31/01/13: Japan resumes Vietnamese rice imports; changes at NAMA; UK flood areas mapped

Vietnamese rice producers have resumed exports to Japan after a five-year ban. An Giang Import Export Co (Angimex) has won a bid to supply 30,000 tons of white rice to Japan. The rice passed stringent tests and the whole process has been supervised by the importers.

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NAMA Chairman Jim Meyer named the committee chairmen for the 2013-2014 term. The committee chairmen were selected based on their experience and expertise in the subject matter of the committee. 

“The strength of an association can be measured by the commitment of the members that volunteer their time and expertise. The leadership provided by the committee chairmen is a valuable component of NAMA. I am looking forward to working with them over the next two years on the issues important to our industry,” said Meyer.

Visit the NAMA website to find out who's on the committee...

Grain growers in the UK has been dealing with some very wet weather recently. According to the Met Office, the last 12 months have been the second wettest since records began. This flood map shows which areas have been most affected by the downpours.
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Uncooked, polished, white long-grain rice grains (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Scotland's farmers (UK) fear repeat of last years snow problems

Agricultural loss adjusters Agrical estimated that at least 3000 farm buildings were severely damaged last year as a result of heavy snow fall. Tom Johnston regional chairman of NFU Scotland said the scale of last years damage meant that many of his neighbours had construction companies on farms building new steadings.

He said the late harvest had already created serious problems with many fields still full of straw bales, which had been too wet to bring indoors. He added: "There were already concerns that bedding would be in short supply this winter and this snowfall has suddenly made that a much more acute problem." Read more...