the previous year’s ending stocks of 106 4

million tons..

The Foreign Agricultural Service/USDA, Office of Global Analysis in its May 2016 Grain:

World Markets and Trade publication’s Rice: World Markets and Trade Section made some key

bullet points on global rice importers and exporters.

Global economic uncertainty has some importers focused on economic, food, energy, and

homeland security. FAS on Selected Importers for 2017:

• Bangladesh is forecast up 150,000 tons to 500,000 from the prior year, as steady

consumption and declining stocks encourage additional imports.

• Brazil is forecast down 100,000 tons to 600,000 because of a larger crop and ample supplies

for domestic consumption.

http://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/grain-rice.pdf



14

• China is stable at 5.0 million tons as favorable prices in neighboring countries continue to

encourage cross-border trade.

• Cote d’Ivoire is projected down 100,000 tons to 900,000 on prospects for a larger crop.

• EU is forecast to remain at 1.6 million tons amid steady consumption.

• Indonesia is forecast to decline 750,000 tons to 1.3 million as higher production prospects

reduce the need for imports. Consumption remains relatively flat, while stocks decline

slightly.

• Iran is forecast to remain at 1.5 million tons, limited by current financial challenges and

despite a growing population.

• Iraq is expected to remain flat at 1.2 million tons supported by government distribution and

private-sector purchases.

• Malaysia is forecast up 30,000 tons to 1.1 million.

• Nigeria is projected down 300,000 tons to 2.0 million on continued government policies to

limit foreign exchange use for rice purchases and to restrict transit via land borders.

• The Philippines is cut 300,000 tons to 1.5 million on adequate carry-in stocks and a

projected recovery in production from the 2015-16 crop, which suffered negative effects of El

Niño.

• Saudi Arabia is expected up 50,000 tons to 1.5 million tons on continued demand for

basmati rice.

• Senegal is projected flat at 990,000 tons on steady demand for broken rice from India and

Thailand.

• South Africa is forecast down 75,000 tons to 925,000 as an expected recovery in corn

production reduces demand for rice.

• Turkey is projected up 75,000 tons to 275,000 as declining stocks necessitate imports to

satisfy consumption.

• The United States is forecast up 25,000 tons to 775,000 on higher demand for fragrant rice.

• Venezuela is forecast to remain at 400,000 tons as financial challenges constrain imports

from regional suppliers.

Global Export Market Showing Weakness: FAS on Selected Exporters for 2017:



15

• Argentina is forecast up 120,000 tons to 600,000 from the prior year due to a larger crop and

the new administration’s removal of export tariffs.

• Brazil is projected up 50,000 tons to 800,000 due to crop recovery and sufficient exportable

supplies.

• Burma is forecast up 50,000 tons to 1.9 million on higher demand from regional markets.

• Cambodia is projected up 150,000 tons to 1.1 million, on a larger crop and continued

demand from neighboring countries and the EU.

• India is forecast down 500,000 tons to 8.5 million, with smaller exportable supplies and

strong domestic demand.

• Pakistan is projected down 150,000 tons to 4.3 million, as it faces lower carry-in stocks and

continued competition with India for basmati markets.

• Thailand is forecast down 800,000 tons to 9.0 million, as stocks continue to decline and

exportable supplies are reduced.

• The United States is forecast up 275,000 tons to 3.6 million on larger supplies and improved

price competitiveness.

• Vietnam is unchanged at 7.0 million tons on steady demand from China and Southeast Asia.

Robert Coats is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness,

Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System. E-mail: [email protected].

http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/robert-coats-rice-supply-demand-usda-estimates-may-2016

California Rice Farmers Optimistic After Wet

Winter, Spring May 12, 2016 6:21 PM By Ron Jones

Filed Under: Sacramento

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A major money maker in California is making a comeback after

recent rains.

When it comes to California rice, 97 percent of it is grown in the Sacramento region. But

California’s drought left a lot of rice fields barren.

mailto:[email protected]

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/tag/sacramento/



16

Now, Central Valley rice farmers are looking up as they reap the benefits of recent storms. Even

though much of the state is still reeling from a historic drought, this year’s wet weather is making

the rice harvest season more promising.

That wasn’t the case during the Fall of 2014 for second-generation rice farmer Mike Dewit who

was forced to let 30 percent of his rice fields in the Yolo basin go to waste.

The California Rice Commission says almost a quarter of the state’s $5 billion crop was ruined.

―It is better,‖ said spokesman Jim Morris. ―We’re thankful we had a wet fall and winter.‖

With the recent rains comes a new sense of optimism.

―This is really good news for all of our region for the fact that we’re going to have more rice

grown this year,‖ he said.

The rain-soaked fields could lead to more than just rice crops.

―We have about 2,000 family farmers in the state. And this field will be planted in the near

future,‖ he said.

If the industry’s fall projections are correct, there should be a bountiful rice harvest. But it won’t

know for sure until September’s harvest.

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2016/05/12/california-rice-farmers-optimistic-after-wet-winter-spring/

A crazy decision led Thailand to stockpile tons of rice, but

everything could be about to change

Jonathan Garber

Reuters/Athit PerawongmethaA migrant worker unloads sacks of rice from a barge to a

cargo ship on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.In 2011, Thailand was the world's

largest exporter of rice, accounting for about 30% of the global market.

But then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra introduced a controversial rice scheme where the

government would pay farmers almost 50% more than market prices.

The idea was that since almost 40% of Thailand's labor force worked in agriculture, then it

would make the average Thai wealthier while also creating a rice shortage by taking supply off

of the market. In theory, the government would then be able to sell the rice at an even higher

price.

http://www.businessinsider.com/author/jonathan-garber

http://www.businessinsider.com/thailands-giant-pile-of-rice-threatens-to-flood-global-markets-2012-10

http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-rice-and-fall-of-yingluck-shinawatra/

http://www.businessinsider.com/author/jonathan-garber



17

But prices didn't rise as much as the Thai government was anticipating, and then competitors —

India and Vietnam — began to flood the market and lower their prices. That left Thailand with a

ballooning inventory of rice and warehouses filled to the brim.

Fast forward to 2016, and Shinawatra has been out of office for two years after being removed

by a military coup. Thailand is now the No. 2 rice exporter in the world, trailing rival India, and

its rice stockpile is still enormous.

But there might finally be some relief in sight. The El Niño of 2015-16 has caused drought

conditions across much of China, India, and Southeast Asia. And while farmers in Thailand and

elsewhere in the region are being devastated by the weather, the Thai government has an

opportunity to unload a good portion of its stockpile.

Here's Deutsche Bank (emphasis added):

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Thailand's rice inventory is set to

drop by almost 50% to 5.2mn MT in 2016 on the back of a projected decline in domestic

output to a five-year low of 15.8mn MT.

And the good news doesn't stop there.

Deutsche Bank says (emphasis added):

It is highly plausible, in our view, that Thailand would take this El Ni o episode as an

opportunity to clear its huge stockpile and regain market share as shipments of rival exporters

will likely be curbed by reduced domestic output.

http://world.time.com/2013/07/12/how-thailands-botched-rice-scheme-blew-a-big-hole-in-its-economy/

http://world.time.com/2013/07/12/how-thailands-botched-rice-scheme-blew-a-big-hole-in-its-economy/

http://www.worldstopexports.com/rice-exports-country/

http://www.businessinsider.com/extreme-drought-problematic-for-thailand-2016-1

http://www.businessinsider.com/extreme-drought-problematic-for-thailand-2016-1

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-thailand-plans-steps-worth-285-million-to-help-drought-hit-rice-farmers-2016-2



18

http://www.businessinsider.com/good-news-thailand-rice-stockpile-2016-5

Thailand's plan to sell stockpiled rice sparks concerns Biz Hub

Asia News Network May 13, 2016 12:11 pm

HA NOI - Thailand's plan to accelerate sales of 11.4 million tonnes of rice in stockpiles within two

months sparked concerns that it would hurt prices as well as Viet Nam's rice exports. However, some

people were optimistic that the impact would not be significant.

Thailand planned to sell the amount of rice in a government stockpile in May and June to generate

US$2.8 billion, at an average price of US$245 per tonne, in what could be the biggest rice sale clearance

ever of the world’s second largest rice exporter after India.

According to Le Van Banh, director of the Department of Agro-Fisheries Processing and Salt Production,

the biggest stockpiled rice sell-off from Thailand would certainly have an impact on the global rice

market following the law on supply and demand, as well as on Viet Nam’s rice market.

http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5734cb9d52bcd0210c8c2877-960/screen shot 2016-05-12 at 2.25.26 pm.png



19

However, the impact on Viet Nam’s rice exports would not be significant, at least in the short term, Banh

said.

Banh also said that Thailand’s plan to sell 11.4 million tonnes of rice within just two months was not

feasible.

He said that Thailand exported on an average 400,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes of rice per month. "To

sell 11.4 million tonnes in just two months sounds unrealistic," Banh said as quoted by vietnamplus.vn.

The Viet Nam Food Association said that the impact on rice exports would not be huge in the second and

third quarters as most contracts had been signed in the last quarter of 2015, and there were estimated to be

1.4 million tonnes of rice remaining to be shipped abroad following existing signed contracts.

According to Banh, the stockpiled rice for this clearance would mainly be "sub-standard" quality that the

government had purchased following the 2012-2013 rice mortgage programme and Thailand would target

the not too demanding markets such as in Africa.

Since May 2014, Thailand has auctioned off 5.05 million tonnes of rice worth $1.5 billion. The Thai

government had previously said it aimed to clear the stockpile by the end of 2017.

Meanwhile, major import markets of Vietnamese rice were China, the Philippines and Indonesia which

had standards for rice quality and preferred newly-harvested Vietnamese rice, he said. "Rice exports from

Viet Nam would not be significantly affected by Thailand’s sell-off in the coming months," he said.

According to Ma Quang Trung, director of the plantation department under the Ministry of Agriculture

and Rural Development, Viet Nam’s rice exports in the first four months of this year reached 2.06 million

tonnes, worth $916 million, rising by 11.8 per cent in volume and 13.8 per cent in value over the same

period last year. Average rice export price was $438 per tonne, increasing by 0.32 per cent over the same

period last year. China was the largest importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for more than 30 per cent

of the Viet Nam’s total rice exports.

Last year, Viet Nam was the third largest rice exporter in the world with an export volume of 6.4 million

tonnes.

Close watch

According to Banh, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the Viet Nam Food

Association, rice companies and farmers to closely track movements in the global rice market, especially

from Thailand’s clearance sale, for timely measures.

Nguyen Van Don, director of food trading company Viet Hung in southern Tien Giang Province, said the

sale of Viet Nam’s sub-standard rice would be affected the most by Thailand’s move, as Thailand

accelerated the stockpiled rice sale in the months coinciding with the rice harvest crop of Viet Nam



20

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said at the end of April, days after Thailand’s announcement, that the

global rice market was seeing unpredictable developments, which would influence Viet Nam’s rice

exports in 2016.

Besides export prices, which no longer was of Vietnamese rice competitiveness, quality and brand were

also matter of concerns in exports.

The ministry said that it was important to hasten the restructuring of the agricultural sector and rice

production towards building up a value chain, enhancing quality and developing a Vietnamese brand.

Quality would help Viet Nam to compete and maintain markets amid the flurry of low-priced rice, an

expert said.

The industry and trade ministry also said that it would enhance trade promotion to take advantage of the

new-generation free trade agreements to expand rice export markets.

In addition, the ministry proposed to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to provide preferential loans to

rice traders for investments in warehouses and for buying rice from farmers in an effort to accelerate

exports this year.

Building a national brand

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved the agriculture ministry’s proposal of a Vietnamese rice

brand development and management master project from combining five separate projects.

These projects were previously raised in the Prime Minister Decision 706/QD-TTg about developing rice

brand issued in May 2015.

The master project aimed to enhance the recognition of Vietnamese rice in the global market to boost

competitiveness, improved rice added value and expand markets.

The project would focus on developing a national rice brand name, brands for major rice products of Cuu

Long (Mekong) Delta, the country’s biggest rice production area, rice brand protection, trade promotion

and expanding exports.

Viet Nam aimed to become the world’s leading rice brand by quality and food safety by 2030, under the

approved project. – VNS

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thailands-plan-to-sell-stockpiled-rice-sparks-conc-

30285866.html


By Swan Ye Htut | Friday, 13 May 2016

Improving the efficiency of the country’s dams and canals could more than double the

supply of water to rice-growing areas and could boost rice exports, the deputy agriculture



21

minister says. Speaking to reporters, U Tun Win described the focus of his department’s

efforts over the next 100 days.

The two-decades-long neglect of dams and canals had weakened the nation’s production, said the

deputy minister. He said repair work would start with Thaphan Seik dam – one of the longest

dams in Southeast Asia – in Sagaing Region.

―During the next 100 days, we will deepen dams that have silted up and repair leaks in canals,‖

he said, describing the task as ―immense‖ because it covered the entire country. ―We will do

everything we can with the budget we have,‖ he said.

Thaphan Seik had been selected as the first as it delivered water to most areas in Sagaing,

Myanmar’s second-biggest rice bowl.

―We will deepen the dam so it can store more water and repair cracks in the canals. One canal

can deliver water to 500,000 acres, but because of cracks that capacity has fallen to about

200,000 acres. Our repairs will enable the dam and the canals to greatly increase the volume of

water supplied to farmlands,‖ he said.

Many of the country’s 500 dams are not supplying sufficient water to farms and defective canals

are losing water. The reduction of capacity in silted-up dams can led to flooding in the rainy

season and premature drought in summer.

U Tun Win said the river water pumping plan developed by General Myint Aung in Ayeyarwady

Region allowed the export of 1.5 million tonnes of rice after domestic consumption needs had

been satisfied.

―But the amount of rice exported rice last year was 1.8 million tonnes. Despite building and

developing 500 dams over the past 24 years, we have increased our rice export volume by only

0.3 million tonnes. This is just not good enough. We have to get to work on those dams,‖ he said.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/20289-agriculture-ministry-to-repair-dams-bolster-

rice-production.html

Climate pendulum is swinging rapidly from El Niño to La

Niña

Sea surface temperature anomalies on May 12, 2016.

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/18564-rice-sector-faces-long-struggle.html

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/15749-rice-exports-can-still-recover-from-floods.html



22

By Andrew Freedman

Say goodbye to El Niño, and hello to its less popular sibling, La Niña. Tropical Pacific Ocean

waters are cooling rapidly after record warmth during much of 2015 and 2016 so far, signaling

an impending shift. A new climate outlook released on Thursday puts the odds of a La Niña

event developing in the tropical Pacific Ocean at 75 percent by the September through November

period of this year. Forecasters' confidence in a developing La Niña event is high enough that the

Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has issued a "La Niña watch."

La Niña conditions are said to exist when a specific region of the tropical Pacific Ocean has a

three-month average temperature departure from average of at least 0.5 degrees Celsius, or 0.9

degrees Fahrenheit, below average. In other words, a La Niña is characterized by cooler-than-

average ocean temperatures, whereas El Niño events are characterized by unusually warm

waters.

http://mashable.com/people/andrewfreedman/





23

Sea surface temperature anomalies in tropical Pacific Ocean.

"It’s possible the transition from El Ni o to La Ni a will be quick, with forecasters slightly

favoring La Niña developing this summer," wrote Emily Becker, a scientist at the Climate

Prediction Center (CPC) in Maryland, in a blog post.

Like El Niño, La Niña can exert a significant influence on global weather patterns. If it kicks in

early enough, it will likely allow for a more active hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean

compared to last year. La Niña events tend to suppress hurricane activity in the eastern tropical

Pacific.

The new climate outlook prepared by the U.S. Climate Prediction Center and Columbia

University's International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), puts the odds of a La

Niña conditions during the height of the hurricane season, from July through September, at 65

percent.

Upper ocean heat anomalies in tropical Pacific Ocean.

Image: Climate prediction center

La Niña events are also tied to more severe tornado seasons in the southern U.S. A moderate La

Niña was present during the deadly 2011 tornado season, when tornadoes killed 553 people,

mostly in the south central states.

Such events also tend to damper global average surface temperatures somewhat, and may put an

end to the record-long string of warmest months on record. Through March, that stood at 11

months, based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/enso/may-2016-el-ni%C3%B1ola-ni%C3%B1a-update-switcheroo



24

"Most computer models are predicting El Niño conditions will come to an end in the early

summer, and that sea surface temperatures will continue to drop, potentially passing the La Niña

threshold (0.5°C below average) sometime in the summer. Some areas of near- or below-average

sea surface temperatures have already appeared in the eastern Pacific," Becker wrote.

In addition to computer models and trends in sea surface temperatures, another strong sign of an

impending La Niña is the increasingly abundant supply of cooler-than-average waters under the

surface of the Pacific.

"This large pool of cool water stretches across the entire Pacific, along the Equator, and extends

down from just below the surface to around 500 feet," Becker wrote.

Not every El Niño event is followed by a swing to La Niña conditions. However, some strong El Niño's

have been succeeded by major La Niña events, as occurred after the 1997-98 El Niño.

The 2015-16 El Niño was on par with, if not more intense than, the 1997-98 event, suggesting

that the upcoming La Niña may be significant. However, the CPC states that "there is clear

uncertainty over the timing and intensity of a potential La Niña."

According to the CPC, there have been 14 La Niña events since 1950, while El Niño events have

occurred 23 times during the same period.

http://mashable.com/2016/05/12/la-nina-watch-issued/#b62PdemHr5qU



25

Egypt to import 80,000 tonnes of rice ahead of Ramadan

CAIRO

Egypt's government has directed

state grains buyer GASC to

import 80,000 tonnes of rice

"immediately" ahead of the

Muslim fasting month of

Ramadan, the cabinet said in a

statement on Friday. Egypt

produced 3.75 million tonnes of

rice in the 2015 season and held

over 700,000 tonnes from 2014.

Annual rice consumption is

generally about 3.3 million

tonnes.But the government's

failure to stock up earlier in the

season has left it at the mercy of

traders, some of whom have been unwilling to sell to the state and are choosing to stockpile

instead.

The stockpiling has pushed up the price the government pays for rice by about 50 per cent in

recent months.GASC has tried three times to hold rice import tenders, but has had to cancel each

one either because of low responses or due to prices being deemed too high.The government has

threatened to seek direct contracts to buy rice from abroad if prices offered by traders at its

tenders are not reduced but traders say Egypt is insisting on unrealistic prices.Egypt banned rice

exports on April 4 to preserve stocks for the local market and to combat the rising prices.

The government lifted a previous export ban on the crop in October due to an expected surplus

and imposed an export tariff of 2,000 Egyptian pounds ($225.2) a tonne, but that decision

expired on April 3.The government statement said Egypt had enough sugar stockpiled to last

until the end of the year and enough vegetable oil for the next three months. More vegetable oil

would be imported as needed, it said. - Reuters

http://www.tradearabia.com/news/IND_306813.html

Monsoon to hit Kerala between May 28 & 30: Skymet PTI

New Delhi, May 13:

Monsoon will hit Kerala between May 28 and 30, two three days before its normal onset date of

June 1, private forecasting agency Skymet said.However, it is expected to reach New Delhi on



26

July 1 and Jaisalmer by July 12.It is likely to reach Kolkata by June 10 and Mumbai by June

12.The Southwest Monsoon will arrive over Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 18 and

20.―It is likely to reach Kerala between May 28 and May 30.

Thereafter, it will cover other parts of the country. Present weather conditions are indicating a

promising beginning of monsoon 2016 which is likely to usher in with a bang,‖ Skymet said.The

normal monsoon onset date is June 1 when it reaches Kerala.Monsoon reaching a tad early is

expected to provide relief to many parts of country which are reeling under severe heat wave and

drought conditions.

The India Meteorological Department, as well as Skymet, have made a forecast of ―above

normal‖ monsoon this year.

(This article was published on May 13, 2016

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/monsoon-to-hit-kerala-between-may-28-

30-skymet/article8593965.ece

Agriculture ministry to repair dams, bolster rice production By Rice HQ News | May 13, 2016

http://www.ricehq.com/author/ricenewsupdate/



27

Improving the efficiency of the country’s dams and canals could more than double the supply of

water to rice-growing areas and could boost rice exports, the deputy agriculture minister says.

Speaking to reporters, U Tun Win described the focus of his department’s efforts over the next

100 days.The two-decades-long neglect of dams and canals had weakened the nation’s

production, said the deputy minister. He said repair work would start with Thaphan Seik dam –

one of the longest dams in Southeast Asia – in Sagaing Region.

―During the next 100 days, we will deepen dams that have silted up and repair leaks in canals,‖

he said, describing the task as ―immense‖ because it covered the entire country. ―We will do

everything we can with the budget we have,‖ he said.

Thaphan Seik had been selected as the first as it delivered water to most areas in Sagaing,

Myanmar’s second-biggest rice bowl.

―We will deepen the dam so it can store more water and repair cracks in the canals. One canal

can deliver water to 500,000 acres, but because of cracks that capacity has fallen to about

200,000 acres. Our repairs will enable the dam and the canals to greatly increase the volume of

water supplied to farmlands,‖ he said.

Many of the country’s 500 dams are not supplying sufficient water to farms and defective canals

are losing water. The reduction of capacity in silted-up dams can led to flooding in the rainy

season and premature drought in summer.

U Tun Win said the river water pumping plan developed by General Myint Aung in Ayeyarwady

Region allowed the export of 1.5 million tonnes of rice after domestic consumption needs had

been satisfied.

―But the amount of rice exported rice last year was 1.8 million tonnes. Despite building and

developing 500 dams over the past 24 years, we have increased our rice export volume by only

0.3 million tonnes. This is just not good enough. We have to get to work on those dams,‖ he said.

05/13/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Soybeans

High Low

Cash Bids 1071 1004

New Crop 1073 1031



28

Riceland Foods

Cash Bids Stuttgart: - - - Pendleton: - - -

New Crop Stuttgart: - - - Pendleton: - - -

Futures: SOYBEANS

High Low Last Change

May '16 1059.75 1052.00 1055.00 -9.50

Jul '16 1075.50 1057.50 1065.00 -7.00

Aug '16 1076.75 1059.75 1067.00 -7.00

Sep '16 1069.00 1052.50 1059.50 -7.00

Nov '16 1064.00 1047.25 1054.50 -6.75

Jan '17 1060.25 1046.25 1051.75 -6.50

Mar '17 1034.75 1026.25 1030.00 -5.50

May '17 1030.50 1021.25 1025.00 -5.00

Jul '17 1030.00 1020.75 1025.50 -4.25

Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Soybean Comment

The soybean market is trying to calm down after a bullish report on Tuesday. On Thursday and Friday the

new crop soybean market lost 11.5-cents, but still ended 32-cents higher on the week. The Tuesday report

shocked the market when the USDA forecast just 310 million bu carryover for next year after forecasting

http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG0B2dIlQud

http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG0B2dIlQvZ

http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG4A6cM-Qfd

http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG4Q6cI-Ued

http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG0B2dIlQuZ



29

record crush and exports next year. This combined with reports this week that China again imported

record soybeans in April have trader optimistic about U.S. Soybean opportunities this fall. Soybeans

continue to hold gains above $10, but upside potential may be limited going forward as this market is due

a correction. Soybeans remain severely overbought but maintain support at $10.46 and $10.38.

Wheat

High Low

Cash Bids 478 428

New Crop 478 453

Futures: WHEAT


May '16 466.00 458.00 465.00 +6.50

Jul '16 477.50 464.75 474.75 +6.75

Sep '16 486.25 473.75 484.00 +6.25

Dec '16 501.50 491.00 499.25 +5.00

Mar '17 515.25 505.50 513.25 +4.00

May '17 523.00 517.25 521.50 +2.50

Jul '17 528.25 519.75 524.00 +0.75

Sep '17 536.25 530.00 530.00 -2.50

Dec '17 548.50 543.25 544.00 -4.25






30



Wheat Comment

Wheat prices also closed higher today as the market confirms a bottom near contract lows of $4.53. While

the fundamentals of the wheat market remain bearish, the market has shown little desire to move below

recent lows. Despite a very bearish forecast on Thursday the July wheat contract managed to end higher

on the week up 5-cent from last week.

Grain Sorghum

High Low

Cash Bids 359 349

New Crop 356 301



Corn

High Low

Cash Bids 403 375

New Crop 400 383







31

Futures: CORN


May '16 385.50 380.25 382.00 -3.25

Jul '16 391.25 385.25 390.75 +1.75

Sep '16 393.75 387.75 393.25 +1.50

Dec '16 398.50 392.50 398.25 +2.00

Mar '17 406.25 400.50 406.00 +2.00

May '17 410.50 405.50 410.25 +2.00

Jul '17 414.50 409.25 414.25 +2.25

Sep '17 410.00 407.00 410.25 +2.00

Dec '17 413.50 408.00 413.50 +2.00



Corn Comment

Corn prices closed mixed today, after nearby contracts closed lower and new crop contracts continued

gains. While this week's USDA forecast was mostly neutral for corn, the new crop corn market still

managed to gain 14-cents this week as prices are now within a few cents of $4. Strong soybean prices

have helped fuel gains as the corn and soybean prices ratio heavily favors soybeans at this time. This is

causing some concern that the later planted acres could move to soybeans. Regardless, the weather

conditions at this time look favorable for corn and the market is expecting a record crop this fall; while

demand is improving corn needs to see further growth to meet the ambitious forecast from the USDA.

Cotton








32

Futures: COTTON


Jul '16 61.04 60.25 60.62 -0.11

Oct '16 61.1 60.86 61.32 0.25

Dec '16 60.93 60.1 60.51 -0.06

Memphis, TN Cotton and Tobacco Programs

Cotton Comment

Cotton futures were lower across the board again today. The monthly WASDE report showed the largest

ending stocks in eight years for the 16-17 crop year. That is based upon the March prospective plantings

of 9.6 million acres and expectations for relatively favorable growing conditions resulting in average

yields of 807 lbs. per acre for a total crop of 14.8 million bales. However, global stocks are projected to

decline 6.2% as China releases low-cost, low-quality cotton from their stockpile. China plans to auction 2

million metric tons of cotton this summer. December closed below trendline support today and could head

back toward support just above 59 cents.

Rice

High Low

Long Grain Cash Bids - - - - - -

Long Grain New Crop - - - - - -

Futures: ROUGH RICE


http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG0B2dIlUeZ



33

May '16

1148.5 -11.0

Jul '16 1182.5 1160.5 1168.5 -13.0

Sep '16 1196.5 1178.0 1186.0 -10.5

Nov '16 1207.5 1195.0 1202.0 -4.0

Jan '17 1221.0 1220.0 1218.5 -2.0

Mar '17 1240.0 1230.0 1237.0 -0.5

May '17

1256.5 0.0

Rice Comment

Rice futures closed lower but trade was confined within Thursday’s wide range. The WASDE report

showed global stocks declining from 114.38 million metric tons to 106.43 million metric tons for the 15-

16 marketing year, and stocks holding steady at that level for 16-17. The market will be watching crop

progress closely. Currently, USDA says 82% of the crop is now in the ground and 67% is emerged.

Arkansas farmers have 93% of the intended acres already planted, with 82% emerged. This large crop

could limit the upside potential of the market, however, dry conditions in other rice growing regions of

the world could provide support. Today’s move put July in position to complete a 50% retracement,

which is at $11.94. A close above that level would open upside potential to the 62% level of $12.46.

Cattle

Futures:

Live Cattle: LIVE CATTLE


Jun '16 123.550 121.200 123.425 +0.850

Aug '16 119.425 116.800 118.725 -0.175






34

Oct '16 118.500 116.000 117.975 -0.125

Dec '16 117.725 114.975 116.925 -0.400

Feb '17 116.525 113.650 115.650 -0.575

Apr '17 115.150 112.275 114.300 -0.600

Jun '17 108.725 107.050 107.800 -0.525

Aug '17 105.200 104.000 105.300 -1.175

Feeders: FEEDER CATTLE


May '16 148.925 143.500 147.050 -0.775

Aug '16 148.325 142.875 146.250 -1.000

Sep '16 146.325 141.200 144.225 -1.450

Oct '16 144.775 139.500 142.375 -1.600

Nov '16 140.375 135.275 138.750 -0.925

Jan '17 135.825 131.350 134.150 -1.200

Mar '17 133.200 131.100 132.625 -1.700

Apr '17

133.275 -1.425

Arkansas Prices

Arkansas Weekly Livestock Summary

http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG0B2dI%7EUvd









35

Cattle Comment

After sharp gains on Monday, live cattle managed to hold onto gains and end 3.5 higher on the week,

while feeders fell sharply the remainder of the week closing down almost $1 and closing the gap left on

Monday. Cattle prices continue to be supported by strengthening beef values, while improving grain

prices are adding downward pressure. Both markets continue to trade well above their April lows and

prices continue to try and trend higher heading into the summer grilling season.

Hogs

Futures: LEAN HOGS


May '16 77.225 76.800 76.850 -0.075

Jun '16 83.400 81.325 81.950 -1.050

Jul '16 83.500 81.925 82.550 -0.700

Aug '16 82.600 81.300 82.125 -0.325

Oct '16 70.925 70.000 70.725 -0.100

Dec '16 65.325 64.475 65.225 0.000

Feb '17 68.200 67.600 68.200 -0.025

Apr '17 70.950 70.375 70.925 -0.025

May '17

75.100 0.000

Hog Comment

Spring Whole Grain is Packed Full and on the Way

By Michael Klein







36

ARLINGTON, VA -- The latest issue of the Whole Grain, USA Rice's newspaper, is off the

presses and on its way to readers throughout the six rice producing states and Washington,

DC. The Spring edition is packed with great stories, including a profile of Texas rice farmers

Tim and Lindy Gertson, an update on conservation programs, and a look at the important South

Korean and Colombian markets.



37

Louisiana contributor A.J. Sabine shares thoughts on the Rice Leadership Development program

and his classes' time in Washington during the USA Rice Government Affairs Conference; we

visit the set for the taping of the Sara Moulton TV show about rice and crawfish; and had an

exclusive sit down with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) in

which he talked about lessons learned in the 2014 Farm Bill process that he is carrying forward

into the next Farm Bill, the fight to make production agriculture relevant to every American, and

even the Presidential race. (Click on the video below for a sneak peak.)

As USA Rice encourages the U.S. government to file a trade case against competitor nations,

Whole Grain readers will get a look at what's involved in seeing one of those cases through, and

much more.

If you are not on the Whole Grain mailing list, or would like to order additional copies, contact

Deborah Willenborg. If you are interested in advertising with the paper that goes out to 25,000

readers, contact Colleen Klemczewski.

One-on-one with House Ag Chairman

Mike Conaway

USA Rice Daily

Arkansas NRCS Ups the EQIP Ante

By Josh Hankins

HUMNOKE, AR -- This morning, farmers and conservation

industry representatives held a press conference here at Isbell

Farms to announce the immediate availability of $2.5 million

in additional funding for the Environmental Quality

Incentives Program (EQIP) in Arkansas. The U.S.

Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources

Conservation Service (NRCS) delivered the positive news

and will accept and manage the incoming EQIP

applications. NRCS said they will prioritize applications that

address three objectives: improved soil health, nitrogen

stewardship, and irrigation water management. Irrigation

water management is particularly important to rice farmers in

improving energy efficiency, soil and water quality,

sustaining wildlife habitat, and addressing the growing issue






38

of water quantity. Earlier this year, the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship

Partnership provided more than $2.2 million in EQIP funding through their NRCS Regional

Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project, Sustaining the Future of Rice with a

complimentary focus on irrigation water management practices. More than 330 EQIP

applications were submitted by rice farmers across the state through the USA Rice project

showing a significant demand for voluntary, incentive-based conservation financial assistance.

Mike Sullivan, the NRCS state conservationist for Arkansas, kicked off the press conference and

turned the mic over to producers, Robby Bevis and Mark Isbell to discuss soil health and

irrigation water management work they're doing on their own operations. USDA staff, Dr.

Michele Reba and John Lee, representing the Agricultural Research Service and NRCS in

Arkansas, also provided commentary on greenhouse gas production in rice fields and nitrogen

stewardship, respectively.

Sullivan said, "With the extra funding Arkansas has been given for this EQIP, we are focusing

on three areas, soil health, nutrient management, and specifically for rice producers, intermittent

flooding, also known as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). We consider AWD a win-win

situation - it reduces costs on the production side, uses less water, less energy, and also reduces

methane emissions."

Of the work being done on his operation, Isbell said, "U.S. rice production has been on the

forefront of private land conservation for decades. We believe that the Alternate Wetting and

Drying strategy will play a key role as that story continues to be written."

Arkansas NRCS is urging farmers to visit their local USDA NRCS field service center to submit

EQIP applications no later than June 10, 2016 to be considered for the additional

allocation. USA Rice is encouraging Arkansas rice farmers with applications not funded through

the RCPP EQIP sign-up to consider resubmitting their request through this unique opportunity.

Upcoming Rice Field Days: Mark Your Calendar and Plan

to Attend the Event in Your Area

For a complete list of Rice Fields Days through September, visit our website.

May 24 -- Vermilion Parish Field Day

4:00 p.m. -- Lounsberry Farm, Hwy 14 East, Lake Arthur, LA

Contact: Andrew Granger, [email protected]

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0019kdmtv4SKgj-5r06CXfNER4ttmeCDafIN5CBCkWVXQ8hleMnPlXjUeKqa0hcimxP62vt7LO-GE2qBbxvMBOD7mpG2iJ1DjMzYmH2vVearHn3hIVPWK8D3unNNMT2WIZkNbdHUDp85TM5ovgDaGnr1nh0XbkPA92VINewy4r-R_qcGV-oqGKcnC1jdsvkC3rsfOzKOqTHWo0=&c=2Uvup_XrQ0_c0-Cyzrt12hDWlADiiGs8lJcxoizEoOVwzrpis1BYqg==&ch=w2_cfQ9V8I9SzppnsgDewiKDjUbsrCMD8tk_E6ZUBKz0C2xFa307RQ==




39

May 25 - Southwest Louisiana Rice Field Day

8:30 a.m. - Fenton Coop and Hoppe Farms, Fenton, LA

Contact: Jimmy Meaux, [email protected]

June 9 - Evangeline Parish Rice Field Tour

7:45 a.m. -- Joey Hebert Farm and Bieber Farms

Contact: Keith Fontenot, [email protected]

Research updates at LSU AgCenter

Rice millers still reeling from loss of Venezuelan market–

Millers and Exporters assoc.

May 14, 2016 | By KNews | Filed Under News

Almost one year after rice millers and exporters were told by the Guyana Rice Development

Board (GRDB) to take back rice originally bound for Venezuela, rice millers are still reeling

from the effects of that directive.

Containers with rice shipments on the wharf

This is according to Rajindra Persaud,

President of the Guyana Rice Exporters and

Millers Association (GREMA). Persaud said,

while that rice was indeed diverted to other

markets in the hemisphere, losses were

incurred then and losses are being incurred

now.―Rice was diverted to other markets,‖

Persaud related in a recent interview. ―The

rice was sold to Panama and Jamaica. (But)

Venezuela was buying about 200,000 tons (of

paddy annually).

‖―So we had to lower the prices to European Union and Jamaica (market) to sell the excess rice.

So much so that we were selling below world market prices.‖

He said that at present the price the millers are getting for white rice is between US$380 and

US$400 per metric ton, while the price for paddy is approximately US$275 per metric ton.



http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/author/gita/

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/category/news/

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/?attachment_id=401558



40

Asked whether GREMA was considering any measures to recover whatever losses might have

been incurred, Persaud replied in the negative. He did note, however, that all the rice that was

ordered back has been cleared from the wharf, save rice which is currently at the centre of a

court battle.

Some 270 containers of rice had been left on the wharf back in July 2015, following the directive

from Venezuelan officials. The official explanation had been that their Guyanese counterparts

were exceeding the shipping schedules. The total cost was estimated at US$5M.

The rice involved in court proceedings was supplied by Ramnarace Ramlakhan, of Ramlakhan

and Son Rice Mill. Ramlakhan is a miller from Exmouth, Essequibo, who took the rice board to

court after GRDB asked him not to follow through on 1,753 metric tons of rice left for him to

deliver.

According to the writs, filed on August 4 and August 5, 2015, the Guyana Rice Development

Board (GRDB) was named as the defendant and it was alleged that the body had agreed to

purchase 3000 metric tons of paddy at the cost of US$480 per ton and 1000 metric tons of white

rice at US$760 per ton between April and June 2015.

The writ had gone on to relate that after Ramlakhan acquired the 3000 tons of paddy and he

supplied more than 1,200 tons to GRDB in the months of April, May and June 2015, GRDB

advised him not to deliver the remaining 1,753 metric tons until further notice.

Ramlakhan was reportedly informed by GRDB that it would not purchase the remaining balance

and furthermore, that he should make efforts to sell it elsewhere.

The Miller then sold the outstanding balance of paddy to another buyer at a rate per ton of

US$240. Considering that the original price offered by the GRDB was US$480 per ton,

Ramlakhan was claiming damages amounting to $86.2M for the paddy.

Ramlakhan had stated in his writ that in June, via oral agreement, GRDB had agreed to purchase

an additional 296 metric tons of long grain white rice at the same rate of US$760 per ton. He had

stated that this was delivered in the same month, but on July 28, GRDB instructed him to take it

back. Ramlakhan had refused, demanding payment instead.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2016/05/14/rice-millers-still-reeling-from-loss-of-venezuelan-

market-millers-and-exporters-assoc/

APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1472

International Benchmark Price

Price on: 12-05-2016

Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price

Apricots



41

1 Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 4625

2 Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 4125

3 Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t) 3625

Raisins

1 Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t) 2245

2 South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t) 2347

Sultanas

1 Iranian natural sultanas (Gouchan), CIF UK (USD/t) 1858

2 South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t) 2897

3 Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t) 1612

Source:agra-net For more info

Market Watch

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 11-05-2016

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price

Rice

1 Manjeri (Kerala) Other 2700 3700

2 Jhagadiya (Gujarat) Other 2000 3200

3 Barasat (West Bengal) Other 2400 2600

Wheat

1 Haveri (Karnataka) Local 1600 1710

2 Khategaon (Madhya Pradesh) Other 1500 1660

3 Sangli (Maharashtra) Other 1700 1700

Pine Apple

https://www.agra-net.com/



42

1 Aroor (Kerala) Other 2600 2800

2 Akhnoor (Jammu and Kashmir) Other 2800 3000

3 Mumbai (Maharashtra) Other 1000 2500

Brinjal

1 Deogarh (Orissa) Other 1500 2500

2 Ropar (Punjab) Other 600 800

3 Surat (Gujarat) Other 1000 2000

Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info

Egg Rs per 100 No

Price on 12-05-2016

Product Market Center Price

1 Chittoor 433

2 Hyderabad 410

3 Nagapur 415

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 12-05-2016

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Onions Dry Package: 50 lb sacks

1 Atlanta Georgia Yellow 21 21

2 Chicago Colorado Yellow 18 18

2 Detroit Texas Yellow 19 20

Cauliflower Package: cartons film wrapped

1 Atlanta California White 17 20

http://agmarknet.nic.in/

http://agmarknet.dac.gov.in/

http://e2necc.com/



43

2 Dallas California White 21 24

3 New York Mexico White 18 18

Grapefruit Package: 4/5 bushel cartons

1 Atlanta Florida Red 26 26

2 Chicago Florida Red 18 18.50

3 Miami Florida Red 12 15

Source:USDA

NAC likely to finalise GDP figure on 16th

Pakistan’s GDP growth is estimated to hover

around 4.5 per cent for the current financial

year which will be finally decided in the

meeting of National Accounts Committee

(NAC) likely to meet on May 16.An official

source said the committee would face a tough

time in working out the GDP growth for the

current financial year as the agriculture

production faced a setback while the Pakistan

Steel Mill (PSM) remained closed throughout

the year.

The government had fixed a GDP growth target of 5.5 per cent for the current financial year.

However, despite turn around in law and order situation, improvement in energy supplies and

lowering of interest rates, it failed to revive economic activity. The donor agencies estimates

present a GDP growth rate in the range of 4 to 4.3 per cent during the current financial year.The

government had set a growth target of 3.9 per cent for the agriculture sector during the current

financial year. The water and fertilizer availability improved during the year. However, the

growth of main agriculture crops is assessed below one per cent.

The rice and cotton crops failed to achieve the production target. Rice growth declined due to the

glut of rice stocks for the last two years. The cotton production on the other hand declined below

10 million bales as compared to 14 million bales last year due to pink bollworm disease. The loss

of 4 million bales of cotton would vanish out close to 0.5 per cent GDP growth.

The sugarcane and wheat crops remained closed to the production target. But the crash of the

commodity prices did not produce positive results for the growers. The government may get



44

some positive agriculture growth through the livestock sector that has nearly half the share in the

sector.The government agencies both at the federal and provincial level failed to take appropriate

measures against the cotton disease that estimated caused a loss of Rs 100 billion to growers.

The government failed to provide export avenues to sell off surplus quantity of rice, wheat,

sugarcane and vast number of other vegetables and fruits.The source said the large-scale

manufacturing sector yielded some improvement due to the reduction in load shedding but the

domestic demand remained suppressed due to the overall economic order. The PSM nearly

remained closed throughout the year.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/05/13/business/nac-likely-to-finalise-gdp-figure-on-16th/

U of A Chancellor to visit Stuttgart Steinmetz will be at the Riceland Foods Dinner from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17 and he

will be at the Dale Bumpers Rice Research Center and will tour the Arkansas Agricultural

Experiment Station from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18.

By Submitted for Stuttgart Daily Leader

Posted May. 13, 2016 at 12:44 PM

STUTTGART

The University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (U of A) Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz will visit

Stuttgart at part of his five-day bus tour of Arkansas. Steinmetz, his wife Sandy, and several U of

A administrators are visiting more than a dozen locations during the tour. Their trip to Stuttgart

will be primarily focused on agriculture.Steinmetz will be at the Riceland Foods Dinner from

6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17 and he will be at the Dale Bumpers Rice Research Center and

will tour the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday,

May 18.

Steinmetz is traveling Arkansas to get to know his new home state and the diverse needs and

interests of Arkansans. Steinmetz spent his first five months as chancellor meeting with all 75

academic departments and centers, hundreds of faculty, students and staff at the U of A, and he

continues to visit with state leaders and alumni to sharpen his vision for the future of the state’s

flagship institution.―I want to learn more about the people and the places that make Arkansas so

unique,‖ Steinmetz said. ―The best way to do that is to visit them. I don’t expect to learn

everything in five days — we certainly won’t be seeing everything there is to see. But this marks

a beginning. I hope to make this a regular event.‖

Steinmetz will also be visiting Fort Smith, Hope and Texarkana on May 16; El Dorado on May

17; Helena-West Helena and Newport on May 18; Searcy and Little Rock on May 19; and Little

Rock, Conway and Altus before returning to Fayetteville on May 20.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/05/13/business/nac-likely-to-finalise-gdp-figure-on-16th/

14th may ,2016 daily global,regional & local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

Documents