Monthly Archives: July 2011

USA – GM rice case reportedly settled for $750 million

Source: Delta Farm Press01/07/2011 – Bayer settles GM rice litigation for $750 million in damages, plus all administrative costs. Settlement stems from 2006, when trace amounts of GM material were found in U.S. rice supply. Acreage threshold must be met for settlement to be viable.

Japan to resume rice futures after seven-decade suspension

Source: Bloomberg01/07/2011 – Tokyo Grain Exchange Inc., operator of Japan’s largest agricultural commodity bourse, has been approved to list rice futures, resuming trade after a seven- decade suspension.

USA – Kellogg, Wal-Mart tour Louisiana rice fields

Source: Delta Farm Press30/06/2011 – The field day at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station at Crowley, La., was a follow-up to a planning meeting held in February for a Master Rice Grower program in collaboration with the Louisiana Master Farmer program, Kellogg and Louisiana Rice Mill. The event allowed farmers to demonstrate how they are…

Rice supplies tightening in China may increase imports, bolster inflation

Source: Bloomberg30/06/2011 – Rice supply in China, the world’s biggest grower and consumer, may decline after drought and floods damaged crops, potentially boosting inflation and increasing imports.

Ghana – Ghana to increase rice production by 2012

Source: GNA29/06/2011 – Government is poised to produce 20,000 metric tonnes of “highest grade” quality rice by 2012 to reduce rice importation.

India – Food ministry say ‘okay’ to possible grain exports

Source: Money Control29/06/2011 – Food minister KV Thomas gave a nod to possible exports of grains because of bumper crops and overflowing storage on Wednesday, after government sources told Reuters there could be one million tonnes of both wheat and rice offered.

USA – California ships 100% solar powered rice to Japan

Source: Clean Technica26/06/2011 – The U.S. agricultural sector is beginning to take on a leadership role in the transition to renewable energy, and the latest example is the California rice industry’s adoption of solar power. In a first of its kind partnership, several California rice companies pooled their stock to put together an entire shipment of rice…

USA – Feds block rice with invasive insect from entering country at Baltimore port

Source: The Baltimore Sun23/06/2011 – Baltimore Customs and Border Protection agents have ordered a shipping container of rice from Pakistan to be sent back or destroyed in an effort to block a destructive, invasive beetle from entering the United States.

India – World rice output in 2011 estimated at 476mn tonnes: FAO

Source: The Hindu24/06/2011 – Global rice production is expected to touch 476 million tonnes in 2011, on the back of improved weather conditions, as the influence of La Nina is expected to neutralise by June, United Nation’s body FAO said.

USA – Texas rice farmers’ livelihoods at Stake in water talks

Source: The Texas tribune23/06/2011 – From Austin to this city in Southeast Texas, the Colorado River makes six twists and turns before it reaches Mike Burnside’s rice farm in Matagorda County. Through a 1,100 mile-long canal system, Burnside floods nearly 1,000 acres of rice fields, which are emerald green in June despite the drought.