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Kepler Weber operates in the agribusiness area, covering post-crop procedures in the grain production chain. The Brazilian company manufactures equipments for grain storage, cleaning and conveyance, specialising in complete grain storage solutions. Click on image to visit Kepler Webler's website. |
Showing posts with label Crop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crop. Show all posts
October 25, 2013
Kepler Weber
October 22, 2013
22/10/13: USDA releases crop reports despite complaints; 'pig' pin for sale at IPPE; the EU 'PROteINSECT' project
According to a US agriculture department official, crop reports will continue to be released during stock exchange trading hours. The reports will carry on in spite of complaints that high-speed traders have access to the data before it becomes available on public websites, reported international news agency Reuters.
Crop reports used to be released when grain markets were closed. However, last year the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) began releasing its key monthly crop reports to the open grain market.
Read the full Reuters article here.
As the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE)
draws closer, event organisers have announced a partnership with the
Hard Rock Cafe chain to offer a pig pin, which will be on sale during
the Expo.
IPPE organisers chose the pin to celebrate the introduction of a new pork and swine pavilion and the VIV International Pork Production Summit education program at the upcoming 2014 Expo.
The pig pin will be on sale in the main lobby near attendee registration during IPPE show hours, as well as at the Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta, located at 215 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, USA.
Read the full release here.
A new EU-funded project, is currently being coordinated in the UK by The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) in collaboration with China, Africa and mainland Europe.
In light of the increasing notion that insects can be utilised as an alternative protein source, the 'PROteINSECT' project is working to drive changes to EU legislation. Current legislation prohibits the inclusion of protein derived from insects in animal feed, with the exception of feed intended for fish or shellfish.
Those involved in the PROteinSECT project hope that the research results will help promote the use of insects in pig and poultry feed in the future, particularly as these animals already consume insects as part of their natural diet.
What's your view?
For the full report and to take part in the PROteinSECT survey, visit the project website.
IPPE organisers chose the pin to celebrate the introduction of a new pork and swine pavilion and the VIV International Pork Production Summit education program at the upcoming 2014 Expo.
The pig pin will be on sale in the main lobby near attendee registration during IPPE show hours, as well as at the Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta, located at 215 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, USA.
Read the full release here.
A new EU-funded project, is currently being coordinated in the UK by The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) in collaboration with China, Africa and mainland Europe.
In light of the increasing notion that insects can be utilised as an alternative protein source, the 'PROteINSECT' project is working to drive changes to EU legislation. Current legislation prohibits the inclusion of protein derived from insects in animal feed, with the exception of feed intended for fish or shellfish.
Those involved in the PROteinSECT project hope that the research results will help promote the use of insects in pig and poultry feed in the future, particularly as these animals already consume insects as part of their natural diet.
What's your view?
For the full report and to take part in the PROteinSECT survey, visit the project website.
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| Pig litter USDA (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
October 17, 2013
17/10/13: Ireland and Ethiopia agri-food collaboration; Brazil predicts record grain harvest; Phytobiotics strengthens team
Simon Coveney, minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland and Tefera Derbew, minister of agriculture, Ethiopia have agreed to work together on agricultural development and agribusiness investments in their two countries.
This cooperation will include the exchange of information on agricultural policy and the encouragement of bilateral private agri-business collaboration.
Brazil 's grain harvests are estimated to top more than 191 million tons for the 2013-2014 period, the country's crop forecasting agency said.
"Brazil's grain production for 2013-14 is estimated at between 191.9 and 195.5 million tons, up between 2.6 percent and 4.5 percent compared with the previous harvest," said the agency.
Research and feed additive company, Phytobiotics, recently strengthened its management team with the appointment of Dr. Manfred Andratsch as new alkaloid research manager.
Phytobiotics is one of the fastest growing global companies, focusing on the improvement of performance in livestock animals. As well as hiqh-quality feed additives, the company offers consultancy in topics such as gut health, stress reduction and bio-availability of nutrients.
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| English: Brazil Português: Brasil Русский: Бразилия (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
October 02, 2013
First Canada Western amber durum quality data released
Protein content data from the 2013 Canada Western amber durum harvest from one crop region have just been released at www.grainscanada.gc.ca.
Preliminary data will be updated every Tuesday as samples are received until the 2013 Harvest Sample Program ends.
Quality data on amber durum wheat from four crop regions will be released in three phases:
Protein content only by crop region and grade, based on individual samples received. Data will be updated weekly.
Key functional parameters by crop region and grade, based on regional composites, when sufficient representative samples from each crop region have been received and composites have been made for analysis.
Comprehensive quality analysis by grade based on final composites of all regions, as provided in previous years.
Quality test results in the second phase will include test weight, hard vitreous kernel percentages, kernel weight, ash content, falling number and wheat pigment content.
New this year, a table showing 10-year average protein content in No. 1 and No. 2 Canada Western amber durum by region is available.
Preliminary data will be updated every Tuesday as samples are received until the 2013 Harvest Sample Program ends.
Quality data on amber durum wheat from four crop regions will be released in three phases:
Protein content only by crop region and grade, based on individual samples received. Data will be updated weekly.
Key functional parameters by crop region and grade, based on regional composites, when sufficient representative samples from each crop region have been received and composites have been made for analysis.
Comprehensive quality analysis by grade based on final composites of all regions, as provided in previous years.
Quality test results in the second phase will include test weight, hard vitreous kernel percentages, kernel weight, ash content, falling number and wheat pigment content.
New this year, a table showing 10-year average protein content in No. 1 and No. 2 Canada Western amber durum by region is available.
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| Durum Wheat crop (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
September 23, 2013
23/09/2013: Madagascar's locust campaign; trace minerals report for animal feed; Kangaroo Island's new grain silos
A locust plague in Madagascar, which started back in April 2012, is threatening the food security and
livelihoods of 13 million people, nearly 60 percent of the island's
population.
According to an assessment carried out by the FAO in May this year, vast swarms of the insect have already damaged large areas of cropped land and pastures.
Although the locusts have mainly hit the south of the country, in late
2013/early 2014 some insects are expected to reach the more productive
northern region.
Damage to cereal crops, including rice and maize were estimated at as much as 70 percent in some regions.
Off-season production is expected to have decreased compared to previous years as farmers are reluctant to plant because of the locust threat.
Full assessment available here.
A global research report looking into the the trace minerals for animal feed market has forecasts an annual growth rate of
6.97 percent between now and 2016. One of the key factors contributing to
this market growth is the growing demand for animal proteins.
The market has been witnessing an
increase in use in water-soluble organic feed additives. However,
stringent laws and regulations could pose a challenge to the growth of
this market.
Full report available here.
A grain company in Kangaroo Island, Australia recently unveiled new silos which it is hoped will allow for increased exports.
The
silos, which cost a million dollars (AUD), were co-funded by Kangaroo Island Pure Grain and the state government and are being opened today.
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| Burn scars show red in this false-colour satellite image of Kangaroo Island, South Australia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
September 13, 2013
13/09/2013: Vitol new face in grain world; Canadian crop science; Sahel food security situation
Vitol, a Dutch-owned energy and commodity trading company and the world's largest independent oil trader, recently took part in a port capacity shipping auction held by CBH. As a result of the auction,
Vitol has secured about 400,000 tonnes of capacity, emerging as a new player in the grain world.
Vitol announced plans to begin trading in global grain markets this year.
The Canadian Government is supporting new research in crop science that will be of great benefit to farmers.
Working closely with Gerry Ritz, Canadian agriculture minister, Pierre Lemieux, Canadian parliamentary secretary and Dave Mackenzie MP, Oxford, Ontario announced that an investment of CAD$7 million for the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance to lead a research project that will help producers better compete in global markets.
Working closely with Gerry Ritz, Canadian agriculture minister, Pierre Lemieux, Canadian parliamentary secretary and Dave Mackenzie MP, Oxford, Ontario announced that an investment of CAD$7 million for the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance to lead a research project that will help producers better compete in global markets.
The FAO has recently warned that about 11 million people in the Sahel, Africa are still severely food insecure. Poor families have used up their food stocks and are now
facing high food prices.
Despite an appeal to raise US$113.1 million this year to support almost 6 million vulnerable people in the Sahel, only US$19.4 million has been received.
The FAO is now
appealing to the international community in the hope of increasing funding to aid the most vulnerable farmers and herders in the region south of the
Sahara.
Read more...
Read more...
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| yellow: Sahara; orange: Sahel; green: Sub-Saharan Africa (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
August 28, 2013
HGCA investment aims to help update nutrient management recommendations
HGCA is investing £700,000 in research to help update nutrient management recommendations.
Commencing this autumn and focusing on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S), the four research projects are being conducted by ADAS in collaboration with 12 industry partners who will contribute a further £250,000 in funding.
James Holmes, research manager for crop nutrition at HGCA, said, “The Fertiliser Manual (RB209) is a crucial source of information. But as farming practices move on, it is essential that nutrient management recommendations keep pace with change. This new work will play a valuable role in updating nutrient management information.”
The first project extends current research to help growers maintain an appropriate level of P in the soil.
Holmes said, “In the last 30 years, fewer fields have received P treatment as growers take ‘P holidays’. This, together with the increasing cost of P fertilisers and environmental pressures, has stimulated a lot of debate on the management of P.
“Recent research has shown how P management may need to be adapted in certain soils and has confirmed that growers running down soil P to below Olsen P Index 2 could be approaching a ‘cliff edge’ of P deficiency and risk not achieving optimum yields, especially when conditions are less than ideal.”
The new research will refine understanding of critical soil P levels and how to satisfy crop demand across a range of soil types, which could include applying ‘fresh P’ during the season.
“The use of fresh P applications is particularly interesting and HGCA work has already demonstrated that fresh P fertiliser can be effective in raising winter wheat and oilseed rape yields in plots below Olsen P Index 2. Further P-response trials will be conducted on farms to calculate when fresh P applications could be beneficial,” commented Holmes.
Two further projects will focus on the management of N.
Holmes said, “Current recommendations for N management are based on averages which fail to adequately reflect the diversity in soil types and the large variations in actual field nutrient requirements. There is also increasing evidence that N is being under-applied on some farms.”
In the first N project, a series of on-farm trials will be set up to test a novel ‘strip trial’ approach, where a standard N rate is applied along with 50kg/ha more and 50kg/ha less applied N to alternate tramlines.
“We are supporting this work with soil analysis and helping growers to set up strip trials. We will help develop a robust data set to produce a better picture of N variability and the proportion of fields that require more or less N fertiliser than predicted by RB209," said Allison Grundy, GrowHow, one of the project’s industry partners.
The second N project will look at the N requirements for winter barley.
Holmes added, “RB209 recommendations for winter barley have not been updated for around 30 years and varieties have changed significantly over that period.
“This project will review N management data and conduct experiments on application rate and timing for two-row, six-row and hybrid winter barley varieties.”
The final project takes a look at S management.
“The recent HGCA ‘yield plateau’ work found that many winter wheat and oilseed rape crops may not be receiving enough S and this could be limiting yield," said Holmes.
“This new research will extend S-response trials, as well as quantify the S supply from applications of manures and biosolids.
Dr Pete Berry, principal research scientist at ADAS, concluded, “The nutrient research projects have been designed with RB209 in mind. The projects, which will deliver findings over the next five years, will be made available to Defra to assist with future revisions of RB209.”
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| English: Looking the winter barley. Drive by the winter barley to make sure it's still there. Probably looking for slug damage, it's been wet and warm enough! (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
August 16, 2013
Free, unofficial grain grade with Harvest Sample Program
"Our Harvest Sample Program is a voluntary program that gives producers important information about their grain at no cost to them. It also helps promote the sale of Canadian grain by providing customers with scientific information about the quality of this year's harvest," said Elwin Hermanson, chief commissioner for the Canadian Grain Commission.
Easy to participate
Participating in the Harvest Sample Program is easy and starts with signing up to receive your free kit, which includes postage-paid envelopes and instructions for sending in your sample.
Producers who send in a grain sample are also eligible to win prizes, and the earlier you send in your samples, the greater your chances of winning.
Quality information for producers
Even if you have a good idea about the quality of your grain, by sending in your sample, you'll also be able to access detailed information, such as:
Protein content on cereal grains and pulses
Oil, protein and chlorophyll content for canola
Oil and protein content and iodine value for flaxseed
Oil and protein for mustard seed and soybeans
New this year, the Canadian Grain Commission is providing dockage assessment for canola samples.
Details about how to access your information online, by phone or email are available here.
Market support and research
We use harvest samples to test the quality of the annual crop. Crop data helps with the marketing of Canadian grain to customers. Your harvest samples also contribute to important scientific research into grading issues and finding new uses and markets for Canadian grain.
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| Cereal (grain maize) harvest in Brazil (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
July 18, 2013
18/07/2013: China may become top wheat importer; Campden BRI open day 2013 highlights; FDA policy on salmonella in animal feed
Frost and rain has damaged China's wheat crop during this year's harvest, resulting in greater import demand, reports Reuters.
This demand could see China overtake Egypt as the world's top wheat buyer. More imports would also force other buyers to pay more for grains, another blow for the Middle East after two years of political turmoil have already left it struggling to pay for food imports.
Read more...
The annual lecture, organised by Campden BRI, UK, was a highlight again this year with the main lecture presented by Michael McCain, president and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Using the global food strategy as his theme, McCain spoke about the importance of developing a sustainable food system.
Click here to download the lecture as a podcast.
Read more...
A new FDA policy has been released that focuses enforcement on salmonella serotypes that cause disease in the animal species for which the feed is marketed.
The Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 690.800 Salmonella in Food for Animals, gives new direction regarding decisions to recommend seizure or import refusal of pet food, animal feed and their ingredients.
Read more...
This demand could see China overtake Egypt as the world's top wheat buyer. More imports would also force other buyers to pay more for grains, another blow for the Middle East after two years of political turmoil have already left it struggling to pay for food imports.
Read more...
The annual lecture, organised by Campden BRI, UK, was a highlight again this year with the main lecture presented by Michael McCain, president and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Using the global food strategy as his theme, McCain spoke about the importance of developing a sustainable food system.
Click here to download the lecture as a podcast.
Read more...
A new FDA policy has been released that focuses enforcement on salmonella serotypes that cause disease in the animal species for which the feed is marketed.
The Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 690.800 Salmonella in Food for Animals, gives new direction regarding decisions to recommend seizure or import refusal of pet food, animal feed and their ingredients.
Read more...
given this year
by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.,
Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
given this year
by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.,
Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
given this year
by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.,
Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
given this year
by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.,
Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
given this year
by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.,
Canada - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
 |
| Salmonella typhimurium invading cultured human cells. (Photo credit: Microbe World) |
Over 500 members and guests registered for
Campden BRI Day 2013
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
The annual Campden lectu
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year
by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.,
Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to
dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what
is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food
production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year
by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.,
Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to
dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what
is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food
production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year
by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.,
Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to
dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what
is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food
production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
Over 500 members and guests registered for
Campden BRI Day 2013
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
Over 500 members and guests registered for
Campden BRI Day 2013
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
Over 500 members and guests registered for
Campden BRI Day 2013
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
The Annual Campden Lecture was again a highlight, given this year by Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada. Taking Towards a global food strategy - from discourse to dialogue as his theme, Mr McCain vividly outlined his vision of what is required of us all if we are to develop a truly sustainable food production system. - See more at: http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/news/campden-bri-day-highlights.php#sthash.gFBrNWEM.dpuf
June 26, 2013
26/06/2013: Sheep limb found in feed; climate-proof crops; feedipedia
A New Zealand
farmer has reported finding a limb in an imported shipment of palm kernel expeller.
"The
farm where the limb was found has sheep, home kill is undertaken, the
maggots found on the limb were a species of blowfly found in New
Zealand, and most of the PKE supplied goes through a 4mm filter," explained Andrew Coleman, compliance and response deputy director-general.
An advanced facility to help speed up development and selection of crop varieties is
being set up at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture
(CRIDA).
The facility is being set up under the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) to study climate change impacts in crops.
The facility is being set up under the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) to study climate change impacts in crops.
Three French agriculture companies have collaborated with FAO to produce Feedipedia, a world-wide information source for animal feed.
The project covers feeds mainly available in
tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean regions but also includes common
feeds used in temperate countries.
 |
| Full wool Merino sheep. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
June 18, 2013
18/06/2013: Feed additive boost in Brazil; UN calls for global drought action; Defra minister backs plant breeding campaign
The Brazilian animal feed additives market is growing quickly thanks to a burgeoning population with higher disposable incomes and a taste for pork, beef and poultry. This trend will continue as the development of new additives add value to customers.
The market earned revenues of $1.30
billion in 2012 and it is estimated to reach $1.59 billion in 2018. The
research covers enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, mycotoxin adsorbents,
prebiotics and probiotics.
Ban Ki-moon, United Nations secretary-general has called
for a global response to drought and a shift from crisis
management to drought planning and resilience.
Currently, over 11.4 million people are facing food insecurity.
Lord de Mauley, Defra science minister, has
given the UK government’s formal backing to an industry-led campaign to
highlight the critical role of plant breeding innovation and quality
seed.
The Plant Variety Rights (PVR) campaign, launched jointly by
BSPB and AIC earlier this year, focuses on the importance of PVR as a
unique form of intellectual property, which helps to protect, stimulate
and reward progress in crop improvement.
 |
| English: Ban Ki-moon, South Korean politician (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
May 23, 2013
23/05/2013: Grain baiting to cull feral pigs; IAOM raises $50,000 from auction; exports of rye and triticale
Grain growers in Australia are encouraged to take part in the Central Highlands Regional Council's free feral animal 1080 baiting campaign.
Michelle Janes, Biosecurity Queensland senior crop protection officer said summer crop growers would benefit from using grain bait as a
control method.
"Feral pigs can travel over large distances and cause significant damage to crops at grainfill," Janes warned.
"Recent seasons have seen feral pig populations on the rise and
valuable summer crops will soon start attracting feral pig activity."
The International Milling Education Foundation (IMEF) raised $50,000 from silent and
centerpiece auctions during the International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Conference & Expo in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
“We are impressed by
the great results, especially considering we had decided not to hold a
live auction this year,” said Joel Hoffa, IMEF president.
On July 1, 2013, new roughage tolerances for exports of Canadian triticale take effect in eastern Canada. On August 1, 2013, new roughage tolerances for exports of Canadian rye and triticale take effect in western Canada.
Currently, commercial cleanliness requirements in Rye, Canada Western (CW) and Triticale, Canada (CAN) do not include tolerances for roughage.
At their April meetings, the Eastern and Western standards committees recommended the following tolerance:
Triticale, Canada (CAN) - 0.1% Total small seeds, attrition and roughage
At their April meetings, the Eastern and Western standards committees recommended the following tolerance:
Triticale, Canada (CAN) - 0.1% Total small seeds, attrition and roughage
Rye, Canada Western (CW) - 0.1% Total small seeds, attrition and roughage
 |
| The Distribution of the Ferel Pig in Australia According to the Department of Conservation (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
January 04, 2013
The change in the image of GM crops?
Happy new year! The Global Miller is interested in a real change in the UK government's approach to GM crops for food safety, security, production and the industry at large. This made the front page of The Daily Telegraph today. The story and accredited source is below.
In a speech to the Oxford Farming Conference, he is expected to say that farmers, policy makers and scientists have a duty to turn around the image of GM.
In a speech to the Oxford Farming Conference, he is expected to say that farmers, policy makers and scientists have a duty to turn around the image of GM.
“We should not be afraid of making the case to the public about the potential
benefits of GM beyond the food chain, for example, reducing the use of
pesticides and inputs such as diesel,” he said.
“I believe that GM offers great opportunities but I also recognise that we owe
a duty to the public to reassure them that it is a safe and beneficial
innovation.”
 |
| GM maize growing in Shropshire, UK |
Last year farmers lost £1.3bn from poor harvests and higher feed bills for
cattle, making the need for new technology even more urgent.
Mr Paterson pointed out that the UK could produce much more food at home and urged consumers to 'buy British' to boost the sector.
“We currently import 22 per cent of food that could be produced here. We can all do more and, just as everyone got behind Team GB last summer [ed. Olympic and Paralympic Games, London 2012], we must get behind our farmers. By buying British, we can support our producers and enjoy some of the best quality produce in the world.”
Mr Paterson will also talk about the need to control the cattle disease bovine tuberculosis by going ahead with a badger cull this summer.
“The decision to postpone the culls last autumn was a disappointing one but the right one in terms of the effective delivery of the policy. I would like to thank the farmers’ leadership and members for the huge amount of work they put in on the ground and their courageous public stance on this emotive issue. The pilots will go ahead this summer [ed. 2013].”
The conference will also hear from the Woodland Trust about the benefits of planting trees.
The charity commissioned a report that showed trees reduce pollution from fertiliser by absorbing nitrates and phosphates, reduce erosion, prevent floods and droughts and provide a home for wildlife.
The Oxford Real Farming conference, held at the same time as the rival event to raise awareness of organic farming methods, will argue productivity could be boosted by improving the fertility of the soil by crop rotation and ‘mob grazing’.
Pete Riley of GM Freeze pointed out that supermarkets retain a ban on GM ingredients in their own products because the public is against it.
He said the Government would be better to concentrate on sustainable methods that do not cause problems with superweeds and seed control, as well as health fears.
“The message is clear: the public do not want GM. It is the job of Government to look at the issues facing agriculture in a sustainable way.”
[Source: Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph. Thursday 3rd January 2013 <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9776348/Environment-Secretary-Owen-Paterson-tells-farmers-to-push-GM.html>].
Mr Paterson pointed out that the UK could produce much more food at home and urged consumers to 'buy British' to boost the sector.
“We currently import 22 per cent of food that could be produced here. We can all do more and, just as everyone got behind Team GB last summer [ed. Olympic and Paralympic Games, London 2012], we must get behind our farmers. By buying British, we can support our producers and enjoy some of the best quality produce in the world.”
Mr Paterson will also talk about the need to control the cattle disease bovine tuberculosis by going ahead with a badger cull this summer.
“The decision to postpone the culls last autumn was a disappointing one but the right one in terms of the effective delivery of the policy. I would like to thank the farmers’ leadership and members for the huge amount of work they put in on the ground and their courageous public stance on this emotive issue. The pilots will go ahead this summer [ed. 2013].”
The conference will also hear from the Woodland Trust about the benefits of planting trees.
The charity commissioned a report that showed trees reduce pollution from fertiliser by absorbing nitrates and phosphates, reduce erosion, prevent floods and droughts and provide a home for wildlife.
The Oxford Real Farming conference, held at the same time as the rival event to raise awareness of organic farming methods, will argue productivity could be boosted by improving the fertility of the soil by crop rotation and ‘mob grazing’.
Pete Riley of GM Freeze pointed out that supermarkets retain a ban on GM ingredients in their own products because the public is against it.
He said the Government would be better to concentrate on sustainable methods that do not cause problems with superweeds and seed control, as well as health fears.
“The message is clear: the public do not want GM. It is the job of Government to look at the issues facing agriculture in a sustainable way.”
[Source: Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph. Thursday 3rd January 2013 <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9776348/Environment-Secretary-Owen-Paterson-tells-farmers-to-push-GM.html>].
October 19, 2012
19/10/12: Mycotoxin webinar; EU food agency criticised over GM; impact of drought throughout the supply chain
Hello,
- The European Food Safety Authority has defended its independence from the biotech industry after environmentalists claimed the agency ignores evidence of the potential health risks of GM products. The study which has sparked these claims was undertaken at the University of Caen, France. As we reported earlier in the month, the study claimed that rats fed with Monsanto's genetically modified NK603 corn, developed more tumours than a test group over a two-year period. When the EU Food Safety Agency reviewed the research the agency said the study was insufficient and asked for additional evidence. Read more...
- The 2012 corn crop has been under significant stress; as a result the overall quality is a concern to livestock and poultry producers. Biomin and Romer Labs will discuss quality findings and possible effects to livestock and poultry in a webinar on October 23, 2012, 9 – 10 a.m. CDT. Participants at 'Mycotoxin Strategies for the 2012 Corn Harvest' will learn: Mycotoxin survey for 2012 corn harvest; animal implications with the 2012 corn harvest; strategies to deal with mycotoxins. More information...
- We have looked at the impact of drought on crops on numerous occasions but this article examines the broader impact of dry weather. The Impact of Crisis on Water Stewardship in the UK Food and Grocery Industry by researcher IGD, simulated how a water shortage affect the whole supply chain. Read the results here...
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| Maize plants in maize field (Photo credit: IITA Image Library) |
November 22, 2011
A long term study of organic agriculture can show higher returns
A long term research study of organic crop systems has shown that they can provide similar yields to conventional corn-soybean rotation, but can return much higher economic returns. The Long-Term Agroecological Research (LTAR) Experiment was established in 1998 at the Iowa State University Neely-Kinyon Farm in Greenfield, Iowa running as a side by side comparison in Iowa showed that organic crops can remain competitive with conventional crops. As well as the economical benefits, the study showed that the organic system also builds healthy soils as well as increased nitrogen and increases in carbon, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and calcium. Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers.
This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers.
August 19, 2011
Drought causes Texas an estimated $5.2 billion in crop and livestock losses
This season in Texas has not been a good one for the farming community due to the sever drought that has killed livestock and destroyed crops. A field survey from November to August this year has indicated that livestock losses are in the region of US$2.1 billion (€1.455 billion) and crop losses of US$3.1 billion (€2.148 billion) in Texas.
There will be more losses found when they harvested the crops said David Anderson, an economist with Texas A&M University's Texas AgriLife Extension Service, which released the numbers. "I think it's going to get bigger." Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers
There will be more losses found when they harvested the crops said David Anderson, an economist with Texas A&M University's Texas AgriLife Extension Service, which released the numbers. "I think it's going to get bigger." Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers
July 20, 2011
Declining crops ratings likely to continue
The recent heat-wave in the Midwest has cause a decline in the corn and soybean crop ratings for the week ending July 17. The national crop ratings were down by three percent to take the rating to 66 percent. Like the corn crop, this year's national soybean rating is below the rating given to the crop the last two years as of mid-July.
But the rating is better than the ratings given to the crop in the middle of July from 2005 through 2008. The chances are high that this decline will continue, even if we get rainfall by the end of the week due to the type of heat that we are experiencing now. Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers
But the rating is better than the ratings given to the crop in the middle of July from 2005 through 2008. The chances are high that this decline will continue, even if we get rainfall by the end of the week due to the type of heat that we are experiencing now. Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers
June 07, 2011
Deoxynivalenol threat linked to shallow conservations
Trails work at the STAR project in Suffolk (England) during 2010 demonstrated that, ahead of winter wheat, shallow cultivations are more likely to pass on mycotoxin infection (deoxynivalenol - DON) to the following crop than inversion-based cultivations such as the plough.
Although mycotoxin levels in general last year were very low in England, because of the very dry weather, there were still differences in the level of DON recorded following various types of cultivation, said NIAB TAG agronomist Neil Watson. “We think that when using shallow cultivations the trash remaining from the previous crop is not buried sufficiently and passes on infection to the next crop. Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers
Although mycotoxin levels in general last year were very low in England, because of the very dry weather, there were still differences in the level of DON recorded following various types of cultivation, said NIAB TAG agronomist Neil Watson. “We think that when using shallow cultivations the trash remaining from the previous crop is not buried sufficiently and passes on infection to the next crop. Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers
April 19, 2011
How will the world double crop production by 2050?
Current projections hold that the population of the world will increase from 6.9 billion in early 2011 to somewhere between 9.0 and 9.3 billion by 2050, an increase of over 30 percent. When that increase is coupled with increased prosperity in developing countries and the desire for a diet that includes more meat, it is projected that the production of agricultural crops will need to increase by 70 to 100 percent.
The question facing policy makers is what it takes to accomplish that amount of increase over the next 40 years. The multinationals that are engaged in seed research and sales argue that such an ambitious agenda will only be achieved if trade policies are liberalised and they are given free rein to sell their genetically modified seed everywhere. They also argue that farmers in the major grain exporting countries will be needed to feed the world. Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers
The question facing policy makers is what it takes to accomplish that amount of increase over the next 40 years. The multinationals that are engaged in seed research and sales argue that such an ambitious agenda will only be achieved if trade policies are liberalised and they are given free rein to sell their genetically modified seed everywhere. They also argue that farmers in the major grain exporting countries will be needed to feed the world. Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers
March 24, 2011
BPEX: Feed crisis pack
BPEX: The biggest and most important single cost for pig producers is feed; on average it accounts for almost 60 percent of total production costs. It is no exaggeration to state that global rises in the price of feed are the biggest threat to the sustainability of English high welfare pig production and processing.
Wheat is the main ingredient of pig feed and its price is keenly observed by the whole of the pig industry. The market for wheat has been very volatile in recent years with huge price rises brought about by poor harvests and a growing demand, not least for the production of bio fuels. Prices of other key ingredients, such as soya, have also increased. Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.
Wheat is the main ingredient of pig feed and its price is keenly observed by the whole of the pig industry. The market for wheat has been very volatile in recent years with huge price rises brought about by poor harvests and a growing demand, not least for the production of bio fuels. Prices of other key ingredients, such as soya, have also increased. Read more ...
This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.
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