1st april,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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IRRI introduces 28 rice varieties in Asia and Africa in 2014 Wednesday, 01 April 2015 05:56

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and its partners have announced that

they had released at least 28 new rice varieties to eight countries in Asia and Africa last

year

IRRI is an international research and training organisation headquartered in the Philippines.

(Image source: IRRI)

At the IRRI Breeders’ from 23-27 March 2015, scientists implementing IRRI’s breeding agenda

shared the latest in their varietal improvement work.These newly-released varieties possess high-

yielding and stress-tolerance traits that can help farmers overcome challenges, such as the

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

April 01 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I



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negative effects of climate change, in their rice growing ecosystems. Some of the varieties

include flood-tolerant for India, drought-tolerant for rain-fed rice areas for Nepal and salinity-

tolerant for Gambia and the Philippines.

IRRI has released more than a thousand

modern rice varieties in 78 countries since its

founding in 1960.IRRI’s head of breeding and

leader of its global rice research partnership in

varietal improvement Eero Nissila said, “The

work never stops. New challenges arise due to

climate change and decreasing resources,

which is why we need to keep revisiting our

agenda and stay responsive to the needs of our

farmers and consumers.”Critical improvements

are being made to IRRI’s breeding

infrastructure, which needs to be more

responsive to the requirements of current and future rice demand. Responsiveness requires

increasing rice genetic gain in yield and pursuing an agenda that’s driven by what consumers

need and prefer. Taken together, these improvements are called Transforming Rice Breeding

(TRB), funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

At the Breeders’ Week, several updates were presented, which included development of profiles

of rice preferred in selected countries in Southeast Asia and Africa; market research on types of

rice consumers prefer; updates on the irrigated variety development pipeline that now benefits

from an expedited breeding process; breeding hubs in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia;

grain quality and how it integrates into the development of high-yielding rice varieties with

desirable traits; managing information through bioinformatics; genotyping services; partnerships

within the hybrid rice development programme; and exploration of rice’s diversity for breeding.

http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/irri-introduces-28-rice-varieties-in-asia-and-

africa-in-2014

Vietnamese rice exporters warned of Chinese “trap”

Chinese businesses are now collecting Vietnam’s rice in large quantities, which has raised major

concerns.

Professor Academic Tran Dinh Long, chair of the Vietnam Seed Association, has warned that

Vietnamese businesses may fall into the Chinese “trap” when trying to sell rice in bulk to

China.Many trade agreements have been signed with a selling price at VND7,500-7,600 per kilo

for five percent broken rice, while the domestic price is lower, at VND7,400 per kilo.“The higher

price offered by Chinese businesses makes Vietnamese businesses happy. However, they should

be skeptical when doing business with the Chinese,” Long said.Observers noted that Chinese

businesses that import Vietnam’s rice across the border can make fat profits.

http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/irri-introduces-28-rice-varieties-in-asia-and-africa-in-2014

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If they import rice through official channels, they would have to pay $70-80 per ton more in

taxes and fees. Therefore, they would rather import rice across the border as they are exempted

from taxes and fees. Though they have to buy at higher prices, they still make high profits.And

even if they accept to pay an additional $20-30 per ton, they still can save $40-50 for every ton

of rice they buy.“By raising the rice buying prices, Chinese importers harm Vietnamese

businesses which specialize in exporting rice through official channels,” an observer

noted.“Once Chinese businessmen pay high prices for rice, they will push the market average

price up,” he explained. “If so, Vietnamese enterprises exporting rice through official channels

will have to raise their export prices, thus making Vietnam’s rice less competitive.”

“If Vietnamese enterprises cannot find buyers, they would have to sell rice to Chinese businesses

to clear stocks,” he said.Long said there were latent risks in exporting rice through unofficial

channels. The lack of transparency gives Chinese businesses the opportunities to lower prices by

using various ploys.Long said that such ploys had been used many times by Chinese businesses

to push the prices down, thus making Vietnamese exporters and farmers suffer.The Vietnam

Food Association said that Chinese businesses top the list of trade partners who try to lower

prices by “tricks” and cancel contracts.In 2013 alone, 64 percent of rice export contracts were

canceled by Chinese traders. They delayed the delivery schedules for other contracts and lowered

prices.Vietnamese enterprises still accepted to sell rice to Chinese at a loss, because they had

already collected rice from farmers. They needed to sell rice as soon as possible because they did

not have depots for storage.Long warned that if Vietnam still relied on the Chinese market, it

would have to suffer more heavily in the future because of sharp price falls.



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http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/126869/vietnamese-rice-exporters-warned-of-chinese--trap-

.html

Steps to check conversion of paddy fields

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

State policy on agriculture includes steps to raise productivity

The State policy on agricultural development approved by the government calls for stern action

to prevent the conversion of paddy fields.The policy, approved through a government order

issued on March 28, includes steps to enhance acreage and improve productivity of paddy.It

underlines the need for strict enforcement of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and

Wetland Act, 2008 to check the reclamation of paddy fields.Kerala cannot afford to bear the

environmental and economic consequences of paddy field reclamation any more, says the policy

document.Briefing the media about the highlights of the policy here on Tuesday, Agriculture

Minister K.P. Mohanan said the drafting committee headed by K. Krishnankutty, former MLA,

had come up with recommendations to ensure remunerative price for farm produce and attract

more people to agriculture.

Enhancing acreage

The policy document moots steps to enhance the acreage from 2,18,000 hectares to 3,00,000

hectares and improve the productivity of paddy from 2.3 tonnes per hectare to four tonnes per

hectare over the next five years.It also proposes that the paddy land ownership limit eligible for

various government benefits be enhanced from two to five hectares. The policy stresses the need

to adopt water budgeting on a watershed basis, protect farm ponds and popularise micro-

irrigation technology, rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge methods. It seeks to enhance the

production of bio-manure and develop regional soil nutrient plans to improve crop production

potential.The policy proposes agricultural labour banks in all panchayats and a production

incentive for farm labourers who have worked for a minimum of 100 days.It recommends Amul

model outlets and agricultural retail markets for procurement and distribution of farm produce.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/126869/vietnamese-rice-exporters-warned-of-chinese--trap-.html

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/steps-to-check-conversion-of-paddy-

fields/article7055974.ece

Home / Business / REAP demands immediate release of Rs 26b grant in share of EDF, Rice Technical Institute

establishment

REAP demands immediate release of Rs 26b grant in share

of EDF, Rice Technical Institute establishment Reported by: `Customs Today Report April 1, 2015

KARACHI: The Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan

(REAP) Rafique Suleman has demanded Federal government to

immediately release the grant of Rs 26 billion in share of “Export

Development Funds” and to makes efforts in order to establish

“Rice Technical Institute”, adding that the government should

announce to allot free of cost land for establishing “Rice Technical

Institute”.He made this demand while addressing 7th Rice Export

Trophy Programme, organized by REAP in a local hotel here on

Tuesday.President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, Federal Minister

for Commerce & Textile Khurram Dastagir, Senior Vice-President

FPCCI Abdul Rahim Janoo and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the participants, the Chairman REAP warned that export of rice could not be reached

up to expected revenue target of $4 billion, if proper attention on research technology of sowing

new rice crops could not be paid timely.On the occasion, Chairman REAP Rafique Suleman

regretted that the previous governments did not paid any attention towards exploring new

markets of exporting Pakistani rice and due to this exporters of rice are facing hardships in order

to export their products into international markets.He further said that previous governments

were adopted an attitude of step-mother with the exporters, who intend to increase the exports of

the country, adding that the present government should take effective steps in order to restore the

confidence of exporters on the polices of the present government.Chairman REAP stressed upon

releasing an amount of Rs 136 billion in share of “Export Development Funds” (EDF) and

refunds to the exporters, so that the exports of the country could be increased at some extent.

Rafique Suleman further informed the President and other government authorities that the Kenya

has imposed $ 200 per ton duty on import of Pakistani rice into its country, which witnesses

significant decline in the export of rice trend to Kenya from 12000 to 3000 tones, as previously

the import duty on Pakistani rice was stood at $110 per ton.Chairman REAP further said that the

rice industry in Pakistan is facing severe crises and needs immediate attention of the authorities

concerned in order to boost the exports of the country.On the occasion, he further urged the

President of Pakistan and Prime Minister to take the office-bearers of Rice Exporters’

Association (REAP) on board on their foreign trips, so that the export of rice could be bolster.

Later, the President Mamnoon Hussain and Federal Minister Khurram Dastagir assured the

resolution of the issues faced by the export community.



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http://customstoday.com.pk/reap-demands-immediate-release-of-rs-26b-grant-in-share-of-edf-rice-

technical-institute-establishment-2/

Rice export may touch $4b target if serious efforts made:

President Mamnoon Reported by: `Customs Today Report April 1, 2015

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has said

if serious efforts are made, Pakistan can achieve the

rice export target of $4 billion per annum.He was

addressing the 7th Export Trophy Awards of the Rice

Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP). He said

that understanding of current trends and use of latest

technology keeping in view the market demand are the

pre-requisites for realising the true trade potential.

The president said that the exporters should fully exploit the opportunities in international

markets as per their true potential, suggesting that besides Europe and the US, they should also

focus on Far Eastern and Central Asian markets.Mamnooon also called for establishing more

institutions of research and development for the guidance of people in different fields and

stressed the importance of concerted efforts to make them more effective. The president said the

Pakistan-China Economic Corridor would enhance the importance of this region and transform

Pakistan into a hub of regional trade activities. http://customstoday.com.pk/rice-export-may-touch-4b-target-if-serious-efforts-made-president-mamnoon/

President for focus on non-traditional markets to achieve $ 4b rice

export target

Tuesday, 31 March 2015 19:34

Posted by Imaduddin

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday said the apprehension of current trends, use of the

latest technology and keeping in view market demands, were the prerequisite to realize the true

potential of trade.He was addressing the 7th Export Trophy function of the Rice Exporters

Association of Pakistan (REAP) here.The President said Pakistani exporters should fully exploit

the international market opportunities as per their true potential and besides the traditional

markets in Europe and the US, they should also focus on countries of Far East and Central

Asia.He was confident that if serious efforts were made and these markets were focussed,

Pakistan could achieve the rice export target of $ 4 billion per annum.

Stressing the need of enhanced research and development, the President called for establishing

more institutions of research and development for the guidance of people in different fields.He

noted that the work on research and development had already been started, adding, there should

be concerted efforts to make it more effective.The President said there should be an effective

coordination and communication mechanism from the level of growers to exporters. It would not

http://customstoday.com.pk/reap-demands-immediate-release-of-rs-26b-grant-in-share-of-edf-rice-technical-institute-establishment-2/

http://customstoday.com.pk/reap-demands-immediate-release-of-rs-26b-grant-in-share-of-edf-rice-technical-institute-establishment-2/

http://customstoday.com.pk/author/mati/

http://customstoday.com.pk/rice-export-may-touch-4b-target-if-serious-efforts-made-president-mamnoon/

http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/109-world-top-news/235924-president-for-focus-on-non-traditional-markets-to-achieve-$-4b-rice-export-target.html

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only help strengthen this industry but would also bring improvement in every segment of this

sector, he added.He noted with concern that no new rice variety was cultivated in the country

during the last one and a half decade, adding, "if we focus on our fertile and best rice producing

lands and our scientists make serious efforts, we can bring about a revolution in the area of rice

cultivation and exports."The President said Pakistan-China Economic Corridor would amplify

the importance of this region, adding, it would help transform Pakistan into a hub of regional

trade activities.He also mentioned the challenges and hurdles in the way of country's progress

and prosperity and said besides the masses, the traders and entrepreneurs would also have to play

their due role in overcoming such challenges.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2015 http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/109-world-top-news/235924-

president-for-focus-on-non-traditional-markets-to-achieve-$-4b-rice-export-target.html

S.Korea passes on tenders to buy 25,000 T rice Wed Apr 1, 2015 1:08am GMT

SEOUL, April 1 (Reuters) - South Korea passed on two tenders

to buy a total of 25,000 tonnes of brown medium rice, a source

from the state-run Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp said

on Tuesday.

The agency initially sought to buy 58,897 tonnes of rice on

March 10, and consequently bought a total of 33,897 tonnes from

Singsong Food Corp and Daewoo Int'l Corp on March 24

via three tenders while deferring the remaining two for quality

inspection.

Though the quality of the products reviewed for the passed

tenders was satisfactory, the agency decided to pass them due to

higher-than-expected prices, the source said.

Details of the passed tenders are as follows:

TONNES GRAIN TYPE ARRIVAL PORT

15,000 Brown Medium June 30 Gunsan

10,000 Brown Medium June 30 Busan

(Reporting By Brian Kim; Editing by Prateek Chatterjee) http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL3N0WY06I20150401

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL3N0WY06I20150401



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In the Pink Contrary to fears, buffalo meat exports are thriving under the Narendra Modi government. But

worries remain.

Ajay Modi

Most of Indian business rejoiced when the Narendra

Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept last

year's general election. But one section viewed the

results with trepidation, fearing for its future - meat

exporters. Given its Hindutva leanings, the BJP's

distaste for meat was no secret. Modi had stoked

further worry during his election campaign by

accusing the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance

(UPA) government of promoting a 'pink revolution' - a reference to the colour of raw meat -

through policies which encouraged slaughterhouses and meat exporters.

The fears have been belied. With the new government taking charge in May last year, growth in

meat exports did indeed see a dip in the April to June quarter. While exports rose 24 per cent in

April 2014, shipments slowed in next two months - growth was a modest 10 per cent for the

April to June period. But it has recovered since, rising 16 per cent in the first half of 2014/15 and

17 per cent in the first 10 months. Meat export is now a $5 billion industry, not only replacing

basmati rice as the biggest revenue earner in India's processed foods category, but also making

India the world's second-biggest meat exporter.

The supportive policies Modi railed against remain in place - the government still offers a grant

of up to Rs 15 crore to set up new abattoirs or modernise existing ones. More and more players

are jumping in - leading B2B online marketplace IndiaMart saw a 20 per cent increase in

registration of meat exporters in the past year. "India is among the world's largest meat exporters

and there are reasons for it," says Sirajuddin Qureshi, Chairman and Managing Director of

Delhi-based Hind Agro Industries Ltd, one of the leading meat processors and exporters in the

country.India is among the world's largest meat exporters and there are reasons for it: Sirajuddin

Qureshi, CMD, Hind Agro Industries

http://businesstoday.intoday.in/search.jsp?searchword=Ajay%20Modi&searchtype=text&searchphrase=exact&search_type=author



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What are the reasons? The primary one is pricing. Indian

meat is almost 20 per cent cheaper than Brazil's mainly

because Brazil rears cattle specifically for slaughter,

which is expensive, while in India water buffaloes - at

least the female ones - are sent to the abattoir only after

they grow old and stop yielding milk. A secondary reason

for Indianmeat's popularity in the Persian Gulf countries

and others with large Muslim populations is that buyers

are assured it is halal - slaughtered in the manner Muslims

consider ritualistically appropriate. Indian meat is

exported to 65 countries, the biggest markets being

Vietnam (40 per cent), Malaysia (nine per cent), Thailand

(seven per cent) and Saudi Arabia (six per cent).

Still, some disquiet remains, as evinced by the refusal of some in the business - including the

owners of the biggest export house, Allanasons - to speak to Business Today. The BJP's

discomfort with the meat industry is far from overcome, as the Maharashtra government's

blanket ban from early March, on the sale and even possession of beef, with harsh penalties for

offenders, showed. Vigilante attacks on trucks carrying cattle have also increased in that state.

Haryana, another BJP-ruled state, has followed suit with a ban. The BJP's sister organisations -

the Rashtriya Swayaksevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) - continue to

clamour for a total ban on meat export.The bulk of the meat exported is buffalo - and therein

arises part of the animus. Buffalo meat is sometimes erroneously referred to as 'beef', which it is

not. There are restraints on the processing or sale of beef - normally cow meat - since the cow

has religious significance for Hindus.

Accordingly, cow slaughter has been either banned or severely restricted in most Indian states -

barring Kerala, West Bengal and some northeastern ones - for decades, the ban reinforced by a

Supreme Court judgment in 2005. It is buffalo meat, against which there are no religious or legal

strictures, which is processed and exported. India's foreign trade policy expressly forbids export

of cow meat.The campaigners insist cow meat continues to be illegally sold - and even exported

- under the guise of buffalo meat. "If you ask for Indian cow flesh in Dubai, you can get it," says

Ashoo Mongia, President, Rashtriye Goraksha Sena, one of the activist groups. "We hope the

Modi government will act against meat exports.

http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/cooking-tips-from-barbeque-nation-head-chef-grill-meat/1/214935.html


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" The industry dismisses the charge. "After investing so much and building a market, who would

take the risk of ruining it all by selling cow's meat clandestinely?" says Sunil Sud, Partner at

Delhi-based Al Noor Exports, which runs a meat processing unit at Muzaffarnagar in Uttar

Pradesh.

Other objections include Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi's

charge last September - citing a police report - that some of the meat industry's funds were being

used to back terrorism. "Money through trade of slaughtered animals goes into terrorism,

therefore into killing us, why are we allowing this?" she was quoted as saying at a Jaipur event.

The industry calls the allegation baseless.

An Uttar Pradesh based dairy player - who preferred not to be named - also expressed the fear

that rising slaughter of female buffaloes could affect milk availability in coming days. But

Mohammad Ali Qureshi, President, Bombay Suburban Beef Dealers Association, notes that

lactating buffaloes cost so much more that slaughtering them makes no sense. "The average price

of the buffaloes we buy is around Rs 25,000, while that of a milk yielding buffalo is Rs 50,000,"

he says.

"Besides, why would a farmer sell a buffalo for slaughter when it is generating daily income?"

On the contrary, after farmers sell their aged buffaloes, they usually reinvest the money in young,

milk yielding cattle, increasing their overall milk production. "As milk production rises, so does

buffalo meat production and export," says Al Noor's Sud.A visit to the districts of Meerut,

Aligarh and Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh - the state is the country's meat hub,

exporting $3 billion worth per year - shows rearing buffaloes has indeed become much more

popular than keeping cows. "A cow has to be fed till it dies, while a buffalo can be sold once it

stops giving milk," says Sud. Nor is the phenomenon confined to Uttar Pradesh. "Booming meat

export has triggered large scale farming of buffaloes in states like Maharashtra and Punjab," says

Mohammed Ather, Managing Partner of New Delhi-based meat exporters, the Azan Group.

India's meat exports

Many meat processors have entered into

arrangements with buffalo farms to ensure

steady supplies. While females are retained by



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farmers so long they give milk, males are sold much earlier. "Farmers sell us male buffaloes

aged six months and we look after them till the age of 18 months," says Hind Agro's Qureshi.

"This ensures healthy growth before they are slaughtered." Hind Agro has its own buffalo farm

which houses around 35,000 animals at any time. For further supplies, meat processors turn to

open markets. "There are regular cattle fairs in villages where aggregators pick and choose

animals and sell them to us," says Sud. "We also procure from livestock mandis."Some in the

trade, which is dominated by Muslims, suggest the real reason for the animus is a bias against

their community.

"This business has a lot of potential but is becoming a victim of religious differences," says

Ather of the Azan Group. Others are quick to point out that it is not only Muslims who benefit

from it. Hind Agro's Qureshi says half his employees at the Aligarh plant are non-Muslims. "We

have packaging, administrative and technical staff, not all of whom are Muslim," says an

executive of a company with meat processing units in Punjab, who does not want to be named.

"The transporters are also usually non Muslim."Still others allege the opposition to the animal

slaughter industry is actually a racket. "Activists stop vehicles carrying buffaloes en route to

slaughterhouses and register police complaints alleging violation of animal rights," says Beef

Dealers Association's Qureshi. "The police seize the animals but pass them on to the same

activists to look after as there is no lock up for cattle. In most cases, the charges do not stand up

in court, but the process takes three to four years. When the trader tries to get back the animals,

the groups which stopped him ask for around Rs 40,000 per animal as upkeep charges. Since the

animal can be sold for only around Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000, the trader prefers to forfeit it. It is

then sold back into the market.

"Exporters are trying their best to ignore these pinpricks and concentrate on expanding their

markets. Two large, new markets are likely to be added soon - Russia and China. Russia has

approved buffalo meat imports from India after its Western sources dried up, following the

sanctions imposed on it by West Europe and the US over the Ukraine standoff.

"India can expect $500 million to $1 billion increase in buffalo meat exports once shipments to

Russia picks up," says Santosh Sarangi, Chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products

Export Development Authority, a division of the Commerce Ministry, with which all abattoirs

and meat processing plants have to register. So too, India and China signed a memorandum of



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understanding in 2013 over China providing market access to Indian meat. "It is well known that

much of our meat exports to Vietnam ultimately reach China," adds Sarangi. "Direct access to

China will lead to another quantum jump in exports."

FLESH AND BONE

Examining the entrails of Indian buffalo meat exports

Meat exported from India, which comprises mainly buffalo meat, is not consumed directly as a

dish. It is mostly used in products such as hamburgers and sausages. Buffalo meat is lean and

blends well with other ingredients in making value-added products.The product has to satisfy the

standards laid down by the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), a globally

recognised food safety check. Every buffalo, whose meat is intended for export, must have an

identifi cation tag to facilitate traceability if required later.

It has to be rested for 24 hours - to relax its muscles, which is said to improve the quality of the

meat - and examined by a veterinary doctor before being taken to the slaughterhouse. The doctor

checks for diseases and pregnancy - killing sick or pregnant animals is disallowed."Hygiene is a

priority in meat processing units," says Mohammed Ather of the Azan Group. "If hygiene is

compromised, the shelf life of the meat reduces and buyers are lost." Uniformed men and

women, wearing caps and gloves, de-bone the buffalo after slaughter. The temperature inside is

always maintained at around 12 to 15 degrees C. The packaging is mostly handled by women,

with the packed meat stored in freezers at temperatures of around minus 20 degrees C.

It is taken to ports - Pipavav and Mundhra in Gujarat and Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra

are the main departure points - in refrigerated containers, where it is subject to tests in a

government laboratory and issued a comprehensive health certifi cate testifying to its fi

tness.Different parts of the slain buffalo sell at different prices. The flesh from the hindquarters

fetches a better price than that from the forequarters. But fl esh is not all that is sold. So too is the

offal - heart, liver, kidney, etc. - albeit at a much lower price.

"Offal is in great demand in China where both humans and pets consume it," says an abattoir

worker. So too are the buffalo's bones and blood, which are sent to a rendering facility and

processed into meat bone meal, used as poultry feed or soil manure locally. Even the fat is

processed into tallow - used in soap and toothpaste - while the skin too has numerous uses.



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Tilda Rice News

Overall 2015 Rice Acreage Anticipated to Decrease Slightly

WASHINGTON, DC -- Area planted for rice in 2015 is expected to total

2.92 million acres, 24,000 less than 2014, according to the U.S. Department

of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service's Prospective

Plantings report released yesterday. Planted acreage is forecast lower for

Arkansas and California, higher for Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri,

and essentially the same as last year for Texas. Mississippi rice farmers may

realize the largest percentage increase in planted acres this year, up 10

percent from 2014.

The USDA report is based on information supplied to USDA by growers, and though generally

accurate within 5 percent, actual planted acres could vary. The Rice Acreage Report, based on

actual planted acres, will be published at the end of June.

USDA Grants $332 Million for Conservation Easements

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001D1RwuKPC47cySM1vu583m287sCEQaTP5MlpqtxytnVqeqf49SuIw-BEK2CkUbKWIP4qzFoZOFveCuzIKAcuMr6dxsbq-HRWNw2cqY9WDp65WwwrwRgNAj23aTDnBPCCjmf6l1tVoxnjIJwSIjcN5QZlTzQaQ-Qlscp8hN_7R-ZbyCQZ_80QibnxcwrseWLqJ07ZsKVc-upQSBqubq9Ft4GvEgpvIO-NuRTNdbVU6YNtHAbW09LIegS0Mayl8PhEgzPTD2f9-4SgETj6y2Y1Y16x33p-TCMbyeisFZbvQqOd-NoRaawNmsRn8NrJLpSEEtBSR3_OmX0KFe9UHs7ACD2NOWkUvIoawmXas_DX8vwNPKRBSKOYoJDDb-uYFgHPxuw8aqHSf88gdUu0MtBUrRYVjwT0B_RgKa6syWOiyYionzPVMcAbiZw==&c=8rWQNwpU6KmnBlQOrxvQuHPQClbyUZfD4KlF5HIP91O48_NthGbhQA==&ch=hYnbWIpWnGNkUd4qwUkOVbWjz4lr6uDFCkhtE8-jQGPt1kN0R8Dc0Q==



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Conservation matters

WASHINGTON, DC -- Agriculture Secretary

Tom Vilsack announced this week that the U.S.

Department of Agriculture will provide $332

million in financial and technical assistance

through the Agricultural Conservation Easement

Program (ACEP). The Natural Resources

Conservation Service (NRCS) accepts ACEP

applications on a rolling basis, but to receive

funding in fiscal year 2015 you must submit by

May 15, 2015.

ACEP was authorized as a part of the 2014 farm bill and consolidated the existing Farm and

Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) and the

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). The streamlined program focuses on two types of

easements: Agricultural Land Easements that prevent agricultural land from being converted to

non-agricultural uses and help to ensure the integrity of productive farm and ranch land; and,

Wetland Reserve Easements that restore, protect, and enhance wetlands through the purchase of

an easement. Both categories include four easement options: permanent easements, 30-year

easements, term easements, and 30-year contracts for land owned by Native American tribes.

To learn about ACEP and other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS

conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or your local USDA Service Center.

Contact: Ben Mosely (703) 236-1471

Innovative Car Manufacturer Rumored to be Introducing

Rice-Powered Car

Filling station of the future?

PALO ALTO, CA -- Stocks of electric car maker Tesla were sent surging last week, driving up

the company's market capitalization by four percent, when reclusive billionaire CEO Elon Musk

tweeted that the company would unveil a new product at the end of April. Wild speculation

about the new invention ensued, and USA Rice Daily has uncovered tweets from a Special



15


Projects Manager, Ryce Husk, that hint at the investing being a rice-powered car capable of

travelling up to 50 miles per half cup serving.

"The car runs on long grain, but you get better rice mileage when you use short grain for trips of

under 25 miles, or medium grain for trips between 25 and 75 miles," read one tweet. Other

tweets indicate that road tests are behind schedule because the smell of cooking rice is

"delicious, and the drivers keep eating the fuel." USA Rice will continue to monitor

developments and add a Motor Vehicles Department as necessary.

Contact: April Fools (703) 555-2300

More from the 2015/17 Rice Leadership Class: Inside and

Out in the Gulf Coast

Class member Dustin Harrell demonstrates equipment at the

LSU Rice Research Station.



16


John Deere rep Kevin Ripple (far left) joins the class at Russell

Marine Group on the Mississippi River.

CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation

today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted

for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan-gain (MLG) and loan

deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2014 crop, which became effective today

at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Rough rice prices increased $0.13 per cwt for both long grain

and medium/short grain.

World Price MLG/LDP

Rate

Milled

Value

($/cwt)

Rough

($/cwt) Rough

($/cwt)

Long-Grain 15.58 10.09 0.00

Medium-

/Short-Grain 15.17 10.22 0.00

Brokens 9.40 ---- ----

This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S.

milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:

U.S. Milling

Yields

Whole/Broken

(lbs/cwt)

Loan

Rate

($/cwt)

Long-Grain 57.21/12.55 6.64

Medium-/Short-

Grain 61.89/8.83 6.51

The next program announcement is scheduled for April 8.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001D1RwuKPC47cySM1vu583m287sCEQaTP5MlpqtxytnVqeqf49SuIw-BEK2CkUbKWI7RvmadKwk_MR_VJ5iEBoKGPbfEmy2PgnvH_QBvvJ-LFEIDa0YDTE3f7zmpEfZii3CfB0iF4pWIIPZaJpJCykl6J2e-ZM4wyLqM48rEBAR2dvPsa03wiVlbhkIf8kqrWQPY-NkJlraSLgXjL7x__A-cfp_ifd0KoGIXpDu8PfDIKgsVTYSVLOObpiWTkdUk9JO7tIhYfE6mXAHmwjEKNVlJ0LcrZP4vcwClnCtEXzn4OIkEWcJONS_uE3Y6I4ODW6bo2BdgyIyaThGh-Jyxr7LS7K0sY17flFWcp8xoTuON3B1PeFMwKZ92ItWhFk_4we4RBK5nRZG3xZF7gvlN2A5wfN4NuR6ixE&c=8rWQNwpU6KmnBlQOrxvQuHPQClbyUZfD4KlF5HIP91O48_NthGbhQA==&ch=hYnbWIpWnGNkUd4qwUkOVbWjz4lr6uDFCkhtE8-jQGPt1kN0R8Dc0Q==



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CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for April 1

Month Price Net Change

May 2015 $10.780 - $0.095

July 2015 $11.015 - $0.095

September 2015 $11.170 - $0.105

November 2015 $11.365 - $0.110

January 2016 $11.525 - $0.110

March 2016 $11.525 - $0.110

May 2016 $11.525 - $0.110

Rice growers to plant crop despite water-purchase offers

Tim Hearden

Capital Press

Published:April 1, 2015 9:21AM

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001D1RwuKPC47cySM1vu583m287sCEQaTP5MlpqtxytnVqeqf49SuIw-FVeN4gTN4hz1ELBmARN53-ym_BMXV7UkQwBjmyCDeLI5fc1ASY_eJFx71gXjhcyS9QbZtvdhfNlEr_qtVj0foNJF8fbVdtSCYULjpJseC95pr6SNLHOGhMZFchs84gsyt7Y73QlHJb8A0X9jriIILJtKWnw4qHvEj0aP1ZjGiSQP7s1W1Xmt6rSnnFa6qk0z6jiFU2_XONO38bUbesrk8oWstU_VruDXfdUZOLWYYTXomZWn6ynWHJeBlvSifQGNO3x_mKTKxgJg5YN48w099wxEBavkUoqoewVMumpFHECzCsGCidFPO7Oj4MOz7qJjoBNlkstpsX7_WtUhsI5KB7LfBhNO6WF_vF07v31CFNsgjP1Dwa8hmqd1kEo4Qr0zUaGh5YgfuZdQ71T6YHqOb_rYT9e1qvYkN6U60dI32x-&c=8rWQNwpU6KmnBlQOrxvQuHPQClbyUZfD4KlF5HIP91O48_NthGbhQA==&ch=hYnbWIpWnGNkUd4qwUkOVbWjz4lr6uDFCkhtE8-jQGPt1kN0R8Dc0Q==

http://www.capitalpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=staff&template=staffProfilePages&staffID=thearden



18


Rice growers in California are expected to plant 408,000 acres this year -- only a slight

decrease considering the lingering water uncertainties in a fourth straight year of drought

and an offer by urban districts to purchase water for as much as $700 per acre-foot.

WILLOWS, Calif. — Most rice growers with water apparently plan to plant a sizable crop

despite offers from urban districts to purchase their water for as much as $700 per acre-

foot.California farmers told the National Agricultural Statistics Service they intend to seed rice

on 408,000 acres, or 6 percent below the acreage seeded in 2014, the agency stated in a field

plantings report released March 31.A 6 percent decrease might be considered fairly meager

considering the lingering uncertainty for many growers as to the quantity and timing of water

availability amid a fourth straight year of drought.

Larry Maben, a grower here, said area farmers have been told to expect 75 percent of normal

allocations, though their water provider — the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District — is still

working out the details of deliveries. Maben is considering making up the shortfall with well

water, though he’s wary of the drought’s impact on aquifers.“I’m sure it would be pretty

tempting (to sell water) because you can get a pretty high price for water,” he said. “I think I can

still get more from farming rice.”Among urban water agencies eying farmers’ allocations is the

Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which decided in early

March to buy up to 200,000 acre-feet of Sacramento Valley water in 2015 and to secure

conveyance and storage agreements with the state Department of Water Resources and other

water districts.



19


The going price for water is about $700 per acre-foot — nearly triple the rate in 2010, when the

district purchased nearly 90,000 acre-feet at a cost of about $250 per acre-foot, said Bob Muir, a

Metropolitan Water District spokesman. An acre-foot is enough water to serve two family

households for a year.

However, the availability of water has been complicated by the prospect of reduced allocations,

Muir said. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials have said they’re unsure of whether they’ll be

able to send settlement contractors along the Sacramento River their full 75 percent dry-year

allotments, and State Water Project contractors expect to only receive 20 percent of normal

supplies.

“No pun intended but the market may be drying up,” Muir said. “They might be seeing reduced

allocations. We’re not sure how this is going to actually develop with each passing dry day. It’s

going to be quite a challenge to move any water this year.”Further, many water districts have

restrictions on how much water can be transferred — particularly in dry years, said Charley

Mathews, a Marysville, Calif., grower and USA Rice Federation executive committee

member.“It could be that there won’t be an opportunity to sell water,” Mathews said.The Glenn-

Colusa Irrigation District, which covers about 175,000 acres of the mid-Sacramento Valley, caps

the amount of land that can be fallowed for water transfers at 20,000 acres districtwide, general

manager Thad Bettner said. Any more than that would begin to affect the local economy as well

as habitat for migratory birds and endangered species, he said.

“I think we’ll be close to” the maximum this year, Bettner said. “This year is one of the most

challenging water years we’ve ever had, so we’re trying to use all the options that are

available.”The district prioritizes transfers to other agricultural water users over municipal and

industrial users, he said. But all in all, leaving some water in the river for transfers can help the

district maintain levels needed for fish while diverting some for irrigation, he said.Some fields

will be fallowed because of a lack of water. About 140,000 acres of rice went unplanted last year

because of water shortfalls — a 25 percent decrease from the 2013 crop, according to the

California Farm Bureau Federation.Rice is among many California commodities that will see

declines in planted acreage this year, according to NASS’ prospective plantings report. Among

other field crops:

• Corn growers expect to plant 430,000 acres in the Golden State this year, a 17 percent drop

from 2014.

• California’s expected 1.23 million acres of productive hay ground is down 11 percent from last

year as hay shortages could persist throughout the West. Nevada’s anticipated 340,000 acres of

hay would be 21 percent less than a year ago.

• The 430,000 acres of winter wheet seeded in California is down 7 percent from last year,

though another 60,000 acres have been seeded to Durum wheat — 71 percent above the amount

planted in 2014, according to NASS.

• Cotton acreage in California will consist of 110,000 acres of American Pima and 45,000 acres

of Upland cotton, each down mhttp://www.capitalpress.com/California/20150401/rice-growers-

to-plant-crop-despite-water-purchase-



20


offers?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+April+1%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+D

ecember+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailore than 20 percent from the acreage seeded last

year.

• Plantings of dry edible beans (50,000 acres), oats (120,000 acres) and sugar beets (25,000

acres) will see increases this year of 4 percent, 9 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

Image: http://www.capitalpress.com/California/20150401/rice-growers-to-plant-crop-despite-water-purchase-

offers?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+April+1%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

PAC wants ST15 rice subsidy to stop Posted on 1 April 2015 - 12:19am,Last updated on 1 April 2015 - 08:51am

Bernard Cheah

[email protected]

PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called on the Agriculture and

Agro-based Industry Ministry to suspend its ST15 Rice Production Subsidy Programme which

failed to achieve its goal of providing subsidised rice to the low-income group. PAC chairman

Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the committee found the programme to be unsatisfactory after

having made an inquiry on the matter, which was brought up by the 2013 Attorney-General's

report."There is no standard operating procedure (SOP) in how the rice is distributed.

"The rice could be sold to wholesalers and hypermarkets, and there is no supervision on who

purchases the rice," he told a press conference here today.Nur Jazlan said the programme began

in 2008 with an allocation of RM300 million, which increased to RM488 million in 2011 and

RM528 million last year."The PAC sees this as a wastage if the target is not met," he said.

Source Sun media

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1st april,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine