AGP Executive Report

Biosecurity Alert: Canada has banned livestock imports from Texas after a second confirmed new world screwworm case in a month-old calf, tightening entry rules for cattle, horses and other animals from the state. Policy & Costs: Ireland’s Natura and Hill Farmers Association says the new CAP must cover extra expenses from land designations under conservation rules, arguing farmers have carried costs for years. Farmer Support & Markets: Bangladesh’s Netrakona held a workshop to expand Ropa Aman rice cultivation, while Rangpur farmers reported a record 1,43,666 tonnes of onions in the 2025-26 Rabi season. Trade & Diplomacy: India’s agriculture minister says BRICS talks in Indore will focus on food security, smart farming and farmer welfare. Input Pressure: A Reuters look at Brazil warns fertilizer price spikes could squeeze farmers despite past land advantages. Community & Value Addition: Nepal’s WFP launched a climate innovation accelerator for food security, backing farmer-focused startups.

Drought Relief and Crop Timing: A drought monitor update shows improvement across parts of Kansas, with extreme drought shrinking and forecasts hinting at warmer, slightly wetter conditions—good news for summer crops, but wheat harvest is still waiting on drier field conditions. Farm Profit Pressure: Indiana grain farmers say market swings plus high input costs are making break-even tough, even as planting progresses and precision changes are expected to help future decisions. Election Priorities for Farmers: New Zealand’s Federated Farmers unveiled a five-point plan for Election 2026, pushing lower farming costs, faster tech and infrastructure, stronger community conservation, support for young farmers, and local government fixes. Dairy Cost Shock: Dairy prices are expected to rise as Middle East conflict strains energy and fertiliser supply, lifting costs for producers. Worker Safety in Huelva: A Moroccan union is calling for stronger protections for seasonal female farmworkers in Spain after a reported heatstroke death on strawberry farms. Iraq Farmers Get Paid: Iraq released overdue compensation to farmers after protests over delayed agricultural payments. Sugarcane Payment Uncertainty: Fiji cane growers are demanding clarity on cane payments and support measures ahead of the 2026 harvest. Rice Disease Breakthrough: Chinese scientists say they’ve identified a “molecular spy” used by rice blast fungus and found a way to counter it, aiming for broader, greener resistance breeding. Feral Pigs Damage NSW Farms: Dry conditions are driving feral pigs deeper into NSW paddocks, tearing up pasture and increasing weed risk. Irrigation Hope for Rajshahi: Bangladesh’s planned Padma Barrage is pitched as a game-changer for groundwater-dependent farmers, using stored monsoon water for irrigation and salinity control.

Farm Safety & Security: Bandits in Nigeria’s Zamfara reportedly shot farmers clearing fields, raising fears that insecurity will keep people away from farms and push up food prices. Weather & Planting Guidance: Maharashtra’s monsoon is moving slowly; officials warn farmers not to sow based on scattered thunderstorms, with sustained rain needed after June 15. Water-Smart Farming: In Abra, lawmakers urge faster farmland leveling to improve irrigation efficiency, alongside rainwater harvesting and solar-powered irrigation plans. Rural Infrastructure: Zamboanga del Sur (Philippines) signed P345m farm-to-market road deals funded through the 2026 budget to cut transport costs and connect farms to markets. Export Wins: Jharkhand flagged off its first commercial Amrapali mango shipment to the UK (1.5 tonnes), linking an all-women FPC to export buyers. Biosecurity & Inputs: New World screwworm was detected in Texas, prompting containment preparations for livestock health. Food & Environment Risks: A study near a Jaipur plastic dumping yard found high BPA contamination in soil and water, a potential threat to crops. Dairy Decarbonisation: First Milk and Nestlé UK & Ireland switched milk transport to HVO, cutting journey emissions by about 83%.

US Farm Policy & Politics: President Trump held a Wisconsin roundtable with farmers, hearing complaints on input monopolies, trade, and high costs. Animal Health Threat: The U.S. confirmed New World screwworm in Texas, prompting renewed quarantine and response planning for ranchers and livestock movement. Pakistan Farmer Accountability: Maize growers are questioning hybrid seed performance after reports of disappointing yields versus marketing claims, raising calls for clearer accountability when inputs fail. South Asia Procurement Pressure: Telangana’s CM warned the Centre of “serious consequences” if it doesn’t fully procure paddy by June 15. Pakistan Agri Infrastructure: Punjab ordered model agriculture malls in 10 more districts, expanding one-stop inputs, expert services, and machinery rental. Food Access at Markets: Portland’s Lents International Farmers Market returns with SNAP/EBT support and kids’ spending bucks. Research Under Strain: Canada’s organic research plots were torn up after federal agricultural research cuts, jeopardizing 19 years of data. Trade & Development: Ghana launched the $3.5b AgriConnect Compact to boost jobs and value chains across cocoa, rice, maize, oil palm, and poultry. Local Market Safety: A vehicle crashed into the Wilmington Farmers Market, injuring several pedestrians.

Fertiliser & Fuel Crunch: Kenya’s NCPB says it has supplied millions of bags of top-dressing fertiliser to the North Rift, but farmers in Eldoret still protest delays as more consignments move in. Input Shock Warning: A new analysis on the Hormuz crisis flags how fertilizer supply disruptions can’t be “rerouted” like oil, raising risks of harvest shortfalls and food-price spikes. Weather Risk Management: Kenya Met urges moisture-saving steps for June—mulching, minimum tillage, tied ridges, rainwater harvesting—while warning many regions face near-average to below-average rains. Farmer-Industry Finance: Nairobi hosts the FINAS 2026 summit to tackle a $100bn agriculture funding gap, aiming to turn policy promises into bankable investments for smallholders. Trade & Policy Pressure: The UK faces renewed calls to delay a CBAM fertiliser levy that could raise farm costs from 2027, while separate moves include EU fertilizer tariff relief. Land & Infrastructure: In the Philippines, P120m farm-to-market roads in Catanauan near completion to speed produce access to markets. Local Value & Markets: Cambodia launches the Cam Agri Hub to deliver climate and farming guidance online, and Davao’s cacao push highlights direct sourcing that boosts farmer incomes.

Farm Resilience in Wisconsin: After an extremely dry May, Wisconsin farmers say rain is finally helping crops like corn sprout, though they warn it’s only a short reprieve. Animal Health Rules: Georgia and Florida moved fast after the New World screwworm was confirmed in Texas, tightening interstate movement requirements for warm-blooded animals. Ghana Budget Fight: Ghana’s agriculture and finance ministries are at odds over whether GH¢1.677bn was released for 2026 farming programs, with MoFA disputing the Finance Ministry’s figures. U.S. Politics Meets Farm Reality: President Trump held a Wisconsin agriculture roundtable, touting jobs, tax benefits, and possible new payments for farmers amid tariff pressure. Local Markets, Local Food: Palace City Farmers Market in South Dakota opens its 2026 season, while WIC farmers market benefits in Georgia are set to boost access to fresh produce. Poultry Biosecurity: British Columbia is funding high-risk Fraser Valley poultry farms with tech to reduce avian influenza risk. Trade & Enforcement: The Philippines’ customs agency blocked a P7.7m attempt to smuggle misdeclared agricultural goods at Manila’s port. Market Watch: Soybeans and corn slid again as weather looks favorable but export demand stays soft.

Weather Risk: Philippines lawmakers urged early planning for an El Niño that could cut rainfall and raise drought risk for farmers and food supply, citing an 80% chance of formation by August 2026. Farm Support Funding: UK DEFRA opened applications for the ADOPT Fund, backing farmer-led on-farm trials and demonstrations, with deadlines in July. Pest Watch: Canada’s prairies are ramping up scouting as pea leaf weevil monitoring begins and bertha armyworm development nears adult emergence. Input Access: Indonesia streamlined subsidized fertilizer distribution so farmers can redeem supplies earlier, with millions of tons already delivered. Food Prices: FAO reported the Food Price Index stayed broadly stable in May, while cereal prices rose on weather and higher fuel and fertilizer costs. Market/Trade Moves: Cambodia and China agreed sanitary rules to improve dried longan access to China. Biosecurity Alarm: New World screwworm was confirmed in South Texas, triggering quarantines and calls for vigilance. Local Farm Economy: Ghana launched the AgriConnect Compact aiming to attract $3.5bn and create 2.6m jobs across rice, maize, cocoa, oil palm and poultry value chains. Ag Policy & Compliance: California released a roadmap to cut red tape by streamlining how farmers report food safety and water quality data. Security & Conflict: Nigeria saw deadly farmers-herders clashes in Bauchi, with homes burned and multiple deaths.

Biosecurity Alarm: The New World Screwworm has been detected in a Texas calf for the first time in decades, triggering quarantine and movement controls as officials warn ranchers to act fast. Policy Pressure: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller accuses USDA of slow response and urges immediate use of the adult suppression system. Flood Relief: In Guyana’s Mahaicony Creek area, President Irfaan Ali says flood investments since 2021 are reducing damage, while equipment and pumps are being deployed to protect farmlands. Agri-Food Cooperation: FAO’s Russia office links BRICS agri-food cooperation to future global trade, stressing fair market access and innovation. Farm Support & Inputs: Pakistan’s Punjab rolls out the Green Tractor Scheme with subsidies and interest-free loans for machinery, while Malaysia’s Selangor adds RM25m to offset rising ag operating costs. Drought Reality Check: Nebraska farmers face worsening drought in the Panhandle despite some rain elsewhere, with experts warning the crop-saving window is closing. Market & Trade: Iowa farmers push to renew USMCA as a July 1 review nears, while grain markets show pressure in soybeans and corn.

Climate-smart inputs & soil carbon: Jain Irrigation Systems commissioned a ~20,000-tonne/year biochar facility in Jalgaon, turning crop and fruit-processing residues into stable carbon for long-term storage while boosting soil health. Farmers’ mental health: A University of Guelph study says women farmers face higher risk of mental health struggles, tied to extra unpaid work and lower inclusion. Pest pressure: Agriculture Victoria urged north-west Victoria landholders to report locust activity as adult numbers run above normal and egg-laying begins. Dairy management wins: A calf-rearing report highlights colostrum monitoring and fast feeding routines to improve newborn health. Policy & markets: Wisconsin’s Mandela Barnes unveiled an agriculture agenda including antitrust enforcement, tariff refunds, expanded market access, and a “right to repair” push ahead of Trump’s rural visit. Fertilizer squeeze: South Carolina farmers warn surging fertilizer and diesel costs are tightening margins ahead of the agriculture commissioner primary. Research for resilience: Australia launched a renewed faba bean breeding push to improve yield, disease resistance, and quality as the crop expands. Local support: New York requested USDA disaster designation after April frost hit fruit growers, seeking low-interest emergency loans.

Climate Risk Management: Zimbabwe says it’s readying a multi-pronged plan to protect crops and livestock from a predicted Super El Niño, with officials warning of drought, heatwaves, and yield losses. Input Costs & Trade Policy: The U.S. eases tariffs on some farm and industrial equipment, cutting rates from 25% to 15% through end-2027 to lower machinery costs for producers. Farm Safety & Regulation: Ireland’s agriculture department drops a plan to require retrofitting roofs on existing uncovered slurry tanks, citing feasibility concerns. Water & Irrigation: Syria faces a “catastrophe” from illegal wells draining aquifers, while Georgia and Türkiye focus on irrigation and drainage upgrades to boost water-smart farming. Farmer Support Programs: Pennsylvania will again issue senior farmers market vouchers in Carbon County, and Idaho’s Institute of Rural Health gets funding to expand produce vouchers via local farmers markets. Market & Community: Sonoma County approves an agriculture stabilization action plan as dairies and vineyards continue to shrink. Agri Business & Exports: Zambia’s SeedCo reports exporting 15,000 seed units across East Africa, positioning the country as a regional seed supplier. On-the-ground Challenges: Fiji’s Taveuni yaqona growers demand tougher penalties after repeated thefts.

Irrigation Boost for Rice: Malaysia’s Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority received an extra RM850,000 to build tube wells in padi areas hit by water shortages, aiming to cultivate up to 95% of 24,500 hectares and target about 200,000 tonnes of rice. Fuel Access for Farm Work: Kedah’s domestic trade ministry is helping farmers get free special permits to buy more than 20 litres of petrol or diesel for machinery, with 494 new permits approved since Jan 1. Soil Health Equipment Grants: Minnesota awarded 166 cost-share grants totaling $4.7m for regenerative soil practices, including no-till and cover-crop machinery. Living Cover Leadership: Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative named oat and barley researcher Kevin Smith co-director to push continuous living cover. Pond Aquaculture Tool: AquaCulture Pro launched a free feed conversion ratio (FCR) calculator for small pond farmers, helping users spot costly feed inefficiencies. Poultry Disease Policy Shift: South Africa moved to allow HPAI vaccinations, shifting away from mass culling as a “stamping-out” model. Trade & Logistics: AD Ports agreed to acquire Brazil’s CLI agri-bulk port terminals, strengthening grain and sugar export routes. Market Pressure: South Africa’s citrus exporters warn supply-chain disruptions and fuel costs are squeezing margins. Food Assistance Rules: New U.S. SNAP retailer requirements will tighten stocking standards starting Nov. 4, 2026.

Digital Farming Push: Albania unveiled “YLLI,” an AI virtual assistant inside its Farmer Portal, promising real-time market prices and plot monitoring to help farmers meet European standards. Border Biosecurity: Texas lawmakers and USDA officials are stepping up response planning after New World screwworm was detected in Mexico near the U.S. line, raising stakes for ranching and public health. Fertilizer Price Probe: A dairy farm filed a class action alleging major fertilizer firms conspired to limit supply and inflate NPK prices, squeezing U.S. farmers. Animal Health Watch: Utah confirmed avian influenza at a dairy in Cache County and ordered mandatory weekly surveillance and quarantines. Trade & Input Costs: Trump cut tariffs on some farm and industrial equipment from 25% to 15%, aiming to ease machinery cost pressure. Food System & Safety: A worker was burned in an explosion at a Dairy Farmers of America plant; injuries were not life-threatening. Market Signals: Iowa planting progress nears completion as fieldwork improves, with moisture still tight in parts of the state. Agribusiness Events: Belarus’ Belagro expo opened in Minsk with machinery, greenhouse tech, and dairy-focused showcases.

Flood Fallout: Bangladesh’s Kishoreganj haor flash floods have wiped out more than half of expected Boro paddy, with discoloured grain now largely unfit for consumption—likely tightening rice supply and pushing prices up. Animal Health Policy: Ireland launched the Biosecurity Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Health (TASAH) for 2026–2028, offering free farm visits and veterinary consultations to help control major livestock diseases. Farmgate Prices Protest: Maharashtra onion growers are staging agitation over “throwaway” prices, after the Union set MAPP for Rabi onions in Nashik at Rs 1,580 per quintal. Trade & Inputs: The US temporarily cut tariffs on select agricultural and industrial equipment to 15% until Dec 2027, aiming to lower machinery costs while keeping broader protectionism. Skills for Food Security: UK land-based sectors face a severe skills shortage, with Lantra warning it threatens food security and net-zero goals. Biochar for Carbon Credits: A new biochar methodology links farm residue use to carbon and biodiversity outcomes, offering farmers a low-cost pathway to carbon credit claims. Poultry Competitiveness: South Africa overtook the US as the world’s No.2 poultry producer, driven by improved feed efficiency.

Highland Vegetable Rescue-Buy: In Atok, Benguet, a rescue-buy initiative (Project UBBO) helped 146 farmers move about 79,236 kilos of vegetables after oversupply crushed farm-gate prices, while local leaders push for fair long-term pricing reforms. Water & Farm Policy Push in Iowa: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed agriculture and water-quality bills, including “Farm to Faucet” funding of about $319 million over 12 years to upgrade water treatment and support rural and urban water quality improvements. Farmers Brace for Weather Uncertainty: Wisconsin producers are shifting to first-crop hay as planting and fieldwork progress, while South Dakota farmers face drought pressure and input disruptions, and Australia watches for an El Niño declaration that could swing conditions. Risk Management Tools: USDA’s Livestock Risk Protection updates are giving cattle and dairy producers more ways to hedge volatile prices using futures-based coverage. Food Safety Alert: Minnesota’s agriculture department issued a consumer advisory for certain Milkjam Creamery frozen desserts over possible metal fragments. Trade & Biosecurity: U.S. CBP quarantined a rare leafhopper found in a leafy-greens shipment at Nogales, underscoring ongoing pest-prevention efforts.

Livestock & Rural Business: Namibia’s Oruharui SME Agricultural Expo wrapped up with top livestock producers crowned, plus feed prizes and support for small businesses, as organisers said the event helps farmers benchmark breeding and improve animal quality. CAP Policy Watch: Ireland’s MEP Nina Carberry met farm groups on the next EU Common Agricultural Policy, urging protection of direct payments and rural development funding, with less red tape and properly funded environmental schemes. Wheat Shock Signals Higher Food Costs: The U.S. is heading for its weakest wheat harvest in decades, with Hard Red Winter output forecast at the lowest since 1957, raising the odds of gradual grocery price pressure. Drought Relief on the Ground: An Indian IRS officer in Narayankhed, Telangana, spent weekends helping build community soak pits and ponds to boost rainwater storage ahead of monsoon. Pest Control Coordination: Australia’s Goulburn Murray Valley fruit-fly program is pushing councils to manage host trees on public land to stop reinfestation undermining grower suppression efforts. Water Crisis After Earthquake: Kona coffee and macadamia farmers in Hawaii say their stored water tanks were wiped out by a 6.0 quake, forcing reliance on public spigots and makeshift rain capture. Trade & Food Safety: Russia will suspend seafood imports from most Armenian processing plants unless they pass inspections, adding to a growing list of food restrictions. Climate & Crops: India’s Andhra Pradesh and Telangana officials are urging farmers to plan for below-normal monsoon with diversification and faster irrigation maintenance.

Food Safety & Inspections: Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture flagged improper food storage and uncertified practices at a recent round of restaurant inspections, including peppers stored above required temperatures and issues with warewashing setup. Community & Pest Threats: Hawaiʻi’s Maui Nui Coconut Celebration Festival (June 13) spotlights niu (coconut) farmers and resilience as communities brace for CRB (coconut rhinoceros beetle). Storm Damage Accountability: Ireland’s agriculture department says it still lacks a system to measure how much windblow timber was salvaged from private forests and what total forestry costs were, despite major damage in late 2024/early 2025. Farmers’ Livelihoods Under Pressure: In Bangladesh, a solar-powered irrigation innovator is helping Boro paddy farmers cope with deep underground water needs amid fuel and outage problems. Policy & Input Costs: South Africa pushes SADC to harmonize fertilizer rules to cut regulatory bottlenecks and protect farmers from price shocks. Water for Crops: Andhra Pradesh released early irrigation water to the Godavari Delta for Kharif planting, aiming to reduce El Niño-related drought risk. Local Farm Economy: Anchorage’s Assembly passed an ordinance reaffirming that hay, feed and compost retail sales are allowed, easing pressure on a small family farm supporting local livestock. Drought & Crop Risk: Texas drought conditions are worsening in parts of the state, with wheat abandonment expected to rise and calls for insured coverage. Agricultural Trade: The Philippines and Japan expand cooperation to boost exports like pomelo, banana and tuna, alongside farming and logistics modernization.