AGP Executive Report

Regional Trade: Guyana has begun exporting corn and soy to Barbados after boosting production; it hopes to replace about $40 million in annual imports and meet domestic livestock-feed needs. Water Security: Jamaica’s agriculture minister is in France for irrigation talks, seeking to speed up a project in Pedro Plains and strengthen climate resilience. Farm Relief: Maharashtra says farmers in 305 drought-hit talukas will receive ₹5,000 ahead of Diwali, amid calls for greater compensation. Cash Flow: Ireland’s public-sector strike has delayed key farm support payments from Oct. 16 to Oct. 27, drawing warnings of added financial pressure. EU Integration: Ukraine says it is ready for a gradual path into the EU’s agricultural system, with transition periods and safeguards for sensitive products. Crop Recovery: Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi destroyed much of the Northern Mariana Islands’ farm output, increasing reliance on imported produce. On-Farm Support: FAO and St. Vincent’s agriculture ministry provided 20 pepper growers with solar-powered irrigation kits to improve production and supply.

Farmer Support: Cocoa growers in Papua New Guinea’s Bogia District received a bonus for high-quality beans and export volumes, with proceeds supporting a community water project. Harvest Watch: Iowa farmers made progress after dry weather, but corn and soybean harvests remain well behind average as fields recover from a wet September. Sugarcane Dispute: Protests over cane prices spread across Karnataka, disrupting highways as growers demanded at least 5,500 rupees per tonne. Climate Readiness: Sri Lankan farmers are being offered financing for solar-powered irrigation and machinery, while a separate initiative has prepared more than 1,100 farmers for El Niño risks. Investment and Markets: Liberia is seeking more than $300 million for agriculture, including processing and storage projects. In Ghana, disease-hit ginger harvests have left traders turning to imports from China and Morocco.

Food Production: Qatar’s agribusiness sector is expanding hydroponic farming, food processing and packaging to supply local hospitality businesses. Aquaculture: Oman has opened its three-month shrimp-fishing season, but farmed shrimp now accounts for more than 84% of the country’s output. Farm Inputs: Odisha approved a ₹1,360-crore fund to help secure timely supplies of fertilizer and seeds. Research Partnerships: Ghana and India signed an agreement to collaborate on agricultural research, training and education. Post-Harvest Losses: Afghanistan’s lack of cold storage puts crops at risk; an analyst estimates a quarter of agricultural products are lost. Farm-to-Food Support: The John Deere Foundation pledged $18.5 million to connect farmers with food banks and recover surplus produce. Rising Costs: Minnesota farmers face diesel prices above $6 a gallon during harvest, adding pressure to farm budgets.

Climate Readiness: The Philippines added 4.09 billion pesos for irrigation and 500 million pesos for fertilizer aid, alongside funding for farm roads and climate resilience, as a powerful El Niño threatens crops. Drought-Fighting Crops: Turkish researchers developed three high-yielding wheat varieties bred for dry conditions; they still need seed registration before reaching farmers. Harvest Pressure: UK apple growers expect yields to fall 15% to 40% after hot weather left fruit undersized, while fertilizer, chemical and diesel costs have surged. Farm Health: Bird flu was confirmed in Washington dairy cattle for the first time, prompting quarantines at two Yakima County farms. Power and Fuel: Telangana farmers protested power cuts that are disrupting irrigation, while Michigan temporarily eased dyed-diesel rules for farm vehicles amid soaring fuel costs. Grain Markets: Chicago soybean prices fell as a faster US Midwest harvest brings more supplies to market.

Farm Finance: Guyana is negotiating preferential agricultural loan rates with commercial banks, while a new poultry plant is expected to triple processing capacity. Nearly 30% of applications to its new development bank are from the agriculture sector. Market Access: Armenian village farmers say Russian restrictions, weak demand and a lack of alternative markets are leaving produce unsold and incomes at risk. Drought: Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh face severe crop stress after deficient monsoon rains; both states have declared large areas drought-hit, with crops including maize, cotton and horticulture at risk. Grain Outlook: USDA raised its U.S. corn production and ending-stocks forecasts, while lowering its projected season-average farm price to $4.70 a bushel. Food Systems: FAO chief Qu Dongyu urged greater investment in technology, innovation and young people, citing $7.88 billion committed or under negotiation for agricultural development. Farm Support: Hawaiʻi groups awarded $552,380 in disaster grants to producers hit by storms. South Africa’s president also called for broader farmer access to finance and land, saying the country’s food supply cannot rely on a small share of farmers.

Climate Risk: Camarines Sur has launched a 30-day plan to secure water and protect farms ahead of a potentially severe El Niño; Telangana faces estimated Kharif crop losses of Rs 20,000 crore as rainfall deficits threaten the next planting season. Farm Support: Kyrgyzstan is offering subsidised winter grain seeds and discounted sugar-beet harvesting equipment, while officials urge farmers to match sowing plans to available water. Agribusiness: McCain Foods will acquire Falcon Agrifriz’s potato-processing business in Gujarat, adding capacity and relationships with more than 1,000 local farmers. Farm Finance: Romania backs an EU budget that preserves agricultural funding, while Agricover has launched a digital platform combining payments, credit access and farm-market information. Harvest Disruptions: Flooding submerged harvested paddy in Punjab’s mandis, prompting farmers to demand compensation and better drainage and storage. Dairy Pressures: Bosnia’s dairy groups warn that falling milk prices and imports are driving farm closures and seek urgent protection for domestic producers.

Drought and Water: Telangana’s agriculture adviser urged farmers to skip the winter crop as reservoirs and groundwater dwindle. Maharashtra is planning months of food, water, jobs and livestock support, while a solar-powered irrigation project in the Philippines aims to keep 70 hectares productive through dry spells. Farm Costs: Candon City is giving rice farmers diesel assistance as El Niño threatens crops; across the U.S., soaring fuel and fertilizer prices are squeezing harvest profits. Women in Agriculture: Maharashtra will issue certificates recognizing women farmers, including those without land titles, helping them gain access to services and support. Crop Outlook: The USDA cut its Philippine sugar output forecast by 8% amid pest damage, drought and rising costs. Farm Safety: Namibia detected foot-and-mouth disease in a second region, prompting emergency vaccination and livestock movement restrictions. Olive Harvest: Palestinian farmers in the West Bank report attacks and stolen crops as violence escalates during the harvest season.

Harvest Pressure: Iowa farmers are racing to finish after weeks of rain delayed fieldwork, with more wet weather and the first snow threatening further setbacks. Water and Drought: Telangana farmers protested over irrigation shortages as crops wilt. In India’s Eastern Visayas, solar-powered pumps will supply year-round water to 70 hectares farmed by 87 growers; Candon is preparing for El Niño, which could affect 5,000 rice farmers, and is distributing diesel aid. Production Outlook: India cut its 2026–27 foodgrain target by 2.63 million tonnes amid drought, uneven monsoon rains and El Niño concerns, urging states to favor less water-intensive crops. Market Bottlenecks: Slow paddy lifting is clogging Haryana purchase centres, leaving some growers waiting or selling below the minimum support price.

Drought Emergency: Maharashtra ordered foodgrain relief for 265 drought-hit talukas as farmers seek crop-loss aid; in Tamil Nadu, some coconut growers are buying tanker water to keep trees alive. Harvest & Costs: Diesel remains near record highs despite partial relief, squeezing farmers at harvest. Flooding has left Manitoba producers facing their worst harvest in more than a decade. Food Safety: Nigeria’s NAFDAC says some bean samples exceeded permitted pesticide-residue limits and is stepping up action against banned chemicals and unsafe use. Farm Policy: European farm groups warn a proposed 20% cut to the Common Agricultural Policy budget could weaken support for producers. Farm Technology & Water: Drones are helping Andhra Pradesh farmers tackle labor shortages, with the state reporting 350,000 hours of agricultural use by October; Egypt and ICARDA are expanding work on solar irrigation, desalination and soil-salinity management.

Irrigation: Ghana has begun work on a 175-hectare water scheme expected to provide year-round irrigation for 220 farmers, strengthening rice production and food security. Food Production: Britain’s NFU warns the country is producing less food than 30 years ago, as 42% of surveyed farmers have considered leaving the industry amid drought, rising costs and policy uncertainty. Ireland also lost 676 tillage farmers in 2026, prompting calls for a more viable future for the sector. Farm Costs: Record diesel prices are squeezing producers during harvest. Maryland has temporarily allowed qualifying farm vehicles to use tax-exempt dyed diesel on public roads, while other states are weighing similar relief. Animal Health: Washington confirmed its first H5N1 cases in dairy cattle, quarantining two Yakima County farms and beginning further testing. Farm Innovation: Ghana researchers trained more than 100 farmers and extension officers in greenhouse tomato production, promoting affordable varieties and local materials to help cut imports. Separately, a newly uncovered nitrogen-fixing enzyme structure could inform future efforts to reduce fertilizer costs and pollution.

Farm Support: Malaysia’s Budget 2027 sets aside RM2.62 billion for paddy farmers, including higher harvesting incentives and support for a five-season planting plan aimed at boosting rice supplies. Conservation: USDA is investing $5 million in partnerships to restore wetlands and floodplains on farmland, helping protect water quality and reduce flood risks. Water Stress: Low dam levels in Tamil Nadu are limiting irrigation and prompting some farmers to scale back cultivation as monsoon rains lag. Wheat Innovation: Trials in Mexico’s Yaqui Valley found improved practices raised wheat yields 27% while cutting water use per tonne by 26% and fuel use by 42%. Export Access: Armenia plans regular cargo flights to the UAE from November, offering a faster route for fresh agricultural produce. Harvest Risks: Iowa farmers are taking precautions against field fires as combines work in hot, dry conditions.

Farm Costs: U.S. diesel prices have risen more than 67% since February, while some fertilizers have doubled. Farm debt has topped $605 billion, and the USDA is studying how to better track borrowing from suppliers and other nontraditional lenders. Weather and Harvests: Cambodian rice farmers are planting weeks late after drought and flooding, with some expecting sharply smaller harvests. Nepal’s weather service warned of heavy rain, hail and strong winds in several farming regions. Farm Support: The USDA confirmed about $13.8 billion in 2025 crop-year payments through farm safety-net programs. In Punjab, farmers fear new paddy procurement caps for individual mandis—based on three-year averages—may not accommodate this year’s bumper crop. Food Security: Liberia’s agriculture minister is seeking $69 million to expand extension services, citing a shortage of 298 agricultural technicians. Smuggling Crackdown: A Philippine senator called for the death penalty for agricultural smugglers after authorities seized about 20,000 tonnes of Vietnamese rice valued at roughly 700 million pesos. Rural Change: Mechanization and larger farms in China have boosted yields and incomes, giving some farmers more time and money to travel.

Farm Finance: U.S. farm debt has hit a record $605 billion, and the true burden may be higher as growers increasingly borrow from suppliers and other lenders that federal data do not fully capture. Fuel Costs: Illinois and other states are allowing farmers to use dyed diesel on roads to ease harvest-season pressure, but the tax treatment and size of the savings remain uncertain. Climate Risks: The Philippines expects farm output to shrink through early 2027 as monsoon damage and El Niño threaten crops. Malaysia is also proposing a disaster and disease fund to help protect smallholders from crop losses. Harvest Watch: Manitoba farmers made strong progress in drier weather, with about 65% of the crop harvested by Oct. 6; canola was 74% complete and soybeans 30%. Irrigation Strain: Farmers in several Indian districts protested erratic power cuts, saying outages are disrupting irrigation and burning out pump motors.

Irish Tillage: 676 farms stopped growing tillage crops in 2026, bringing the number of tillage farmers to its lowest since 2022. Growers say higher costs mean grain prices still don’t add up. Grain Markets: European wheat prices climbed this week, supported by disruption to Black Sea trade as farmers plant winter cereals. Fuel Costs: Several U.S. states are suspending gas taxes or easing rules on dyed diesel to help farmers through harvest, though some growers question how much relief the changes will deliver. Crop Protection: Four years of trials show BYDV-tolerant winter barley can reduce symptoms and yield losses, but it does not replace measures such as delayed sowing. Farmland Policy: South Korea plans to exempt inherited and elderly-owned farmland from forced sale in non-speculative cases, following rural opposition to enforcement. Farm Data: Sri Lanka is launching a fully digital agriculture census to gather information on crops, livestock, irrigation and farm infrastructure for future planning.

Fuel Costs: With diesel prices squeezing harvest operations, President Trump’s order temporarily expands tax-exempt dyed-diesel use for farm transport; several states are also extending fuel-tax relief. Climate Risks: A strengthening El Niño threatens crops and water supplies, with dry, hot conditions raising risks for Belizean farmers and bean harvests across southern Africa. Farm Resilience: USDA announced $180 million for U.S. seed sovereignty, while a joint USDA-FTC inquiry will examine farmers’ complaints about equipment prices, repairs and service access. Animal Health: Texas officials report more than 71,000 animals inspected in infected zones as state and federal agencies work to contain New World screwworm. Food Security: FAO says more than 1.2 million people in Gaza and the West Bank faced acute food insecurity in April–June, and is seeking $140.9 million for agricultural recovery in 2027.

Fuel Cost Relief & Policy: Trump’s dyed-diesel executive order and state follow-ups (including Indiana’s and Kentucky’s) aim to cut harvest-season fuel penalties, but farmers warn dyed-fuel rules and lingering enforcement uncertainty could still raise costs. Crop Protection & Disease: Dhanuka Agritech launched Fujita, a systemic fungicide targeting rice blast in India’s paddy fields. Water Stress: In India’s Mahbubabad, deficient monsoon and reduced power for pumping are shrinking acreage and drying lakes; in Gadag, drought relief delays are pushing farmers to migrate. Food Security & Trade: Solomon Islands’ Dodo Creek rice trial has reached its first harvest, testing whether rice can be grown locally with China-linked partners. Agri-Tech & Modernization: The US Technology Modernization Fund is backing $83.4M in AI projects, including USDA payroll and environmental review systems. Regulation & Land Use: UK Conservatives propose restructuring Defra and reducing bureaucracy, while a Tory private bill seeks to ban solar farms on prime agricultural land. Local Markets & Community: Pasco, Washington, is weighing the future of its Farmers Market and Specialty Kitchen amid a budget gap.