September 18,2015

All About Rice News

Daily

Vol 5,Issue XIV

Global Rice E-Newsletter

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News Headlines...

Shah for announcement of spot prices of cotton, rice & wheat

Farmer cornered
IRRI warns of higher rice price
Vietnam to export 450, 000 tons of rice to Philippines
U.S. Announces New Steps Towards Normalizing Relations with Cuba
Rice Traders on Japan's Kyushu Island Get a Taste of U.S. Rice
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
U.S./China rice trade deal not completed
Bulog raises issue of possible subsidized rice shortage
next year
Kharif plantings up 1.6%, late monsoon surge to help Rabi
Yingluck to be asked to pay for rice scheme
Rough rice: Prices are steady even as exports slip
Despite rain shortage, kharif holding up
For Arkansas rice farmer, hope for sales to Cuba even as exports drop
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

News Detail...
Shah for announcement of spot prices of cotton, rice & wheat
September 18, 2015

NAVEED BUTT

Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that the federal government should
announce spot prices for cotton, rice, wheat and other crops of agriculture sector. "The Pakistan
Muslim league-Nawaz (PML-N) government is not paying attention to the agriculture sector.
The government has totally ignored this sector even it has not any policy on agriculture sector,"
he added. The government should announce at least Rs 3500 per 40 kg spot price of cotton, the
opposition leader said here on Thursday.
He said that agriculture growth had contributed 7.9 percent to the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) in 2011-12 and now it has reduced and reached at 0.3 % of GDP. He said that the food
basket of the country had been reduced. He said that the government should take bold steps to
enhance the food basket of the country. "We reject the recent package for farmers announced by
the prime minister without spot prices for various crops," he said. Khursheed Shah said that
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terrorism and corruption were major issues the country was confronting with. "The foundation of
corruption and terrorism was laid in the tenure of late General Zia-ul-Haq. The terrorism in his
tenure was flourished in the name of Mojahideen and Taliban," he said.
Answering to a question, he said that the Pakistan Peoples Party didn't support Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif but it supported the democracy, adding that they would support the democratic
system in the future too. Answering to another question, the opposition leader said that after
receiving the notice of Supreme Court regarding the resignations of Muttahida Qaumi Movement
(MQM) parliamentarians, he would discuss the matter as per law and Constitution.

http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/624:/1228241:shah-for-announcement-of-spot-prices-of-cotton-rice-awheat/?date=2015-09-18

Farmer cornered
September 18, 2015

After the Prime Ministers speech about the agricultural package to small farmers, a ray of hope
is seen, as the government seems well aware of the economic hardships and problems farmers
are facing and felt a genuine effort from the government to reduce cost of production.Focus on
small farmers was well thought of. In short, the government tried whatever it could do on the
supply side, relief etc. Rs 5000 per acre package for small farmers. I feel the package will
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definitely help as the situation is rather bleak. The package will get the farmer to sow wheat on
time with hopefully proper dose of fertiliser.
The Governments total focus was on supply side of farmers; the market side of farmer was not
addressed. How will the market behave at harvest time of paddy, which is around the corner, the
initial reports are not encouraging.However after Federal Minister for Agriculture Mr. Bosans
candid honest appraisal of the package I got worried. The government has accepted the fact that
commodity prices will be low in the coming years. The Rs 5000 per acre contribution, by the
government to the small farmer is to compensate, for not supporting the farmer, by buying his
present crop, and not for the previous year losses.The farmer is being treated as a sacrificial
animal. A soother or tranquiliser worth Rs 5000 per acre is being given so that he does not feel
the pain of market slaughter at harvest time.Mr. Bosan I know you are a well wisher of farmers.
Rice prices are down as Iran is not in the market. You and your government are trying to get it
open but I feel more is required.
The government can convince Iran to open market on urgent basis. It is not market forces but
political forces and political will that are keeping the prices down.Imran khans speech at
Hafizabad, few days back at farmers convention made lot of sense. Again, in short, it managed
to raise the hopes and spirits of the farming community.My suggestion, request, plea - call it
what you will - to Imran khan would be to join hands with the government in finding a solution
for paddy farmers marketable produce. A joint political delegation of government and
opposition to Iran and China to open up market for rice on fast forward basis in order to get a fair
price for rice farmers in the coming crop that raises his spirits, income and safeguards his
livelihood.We have been losing export market share of basmati to India is our own fault. Iran,
our traditional market, was gifted to India on a silver platter. Their rice trade made a killing by
having a monopoly in the Iranian market. Last year, Iran stopped buying from India resulting in a
price crash in other markets as Indian rice trade off-loaded their produce destined for Iranian
market.
Government has given relief to rice millers very timely. Hopefully banks will give additional limits to the
rice millers that will definitely help the farmer. It seems government is not going to procure rice or paddy
so it becomes more urgent to focus on outside markets to open doors for Pakistani rice.My humble
request to all politicians, and movers and shakers, in the government, is to please focus on export
highways for rice to Iran and China for the next month and put farm to market roads, and other highways
on back burner.
Now, surprisingly, the smile on farmers face can be brought by friendly neighbors. China is a big buyer
of non-basmati rice. The crop is going to be in the market soon in a big way. As a farmer, I would like to
ask for our share in the promised economic corridor. If China or Chinese traders buy now, farmers paddy
price will get a boost. This entire issue is political, and, for the sake of the farmers, everyone needs get
together and ask China and Iran to be in the market now. Political delegation - not a trade delegation - is
the answer.

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Iran, for a fact, is going through a severe water crisis for the last decade. While climate change is
accelerating, lakes are turning into barren land in Iran. Iran is discouraging water intensive crops like
maize and rice. On the other hand, we are producing water guzzling crops and have no place to export
them. The government should respect grain grown from valuable water, and the long, hard toil of farmers,
which will end up being exported at bargain basement prices if the government does not intervene. Trade
with Iran, China, and Afghanistan will commence, but by that time, the farmer would already have sold
his crop at a total loss. This has to be avoided at all costs.Iran and china will both buy and so will
Afghanistan, for their local markets, as well as transit trade for Central Asian republics. The question is:
When? I, as a farmer, want it now as my paddy price will get a boost. Thus the issue is of timing when the
trade with our neighbors will begin.
It will require political will to find legal, diplomatic and banking solutions to trade with Iran; Legal: How
to trade with Iran with the sanctions, Diplomatic: Convince Iran to open their market for Pakistani rice
and reduce or waive duty, Banking: Banking channels to be opened for trade with Iran. I feel this crisis is
so grave that it calls for an All-Parties Conference on how to address farmers issues.November should be
reserved for agriculture only.The other point I want to make is that agriculture needs to be the prime focus
in the next three months, and specifically, in November. During the next three months, harvest of paddy,
cotton, and sugarcane will be in full swing, and simultaneously, the sowing of wheat will be taking place.
This is absolutely critical for the farmer, agriculture, and obviously, for Pakistan.
I have been questioning the viability of holding elections in November since the 1980s. All these pleas
have so far fallen on deaf ears, the logic being that general elections do not have any significant impact on
agriculture as only a few people are involved in the electioneering process. The truth of the matter is
somewhat different: In local bodies, everyone is fully involved. The similarity to hand-to-hand combat
cannot be overstated: It becomes an Izzat kaa saawal for individuals and Biradaris. I cannot stress this
enough: The elections HAVE to be postponed.We simply cannot afford another disaster at harvest time.
Our sovereignty is at stake. Wheat sowing is in full swing in November and even a single days delay
affects the yield negatively. Timely sowing with farmer having inputs at his disposal is of the utmost
importance. I personally know of farmers who didnt have the resources to apply fertilizer to their rice
crop.
I would not be exaggerating to say that in my lifetime, I have never seen such a bad year for the rice
farmer in particular and farmers in general. Last year the Rice farmer was first hit by disease, followed by
hailstorm at harvest time. Then, to add insult to injury, he got an abysmal rate for his crop. As if that were
not enough, some farmers still have to get their dues of last year from the middlemen.To recoup his rice
losses, the farmer went all out for wheat sowing with full focus and vigor. Close to harvest time,
hailstorms, combined with unseasonal rains, played havoc with his yield. Despite all this, the farmer
persevered.

However, what really hurt was the short period and target of wheat procurement, where wheat prices
stayed low before and after government intervention.On this rice crop his body language said it all: this
was a reluctant rice plantation. To accurately judge the momentum of rice or wheat sowing, one can
simply listen to the sound of folk music coming from the tractors when farmers plough their land at night.

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This was the season of silence. And yet acreage under rice is no less. There was lesser rain, but crops
seem to be healthy and no disease issue has been found so far. Fingers crossed, I am hoping for a bumper
harvest.In summation, at all costs, we have to avoid distress sale of the farmer.
The farmers cannot take another shock, politicians cannot afford to look bad in front of the farmer, and,
most importantly, for an agrarian country such as Pakistan, the farmers cannot stand to economically lose
more. The entire livelihood of the farmers is at stake. In India, we hear of farmers suicides. In Pakistan,
farmers are already under severe mental depression.It is not yet all doom and gloom - this is a healthy
problem to have: to export our surplus to neighbours. It does not take long for the tables to turn, with
Pakistan having to import wheat with additional threats of blockade.I will end with a quote from a famous
Nobel
Prize
winner:
The only thing greater than the power of the mind is the courage of the heart.
http://nation.com.pk/columns/18-Sep-2015/farmer-cornered

IRRI warns of higher rice price

Thursday, September 17, 2015

A FOOD expert at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) sees rice prices soaring by as
much as 20 percent, if the El Nio persists.If drought or flood hit India, Indonesia and the
Philippines, rice prices will go up by 10 percent to 20 percent, said Dr. Samarendu Mohanty, IRRIs
chief economist in a briefing for agriculture ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN).The extent of rainfall disruption in El Nio watch countries India, Indonesia and the
Philippines could disrupt the rice market in late 2015 as Thai rice stocks battle to keep the market
in check, said Mohanty.
So far, the market has been indifferent to the weather.Rice prices in the last two years from 2013
to 2015 had been stable even with the El Nio last year, he said. Whats happening now is that most
rice areas have been planted, some 120 million hectares already on the ground, he said.Dr.
Matthew Morell, IRRI deputy director general for research, said 89 percent of the 640 million metric
tons of rice produced each year is planted in Asia.Thai rough rice production was over 30 million
tons in 2014; its about 4 million tons to 5 million tons less this year, Mohanty said. The harvest in
India is about the same as Thailands.The Indian rice crop planting remains normal, with 35
million hectares planted right now. The progress of the Indian monsoon showed surplus rain in June
but a deficit started in July. What happens in September, for which a deficit is also seen, will decide
what happens in the next few months, Mohanty said.
Rice planting has started in Indonesia, but 90 percent of its 36 million tons of rice crop will
be planted in November-December, so we dont know yet what will happen, he said. That means
Thailand and India will decide what happens in the market.A more serious concern, he said, is that
rice stocks in the five major exporters Thailand, India, Vietnam, Pakistan and the United States
have declined in recent years. This is more important to whats happening as theres a very tight rice
situation, Monhanty pointed out. If the weather affects these countries, the stable rice price in the
last two years might go up in the next few months.

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The current situation, he said, shows tight global stocks, a monsoon deficit in India and a drought
in Thailand that has caused 3 million tons to 4 million tons in production shortfalls.India and
Thailand hold the trump card. The September rainfall will be crucial for Indias rice production, he
said. A good kharif or monsoon rice crop in India will keep the market stable but not if drought or
flood affects India, Indonesia and the Philippines. The market can go in any direction in next few
months, its very hard to predict. (SciencePhilippines)
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on September 18, 2015.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2015/09/17/irri-warns-higher-rice-price-430919

Vietnam to export 450, 000 tons of rice to Philippines

Friday, Sep 18, 2015, Posted at: 13:21(GMT+7)
Vietnam Food Association (VFA) has just won a contract to supply 450,000 tons of rice to the National
Food Authority (NFA) of the Philippines.
(Photo:SGGP)
The NFA of the Philippines wants to purchase 750.000 tons of 25
percent broken long-grain white rice for delivery duty unpaid at US$
426, 6 per ton.Accordingly, the bidding for the importation of 750,000
tons of rice would be from Viet Nam and Thailand. Vietnam will
supply 450,000 tons, and Thailand will provide 300, 000 tons at the
same prices.The Philippines is one of the world's biggest rice importer
with a total of 650,000 tons of rice under government-to-government
contracts this year.Earlier, Vietnam won a 300,000 ton supply contract with the NFA, and delivered
150,000 tons to the Philippines in July.
By Cong Phien- Translated by Huyen Huong

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Business/2015/9/115430/

U.S. Announces New Steps Towards Normalizing Relations

with Cuba
Loosening things up a little
WASHINGTON, DC-- Today the Obama Administration announced a set of new rules that will further
normalize relations between the United States and Cuba. These regulatory changes include easing
restrictions on authorized travel, and allowing U.S. companies to establish offices in Cuba.The
announcement builds upon moves made by the Departments of Treasury and Commerce earlier this year
to loosen U.S. restrictions on trade and travel with Cuba. The embargo remains in effect, however, and

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must be lifted by an act of Congress. USA Rice is actively involved in efforts to promote normalized
commercial relations with Cuba through membership and leadership in the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for
Cuba (USACC). These most recent announcements do not appear to directly impact U.S. agricultural
trade with Cuba.
Contact: Kristen Dayton (703) 236-1464

Rice Traders on Japan's Kyushu Island Get a Taste of U.S.

Rice
Rice, nut, and fruit salad
U.S. rice: the talk of the table
FUKUOKA, JAPAN -- U.S.-grown medium grain rice made its debut at a trade exhibition here last week
and was a big hit with attendees when served in two menu items, "Rice, Nut & Fruit Salad" and "Gumbo
Soup with Turmeric Rice.
The trade show, sponsored by Nishihara Shokai,
a national food wholesaler headquartered here,
featured 220 booths and attracted more than
3,000 people, mainly food service-related traders
located throughout Kyushu Island."There was
some initial concern that the U.S-grown rice
dishes offered up would be 'too creative' for the
Japanese market," said USA Rice Vice President
International Promotion Jim Guinn. "But based
on the volume of trade inquiries from hotels and
restaurants, I'd say consumers here are more than
ready for this product. And with a population of
more than five million, Fukuoka is an important
market for U.S. medium grain, not only because it is a hub of Kyushu Island, but also because national
foodservice chains are strengthening their sales nationwide."
Kyushu is the southernmost and third largest of Japan's main islands and is home to Mount Aso, Japan's
most active volcano that rumbled to life earlier this week.
Contact: Bill Farmer (832) 302-6710

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

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CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for September 18

Month

Price

Net Change

November 2015

$12.950

+ $0.055

January 2016

$13.230

+ $0.055

March 2016

$13.440

+ $0.055

May 2016

$13.615

+ $0.055

July 2016

$13.740

+ $0.030

September 2016

$12.945

+ $0.015

November 2016

$12.945

+ $0.015

U.S./China rice trade deal not completed

Protocol still in Chinese review process
Sep 17, 2015David Bennett | Delta Farm Press

Reports that a China/U.S. rice trade

pact had been struck were
premature. Hopes that a deal would
be signed next week were put to bed
during a Wednesday (September 16)
conference call between USDAs
APHIS and major U.S. rice
players.There was conference call
yesterday with high-ranking APHIS
officials, said Michael Klein, USA
Rice Federation spokesman. A lot
of USA Rice Federation people were

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on the call. The USRPA (Rice Producers Association) was on the call, as well.
APHIS officials said they were doing the call to set the record straight because there are a lot of
rumors floating around. They wanted to confirm there is no confirmation that the Chinese have
agreed to the proposal APHIS sent them in early August. What they did confirm is their counterpart
in China, AQSIQ, has sent the U.S. draft protocol to an interagency review process. Theyve sent it
to another Chinese agency for review.Klein was keen to make sure everyone understands that
doesnt mean AQSIQ hasnt made technical changes to what APHIS sent over in August. They may
have. We just dont know because AQSIQ hasnt gotten back to APHIS with their reaction to the
draft.Were optimistic and think the U.S. rice industry is united behind that last draft.
That included a lot of concessions to the Chinese and asked them for some reasonable concessions,
as well. We are confident the Chinese could agree to it but theres been no confirmation they
have.There will certainly be no signing next week, which was rumored. We asked APHIS officials
about that. Are you sure there will be no signing next week? They said, thats correct.Klein said
the federation also asked point-blank, The USRPA has a press release saying the Chinese have
requested the signing be in Beijing. True? The response from APHIS was thats speculative.
There simply was no deal to be delayed. There was some wishful thinking that the signing would
take place next week. You know, Hey, the right people are coming to D.C. next week. It would be
great to have a signing. But without a deal, theres nothing to sign.Asked for a statement, Dwight
Roberts, USRPA president, said on the call, We were told by U.S. government sources today that
the protocol had not completed the Chinese administrative clearance that was to have been
completed in time for the Chinese delegations visit to Washington, D.C. as APHIS previously had
expected.In the meantime there is absolutely no indication that there is anything other than a green
light towards finalization of this process.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/uschina-rice-trade-deal-notcompleted?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+September+18%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+
December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

Bulog raises issue of possible subsidized rice shortage

next year
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Fri, September 18 2015, 5:22 PM

The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has said that the national stock of subsidized rice will be
close to running out by the years end. This coincides with a government decision to distribute
more rice to the poor. Bulogs president director Djarot Kusumayakti said that by December, the
agencys stock for subsidized rice would reach 62,000 tons, while it needed around 1.5 to 2
million tons to meet next years demand before harvest time. Djarot said Bulog initially expected
rice stocks at the end of this year to reach around 1.5 million tons. However, this expectation
came before President Joko Jokowi Widodo instructed Bulog to disburse more subsidized rice
as part of his economic policy package to restore purchasing power and confidence in an
economy that has declined to a six-year low in growth.
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We should anticipate this to prevent rice shortages next year, he said Thursday during a
meeting with members of the Houses Commission IV overseeing agriculture, food, forestry,
plantations, fisheries and maritime affairs. And we still do not know in what month next year
the harvest time will be. We are still waiting for rain to come.The subsidized rice program,
called beras sejahtera (prosperous rice), has been extended to 14 months of delivery instead of 12
months amid concerns over the impact of the El Nio-induced dry weather that has cut rice
production in some regions. When asked whether the shortage meant that the government would
import rice next year to fulfill national demand for the staple food, Djarot said his agency had no
authority to make such a decision.
Bulog has no authority to calculate [how many more tons] we need to import, he told reporters
after the meeting.The government could solve the shortage either by procuring more rice from
local farmers or by converting the existing premium rice into subsidized rice, according to
Djarot. Including premium non-subsidized rice, total rice stocks at Bulog stood at around
800,000 to 900,000 tons.We are raising the issue [to members of Commission IV] because we
do not have the authority to decide [whether to convert or not], he said.Meanwhile, Bulog
proposed to members of Commission IV during the meeting to approve its proposal to get an
extra Rp 3.4 trillion (US$234.7 million) in funding to finance two additional months of
subsidized rice distribution.

The ongoing drought, triggered by El Nio, has affected rice production in several regions across
Indonesia. The Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday said the government would not increase its
target for rice production next year because of the drought. In 2016, the government hopes to
produce 47 million tons rice, the same amount as total rice production predicted for this year by
the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).The reason the target remains the same is because this year
we have experienced El Nio and that has severely affected our rice production, Agriculture
Minister Amran Sulaiman said recently.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/09/18/bulog-raises-issue-possible-subsidized-rice-shortage-nextyear.html#sthash.wpbSAN8D.dpuf

Kharif plantings up 1.6%, late monsoon surge to help Rabi

TOMOJIT BASU
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18:

Almost 97 per cent of Kharif crop sowing has been completed and acreage this year is 1.6 per
cent higher than at the same time last year. Area under crops such as rice, sugarcane, cotton,
soyabean and a range of pulses touched 1021.86 lakh hectares (lha) as of Friday, as per the latest
estimates released by the Agriculture Ministry.
Pulses, in particular, have recorded a higher area by nearly 12 per cent although yields are
unlikely to rise appreciably as per the Ministrys first advance estimates released earlier this
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week. Moong and urad areas are higher by 10 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively.However,
cotton and groundnut are exceptions, having recorded lower coverage as compared to last year
by 8.4 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively.According to the Ministry's early estimate,
production of foodgrains which includes rice, pulses and coarse cereals is expected to decline
by 1.8 per cent to 124.05 million tonnes (mt) this year from 126.31 mt last year due to a poor
monsoon.The production estimates will be revised three more times over the year. Rainfall has
been 15 per cent below normal at 705.8 mm between June 1 and September 18, according to the
India Meteorology Department (IMD).
Although in its withdrawal phase, the monsoon is
likely to bring much needed precipitation to
parched areas in Maharashtra, Karnataka, the
Konkan coast and Kerala through the week.The
southern peninsula has benefited from the rain
which has seen the deficit in the region narrowing
to 13 per cent as of Friday from almost 22 per
cent at the end of August.The recovery has been
led by torrential systems forming in the Arabian
Sea and the Bay of Bengal and will likely converge over central India before drifting north, said
an Met agency official.Out of 36 sub-stations, 17 have reported deficient rainfall through the
four-month monsoon.There was initially a fear that a consecutive poor monsoon could also
impact the Rabi season but with these showers over the last few days, soil moisture will improve
and support better crop growth, said a senior government official.The late surge is also likely to
improve water levels in reservoirs which as of this week was 92.63 billion cubic metres (bcm) or
59 per cent of total storage capacity, and 23 per cent lower than the average storage of the last 10
years.
(This article was published on September 18, 2015)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/kharif-plantings-up-16-late-monsoonsurge-to-help-rabi/article7665531.ece

Yingluck to be asked to pay for rice scheme

18 Sep 2015 at 16:50
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS
The Finance Ministry will by Sept 30 demand damages up to 510 billion baht
incurred by the rice-pledging programme from ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra and
some of her cabinet ministers, as well as officials involved in the scheme.The
officials and ministers who will have to pay are those accused by the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Ms Yingluck, former commerce
minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, ex-deputy commerce minister Phoom Sarapol

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and Manas Soythong, former director general of the Foreign Trade Department.Deputy Prime Minister
Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Friday the two fact-finding committees one each under the commerce and
finance ministries will finish their work by the end of this month.
Their reports will then be sent to the prime minister, who will have the Civil Liabilities Committee
chaired by the comptroller general determine the damages for each of the accused persons and asked them
to pay."At this stage, the accused may file counter lawsuits with the Administrative Court within 30 days
to revoke the order."But if they don't, we'll seize their assets," he said.Mr Wissanu said the procedure was
not without precedent, citing two cases.In 2005, former Bank of Thailand governor Rerngchai
Marakanond was ordered to repay 186 billion baht the central bank had spent defending the reeling baht,
which led to the flotation of the local currency and culminated in the 1997 financial crisis.Mr Wissanu
also cited another case where this method of reclamation was used the procurement of fire trucks and
boats by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration where the wife and children of the late ex-governor
Samak Sundaravej were ordered to repay 587 million baht in damages in 2014 on his behalf.The
procedure is based on Section 12 of the 1996 tort liability law for government officials.
The rice-pledging programme was one of the 2011 election campaign pledges of Ms Yingluck's Pheu
Thai party, which claimed it would help the majority of people and narrow the income gap.Under the
programme, the government bought all rice farmers could produce at more than double the market price
at the time and kept it in state warehouses across the country.As the losses of the programme widened, the
government tried to limit the damage by setting up a revolving fund and accelerating rice sales to pay
farmers.As world farm prices continued to plummet, criticism mounted. The opposition Democrat party
also pointed to corruption at both the operational level and government-to-government rice sales by the
Commerce Ministry.The NACC later found the case had ground and accused Ms Yingluck of dereliction
of duty because she had failed to stop the programme despite numerous warnings.She was impeached in
January this year by the National Legislative Assembly and banned from politics for five years.
The NACC accused Mr Boonsong and Mr Phoom of corruption in G-to-G rice sales. They too met the
same fate in January.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/698720/yingluck-to-be-asked-to-pay-for-rice-scheme

Rough rice: Prices are steady even as exports slip

Stephen Pope
Managing Partner / Spotlight Group
United Kingdom
The market for US rough rice was steady even though there were disappointing export sales as
the USDA reported that cumulative net exports for the week ending September 10 were
marked at 48,800 tonnes, a decline of 48% on the previous week. However, it was seen as a
positive that exports had increased to Canada, Honduras, Mexico and Panama as well as to Japan.

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It was frustrating to learn that the Phytosanitary Protocol that would open the door for exports to China
is not any closer to being signed than it was at the start of the month. The word is that the agreement is
being held up by inter-agency administrative and regulatory considerations in China. Beijing has not been
willing to establish a timeline when the protocol will be approved and signed.

Source: www.investing.com, Spotlight Ideas

The chart above shows that the market for rough rice endured a decline from June 2014 through to May
29 this year. Since then the spot has tracked above the 50 day moving average and both have settled
comfortably inside the new impulsive channel. By December 14 one will see the 200 day moving average
start swinging into that channel as well.I expect that even with the typical channel rotation one should
look to see the gap between the flat-line around USD 15.50/100 pounds to close; that is what I am
banking on.

Rough Rice 5 Year Chart:

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Source: www.investing.com

Management and risk:

Parameters:

Rough Rice Nov 15 RRX5 USD/100 Pounds

Entry:

Buy at 12.88 13:28 GMT

13.35 13.78 13.98 to 15.50

Targets:
Stop:

11.72

Time horizon: Medium term (3 months)

Edited by Clemens Bomsdorf

https://www.tradingfloor.com/posts/rough-rice-prices-are-steady-even-as-exports-slip-6242656

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Despite rain shortage, kharif holding up

Govt's 1st advance estimate shows output might be only slightly down over last year's final one
for the season, due to early onset of monsoon and its relatively better distribution
BS Reporter | New Delhi September 16, 2015 Last Updated at 22:33 IST
Kharif area shows slight uptickKharif
sowing shows signs of revival, but still a
long way to goOdisha targets 10 mt food
grain output in kharif seasonKharif
sowing covers 89% of areaPaddy buying
up 21% in kharif.A less than normal
southwest monsoon over almost 30 per
cent of the country seems to have been
balanced by its timely onset and rather
uniform distribution, leaving little
impact
on
kharif
farm
production.According to the first
advance
estimate
of
foodgrain
production, issued by the ministry of
agriculture on Wednesday, output in the
2015-16 kharif season is expected to be 124.05 million tonnes, almost four mt more than the first estimate
of the 2014-15 kharif output.
This is despite cumulative rainfall in the current monsoon season being deficient by 15 per cent, higher
than the l deficit of 12 per cent in 2014-15. The statement attributed it to timely onset of the monsoon and
the governments interventions with contingency plans, timely advisories and monitoring of seed and
fertiliser availability.However, when compared to the final kharif production of 2014-15, this year's first
advance estimate is 2.26 mt less. The record so far is 131.27 mt foodgrain production in 2011-12.
Compared to the fourth advance estimate of 2014-15, close to the final figure for the year, kharif
production of rice, coarse cereals and pulses are likely to fall this year. The estimates are preliminary and
could undergo revision, the statement added.The first estimate shows rice output declining to 90.61 mt in
the 2015-16 kharif against 90.86 mt in the same season the previous year.
However, compared to the 2014-15 first estimate, production is expected to increase by 2.59
mt.Similarly, in relation to the fourth estimate of 2014-15, coarse cereals production is likely to drop to
27.88 mt this kharif, from 29.82 mt in the 2014-15 season. Output of pulses is projected to fall to 5.56 mt
from 5.63 mt in the said period.From the first advance estimate of 2014-15, coarse cereals production is
0.83 mt more, while pulses production in the season is expected to be 0.36 mt higher.Among pulses,
production of tur (pigeon pea) is estimated to decline to 2.61 mt in the 2015-16 kharif from the 2014-15
fourth estimate of 2.71 mt. Urad (black gram) production is projected to increase to 1.37 mt from 1.27 mt
in the period under review, using the same measure.

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In the past few days, monsoon rains have revived in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and
Telangana that will improve the prospects of pulses production, Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain told
PTI.It was mainly pulses which was an exception to the falling retail inflation and wholesale prices. Retail
prices rose 22.9 per cent in pulses, while wholesale prices surged 65.3 per cent. Interestingly, oilseeds
production is likely to increase to 19.89 mt this kharif, from 18.32 mt in the fourth estimate of the yearago period.Cotton, one of the main cash crops grown during kharif, is expected to be 33.5 million bales,
down from the 2014-15 first estimate of 34.62 mn (a bale is 170 kg).Experts say kharif output would be
slightly better this time than the previous year's but the deficient monsoon could hit rabi crops, which
depend on soil moisture.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/despite-rain-shortage-kharif-holding-up115091601474_1.html

For Arkansas rice farmer, hope for sales to Cuba even as

exports drop
Will sales come before Arkansas farmer Joe Mencer retires?
Buoyed by White House efforts, ag sector nationwide hopes for more Cuban sales
Experts: Battle in Congress seems headed to stalemate, at least in short term
Joe Mencer checks on his rice crop on his farm in southeastern Arkansas on Aug. 10, 2015. Mencer has
joined with farmers from across the country to push for expanded trade to Cuba, although efforts in
Congress to do so have so far been stalled. Chris Adams McClatchy

BY CHRIS ADAMS
cadams@mcclatchydc.com
LAKE VILLAGE, ARK. From the edge of his rice
fields in southeastern Arkansas, Joe Mencer can climb
a levee and lay eyes on a small Mississippi River port
that loads up grain for a trip to New Orleans. From
there, it could be on its way toward Cuba.Total time
from Mencers rice fields to Havana would be about a
week less than 1,000 miles down the Mississippi and
across the Gulf of Mexico.These days, however,
Cubas rice generally comes from Vietnam some
11,000 shipping miles, and six weeks, away.

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Im 55 years old. This is my 34th rice crop, Mencer said as he looked from atop the levee toward the
Mississippi. I keep hoping Ill be able to sell some of it to Cuba before I retire.Right now, the chance of
that happening is uncertain, despite the Obama administrations opening to Cuba.Announced last
December, the opening aims to undo a policy the White House considers outdated and ineffective. It
already has led to renewed diplomatic relations with the island nation just 90 miles from U.S. shores.For
American farmers, it could mean a thriving market with 11 million people but not the farms to feed them.
Rice farmers in Arkansas would love to get more of their product on Cubans plates as would citrus
growers in Florida and blueberry growers in Maine and wheat growers in Kansas.Whats driving growers
and lawmakers in Arkansas is doing the same all across the U.S. agricultural sector.
Were blessed in Arkansas we grow about everything, said Republican Sen. John Boozman.But
Boozman and his colleagues face significant headwinds in their efforts to partially or completely
dismantle the embargo and other restrictions that have governed trade with Cuba for decades.

IM AFRAID IF WE LIFT THE TRAVEL BAN BUT THEN WAIT TOO LONG ON THE
EMBARGO, WITHIN A FEW YEARS AMERICAN TOURISTS WILL BE SLEEPING
IN SPANISH-FINANCED HOTELS AND EATING GERMAN FOOD.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, sponsor of a Cuba trade bill
Despite bipartisan support for pro-trade measures, the opposition to doing business with Cuba is
strong and entrenched; getting any measure through Congress this session will be difficult,
according to experts on both sides of the issue.Beyond that, Cuba hasnt recently burned up the
shipping lanes, despite the White Houses celebrated and controversial opening.In July 2014,
food and agricultural exports from the U.S. to Cuba were $17.2 million; in July 2015, they were
$3.3 million, according to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.Through the first seven
months of 2015, the exports are on a slower pace than the total $291 million in 2014. Theyre
well off the $710 million in 2008, the high-water mark since a 2000 law let certain U.S.
producers make agricultural or food sales to Cuba, albeit only on a cash no credit basis.Tops
among agricultural exports to Cuba, according to the council: frozen chicken. Soybeans and
corn, and processed products such as whiskeys and soups, were represented as well.Nowhere to
be found was rice.
Mencer, who farms some 1,700 acres of rice here in the southeastern corner of Arkansas, said it
hasnt always been that way. He has traveled to Cuba as part of a trade show and testified before
a U.S. Senate committee on the issue.In 1951, Cuba was the destination for more than 250,000
metric tons of U.S. rice a significant share of U.S. rice exports at the time, Mencer told
senators. Sales were steady in the 1950s but plummeted after the trade embargo took effect
starting in 1960.Even after agriculture trade rules were partially relaxed in 2000, sales didnt live
up to the hope or the hype of U.S. growers. After a brief run in the mid-2000s, U.S. rice sales
to Cuba have since dropped to zero.Rather than look across the Gulf of Mexico for its rice, Cuba
these days looks across the Pacific Ocean.

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The turn in trade is frustrating for Mencer, whose vast delta land by the river also grows cotton
and corn and soybeans. In all, he has 6,700 acres under cultivation, and on a blistering, 100degree day in August he checked on his fields and the elaborate piping system that keeps rice
plants consistently wet.One fact driving his quest: Per-capita rice consumption in Cuba is
significantly higher than in the U.S. Cubans at least a long time ago liked American rice: The
U.S. Department of Agriculture noted in a June report that consumers in pre-revolutionary Cuba
generally liked the taste, appearance and cooking qualities of U.S. rice varieties and were willing
to pay a premium for them.One effort underway in Congress seeks to energize agriculture sales
by easing the rules against the use of credit. Its a tactic that has won the support of many farmstate lawmakers, including Republicans generally opposed to the presidents foreign policy.In
Arkansas, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson was once a congressman who supported the Cuban
trade embargo.
But later this month hell travel to Cuba, seeking business for his state. He thinks credit sales
should be allowed.You get out in the farmland of America and they say, What weve been
doing for the last 50 years has not been effective. Lets try something different, he said in an
interview.That said, getting Cuba to boost its sales might not be so simple, said John S.
Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.Vietnam provides Cuba
with two-plus years to pay for the rice, he said. A U.S. company is not going to do that.And
while U.S. agricultural companies do want to ease the credit rules, it doesnt necessarily follow
that theyll line up to extend easy terms to Cuba.Its unwise for anyone to support these
legislative efforts because of a belief that if it became law there will be a dramatic increase in
exports to Cuba, Kavulich said. Because history doesnt show it. Right now, Cuba is being
oversold.
THE CUBAN ECONOMY IS RUN BY THE CUBAN MILITARY, AND SEN. RUBIO
BELIEVES WE SHOULD BE DENYING FUNDING TO THIS ANTI-AMERICAN
FORCE, WHICH WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE RUSSIAN, CHINESE AND NORTH
KOREAN GOVERNMENTS AGAINST AMERICAS SECURITY INTERESTS.
Alex Burgos, spokesman for Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida
And getting anything through Congress this year will be tough.Look at the congressional
calendar: Theres a full plate as it is, said Jason Poblete, a former Republican congressional
staffer whos an international regulatory lawyer with Poblete Tamargo LLP of Washington.
Theres Iran, FY 2016 appropriations, the Planned Parenthood debate. It will be difficult for
Cuba measures to move this year.Thats not for lack of effort.In the Senate, at least three bills
have gotten a lot of attention. And while they are bipartisan, they still would need to get through
the considerable opposition from senators such as Marco Rubio, the Cuban-American
Republican from West Miami, Fla., who has become a leading voice against Obamas Cuba
opening.One bill, by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., goes the furthest to lift the trade embargo
and has the most number of co-sponsors: 21 as of Friday.My bill just lifts the embargo, she
said in an interview. At some point, you can do it piece by piece, or you can decide were going
to lift the embargo.
Experts generally see the most support for legislation to lift restrictions on travel to Cuba a
related but separate issue Klobuchar also supports. But, she added, Im afraid if we lift the
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travel ban but then wait too long on the embargo, within a few years American tourists will be
sleeping in Spanish-financed hotels and eating German food.A measure from Sen. Jerry Moran,
R-Kan., would lift the embargo but maintain restrictions on the use of U.S.-funded tradeassistance programs for exports to Cuba. Two senators have joined that bill.A measure from Sen.
Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D. as well as Boozman from Arkansas is targeted on the rules against
credit sales for agriculture exports. It has 13 co-sponsors and recently passed a committee as an
attachment to an appropriations bill.Sen.
Angus King, an independent from Maine, is on all three trade bills but acknowledges their stiff
odds this session. While he sees bipartisan support for the issue, a vote on a standalone bill
particularly given the Senates filibuster rules would be tough.But hes hopeful for the long
term.Its a policy that no longer makes any sense, said King, who said an opening of trade
could help agriculture and other Maine industries everything from potato and blueberry
growers to boat builders. At some point, even the Congress will wake up to that fact.
Chris Adams: 202-383-6071, @CAdamsMcClatchy
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article34935021.html

Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

A comprehensive daily commodity market report for Arkansas agricultural commodities with cash
markets, futures and insightful analysis and commentary from Arkansas Farm Bureau commodity
analysts.
Noteworthy benchmark price levels of interest to farmers and ranchers, as well as long-term
commodity market trends which are developing. Daily fundamental market influences and technical
factors are noted and discussed.

Soybeans
High Low
Cash Bids 920

830

New Crop 914

830

Riceland Foods

Cash Bids Stuttgart: - - -

Daily Global

Pendleton: - - -

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New Crop Stuttgart: - - -

Pendleton: - - -

Futures:

High

Low

Last

Change

Nov '15 886.50

866.50

867.25

-17.25

Jan '16 890.50

871.25

871.50

-17.25

Mar '16 893.50

874.75

874.75

-17.25

May '16 896.00

877.50

878.00

-16.75

Jul '16 900.00

882.50

882.75

-16.00

Aug '16 897.75

883.50

882.00

-16.00

Sep '16 883.00

877.00

873.25

-14.25

Nov '16 884.00

869.50

869.75

-13.25

Jan '17 888.00

880.00

876.00

-13.00

Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Soybean Comment
Soybeans closed sharply lower. Today's sharp losses led to beans being down 7-cents on the week
and more than 20-cents off of weekly highs. While new export sales continue to hit the wire, sales
continue to lag well behind usual. Prices will remain under pressure as the market awaits a new
estimate of U.S. production and its first look at South American production.

Wheat
High Low

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Cash Bids 394

394

New Crop 489

464

Futures:

High

Low

Last

Change

Dec '15 488.75

480.00

486.75

+5.25

Mar '16 495.25

487.00

493.50

+5.00

May '16 499.75

492.00

498.25

+4.75

Jul '16 504.00

496.75

502.25

+4.75

Sep '16 512.00

505.50

511.00

+5.00

Dec '16 525.50

520.00

524.50

+4.25

Mar '17 535.25

535.25

535.00

+4.00

May '17

533.75

+3.75

Jul '17

524.75

+3.75

Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Wheat Comment
Wheat prices surged higher today and managed to close higher in the week. While there remains
little fundamental support for gains, the market is technically oversold and due a correction.

Grain Sorghum
High Low

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Cash Bids 401

362

New Crop 400

374

Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Corn
High Low
Cash Bids 390

335

New Crop 390

340

Futures:

High

Low

Last

Change

Dec '15 382.50

376.50

377.25

-2.50

Mar '16 393.75

388.00

388.50

-2.50

May '16 401.00

395.50

396.00

-2.50

Jul '16 405.50

400.75

401.75

-2.00

Sep '16 399.25

394.75

396.25

-0.75

Dec '16 405.25

400.50

402.75

0.00

Mar '17 413.00

412.00

412.75

-0.25

419.00

0.00

423.00

+0.50

May '17
Jul '17 422.50

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422.50

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Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Corn Comment
Corn prices ended the day lower for the fourth day in a row. Corn remains under pressure from
improving harvest. Production remains the main wild card in this market and will continue to keep
prices under pressure. For the week corn saw modest losses and is likely to have difficulty making
meaningful gains in the coming weeks.

Cotton
Futures:

High

Low

Last Change

Oct '15 61.8

59.53

59.85

-1.98

Dec '15 62.48

60.4

60.55

-1.85

Mar '16 62.24

60.4

60.52

-1.7

Memphis, TN Cotton and Tobacco Programs

Cotton Comment
Cotton futures plummeted today on concerns about the global economy after the Fed announced
their decision not to raise interest rates. With the ending stocks estimate continuing to climb thanks
to higher production, weaker demand will only make the balance sheet worse for cotton prices.
December set a new contract low today, falling below 61 cents.

Rice
High Low
Long Grain Cash Bids - - -

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Long Grain New Crop - - -

---

Futures:

High

Low

Last

Change

Nov '15 1299.0

1279.5

1295.0

+5.5

Jan '16 1325.5

1311.0

1323.0

+5.5

Mar '16 1344.0

1343.0

1344.0

+5.5

May '16

1361.5

+5.5

Jul '16

1374.0

+3.0

Sep '16

1294.5

+1.5

Nov '16

1294.5

+1.5

Rice Comment
Rice futures were higher across the board, but were capped by yesterday's highs. Carryover
weakness from other commodities and from outside markets limited the upside potential of the
market today. November continues to have resistance at $13, while January has resistance at
$13.34.

Cattle
Futures:
Live Cattle:

Daily Global

High

Low

Last

Change

Oct '15 137.425

135.825

135.925

-0.925

Dec '15 139.825

138.025

138.375

-0.950

Feb '16 140.575

138.725

139.150

-0.900

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Feeders:

Apr '16 139.400

137.625

138.000

-1.000

Jun '16 131.075

129.300

129.875

-0.975

Aug '16 129.725

127.700

128.100

-1.375

Oct '16 132.475

130.600

131.000

-1.750

Dec '16 133.500

131.825

132.375

-1.750

Feb '17 134.000

133.500

133.475

-0.500

Low

Last

Change

Sep '15 193.600

191.125

192.925

-0.275

Oct '15 188.350

184.625

185.300

-2.500

Nov '15 186.625

182.550

182.950

-3.075

Jan '16 181.250

177.000

177.400

-3.400

Mar '16 179.775

175.350

175.400

-3.925

Apr '16 180.125

175.775

176.100

-3.700

May '16 178.700

175.300

175.775

-3.425

Aug '16 179.550

176.350

176.850

-3.150

High

Arkansas Prices
Arkansas Weekly Livestock Summary

Cattle Comment
Cattle prices closed lower again today. As the market continues to worry about demand, cattle prices
have experienced sharp losses this week with live cattle down almost $10 on the week while feeders
were down more than $5.

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Hogs
Futures:

High

Low

Last

Change

Oct '15 71.325

70.100

71.200

+0.625

Dec '15 64.550

63.275

64.000

-0.350

Feb '16 68.725

67.600

68.300

-0.400

Apr '16 72.275

71.350

72.025

-0.400

May '16 77.150

76.600

77.150

0.000

Jun '16 80.400

79.575

79.975

-0.525

Jul '16 79.575

79.000

79.450

-0.250

Aug '16 78.950

78.500

78.675

-0.575

Oct '16 67.600

67.150

67.300

-0.400

Hog Comment
http://www.arfb.com/ag-markets-statistics/report/

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