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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter December 15,2015

Vol 5 Issue XII

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Today Rice News Headlines...                       

Rice export earnings plunge on global price slump SunRice profit proves it can make it on the ASX Rice imports may reach nearly 1 mln MT in H1 of 2016 Vietnam‘s rice export surpasses yearly target Laos eyes more rice sales to China Rice prices may reach boiling point; time to be watchful: ASSOCHAM Rice industry at a turning point, minister says Rice export goal for 2015 still on course 2016/18 Leadership Development Program Class Announced CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Dec 15 APEDA Rice Commodity News Ghost rice‘ in Vietnam – Conclusion: International orders for ‗ghost rice‘ This plant may help rice, corn survive long droughts WSU research gets Gates money to improve rice yields Rice, How Do Consumers Feel? Rice farmers ‗thankful‘ they enrolled in PLC program Rice cover crop project funded at University of Arkansas Rice industry at a turning point, minister says Rice scholarship winner promotes health, budget benefits of rice Agri-preneurial mindset, inculcated among rice R&D workers Ways to boost PH rice productivity identified No GMO crop trials in Philippines says Supreme Court

News Detail... Rice export earnings plunge on global price slump PARVAIZ ISHFAQ RANA — PUBLISHED DEC 13, 2015 07:08AM

KARACHI: Falling prices of rice and other commodities in the aftermath of declining crude oil price, which plummeted from around $110 in July last year to below $40 per barrel currently, have left no room for Pakistan to go for higher foreign exchange earnings unless crude prices rebound once again.Pakistan‘s rice exports during 2009 touched $2.2 billion, after starting from a partly figure of $3 million only in 1989-90 when for the first time private sector was allowed to enter rice export business.Besides the dynamics of the private sector, which played a major role in enhancing rice exports, the surge in crude oil prices at that time also had its full impact on higher foreign exchange earnings through rice exports.

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter However, the situation has now taken a turn, with crude oil prices reeling below $40 per barrel.According to official figures, rice exports in 2013-14 stood at $1.9bn but declined to $1.84bn during 2014-15. During 2013-14 the volume of rice exports stood at 3.361m tonnes out of which 733,000 tonnes ($846m) of basmati and 2.627m ($1.05bn) of non-basmati rice.The volume of rice exports in 2014-15 increased to 3.720m tonnes but foreign exchange earnings remained low by $60m at $1.84bn due to falling rice prices on the world market. Higher exports of non-basmati rice at 3.06m tonnes ($1.7bn) helped evade a major fall in export earnings from rice. Exports of basmati rice declined to 660,000 tonnes ($671m) in 201415.Abdul Rahim Janoo, former chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) told Dawn that if the current falling trend goes on unchecked, it will badly affect export earnings.―Rice prices have been rapidly going down for the last couple of years. The total impact of this fall is at around 90pc on basmati and around 35pc on non-basmati rice price,‖ he maintained. The average unit price of basmati rice in 2008 was around $2,000 per tonne but now has come down to $995 to $1,150 per tonne. Similarly, non-basmati rice in 2011-12 was around $450-$500 per tonne and is now being quoted at around $330 per tonne.―Pakistani rice exporters face two problems. There is global recession and then there is cheap Indian rice which is heavily subsided by their government,‖ he said.Mr Janoo said the government should give some relief by removing 1pc withholding tax on rice export and arrange early payment of sales tax refunds.―A huge amount of Rs250bn of refund payments of the entire export trade has been held back by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR),‖ he added.For any relief and concession, he said, the government would not have to take any burden as around Rs75bn are accumulated in the Export Development Fund (EDF), he said.So far, not a single penny had been given to rice trade from this fund, he added. Meanwhile, Faizan Ali Ghori, a rice exporter, said that Pakistan‘s rice trade is in a crisis as no new variety or seed has been developed in the past three decades.In 1985-86, when Pakistan introduced Super Basmati rice, it dominated the world basmati market. However, now India is dominating the world rice market after developing the new variety ‗Pusa 1121‘ which has a grain length of 8.4mm against 7.2mm of Super Basmati.He opined that Pakistani rice trade was faced with structural as well as research and development issues. Without tackling these problems, the country cannot enhance its exportable surplus which is now only the way out for earning more foreign exchange from rice exports, he added.Mr Ghori strongly suggested the government to check pre-harvesting and post-harvesting losses of rice growers along with introducing new variety of rice.―This is the only way out for improving per acre yield of rice which is lowest in the region at around 35-40 maunds per acre against 60 maunds in other countries,‖ he added.―For the past three years, paddy growers of basmati are faced with floods which damage their crop. Nala Degh, which carries water from India, is the main cause of flood. Either it has to be deepened or other necessary measure should be taken,‖ he said.He cited old techniques of harvesting paddy and manual plantation as other reasons for low yield. 3|www.ricepl uss.com, www.riceplusmagazine.blosgspot.com

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter ―All soft commodities internationally have experienced drastic fall in prices as demand from China slowed down while Europe continues to go through prolonged debt negotiations and public sector spending cuts,‖ he commented.He further said economists and market analysts agree that the Super Cycle in commodities has come to an end. ―Pakistan will have to look for a way out to keep its exports volume and earnings at a level where it could sustain and meet world commitments,‖ he said.Pakistan harvests around 6.5m tonnes of rice annually, exports around 3.71m tonnes and consumes around 2.5-2.8m tonnes domestically. http://www.dawn.com/news/1226018

SunRice profit proves it can make it on the ASX

Rob Gordon has built a resilient business with five separate divisions. Louie Douvis by Tony Boyd

Australia's rice-growing monopoly, SunRice, looks to be headed for an ASX listing next year after chief executive Rob Gordon delivered another strong profit result. SunRice will make a welcome addition to the listed agricultural sector which has suffered for years from poor-performing companies such as Nufarm and Elders.Both those companies are finally turning around as new companies, including Bellamy's Organic Foods and Capilano Honey, ride the wave of Chinese demand for quality Australian produce.SunRice is listed on the NSX which is the equivalent of a morgue because of the lack of liquidity and complete lack of profile.In the six months to October 31, SunRice delivered a 5.8 per cent rise in revenue to $642 million and a 5.4 per cent lift in net profit to $23.9 million.

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Gordon has restructured the company so that it is no longer beholden to the vagaries of the annual rice production.This year's crop will be one of the lowest for many years at about 300,000 tonnes. That is about a third of the record crop of 1.1million tonnes in 2013. Two reasons for the lower crop this year are the high price of water and lack of availability of water for those growers with a general entitlement.The drought, which has accompanied El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean, has pushed water prices in the Murrumbidgee Valley to $240 a megalitre. The price of water is about $280 a megalitre in the Murray River Valley.Water allocations for general entitlement in the Murrumbidgee are about 30 per cent and 19 per cent in the Murray. Gordon has managed to overcome the local volatility in rice production through the SunRice trading business, which acquires rice internationally and repackages here for sale as processed food.Gordon has managed to build a resilient business with five separate divisions including international rice, which includes the Trukai business in Papua New Guinea, the Rice Food business, which involves the marketing and distribution of rice based products, and Riviana, which imports and distributes consumer food products.The proposed listing of SunRice on the ASX is likely to happen in the new year. But even those rice growers who support the complicated structure put in place to guarantee their control of the company want to see the offer document.A capital restructuring booklet with an independent expert's report will be published in February.

PROUST DRAWS LINE ON DIVERSITY Elizabeth Proust's appointment as chairman of the Australian Institute of Company Directors was accompanied by a tough new approach to gender diversity.Under Proust's leadership, the AICD will be demanding quotas for women on boards by 2018 if the percentage of female directors on boards does not reach 30 per cent.Although only 22 per cent of directors on the boards of S&P/ASX 200 companies are women, the rate of appointment of women to boards was running at about 34 per cent of all directors in 2015.If that rate of appointment of women is maintained, along with the average turnover of directors of about 10 per cent, then the AICD three year target for female diversity will probably be met. But if there is any slippage, there could well be unintended consequences. If the number of women appointed to boards drops or the turnover falls, it is possible that every director appointed in 2018 will have to be a woman.A recent survey of 80 chairmen, directors and chief executives by Blenheim Partners uncovered a simmering disdain among some directors for the emerging new group of female directors.There was no direct attack on the appointment of women to boards but it was clear from the critical comments made about the new wave of "young, professional directors" that this was a reference to women. Chanticleer assumes the negative comments were from those who could not cope with being challenged by women. At a function launching the Blenheim report last week investor Mark Carnegie said studies had proven that it was best to have at least three women on a board to achieve the maximum benefit for shareholders. Only 38 per cent of top 200 companies have reached the 30 per cent target and 28 companies have no women on their boards http://www.afr.com/brand/chanticleer/sunrice-profit-proves-it-can-make-it-on-the-asx-20151215-glo3ti#ixzz3uTWMVumR

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Rice imports may reach nearly 1 mln MT in H1 of 2016 Reported by: `CT Report December 15, 2015

WASHINGTON: Rice imports may reach nearly 1 million metric tons (MT) in the first half of 2016 as the government moves to ensure stable supply and prices amid an ongoing El Nino.National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Renan Dalisay told reporters that the Food Security Committee (FSC) could recommend an additional 400,000 MT of rice imports on top of the 500,000 MT already programmed for the first quarter of 2016.

Dalisay said the FSC was expected to approve the additional import volume before the year ends, with shipments to arrive before the onset of the lean season that starts in June.―We need to ensure that we have enough rice inventories at government depositories as El Nino peaks in the first quarter of next year,‖ he said, adding that the proposal is part of a roadmap aimed at alleviating the impact of a prolonged drought on food supplies.Manila, formerly the world‘s biggest rice importer, traditionally buys an average of 1.7 million MT of the grain annually. For 2015 alone, the country contracted a total of 1.9 million MT of rice but actual arrivals of the grain have been pegged at 1.135 million MT. For next year‘s importation, Dalisay said the NFA Council was looking at the possibility of buying the rice through a government-to-government (G2G) deal or via an open tender.A G2G transaction requires an existing executive agreement for a country to participate. At present, only three countries – Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia – have existing rice purchase agreements with the Philippines. An open tender, on the other hand, will allow foreign private entities outside of the Philippines‘ current bilateral agreements to bid for Manila‘s rice requirement. ―The NFA Council is also studying the possibility of including the planned import volume under the minimum access volume (MAV),‖ the NFA chief said. At present, Manila limits the amount of rice allowed to enter the country through the MAV to 805,000 metric tons.The MAV refers to the minimum volume of farm produce allowed to enter into the Philippines at reduced 35 percent 6|www.ricepl uss.com, www.riceplusmagazine.blosgspot.com

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter tariff. Shipments outside the MAV are levied a higher rate of 50 percent and require NFA approval.Depending on the impact of the dry spell on domestic palay production, rice imports could double in 2016 to ensure stable prices, Dalisay said. The NFA is mandated to protect the interests of both rice producers and consumers. As such, the agency‘s two primary duties are to stabilize the price of rice and to ensure food security.The price stabilization mandate means the NFA tries to influence prices on two fronts. On one end, it must support palay farmers and keep prices at a level that is enough to ensure a reasonable return. At the same time, it must also ensure that the price of rice is affordable enough for consumers.Over the past two years, the NFA has relied massively on cheaper imported rice to replenish its buffer stocks since it cannot compete with private millers and traders in buying locally grown palay.Buying rice from abroad cuts the agency‘s spending on local purchases, and it can earn more and limit its losses by selling to consumers at higher prices. NFA Spokesperson Angel Imperial Jr., meanwhile, said the country still had enough of the grain, with inventories at government-owned depositories as well as commercial warehouses and households sufficient for the next 69 days. ―As of November 30, the NFA has 801,000 MT of rice which is good for 26 days, while commercial and households stock as of October 30 was pegged at 666,000 MT and 777,000 MT, respectively,‖ Imperial said.The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has projected that the ongoing El Niño will exceed the 1997 to 1998 occurrence. The full effects of the current weather phenomenon, the agency added, will be felt in February and March 2016 when the entire country is projected to get only 20 to 30 percent of normal rainfall.Despite the threats of a prolonged drought, however, the government still expects palay production to bounce back in the first quarter of next year, thanks to changes in the cropping calendar. The palay sector has suffered massively from unrealized plantings as a result of delayed releases and inadequate irrigation water, late rains and some areas being left fallow. The wet season should have started mid-April but was delayed to June-July due to the lack of water supply.With recent storms having filled dams and irrigation facilities now overflowing, the Agriculture department said harvests would rebound in the first quarter of 2016. Officials also said they were meeting with farmers who wish to conduct early planting of palay. Palay production is forecast to reach 20.69 million MT next year. http://www.customstoday.com.pk/rice-imports-may-reach-nearly-1-mln-mt-in-h1-of-2016/

Vietnam’s rice export surpasses yearly target Vietnam‘s rice exports are likely to exceed the target set for 2015 by 200,000 -300,000 tonnes, hitting around 6.5 million tonnes for the year.A strong end to the year has been attributed to the sector‘s success.According to the Vietnam Food Association, the country had shipped 5.807 million tonnes of rice as of November this year, and the figure for December is forecast to reach about 700,000 tonnes.Additionally, rice exported through unofficial channels – across borders - is estimated at 1,6-1.8

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter million tonnes, which is expected to lift the yearly exports through both official and unofficial channels to about 8 million tonnes.

Vietnamese rice exporters have recently won bids to supply 450,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines and one million tonnes of rice to Indonesia, helping raise the price of rice in the domestic market.Vietnam has around 4.1 million hectares of rice paddies, 53 percent of which are concentrated across the Mekong Delta.In 2014, the country exported 6.3 million tonnes of the 45 million tonnes it produced, making it the worldâ€˜s third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand.In the first ten months of this year, Asia maintained its position as Vietnamâ€˜s biggest rice importer, despite an annual decline of 11.2 percent in the market share to 71.58 percent. Africa, Australia, and Europe showed greater demand for Vietnamese rice with higher imports recorded during the period. http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Business/Economy/2015/12/116780/

Laos eyes more rice sales to China (Xinhua)Updated: 2015-12-15 13:48

VIENTIANE Laos' Savannkhet province is looking to increase rice exports to China to morethan 10,000 tons a year after the first order for 8,000 tons was received from the Chinesemarket this year.Laos Th ursday officially exported its first batch of rice to China from Savannkhet, some 500km south of capital Vientiane, marking the start of rice exportation to China.Governor of Savannkhet provinc e Souphanh Keomixay said the province aims to grow asmuch rice as possible to meet export de mand, but this will depend on the quality of theseedlings planted, local daily Vientiane Times rep orted Tuesday.Governor Souphanh said the strain of rice being used for export was Homsavanh a s it wasnative to the province and the quality was up to international standards."In fact, the rice e xport quota for China is 8,000 tons, but the purchasing power of the Chinesemarket is unlimited. This paves the way for growers to increase production in the years tocome," he added.Souphanh said the rice export plan was being run by the Lao8|www.ricepl uss.com, www.riceplusmagazine.blosgspot.com

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter China cooperation project,signed by the government and the provincial authorities to boost bilate ral cooperation in thefield of agriculture."We can produce more than the quota ordered by custo mers, which is also dependent on thequality and category of rice they want," he added.Head of th e Savannakhet provincial Agriculture and Forestry Department's AgricultureDivision, Khamseng Sorphabmixay, also said the province could produce more than 800,000tons per year, mainly sti cky rice."Rice production for export does not include sticky rice, meaning that sticky rice is most ly forlocal consumption," he said. Savannakhet province has 200,000 hectares of rice paddy fields available for the wet seasoncrop, while 30,000 hectares are available in the dry season, enabling the production of morethan 800,0 00 tons of rice annually.In 2004, rice mills exported more than 3,000 tons of rice to various Euro pean countries,according to Khamseng.Laos sells 300,000 to 400,000 tons of paddy rice to neigh bouring countries across its bordersevery year.Last week, the province held a ceremony to mark t he first rice shipment to China, attended byMinister of Agriculture and Forestry Phet Phomphiph ak.Speaking at the event, Phet said the sale of rice to China was further evidence of thecomprehe nsive cooperation betwee. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2015-12/15/content_22717796.htm

Thailand's G2G rice export reaches record high this year BY EDITORON 2015-12-15THAILAND

BANGKOK: â€” Thailandâ€™s sale of rice on government-to-government or G2G contracts this year reached record high with 3.5 million tons worth 50 billion baht exported. 9|www.ricepl uss.com, www.riceplusmagazine.blosgspot.com

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter At the same time, the commerce minister assured of good prices for Thai Jasmine rice while dismissed speculation it will fall to as low as 7,000 baht per ton. Commerce Minister Mrs Apiradi Tantraporn said the average price of jasmine rice during 2015/16 harvest season is between 10,600-13,000 baht per ton.She said the price did not decrease to as low as 7,000-8,000 baht a ton as reported.She said recent price inspection showed that the lower price of jasmine rice was due to the quality of the rice, which has not met the quality standard.Nonetheless, she said the decreasing productions of unmilled jasmine rice have helped to increase its price.Thailand is now able to export over 9.2 million tons and the ministry has predicted that jasmine rice exports this year would reach 10 million tons as targeted. Out of the total exports, 3.5 million tons would be from the G2G rice contracts, accounting for a value of over 50 billion baht, which is a record high, she said.She added that rice exports in 2016 are expected to stand at only 9 million tonnes mainly due to the coming drought.The Commerce Ministry has joined hands with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in carrying out researches to better develop rice species in order to bring higher yields. Both ministries are also working on ways to help farmers lower their production costs and are campaigning for the farmers to use quality rice seeds without chemical contaminations. http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thailands-g2g-rice-export-reaches-record-high-this-year/124668/

Rice prices may reach boiling point; time to be watchful: ASSOCHAM December 15, 2015 2:56 pm

Agencies, New Delhi Rice prices may shoot up in the coming months as stocks of the key staple cereal are fast depleting owing to deficient rains and fall in output, a business chamber survey has said. Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) study called for close monitoring of food prices following the spurt in pulses, onion and some edible oils such as mustard oil.The price of rice is a serious cause of concern. The industry body said timely and adequate safeguards need be taken, it said. The study said though the government estimates Kharif rice production at 90.61 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) , the target was unlikely to be achieved due to severe deficit rains in Punjab, Haryana,Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka. At best, the stock that could be achieved is 89 MMT. According to the study, rice stocks have been steadily depleting for the past three years. It said as against in 24.59 MMT in 2012, only 13.89 MMT reserves surplus (plus surplus reserve of paddy 3.61 MMT) are in stock as at 10 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter present. Releasing a paper entitled ‗Impact of weak and deficient monsoon on agricultural production and prices,‘ ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat said, the monthly rice requirement is estimated between 8.5 to 9 MMT though yearly requirement is close to 108 MMT. ―Increasing export outgo on account of Public Distribution System (PDS) and other welfare schemes will continue to weigh on availability in the open market. Unless the government is able to handle the situation prudently, depleting stocks will soon reflect on the open market prices‖, the study said. http://www.centralchronicle.com/rice-prices-may-reach-boiling-point-time-to-be-watchful-assocham.html

Rice industry at a turning point, minister says THE NATION December 15, 2015 1:00 am THE RICE industry must negotiate several risk factors that are pressuring farmers to speed up the development of rice breeds to strengthen the sector in the face of intense competition, especially from other Asian countries, the government says.Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya said the industry was at a turning-point moment in terms of growing firmly and sustainably.Speaking at a rice conference in Bangkok, he said the industry was facing rapid changes and tougher competition, especially as a result of the economic integration of Asian and non-Asian countries as well as the diversity of consumer tastes. He added that value-added innovation and climate changes were also factors that would help push for solidity and opportunity for the sector. Chatchai said a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity and threat) analysis of the industry found that it was still strong, as the country had a variety of rice breeds. He said this created flexibility for the country to improve breeds in line with changed farming areas and to serve market needs.However, he warned that the country might have difficulty maintaining quality and keeping costs competitive. "If one or the other happens, there might be a crisis."He noted that competitors Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos had climates and geographies similar to Thailand. They also produced rice that exceeded domestic demand, resulting in them exporting to the world, even to Thailand. From 1997 to 2011, Thailand exported 220,000 tonnes of rice a year on average, showing the skill of Thai rice farmers, he said. He added that Thai rice had been considered of high quality for a long time, which had led to the development of other good products. The general cited as an example parboiled rice, which he said was a sought-after product in numerous countries, including those in the Middle East and Africa, with Thailand exporting 3 million tonnes of parboiled rice a year worth Bt50 billion. Chatchai said that an area the rice industry needed to improve was production - ensuring that it operated with efficient consistency by focusing on a policy to help boost production instead of a pricing policy."The strategic development of Thai rice will have to take the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats into the account for the entire production chain from the farm to the table," he said. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Rice-industry-at-a-turning-point-minister-says-30274942.html

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Rice export goal for 2015 still on course 15 Dec 2015 at 06:19 NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: POST REPORTERS

The government is upbeat about achieving this year's rice shipment goal of 10 million tonnes. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said Thailand already exported 9.29 million tonnes worth 148 billion baht as of last Tuesday. The ministry set a target to ship 10 million tonnes this year worth $5.1 billion, but the minister yesterday said actual shipments might reach 10 million tonnes but with a value of $4.85 billion.Thailand lost its No.1 rice exporter status to India in 2012, while Vietnam rose to second place. Despite a late surge by Thailand, India held onto the title last year, selling 11.3 million tonnes globally compared with 10.8 million tonnes for Thailand. Thailand's rice shipments rose 66% last year from 2013. Export value rose by 23% last year to $5.43 billion.Mrs Apiradi said Thai rice shipments still faced many challenges next year including drought conditions, anticipated low oil and commodity prices and weak purchasing power of buying countries due to the global economic slowdown.

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter The ministry set a target of 9 million tonnes of rice shipments next year, worth $4.78 billion.Mrs Apiradi said the Thai government was pursuing new rice deals with many countries including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Africa, Iraq and Iran. Next year it wants to expand premium rice shipments into high-purchasing-power markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.It reported since the May 2014 military coup, a combined 8.27 million tonnes had been sold from 18.7 million left over from various rice schemes, fetching 103 billion baht. The government sold a combined 4.87 million tonnes through auction, fetching 52.6 billion baht, while government-to-government sales accounted for 3.4 million tonnes worth 50 billion baht. Of the rest, 12 million tonnes were categorised as Grade P, meaning the grains successfully passed ministry certification and were a mix of Grades A and B. Grades A and B are defined as in slightly poor condition and in need of sorting for improvement. Some 6 million tonnes were rated as substandard or Grade C. Bangkok Post

2016/18 Leadership Development Program Class Announced 2016-18 Leadership Class Seated left to right: Brian Ottis, Kevin Ripple, Chris Crutchfield, and Todd Burich. Standing left to right: Kristopher Riggs, Brandon Truax, Allen McLain, Imran Khan, Sidney Robnett, Sunny Bottoms, Michael Bosworth, and Chuck Wilson NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Members of the 2016/18 Rice Leadership Development Program class were announced last Friday during the annual Rice Awards Luncheon at the 2015 USA Rice Outlook Conference. The class is comprised of five rice producers and two industry-related professionals selected by a committee of agribusiness leaders."The rice industry enjoys strong leadership, and has a bright future. This program plays a critical role thanks to the intensive training and the high caliber participants," said Rice Foundation Chairman Todd Burich. Burich went on to thank everyone who applied to the program and encouraged those not selected this time to apply again to the program next year.The new rice-producer class members are Michael Bosworth, Olivehurst, CA; Imran Khan, Chico, CA; Allen McLain, Abbeville, LA; Sidney Robnett, Stuttgart, AR; and Brandon Truax, Gillett, AR. The new industry-related class members are Sunny Bottoms with Horizon Ag, and Kristopher Riggs with

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Anheuser-Busch.

The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication training. During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills.John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company are sponsors of the Rice Leadership Development Program through a grant to The Rice Foundation, and the USA Rice Federation manages the program. Contact: Chuck Wilson (870) 673-7541

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for December 15 Month

Price

Net Change

January 2016

$10.900

- $0.085

March 2016

$11.170

- $0.080

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter May 2016

$11.465

- $0.080

July 2016

$11.735

- $0.070

September 2016

$11.770

- $0.035

November 2016

$11.785

- $0.035

January 2017

$11.785

- $0.035

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Dec 15 India | Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:57pm IST

Nagpur, Dec 15 Gram prices reported down again in limited deals in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on poor buying support from local millers amid poor quality arrival. Fresh fall on NCDEX, easy condition in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and profit-taking selling by stockists at higher level also pulled down prices, according to sources. *

FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Desi gram showed weak tendency in open market on poor buying support from local traders amid good supply from producing regions. TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders because of high rates amid increased overseas supply. * Wheat mill quality and wheat filter recovered in open market on increased marriage season demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions like Punjab and Haryana. * In Akola, Tuar - 10,300-10,600, Tuar dal - 15,900-16,200, Udid 13,600-13,900, Udid Mogar (clean) - 17,000-17,600, Moong 9,100-9,400, Moong Mogar (clean) 10,500-10,700, Gram - 4,400-4,500, Gram Super best bold - 6,300-6,500 for 100 kg. 15 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter * Other varieties of wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in dull trading activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 4,000-4,600 4,040-4,670 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction n.a. 7,000-8,000 Moong Auction n.a. 6,000-6,400 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold 6,400-6,800 6,400-6,800 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 6,000-6,100 6,000-6,100 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,000-5,100 5,000-5,100 Desi gram Raw 4,600-4,700 4,650-4,750 Gram Filter new 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600 Gram Kabuli 5,900-7,800 5,900-7,800 Gram Pink 6,400-7,200 6,400-7,200 Tuar Fataka Best 16,200-16,800 16,200-16,800 Tuar Fataka Medium 15,000-15,300 15,000-15,300 Tuar Dal Best Phod 14,100-14,600 14,100-14,600 Tuar Dal Medium phod 12,600-13,100 12,600-13,100 Tuar Gavarani New 8,800-10,300 8,800-10,300 Tuar Karnataka 11,500-12,000 11,500-12,000 Tuar Black 17,200-17,600 17,200-17,600 Masoor dal best 7,250-7,650 7,250-7,650 Masoor dal medium 6,600-7,200 6,600-7,200 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold 10,500-10,800 10,500-10,800 Moong Mogar Med 9,600-9,800 9,600-10,800 Moong dal Chilka 8,400-9,500 8,400-9,500 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 8,800-8,700 8,800-8,700 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 16,700-18,000 16,700-18,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 14,200-16,000 14,200-16,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 10,000-11,200 10,000-11,200 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,800 5,400-5,800 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,700-4,800 4,700-4,800 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,950-3,150 2,950-3,150 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,700 3,200-3,700 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,600-1,700 16 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,850 1,750-1,800 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,800 1,550-1,750 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,400 2,000-2,400 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,100 1,950-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,800 2,400-2,900 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,300 3,000-3,300 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,800-2,000 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,550 2,200-2,550 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,300 1,900-2,300 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-3,900 3,600-3,900 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400 Rice HMT Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,800 4,300-4,800 Rice HMT Shriram med.(100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,800-11,900 9,800-11,900 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,800-8,100 7,800-8,100 Rice Chinnor best(100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,800 5,300-5,800 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,400 4,700-5,400 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,200 1,800-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 27.4 degree Celsius (81.1 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp. 16.6 degree Celsius (61.9 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a. Rainfall : n.a. FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 29 and 16 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices.) http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N1443B920151215

APEDA Rice Commodity News International Benchmark Price Price on: 15-12-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Apricots 1

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

4875

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

4375

Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)

3625

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

2433

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

2463

Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)

2917

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

2614

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

2000

Raisins

Sultanas

Source:agra-net

For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 14-12-2015 Domestic Prices

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product

Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

Manjeri (Kerala)

Other

2800

3800

Solapur (Maharashtra)

Other

2120

5165

Samsi (West Bengal )

Fine

2790

2820

Hoskote (Karnataka)

Other

1827

1915

Dehgam (Gujarat)

Other

1400

1715

Palthan (Maharashtra)

Other

1525

2200

Rice

Wheat

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Mousambi 1

Sirhind (Punjab)

Other

2000

3000

Manjeri (Kerala)

Other

2700

2900

Mechua (West Bengal)

Other

2900

3400

Manjeri (Kerala)

Other

2400

2600

Barnala(Punjab)

Other

400

600

Surat (Gujarat)

Other

1000

2250

Brinjal

Source:agmarknet.nic.in

For more info

Egg

Rs per 100 No Price on 15-12-2015 Product

Market Center

Price

Pune

440

Mysore

417

Hyderabad

401

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package Price on 15-12-2015

Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

Potatoes

High Package: 50 lb cartons

Atlanta

Colorado

Russet

17.50

Chicago

Idaho

Russet

Dallas

Idaho

Russet

12.50

Carrots

Package: 20 1-lb film bags

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter 1

Atlanta

California

Baby Peeled

18.50

20.50

Chicago

California

Baby Peeled

17.50

Dallas

Arizona

Baby Peeled

18.50

Grapes

Package: 18 lb containers bagged

Atlanta

Peru

Red Globe

28.50

Chicago

Peru

Red Globe

26.50

Miami

California

Red Globe

24.75

Source:USDA

This plant may help rice, corn survive long droughts [CANBERRA] A grass native to Australia and New Guinea may provide thegenetic key to enable tropical crops such as rice and chickpea to withstand the effects of climate change and still produce high yields. As frequent and extreme weather conditions threaten global food security, results from glasshouse trials being conducted at the Queensland University of Technology‘s (QUT) Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities have shown that the grass, Tripogon loliiformis, regenerates when hydrated even after drying out during prolonged droughts.

―It‘s an important step along a genetic path that we hope will lead to scientists being able to develop more robust crop varieties, which are essential for sustainable food production.‖ By Brett Williams, QUT scientist In a The study published in PLOS Genetics (3 December), QUT scientists Brett Williams, Sagadevan Mundree and their fellow researchers presented characteristics of ―resurrection plants‖ such as T. loliiformis — which belong to a small group of vascular plants that possess unique stress tolerance mechanisms for surviving extreme environments and growing in nutrient and water-poor soils. The research team showed that resurrection plants manipulate sugar metabolism to promote desiccation tolerance. This finding may provide candidate genes that are potentially useful for the development of stress tolerance in crops such as rice, sorghum and maize, which are a close relative of T. loliiformis.

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

―It‘s an important step along a genetic path that we hope will lead to scientists being able to develop more robust crop varieties, which are essential for sustainable food production,‖ Williams says. According to Mundree, ―The dried grass accumulates trehalose (a non-reducing sugar found in plants) that triggers autophagy (a process which allows the orderly degradation and recycling of cellular components). The levels of autophagy are controlled by the resurrection plant to prevent death upon drying.‖ Autophagy‘s role in stress mitigation, anti-aging and prevention of programmed cell death in naturally resilient species may provide fundamental information that can be used for the generation of stresstolerant crops. ―While trehalose itself may not have as much of a protective role in rice, from the strategies that T. loliiformis utilises, we have learned that trehalose precursors, mainly trehalose-6 phosphate, are an energy metabolism regulator that can be manipulated to improve drought tolerance in maize,‖ Williams says. In addition to drought-tolerant and disease-resistant strategies, Mundree says the team is also looking at increasing the bioavailability of micronutrients such as iron and zinc. ―There is a growing demand for plant-based sources of protein and food that are nutritionally enhanced, so this offers a great opportunity to address challenges associated with anaemia in developing countries,‖ says Mundree. The researchers are in the process of proving some proof of concepts at the glasshouse stage in rice and chickpea and they are hopeful of beginning field trials in the next three to five years. This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s South-East Asia & Pacific desk.

References Brett Williams and others Trehalose accumulation triggers autophagy during plant desiccation (PLOS Genetics, 3 December 2015) http://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/agriculture/news/this-plant-may-help-rice-corn-survive-longdroughts.html

WSU research gets Gates money to improve rice yields December 15, 2015

By Will Ferguson, College of Arts & Sciences PULLMAN, Wash. – More than three billion people worldwide depend on rice for survival, and the number is expected to climb as the developing world grows. In Asia every hectare devoted to rice produces food for 27 people. By 2050, each hectare will need to support at least 43 people.To address this challenge, Washington State University plant biologists Asaph Cousins and Gerry Edwards are working with an international consortium of researchers to supercharge photosynthesis in rice by introducing more efficient traits found in wild strains and other crops. The School of Biological Sciences researchers recently received an award from the University of Oxford to start the third phase of the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation sponsored project – an 21 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter important step toward boosting rice yields and meeting the growing food needs of the developing world.―This is a novel effort that has important implications for being able to grow rice in very arid environments where there is not a lot of water,‖ Cousins said. ―The research may take us another 15 years to complete, but when you consider the warming climate and a growing population, the payoff is potentially very large.‖ Rice 2.0 Plants use photosynthesis to convert sunlight and water into useable energy, but some are better at it than others. Rice uses the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is much less efficient in hot, dry environments than the C4 pathway used by plants like maize and sorghum.―Switching‖ rice to use C4 photosynthesis would theoretically increase productivity by up to 50 percent. Introduction of C4 traits into rice is predicted to improve nitrogen-use efficiency, double wateruse efficiency and increase tolerance to high temperatures.Part of the WSU research involves studying how a plant‘s physical characteristics and biochemistry influence its ability to use solar energy, take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and retain water. The researchers‘ role is to identify and characterize the myriad of physiological and biochemical traits in different lines of rice that influence photosynthesis. ―There are many cases in the past where the C4 pathway has evolved in other plants,‖ Cousins said. ―At this stage in our work, we are seeing whether or not there is enough genetic flexibility in rice to invoke the C4 syndrome.‖The creation of C4 rice hinges on either identifying C4-like traits among wild relatives and breeding them together or moving the required genes from C4 plants, like corn and sorghum, into rice.While the research will take many years to complete, it is definitely worth the effort, Cousins said.By 2050 there will be about 30 percent more people on the planet, so farmers will need to produce 70 percent more than they currently do. Boosting rice productivity is crucial to achieving this goal – particularly in areas such as south Asia and subSaharan Africa where 80 percent of the food supply is provided by smallholder farmers. Contacts:

Asaph Cousins, WSU School of Biological Sciences, 509-335-8243,acousins@wsu.edu Gerald Edwards, WSU School of Biological Sciences, 509-335-2539,edwardsg@wsu.edu Will Ferguson, WSU College of Arts and Sciences, 509-335-3927,will.ferguson@wsu.edu

https://news.wsu.edu/2015/12/15/wsu-research-gets-gates-money-to-improve-riceyields/#.VnE0FUp94dU

Rice, How Do Consumers Feel? posted (December 15, 2015) We have been reporting extensively on the price of rice for the past few weeks. As we told you on Friday, the Guyanese rice shipment comes through the Big Creek Port on Thursday and it looks like there will be a showdown between the government and the Guyanese rice importer Jack Charles. That's because the 22 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter government believes that this imported rice will deal a deathblow local price producers - while the importer says he's only bringing in 20% of the local consumption, and all it will mean is a much lower price for you. So how do consumers feel about it? We went to Brodie's and K-Park supermarket to find out.

Fernando Galvez, Brodie's Customer "I been following it and coincidentally I came around here to see if I could see what's on the market. But I think they are bringing it from somewhere in Guyana." Courtney Weatherburne "Would you support the local or continue supporting the local rice producers or do you prefer the Guyanese rice? Bear in mind the Guyanese rice is cheaper would sell for about over 60 cents cheaper than the local rice. What do you think about that?" Fernando Galvez, Brodie's Customer "I will still continue supporting the Belizean market. I think that sometimes like this - last time they had a drought somewhere in the north which did affect us and economically it employs a lot of Belizeans. It might be kind of expensive yes, but I still don't know the Guyanese price. But definitely I wouldn't care of buying the Belizean product." Consumer, K-Park "Well I can say that the quality is no Circle R and it's no Uncle Johns. The rice doesn't tend to swell as the local rice would swell. The appearance is obvious. The appearance is more broken and gritty-like. It's not whole grain and hence I guess it doesn't get to swell as the local rice would swell. So I am not a fan of that - that other rice." Courtney Weatherburne "So at the end of the day you will support our local rice?" Consumer, K-Park "I prefer it. I would like it right now." Courtney Weatherburne "Regardless of the price right if it's more expensive than the Guyanese rice?" Consumer, K-Park "Well we do have to be conscious of the price yes, but I would prefer the local rice over that other brand any day." Loretta Brown, K-Park Consumer "You see what happen, I prefer my local rice. Because that Guyanese rice, it doesn't swell. Especially of you have a houseful of children - it doesn't swell. So it is obvious to see that our local rice is better because if I buy one pound of rice, it could feed my household, but that Guyanese rice won't go anywhere." 23 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Daron Solis, K-Park Consumer "In these hard times I would support the cheaper rice. After all everything is going up. Sugar went up, price of regular gasoline went up, now cheaper rice. So that will kind of set off the going up of the other stuff." Courtney Weatherburne "So it doesn't concern you that if you choose the Guyanese rice, it would affect the local rice industry?" Daron Solis, K-Park Consumer "I think that should be a concern of the government. They are ones that should come out and bailed them out. What they should do is give them a subsidy. Subsidize their rice to make it competitive with the imported rice. That's the government's job." Courtney Weatherburne "You have been following the story on Guyanese rice versus our local rice. You said before nothing is wrong with getting a cheaper rice. But you are concern with the quality?" Valerie Richardson, K-Park Consumer "Yes, the quality is very important." Courtney Weatherburne "Based on the people was have spoken with, they say that the quality of the Guyanese rice doesn't match up or doesn't compare to our local rice." Valerie Richardson, K-Park Consumer "Well I am not sure about that because I haven't bought any Guyanese rice so far. So I can't compare both of them." Courtney Weatherburne "But at the end of the day in terms of quality, if our local rice has better quality than the Guyanese rice, you would choose our local rice regardless of the price?" Valerie Richardson, K-Park Consumer "Definite. Because it's all about quality and you don't want to be eating anything that doesn't taste good." Again, in a release sent out by importer Jack Charles, he says that the Guyanese rice is Premiums Grade A and will sell for 0.69 cents a pound and he assures the public that price will hold for 2 years. http://7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=34622

Rice farmers ‘thankful’ they enrolled in PLC program Dec 14, 2015Forrest Laws | Delta Farm Press

Joe Outlaw says that toward the end of the 2014 farm bill process he got a ―little more blunt than normal‖ when it came to talking to farmers about their decision-making.For those who know Dr. Outlaw, co-director of Texas A&M University‘s Agricultural and Food Policy Center in College 24 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Station, blunt might seem to be more the norm. But those farmers also know he has their best interest at heart. ―I kept telling people that I wasn‘t going to argue with them about what to sign up for on rice; though I might debate with them on the pros and cons for the other crops,‖ said Outlaw. ―On rice I wanted them to sign up for PLC (Price Loss Coverage) and go home.‖On Thanksgiving Day, not long after USDA began making payments under the Price Loss Coverage and Agricultural Risk Coverage or ARC programs, one farmer sent Outlaw an email: ―You told us during the meetings to sign up for PLC and thank you later. This is my official thank you. I signed up for the program.‖ Outlaw told that story while delivering the Outlook Report for Texas during the Rice Research and Outlook Reports segment of the 2015 USA Rice Federation‘s Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans Thursday, Dec. 10.Outlaw presented slides showing the 2014 dollars-per-base-acre payment rates for each of the counties in the Texas Rice Belt east and west of Houston. The PLC payments ranged from $102 per base acre in Calhoun County to $156 an acre in Waller County west of Houston and similar amounts for the six rice-producing counties east of Houston. $61 million in payments The PLC payments for rice in Texas, which ranged from $117,000 in Jackson County to $12,542,000 in Wharton County west of Houston and from $867,000 in Galveston County to $6,163,000 in Liberty County east of Houston reached a total of $61,381,000.―Did this make people whole? Not even close,‖ said Outlaw, a professor and Extension economist with Texas A&M. ―But it does put a pretty big bandaid over the losses that otherwise would have occurred.‖ (Under PLC, the payment is the difference between the national marketing year average price and the effective price multiplied by the payment yield and 85 percent of a grower‘s base acres.) Similar numbers could also be presented for other rice growing states where PLC program payments were made this fall on the 2014 crop. Payments for the 2015 crop will not be made until 2016 under the new law.Dr. Outlaw and James Richardson, the other co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center, spent more than three years helping develop the farm bill decision-making tool, which they provided to producers when USDA released the first regulations implementing the new farm bill. Texas A&M University and the University of Illinois received funding from USDA to build decision-making tools aimed at helping farmers analyze their options under the new programs provided in the Agricultural Act of 2014.Texas‘ rice acres have been on the decline since the severe drought conditions in 2011 led to curtailment of irrigation water deliveries, which come from reservoirs around Austin to the rice-growing areas along the Texas Gulf Coast west of Houston. Significant decline in acres 25 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter USDA estimates Texas farmers planted about 133,000 acres of rice in 2014, a significant decline from the 193,000 acres at the most recent peak of Texas rice plantings that occurred in 2010. More water could be available in 2016 due to the rains that have occurred across Texas in recent months.―The question is whether that 60,000 acres will come right back?‖ says Outlaw. ―With these prices you wouldn‘t expect everyone to just jump back in, but it has the potential to lead to more rice acres.‖ Except for fuel, production costs are continuing to go up, ―but the rate of increase has not been as dramatic as it has been in the past,‖ he said. ―The most dramatic increase has been the price of seed.‖Outlaw told farmers and other industry members attending the Outlook Conference that he had spent the two or three days prior to the USA Rice event providing analyses of the cotton industry‘s proposal to have cottonseed declared to be ―another oilseed.‖ The designation would make cottonseed eligible for the programs now available to soybean producers. ―You might ask why talk about cotton at a rice meeting?‖ said Outlaw. ―But, as Larry talked about, the more people move from cotton to rice the lower your price will be.‖ (Larry Falconer, Extension economist with Mississippi State University, gave the outlook report for Mississippi rice producers.) ―I know some of you do both, and that‘s great. The more we can keep cotton people planting cotton and corn people planting corn, the sooner we‘re going to get the rice price to move back up. To learn more about the USA Rice Outlook Conference, visit http://usarice.com/. http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/rice-farmers-thankful-they-enrolled-plc-program

Rice cover crop project funded at University of Arkansas RiceTec, Inc., CPS provide funding for matching USDA NRCS grant

Dec 14, 2015Forrest Laws

RiceTec, Inc. and Crop Protection Services have joined forces to contribute $75,000 to a conservation project led by Trent Roberts, soil scientist, with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.This contribution fulfills a matching grant to total $150,000 from the USDA‘s Natural Resources Conservation Service for Dr. Roberts‘ research, which looks to demonstrate the benefits of cover crops for rice producers.Dr. Roberts‘ project, called Healthy Soils, Happy Rice, studies the benefits of Austrian winter peas as a winter cover crop on rice fields. The hardy, vine-like peas are members of the legume family, which includes a wide range of beans, peas, and nuts.―The advantage of using legumes for cover crops is they employ naturally occurring bacteria in the soil to fix nitrogen in their plant tissue,‖ Roberts said. ―When farmers till the soil to prepare for spring planting, the nitrogen is then deposited from the root systems of the peas back into the soil, improving fertility for the rice.RiceTec invested in this project ―because it aligns appropriately with the company‘s Smart Rice efforts,‖ an official said. ―Smart Rice is already producing higher rice yields throughout Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Arkansas – while using less land, water, and other resources.―RiceTec is pleased to support research that seeks more sustainable rice production technologies,‖ said Dr. Brian 26 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Ottis, RiceTec global solutions development lead. â€•Efforts like this fit perfectly with our Smart Rice program, which combines sustainable crop production practices with our high-yielding hybrids to produce the most earth-friendly rice available.â€– http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/rice-cover-crop-project-funded-universityarkansas?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+December+15%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+D ecember+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Rice scholarship winner promotes health, budget benefits of rice Dec 14, 2015Delta Farm Press

Haven McElhanon of Forrest City, Arkansas, has been named the 2015 USA Rice Federation National Rice Month Scholarship winner, sponsored by Dow AgroSciences. As the grand-prize winner, she received a $4,000 scholarship and a trip to the awards ceremony at the 2015 USA Rice Outlook Conference.McElhanon‘s initiative ―Rice -a Health Happy Hand‖ touted the health benefits of budget-friendly rice, which she promoted through classroom visits and community events, spreading rice information and recipes. She also enlisted support from a local judge who signed a proclamation to make September Arkansas Rice Month. ―The ‗Think Rice‘ fact and activity sheet that I shared with elementary students got them involved as they learned about the six riceproducing states in the U.S.,‖ McElhanon says. ―They enjoyed the sheet activities, including a word search, maze and word scramble. This was a really fun way to get the students interested in rice.‖McElhanon is part of a fifthgeneration farming family in Arkansas. While rice production has always been part of her community, she learned more about its importance while conducting rice promotions and serving as Miss St. Francis County Rice 2015.―In spreading the news about rice and its nutritional value, I became interested in pursuing a degree in nutrition upon attending college in the fall of 2016,‖ McElhanon says. ―I will continue to share the ‗Think Rice‘ educational program with elementary schools, civic clubs, senior citizen groups and other organizations through the spring of 2016.‖To apply for the scholarship, high school students were required to develop a promotional program in their local community that highlights U.S.-grown rice as part of National Rice Month in September. The second- and third-place winners are Mary Katherine Swindoll and Clay Parker, respectively.―During the past seven years of Dow AgroSciences sponsoring the National Rice Month Scholarship, we have been impressed with the students‘ passion and effort they put into promoting rice in their communities,‖ says Darla Huff, rice product manager, Dow AgroSciences. ―These applicants are our next generation of producers, teachers and agriculture advocates.‖ http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/rice-scholarship-winner-promotes-health-budget-benefits-rice?

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Agri-preneurial mindset, inculcated among rice R&D workers POSTED BY WEB TEAM POSTED ON DEC - 14 – 2015 The Rural Transformation Movement (RTM) of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) conducted a series of mind-setting workshops among the PhilRice staff in all stations to inculcate the value of entrepreneurial principles in rice R&D. PhilRice has embraced a paradigm to ensure that its rice R&D programs could create a holistic impact among rural farming areas. Reports suggest that while there have been rice production gains achieved over the years, poverty remains a pressing predicament in the rural, farming areas. With the paradigm called PalaYamaNayon, the Institute aims for rural transformation, not simply transmission, of its technologies and services. By rural transformation, PhilRice wants to enable positive and relevant change.Facilitated by Dr. Rene Resurreccion, a licensed trainer of the Competency-based Economies through Formation of Enterprise Approach and the director of Passion for Perfection, Inc., the workshop followed a module on excellence and rural transformation.―With this module, we want our farmers be entrepreneurs. And it has to start from changing their mindset that they will be able to improve their lives and earn more,‖ Resurreccion said.During the workshop, Resurreccion presented the entrepreneurial characteristics the Filipino farmers must possess to create the ‗enterprising mindset‘. He highlighted the ways to transform the farmers from being mere crop producers into agri-preneurs. He also emphasized the important role of PhilRice researchers and development specialists in this vision. Dr. Ronan Zagado, RTM lead person, has emphasized the PalaYamaNayon KKK strategies PhilRice will carry out. These KKK strategies are: 1) Kaya Natin ‗to, 2) Kikita tayo, and 3) Kikilos tayo. ―These will serve as our mantra and guiding principles as PhilRice continues to deliver its functions to serve the Filipino farmers,‖ Zagado concluded http://www.philrice.gov.ph/agri-preneurial-mindset-inculcated-among-rice-rdworkers/#sthash.DVS1OExG.dpuf

Ways to boost PH rice productivity identified POSTED BY WEB TEAM POSTED ON DEC - 15 - 2015

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

A PhilRice-IRRI study recommends the use of hybrid varieties, optimal use of fertilizers, training of more farmers on rice technologies, and educating future farmers as some of the ways to boost rice productivity in the country.These recommendations came from the study titled Benchmarking the Philippine Rice Economy Relative to Major Rice-Producing Countries in Asia. Co-implemented by PhilRice and IRRI, the study was presented in a research seminar on 3 December at the Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City.Assessments were done in sites representing irrigated and intensively cultivated areas in six countries: the Philippines (Nueva Ecija), China (Zhejiang), India (Tamil Nadu), Indonesia (West Java), Thailand (Suphan Buri) and Vietnam (Can Tho). In a comparative annual yield across the six countries at 14% moisture content, the study showed that the Philippines is at par during the high yielding season (5.68 t/ha) but the least during the low yielding season (3.84 t/ha).Vietnam is the highest yielder both in high and low yielding seasons at 8.56 t/ha and 6.33 t/ha, respectively. Additionally, Vietnamâ€˜s extra cropping season yield of 5.69 t/ha gives them 20.59 t/ha in a year compared to the Philippineâ€˜s 9.52 t/ha. According to Dr. Flordeliza H. Bordey, a PhilRice socio-economist and project lead, Vietnamâ€˜s ability to plant thrice in a year is due to the general availability of water, use of early maturing varieties, direct seeding, and synchronous planting.After accounting for input use, the study cited that yield in the Philippines is significantly lower than in China, Indonesia, and Vietnam, which could be due to environmental conditions such as soil, water, and climate. In contrast, Philippine yield is not significantly different from yield in India and Thailand.In terms of seeding rate, 30 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Thailand and Vietnam have the highest because they widely practice direct seeding. The Philippines, Indonesia, and India have low seeding rates due to transplanting. The same study revealed that Filipino farmers use 35 varieties, the highest among the six countries, compared with the Chinese who only use 7 varieties.While the use of many varieties provides greater diversity and controls for pests, Bordey explained that this could have implications in the processing phase.―Processors do not like to mill plenty of varieties that have different characteristics. This affects the efficiency of their milling operations, and they are forced to mix multiple varieties that could eventually affect the quality of the final milled rice,‖ Bordey furthered.Meanwhile, the Philippines is among the least users of pesticides in rice production. Researchers of the study said that Filipino farmers should be lauded for their judicious use of pesticides. Increasing labor productivity has also been cited as a key to improve efficiency in rice production. While the Philippine government intensively promotes farm mechanization, the study found that use of combine harvester remains low at 5% in 2013.Additionally, rice-based farming system such as the Palayamanan model is suggested to increase land productivity.Bordey emphasized that ―high productivity is one of the basics of being competitive‖ with our regional neighbors in the ASEAN economic community.

http://www.philrice.gov.ph/ph-rice-productivity-secrets-revealed/

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

No GMO crop trials in Philippines says Supreme Court By Karen Graham

Dec 14, 2015 in Environment

Manila - The Supreme Court of the Philippines has ordered a permanent ban on field trials of GM eggplant, and a temporary halt to approving applications ―contained use, import, commercialization and propagation‖ of GMO crops and products.The Supreme Court decision is historic because it sets a global precedent as the first decision to be made using the Writ of Kalikasan — a legal environmental remedy found only in the Philippines.Specifically, the Writ of Kalikasan, as outlined in Section 16, Article II of the Philippine Constitution, says that the "state shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature." "Kalikasan" is a Filipino word for "nature." The ruling builds on a wave of European countries who have rejected genetically engineered crops and, according to Virginia Benosa-Llorin, Ecological Agriculture campaigner for Greenpeace Philippines, is a serious setback for the GMO industry.EcoWatch quoted Benosa-Liorin: ―The Philippines has been used as a model for GE regulatory policy around the world, but now we are finally making progress to give people a right to choose the food they want to eat and the type of agriculture they want to encourage.‖The temporary ban is in place until a new "administrative order" takes effect. The ban includes the controversial GM "golden rice," an experimental project by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The GM golden rice project is back in the research and development stage because of poor crop yields and performance. The ruling is not expected to effect the new genetically modified BT-corn grown since 2014 in the country. BT corn has been genetically modified to include resistance to pests and to herbicides. GM BT corn with these two traits is used in many countries, in Europe and the U.S. Erring on the side of caution In another first for the Philippine Supreme Court is the decision to adopt a precautionary principle, deciding it is best to err on the side of caution in the absence of a scientific consensus with regard to GMO crops.―This case vindicates the many cases of genetic contamination we and others have highlighted, as well as the simple fact that there is no scientific consensus on the safety of genetically engineered crops,‖ said Benosa-Llorin. ―It‘s a major victory for Filipinos, especially for farmers struggling with incidents of genetic contamination. ‖The decision to adopt this precautionary principle invalidates the Department of Agriculture's Administrative Order No. 08-2002 (DAO8), barring the country's Agricultural and Science and Technology agencies from issuing any genetically engineered crop approvals. The decision also affects the trade of GM products. http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/environment/historic-ruling-by-philippine-supreme-court-bans-gmo-croptrials/article/452166

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Contract farming Monika Singh Wednesday, December 16, 2015 IN its bid to fulfil its 2020 rice self-sufficiency mission, Grace Road Group has launched contract farming with local farmers last week.As part of the initiative, the Grace Road Group will provide all the materials needed for mechanised and organic rice farming, which includes seeds, machinery, organic fertiliser made from earthworm casting or other organic materials, and natural vermin repellent.Grace Road Group president Daniel Kim said the cost of those materials would be deducted every time the contract farmer sold his rice to Grace Road Group and, in the case of the tractor, the machine will be owned by the contract farmer once the cost was repaid.Mr Kim said the contract had a provision for education and site monitoring needed for the farmer to make sure there were no problems for farming. Mr Kim said continual contact would be kept between Grace Road Group and the contract farmer to resolve the problems that may arise and the contract was for a minimum of five years."The biggest reason Fiji imports not only rice, but most food commodities was there was no market that could motivate Fijians to start farming."To resolve this issue, we plan to finish the construction of the rice processing complex (RPC) that can process 6000 tonnes of rice in a year. RPC will commence its full-scale operation next year in February," said Mr Kim.He said mechanised farming was the direction that Fiji should be headed in and that was why the group imported machinery and implements that were suited for Fiji's land. "And today, we have made our first distribution of the machinery with the local Fijian farmer for contract farming. Fiji's rice self-sufficiency cannot be accomplished just by Grace Road Group and some government departments. We absolutely need the support of Fijian farmers."Mr Kim said contract farming was their first attempt and there were ups and downs expected, but the group was confident of the project being successful."We want to announce that this contract farming is not for a select few, but it is open to anyone who wants to farm rice in the Navua region. Starting with Navua, we will expand this contract to the entire region of Fiji such as Rewa. We will continue our challenge of mechanised, organic rice farming to fulfil our mission of 2020 rice self-sufficiency, and we will succeed," said Mr Kim.Navua farmer Vicky said he was grateful to the group for their support and the opportunity."I have an available land, but there was nothing that I could do with it. But Grace Road Group decided to provide everything that I needed for farming and all I need to do is diligently farm in my own land," he said."I have not received this kind of tremendous help in my life and I could not believe that I was starting this contract."I wish to express my gratitude to Grace Road Group for their full support and I will succeed with mechanised organic rice farming on my piece of land." http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=334094 33 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

15 th december,2015 daily global regional,local rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine