AGP Executive Report

Drought-hit wheat in Kansas: USDA forecasts Kansas wheat production down 21% from 2025, with some fields shortened after dry spells and unusual heat during dormancy break, raising fears of the smallest crop since 1972. Freeze damage in New Jersey: Gov. Mikie Sherrill toured farms after a late-April cold snap that could total about $300 million in losses; some growers report near-total destruction of apple and peach crops, threatening higher prices. Input-cost pressure meets antitrust scrutiny (US): The FTC has launched a major investigation into fertilizer pricing and market concentration, responding to farmer complaints about rising costs and limited competition. Slow start to seeding in Saskatchewan: After late snow and wet weather, seeding is 52% complete provincewide—past halfway but still behind the usual pace—while pulse crops lead progress. Organic push in Ireland: Minister Martin Heydon launched the National Organic Awards 2026, opening entries to Ireland’s organic farmers and food businesses ahead of September judging. Rural finance innovation: New digitized credit plans are helping farmers build credit histories tied to crops, aiming to unlock more funding for smallholders.

Climate & Food Security: SADC officials in Victoria Falls are shaping regional food-security and climate-resilience plans after cyclones Idai, Freddy and Gezani repeatedly battered crops, livestock and livelihoods. Animal Health & Farmer Rights: Cyprus livestock groups say foot-and-mouth disease response is worsening, pushing for a presidential meeting and fair compensation; in South Africa, a court ruling is opening the door for farmers to privately procure and administer FMD vaccines. Farm Incomes & Inputs: India’s UP reports record sugarcane payments of ₹3.22 lakh crore and ongoing crush-season transfers; in Karnataka, subsidised soybean seed distribution hit delays as stock ran out, sparking farmer anger. Weather Risk Planning: India’s agriculture minister says contingency steps are underway for El Niño impacts on kharif, including district crop-change options and seed availability checks. Agritech & Policy Support: Nigeria’s NADF and OSPRE signed an MoU to roll out a multi-hazard agricultural early warning system. Infrastructure for Farmers: Philippines’ DAR chief backed a P97-million farm-to-market road in Candaba, improving access for hundreds of farmers and expanding irrigation plans. Agriculture vs Land Use: Florida’s agricultural community is bracing for hyperscale data centers, raising fears about farmland loss and heritage. Research & Pest Control: USDA opened a new livestock insects lab to develop tools against invasive fly and tick threats.

Onion relief in India: Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde says the Centre has approved onion procurement via NAFED and NCCF at ₹1,580 per quintal, with plans to expand storage, sorting and grading to stabilize prices and support farmers. Planting progress in the U.S.: USDA reports show Illinois farmers are nearly done, with 86% corn and 84% soybeans planted as of May 24, ahead of the 5-year average. Livestock security in Illinois: Farmers near Kirkwood report wild-dog attacks that killed sheep and injured cattle, raising fear and financial losses as authorities continue searches. Paraquat crackdown in Vermont: Vermont becomes the first U.S. state to ban paraquat use without explicit approval, as other states consider similar limits. U.S. farm finance after freezes: USDA approved disaster help for Pennsylvania farmers after April freeze damage, including emergency loans and faster steps to get fertilizer delivered. Global food risk watch: A strong El Niño later this year is forecast, with research warning food commodity prices could rise after such events. Local markets keep rolling: Sentara’s Long Family Farmers Market returns in Woodbridge, adding SNAP/EBT support and senior farmers market tokens.

Chicken Health & Trade: Merck’s chicken bronchitis vaccine won China approval, targeting a fast-mutating coronavirus strain and allowing chicks to be vaccinated from Thursday—another step for poultry biosecurity in a country with 5 billion birds. Food Security & Procurement: The Philippines’ DA says emergency milling contracts are expanding NFA warehouse capacity in Bicol and Region 12 to speed up palay processing and keep the P20-per-kilo rice program steady. Livestock Disease Politics: South Africa’s livestock union Kwanalu warns that a recent FMD vaccine court win won’t automatically unlock private access—more legal and regulatory steps are still pending. Farmers Under Pressure: Maryland launched zero-interest disaster relief loans for oyster harvesters hit by icy conditions and sewage damage. Input Costs & Water Stress: Punjab faces mounting groundwater strain as spring/summer maize expands fast—even where it isn’t officially tracked—raising fears of back-to-back water-heavy cropping. Market Integrity: Zimbabwe’s sesame sector is cracking down on smuggling and unlicensed buyers after major seizures since the 2026 buying season began. Local Disruptions: In Pennsylvania, USDA disaster help is now available for freeze-damaged counties, while restaurant inspections in Berks County flagged dirty hot pads and storage hygiene issues.

Food Safety Alert: USDA issued a public health alert for beef kofta from The Kebab Shop in California, Florida, and Texas, warning of possible Shiga toxin–producing E. coli linked to products made by Olympia Food Industries; the restaurants stopped selling the item May 18 and consumers are told to discard leftovers. Disaster Relief: USDA approved Pennsylvania freeze disaster help for 17 counties, with emergency loans and livestock/crop recovery programs now available after April cold snaps. Invasive Pest Watch: Yuba County warned Costco shoppers after glassy-winged sharpshooters were found on grape and citrus plants, raising the risk of Pierce’s disease. Trade Signal: China agreed to expand U.S. farm purchases by at least $17B more per year (2026–2028), aiming to boost American exporters. Local Agriculture: Montana launched a “Concept to Consumer” course to guide food entrepreneurs through regulations and market entry.

Food Security & Climate Risk: A new wave of warnings is building around a “Super El Niño” threat to the Philippines, with drought hitting Northern/Central Luzon, alternating floods and dry spells in Southern Luzon and Bicol, and knock-on declines in Visayas sugarcane and fisheries—officials say region-specific adaptation could cut projected losses by 60–70%. Biosecurity & Disease Control: Greece moved fast on EU farm fraud, arresting 22 over alleged false subsidy claims, while South Africa’s courts cleared the way for private Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine procurement and use. Ag Tech & Inputs: China launched its first open-source crop-protection AI model, aiming to standardize pesticide guidance; meanwhile, Ghana’s SEND Ghana warned seed and fertilizer delays could derail the 2026 planting window. Markets & Trade: Russia’s grain exports to Africa hit record highs in 2025, and UK pig meat exports rose 12% in Q1 as African Swine Fever reshuffled supply. Local Tensions: In India’s Telangana, farmers set fire to paddy sacks and locked a warehouse over procurement delays.

Pork Import Clash: In the Philippines, PROPORK is blasting President Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order raising the Minimum Access Volume for pork imports to 204,250 metric tons, arguing local supply is already adequate and the move will undercut recovering hog farmers instead of lowering retail prices. Local Market Shift: In Marengo, the farmers market is moving to Saturday mornings this season, with set dates every second and fourth Saturday. Water & Farm Support: Saskatchewan is funding runway upgrades at Assiniboia Municipal Airport to strengthen rural connectivity, while Yemen is pushing water-management oversight and media messaging tied to local production. Livestock Disease Response: Yemen’s Al Mahwit is rolling out emergency measures against lumpy skin disease in Milhan, including veterinary medicine distribution. Food Safety Alert: The USDA flagged possible E. coli contamination in beef kofta at The Kebab Shop locations in California, Texas, and Florida. Agriculture Finance Relief: Tamil Nadu announced a cooperative bank crop-loan waiver for 14.22 lakh farmers.

Rice Affordability Push (Philippines): The Department of Agriculture expanded its P20/kilo rice program to Kalinga, with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. leading the rollout and distributing about P148 million in farm support to local producers. Irrigation Readiness (Malaysia): In Kedah’s Muda scheme, dam levels are improving and officials say most paddy areas are now ready to plant after Aidiladha, while diesel-cost pressure remains a key worry. Diesel Relief Plan (Malaysia): Malaysia will seek approval to extend subsidised diesel fleet cards to 17,000 agricultural machinery service providers to cut paddy cultivation costs. Drought Tech Scales Up (Turkey): ANT Systems began industrial production of NANOTERN, a biodegradable water-retention material aimed at cutting irrigation use and boosting yields. Farmers Under Pressure (Nepal): Analysts warn Nepal’s rising food import bill is driven by weak irrigation, outdated tech, seed and fertilizer gaps, higher costs, and youth migration—while a major modernization project is missing targets. Biosecurity & Pests: Greece’s Crete arrests target EU farm-subsidy fraud; Hawaii’s invasive beetle fight highlights locally sourced nematodes; and FAO flags higher Crimean-Congo fever risk around Eid.

Wilding pines fight: New Zealand’s farmers got a major win as the government pledged an extra $79m over three years to tackle invasive wilding pines, with focus on key seed-source areas in Wānaka, Marlborough and the Central Plateau. Heat-hit crops: In the Philippines, extreme heat and water shortages damaged P16.2m in rice and high-value crops in Negros Occidental, prompting cloud-seeding and a new El Niño task force. Livestock biosecurity: South Africa received the first batch of 3.5m foot-and-mouth vaccine doses from Argentina as authorities push rapid inoculation to contain its worst outbreak in years. Power policy backlash: In Telangana, the prepaid smart-meter rollout—excluding farm power—sparked fresh political fire, with opposition warning it could end free electricity. Ag innovation: North Carolina researchers won a $1.8m grant to turn surplus sweet potatoes into plant-based milk, aiming to cut waste and create new products.

Fuel Crunch Meets Politics in India: Maharashtra’s CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered uninterrupted diesel for farmers and warned against black-marketing after panic buying spiked sales. Farmer Cashflow Pressure: In Punjab, Congress-linked claims over prepaid power meters are reigniting the fight over free electricity for farm motors, while farmers elsewhere are still grappling with procurement delays and blocked paddy tokens. Livestock Shockwaves: Scotland’s pig sector is hit by a European pork glut blamed partly on African swine fever disrupting exports, and an ASF outbreak in Bhutan’s Norbugang has exposed insurance gaps. Food Safety Watch: Pennsylvania restaurant inspections flagged issues like unlabeled snacks and sanitizer testing gaps, while local health departments are tightening rules for summer event food vendors. Trade & Inputs: The EU temporarily scrapped fertilizer import tariffs for one year to cushion Hormuz-linked price pressure, and Telangana moved to procure extra maize, jowar and sunflower after delays. On-the-Ground Farming: Kenya’s weather service urged farmers to use ongoing rains, and the Philippines’ rice system is using satellite tracking to spot drought and flood risk earlier.

Global Food Risk: UN FAO warns the Strait of Hormuz disruption could spark a global food price crisis within 6–12 months, as fertilizer and shipping shocks ripple into cereal and oil markets. Fuel Pressure on Farms: In India’s Maharashtra, officials move to stop diesel black-marketing and hoarding after demand spikes and queues hit farmers ahead of Kharif. Drought Relief: In the Philippines’ Cagayan, DSWD delivered P321.8M to nearly 31,782 corn farmers after a calamity was declared over more than P2B in damage. Farm Mental Health: A Wisconsin family launched the Southwest chapter of the Farmer Angel Network, adding 988 Lifeline signage and peer support after a farmer suicide. Input Support: Nigeria’s One Acre Fund begins 2026 input distribution for 88,000 smallholders. Local Open Days: East Anglia’s Open Farm Sunday (June 7) is set to draw thousands, spotlighting regenerative farming.

Fuel squeeze and farmgate pressure: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered district officials to keep diesel flowing to farmers after reports of rural fuel shortages and a 20–30% sales spike tied to black-marketing. Beef export vs. prices: In Ireland, beef farmers say export values are rising while factory prices keep sliding, leaving them “losing their shirts” and demanding answers on where the money goes. Input-cost shock: Farmers are again asking how to cut fertilizer bills as costs bite and prices fail to match. EU trade relief: The EU moved to suspend key fertilizer tariffs to blunt the impact of Middle East disruptions on growers. Livestock and food safety ahead of Eid: Bangladesh’s cattle markets are busy for Eid-ul-Azha, with universities urging buyers to avoid artificially fattened animals and improve meat handling. Local support and modernization: Navarra approved €12m for modernization in farms and livestock holdings, while Kenya’s coffee sector in Murang’a pushed climate-smart practices and new seedlings. Land-use fight: Lesotho lawmakers are urged to stop housing settlements expanding onto farmland, warning food security is at risk.

Weather Relief Meets Hardship: Gentle weekend rains (about 25 mm) are finally easing a very dry start to seeding in Canada’s southeast, but farmers elsewhere are still bracing for heat and frost damage. Legal Shockwaves in the U.S.: A Wisconsin farmer’s lawsuit has pushed USDA to end race-based eligibility in multiple farm programs, a major shift that could reshape how support is granted. Drought Aid in Motion: In Virginia, USDA FSA drought disaster assistance has been extended to more localities, while in the Philippines an elderly corn farmer died while lining up for emergency cash transfer payouts. Policy and Protest Pressure: Farmers and conservation groups are uniting to protest high-speed rail, and pesticide drift near an Illinois school is driving calls for 72-hour prior notification rules. Trade Tensions Abroad: Hungary has reimposed a ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports, adding to a week of tariff and sanctions stress on global farm supply chains. Local Life, Still Moving: Farmers markets are kicking off across the U.S., from Lima, Ohio to Lewes, Delaware, even as costs and climate keep testing farm budgets.

SNAP Pressure Test in the US: New USDA rules starting Nov. 4, 2026 will force retailers that take SNAP to stock more items in key food groups—plus more perishable options—raising the risk that small shops get priced out even as the goal is healthier baskets. South Africa Input Relief Push: In Parliament, officials pointed to CASP and Ilima/Letsemainiti initiatives for subsidised fertiliser, seed and inputs, plus irrigation, mechanisation and credit support via Land Bank to protect smallholders from fuel-and-fertiliser volatility. Biosecurity on the Move: South Africa’s agriculture minister urged urgent rollout of a 2026–2028 South Africa–Botswana FMD action plan, including vaccination and border-fence maintenance. Regional Food Security Talks: SADC ministers will meet in Victoria Falls on 29 May to tackle food production, livestock disease and fisheries growth. Trade & Tech Wins: Uzbekistan expanded Bauer irrigation leasing and is reviewing JICA’s Aral Sea soil-salinity work; Sri Lanka’s NLDB is rolling out Permia’s digital coconut monitoring across 4,750 hectares.

Alabama Senate Runoff: The Alabama Farmers Federation’s FarmPAC has endorsed Rep. Barry Moore for the June 16 GOP runoff, backing him after a close primary that left Steve Marshall short. Middle East Fuel Shock: Oil slid after shifting reports on US-Iran deal talks, with farmers bracing for higher diesel and fertilizer costs as Strait of Hormuz disruptions keep pressure on inputs. Global Food Risk: The UN FAO warns a prolonged Hormuz closure could trigger a structural agrifood shock and food-price crisis within 6–12 months, with decisions on fertilizer, imports, and financing now “narrowing fast.” Trade Pivot: Moldova signaled openness to expand wine and agri-food exports to China, including new flour products. Horticulture Trade Show Buzz: At the Four Oaks event, SunCatcher, Boomkwekerij ’t Kempke, Beekenkamp, and Jiffy pushed new garden and plastic-free pot innovations. Sanitary Curbs: Russia tightened flower imports from Armenia, citing quarantined greenhouse objects.

Anti-Corruption Crackdown (Philippines): Philippines’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. filed formal complaints to the Ombudsman over alleged “ghost” farm-to-market road projects in Davao Occidental worth P94 million, saying inspections found “zero” work beyond dirt roads. Training & Skills (Malaysia): Malaysia launched a RM9.29m fisheries training vessel, FTV Fomalhaut, to build a modern capture-fisheries workforce through hands-on sea training. Farm Finance Pressure (South Africa): A Land Bank economist warned that slim grain margins and rising costs could trigger wider banking stress if producers can’t repay loans. Policy & Procurement Tensions (India): Telangana’s paddy procurement crisis is sparking fresh political heat, with accusations of neglect and farmers taking to protests. Weather Watch (Canada): Manitoba seeding is slowed by cool temperatures, heavy winds and recent rain, leaving producers trying to catch up. Food Security & Climate (Vietnam): Vietnam’s net-zero push is expanding into agriculture, but critics warn reforms may struggle without more independent environmental reporting.