AGP Executive Report

Crop Weather Watch: Dry spells are biting into Michigan topsoil moisture (corn silking and wheat harvest both progressing, but conditions slipping), while Minnesota’s frequent rains are keeping corn and soybeans in good shape despite a small condition dip. Heat Stress: Wisconsin farmers are “begging for rain” as 90-degree heat and humidity stress reproductive crops; South Dakota growers report triple-digit temperatures rolling corn and stressing beans, with yield risk if rains stall. Midwest Crop Ratings: Pro Farmer’s corn condition index shows the season’s biggest weekly drop after weekend heat, even as USDA progress remains mixed across states. Food Safety & Cyclospora: The 2026 cyclospora outbreak keeps expanding across the U.S., with Michigan cases topping 9,200 and experts urging careful produce handling while avoiding panic. Livestock & Inputs: USDA warns of nitrate poisoning risk as rain returns after dry periods; meanwhile, some farmers are finding fertilizer relief using food processing residuals. Policy & Risk Finance: Philippines President Marcos Jr. says agricultural insurance payouts hit P19B over four years and coverage is expanding beyond crops to livestock and fisheries. Research Continuity: Saskatchewan and Ottawa sign an MOU to keep Indian Head and Scott Research Farms operating. Water Crisis: House lawmakers push emergency Colorado River funding, citing threats to produce, power, and regional agriculture.

Farm Costs & Policy Pressure: Nebraska farmers say diesel and fertilizer bills are crushing budgets, and health insurance costs have more than doubled for some, while Spain’s COAG warns agricultural diesel is rising again as VAT relief on fuel expires. Climate & Water Stress: Maine growers report rain that won’t stop, UK drought is nudging food prices higher, and the Dungeness River system is running near its limits as snowpack declines. Food Security & Storage: Bangladesh is pushing to expand food grain storage to 34 lakh tonnes over five years, even with reserves above safe levels. Inputs & Fertilizer Innovation: India allows ammonia-based fertilizer use to cut urea import dependence, but delivery and application infrastructure is the big hurdle. Seeds & Tech for Crops: Shriram Farm Solutions and ICAR-IIVR signed an MoU to transfer breeder seeds for radish, spinach, pea, cowpea and okra. Markets & Harvest Signals: Punjab’s wheat procurement via an aggregator model missed targets, and farmers saw lower prices while wheat moved to other provinces. Regional Ag Growth: Japan-backed tech investment plans in Nepal target sustainable agriculture and environmental protection; Cambodia’s fresh durian exports to China surged via a new Laos land route. Sustainability & Biodiversity: A study flags invasive live fence plants spreading from farms into rangelands, threatening grazing and yields.

Seed & climate resilience push (India): Telangana’s agriculture department is running seed melas at Rythu Vedikas across all 33 districts from July 27–29, with experts and university-backed seed counters to steer farmers toward lower-water alternative crops as El Niño conditions bite. Biotech regulation (India): A TAAS-ICAR-FSII roundtable urged India to speed up and streamline science-based approvals for GM and genome-edited crops, calling for a transparent, risk-proportionate system that keeps biosafety high. Food security infrastructure (UAE): The UAE unveiled its “National Food Factory” pavilion at the Al Ain Rutab Festival, pitching end-to-end processing, packaging, drying, storage and logistics with a planned 5,000-tonne annual capacity to boost value-added farm output. Hybrid rice breakthrough (China): Chinese researchers report a self-cloning hybrid rice approach using the HUAXU gene, aiming to preserve high yields across generations and cut the need for yearly seed purchases. Heat & drought pressure (US): Iowa reports topsoil moisture shortages across about a third of fields, with drought conditions lingering as growers watch for timely rain. Poultry legal update (Oklahoma): Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond says a 21-year poultry lawsuit is nearing resolution, with a settlement moving through the 10th Circuit and a mediator recommending dismissal. Labor crunch (South Africa): Farmers warn that an anti-migrant crackdown has triggered a major workforce exodus, hitting sugarcane and fruit harvests and threatening processing capacity. El Niño warning (Philippines): PAGASA says there’s a high chance of strong to very strong El Niño later this year, raising risks of drought, heat and water stress for farms.

Labor Crunch in South Africa: Anti-migrant protests and stricter enforcement have triggered a foreign-worker exodus, leaving farms and factories short-staffed and forcing growers to leave citrus and grapes unpicked, with some cane producers reporting workforce losses of up to 80%. Food Safety & Produce Demand: A US cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce is renewing debate over whether washing is enough, while local markets report shifting demand and shoppers seeking reassurance. Water & Power Stress in Farming: Punjab farm electricity use fell nearly 16% in June despite more connections, as better canal irrigation and more careful pump use reduced demand; in India’s Salem, farmers are pushing to repair a damaged check dam that has disrupted river-fed irrigation tanks. Climate Risk Watch: FAO warns Botswana faces a high probability of severe drought tied to a strengthening El Niño, threatening crops, pasture and food security. Green Tech & Circular Farming: Malaysia’s Qarbotech says its QarboGrow photosynthesis enhancer is now used by nearly 7,500 farmers worldwide, while Bangladesh’s Amirul Islam highlights a “nothing goes to waste” dairy model using biogas and recycled waste for crops. Supply Chain Resilience in the UK: Sainsbury’s signed 10-year deals to expand British winter tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, aiming to cut reliance on drought-hit imports.

Food Security & War: Zelensky warned Russia’s port attacks and grain blockade could again threaten global food security, citing strikes on Ukraine’s bread production and agricultural facilities. Water & Flood Governance: Saskatchewan’s flood debate is turning into a blame fight over drainage oversight, with farmers and residents disputing whether unapproved drainage or extreme weather is driving flooding. Horticulture & Value-Add: Pakistan’s commerce minister ordered expansion of PHDEC’s fruit bagging push—scaling beyond mangoes/bananas to dates, grapes and peaches—and urged local production of bagging materials. Public Health & Local Produce: A cyclosporiasis outbreak has spread to nine U.S. states, while some Kentucky growers say shoppers are shifting toward local greens. Community Food Systems: Iowa nonprofit Fields of Faith harvested about 4,000 pounds for families, topping 40,000 pounds since launching in 2024. Farm Resilience & Risk: India’s Kharif outlook worries officials about millions of acres potentially left fallow under El Niño-linked rainfall, pushing irrigated dry and fodder crops. Disaster Relief: New York expanded USDA disaster funding to 32 counties after spring frost, freeze, hail, wind and flooding damaged apples, strawberries, grapes and more. Security Threats to Farming: Nigeria’s rural communities face escalating farmer killings, with groups calling it a food system crisis, not just a policing failure. Policy & Rural Resources: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller renewed calls for a special session to curb data center expansion, warning of water and farmland impacts. Markets & Crops: Iowa corn is ahead of schedule, with silking and crop condition reported strong in the latest progress update.

US Market Access: The Philippines says it’s on track to resume blue swimming crab exports to the US before yearend after Washington allowed the country to reapply; an inter-agency task force will monitor dolphin bycatch as the application is planned for submission by September. EU Protein Policy: The European Commission’s Protein Action Plan pushes more plant-based options for livestock feed and school meals, but still centers animal agriculture—drawing criticism from animal-welfare advocates. Fertilizer & Inputs: India approved a new National Investment Policy for Urea (NIPU-2026) aimed at boosting domestic production and reducing import dependence amid kharif demand and El Niño-linked stress. Climate Stress on Crops: A dry spell tied to El Niño is worsening conditions across Asia’s rice belt, with monsoon rains running below normal and farmers reporting water shortages that threaten yields and raise food-price pressure. Farm Tech & Energy: Penn State highlights manure-based anaerobic digesters as a way to turn livestock waste into fertilizer and biogas, with potential to cut emissions and add income streams. Local Governance & Taxes: Bangkok moves to close a loophole that lets prime plots avoid higher vacant-land levies by “token farming,” proposing higher agricultural land tax baselines.

Heat + wheat prices: Scorching 100-degree days are stressing North Dakota wheat as harvest nears, just as Black Sea tensions and export risk push wheat futures higher. Market squeeze for farmers: Nebraska producers warn they may not even break even on corn and soybeans amid low prices and high costs, while specialty crops are also reporting multi-billion losses. Weather outlook: Monsoon moisture and an anticipated El Niño could bring some relief to Western Corn Belt drought, but timing remains uncertain. Disaster relief: Connecticut finally unlocked $53M in federal disaster aid for farmers after delays, with applications expected to open this fall. Crop science: University of Chicago researchers report a gene-trimming approach that boosts rice yields and improves drought/heat tolerance using plant-only genetic parts. Seed + resilience: Korea’s Rural Development Administration is expanding its Global Seed Vault services to safeguard vegetable genetic diversity. Food safety + local markets: Cyclospora cases are rising in the Kansas City metro, and shoppers are turning to farms for fresh produce. Policy + inputs: Farmers are already weighing 2027 fertilizer decisions as high prices linger. Wildfire response: Irish farmers helped protect homes during the Slievenamon fire, running tractors and tankers through the night. Community ag: A New Jersey teen launched a nonprofit to donate backyard vegetables to local food pantries.

Heat & Water Stress: European cereal forecasts were cut after June’s heatwave, with Coceral lowering the 27-country grain outlook to 286.6 million tonnes and warning of further maize damage as pollination is hit. Agroecology Push: Kenya says at least five counties have adopted agroecology policies, but farmers want budgets and faster rollout to protect soil health and climate resilience. Water-Saving Farming Guidance: Andhra Pradesh told Krishna delta farmers not to plant paddy this kharif due to critically low reservoir levels, urging less water-intensive crops. Low-Cost Soil Moisture Tactics: The Philippine Coconut Authority is promoting coconut husk mulching to curb evaporation, suppress weeds, and improve soil as El Niño heat and shortages bite. Policy & Market Signals: Penang approved a RM500 one-off grant to 6,572 padi and vegetable farmers to ease costs and shore up food supply. Trade & Input Pressure: South Africa faces higher US tariffs on most exports under a forced-labour enforcement move, though some fruits and fruit juices remain exempt. Food Safety & Trust: Coverage around the Cyclospora outbreak keeps spotlighting gaps in hazard assessment and sanitation decisions near a Mexico processing site. Tech in Agriculture: Namibia’s N$39.5m AI crop-monitoring deal is drawing calls for more transparency and safeguards for local interests.

Ag Policy: A new analysis from the University of Illinois says banning glyphosate could cost Illinois farmers up to $600 million a year, with knock-on effects for weed control, land values and cash rents. Soil & Nutrients: UW–Madison Extension is hosting a Nitrogen and Soil Management Field Day in Menomonie, focusing on soil conservation, on-farm nitrogen research and managing unprofitable acres. Pest & Biosecurity: Malawi’s MUST rolled out an AI-powered fertigation system that automates irrigation and fertilizer using real-time data for climate-smart crop production. Market & Trade: Shipping firms suspended calls at Ukraine’s Black Sea ports after Russian attacks, tightening global grain supply and pushing wheat prices higher. Water Stress: Philippines’ Angat Dam fell to a historic low, threatening irrigation for Bulacan rice fields. Food Safety: Maryland and Kansas health agencies report ongoing cyclosporiasis cases tied to the national outbreak and recalled iceberg lettuce. Labor Costs: California’s proposed H-2A-linked wage hike faces backlash from farm groups warning of closures and automation. Farm Safety: A 20-year-old worker died after being trapped in a grain bin in Ashland County, Ohio.

Plant Health Aid: The Philippines’ Negros Occidental is moving to emergency cash transfers for small sugarcane farmers hit by red-striped small-scale insects, with payouts up to P10,000 starting next week after local damage validation. Livestock Policy Shift: Malaysia’s Selangor is winding down pig farming in Tanjong Sepat, with remaining herds expected to be cleared by September or October after a staged disposal plan. Water & Heat Stress: Ireland’s dry spell is creating a “two halves” situation—some areas are already buffer feeding and seeing grass stall, while others face water-supply reliability problems for livestock. Disease Surveillance Tech: Nigeria is rolling out a West and Central Africa digital plant-disease surveillance tool (WAVE) to speed early detection and response for transboundary crop threats. Energy Grants for Farms: USDA Rural Development is awarding $2M+ in REAP energy grants in California’s Imperial Valley to cut utility costs and strengthen ag infrastructure. Farm Safety: UK farm deaths rose to 29 over the past year, prompting renewed calls for stronger safety culture during Farm Safety Week. Drought Watch: Hungary reports nearly 89% of its territory under moderate-to-severe agricultural drought, with rainfall uneven and limited relief. Market Pressure: Europe’s heat is already shaving grain output forecasts by millions of tons, raising import pressure and ripple effects for livestock feed.

El Niño Prep in the Philippines: Kidapawan’s City Agriculture Office is handing out free heat-tolerant vegetable seedlings and seeds (ampalaya, eggplant, tomato, pechay and more) to schools and community groups ahead of El Niño. Flood Damage in the Philippines: Heavy rains and landslides hit Antipas, North Cotabato, damaging rice and corn fields and uprooting trees, affecting at least 45 families. U.S. Plant Science Push: USDA is asking universities and partners to build AI tools to speed up crop trait discovery from germplasm data. Fertilizer Price Pressure: Corn growers across multiple states are urging a faster Senate probe into the fertilizer industry amid record-high prices. Cyclospora Watch: Kansas reported a sharp jump in Cyclospora cases, keeping attention on produce safety and recalls. Regenerative Wheat Deal: ADM, General Mills and Walmart are backing regenerative practices on 40,000 Midwestern wheat acres with incentives and technical help. School Food Funding: Arkansas is accepting applications for the 2026–27 USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, with $3.38M slated for K–6 schools. Texas Drought Recovery: Texas awarded nearly $22.5M to agricultural first handlers to keep commodities moving after drought and flooding.

Climate-smart irrigation: Kenya’s Vihiga County is reviving drought-hit maize farmers by rolling out farmer-led irrigation projects and stocking beehives, with some shifting to African leafy vegetables. Water & energy resilience: California’s Central Valley growers facing tighter water rules are turning to solar-plus-storage deals to keep land in production. Food access tech: Canada’s Growcer is expanding “plug ’n play” indoor hydroponic units to help communities get year-round greens. Pest control funding: UK startup BugBiome won an Innovate UK grant to develop a biological insecticide targeting cabbage stem flea beetles in oilseed rape. Policy & inputs: France’s environment minister quit after lawmakers approved a farm bill that temporarily reintroduces contested pesticides tied to bee risk. Market & trade: Russia will restrict imports of certain Uzbek fruits and vegetables from July 23 over phytosanitary violations. UK grain prices: Grain futures in the UK jumped to the highest level in two years amid Black Sea shipping worries. Local food systems: Mass markets are boosting farmer confidence by helping growers share info and avoid bad contract deals. Disaster impacts: Floods in North Cotabato damaged rice, corn, and rubber, affecting dozens of families.

El Niño Water Stress: Philippines’ Angat Dam is still too low to release water for early-planted Pampanga rice, leaving 2,000 hectares needing strong rains to reach the October harvest. Food Safety Shock: The U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak remains tied to Taylor Farms lettuce even after a “false positive” lab result, with health officials urging caution and continued safe handling of produce. Regenerative Wheat Push: Puratos is expanding regenerative agriculture sourcing for about 30% of its U.S. wheat flour volumes, aiming for 50% regenerative ingredients by 2030. Soil & Water Conservation: Michigan funds 12 regenerative farmer networks to spread practices through farmer-led education, while Iowa boosts cover-crop cost share to protect water quality. Farm Support & Markets: Nigeria’s Enugu State flagged off fertilizer and input distribution to 63,000 farmers, and Texas awarded $22.5M to help ag first handlers recover after disasters. Crop Conditions Watch: Iowa reports corn and soybeans largely in good shape but still needs rainfall at critical stages.

Food Security & Policy: Indonesia says El Niño won’t derail food security, pointing to Bulog rice reserves (5.24M tons) plus feed corn, cooking oil, sugar and chicken stocks. Trade & Farmer Protests: India’s farmers are again massing at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border for a Delhi march against the India-US trade deal, with police barricades and bridge fencing reported. Crop Production & Markets: The US raised its forecast for Russia’s sunflower seed harvest to 20.7M tons and expects Russian sunflower oil exports to hit 5M tons; in Ukraine, Kernel cut oilseed processing 32% in Q4 as sunflower seed supply tightened. Pest & Input Innovation: UK agri-biotech BugBiome won a £500k Innovate UK grant to develop a biological insecticide targeting cabbage stem flea beetle in oilseed rape. Seed & Quarantine: Kazakhstan plans quarantine certificates for interregional shipments and expands lab capacity; Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor will audit three Israeli seed-production labs. Agri-Industry & Jobs: New Zealand’s Marton Maltings is set to close in September, raising concerns for grain growers and local workers. Sustainable Farming: Bristol’s Ponda secured a €2.76M DEFRA grant for wetland farming of typha to support peatland regeneration and a biomaterials supply chain. Food Safety: The Taylor Farms cyclospora-linked lettuce recall continues to ripple through US retail and shoppers are turning to local farms for leafy greens.

Food Safety & Regulation: The FDA says its cyclosporiasis traceback on Taylor Farms lettuce still points to central Mexico as the source, even after it reversed a lab “positive” as a false positive—while consumers are urged not to eat recalled iceberg lettuce. Legal Pressure: Lawsuits tied to the “explosive diarrhea” outbreak have started landing in federal court, including actions targeting Taylor Farms and Taco Bell-linked cases. Farm Economics: The American Farm Bureau projects row-crop losses of about $32B in 2027 as costs and weak prices keep squeezing producers. Trade & Inputs: Bayer/Ruveon withdrew a Chinese glyphosate duty petition after farmer concerns about higher input costs; USMCA talks are also aimed at strengthening U.S. farm exports. Local Food Systems: Minnesota farmers markets are rolling out SNAP/SUN Bucks “Market Bucks” to boost access to fresh produce, and Maryland’s Buy Local Week is encouraging daily local purchases. Climate Resilience: India’s Adilabad districts reviewed El Niño contingency plans, including farm ponds, rainwater harvesting, and shifting away from water-stressed paddy.

Water Stress & Irrigation Rules: In the Philippines’ Ifugao, the National Irrigation Administration ordered irrigators to stick to the Hapid Irrigation System water rationing schedule and approved cropping calendar as a dry spell leaves about 126 hectares vulnerable, including rice and corn areas. Storm Damage to Crops: In BARMM, Super Typhoon Inday and monsoon rains have driven agriculture losses to nearly P885 million, with palay, corn and coconut among the flooded crops. Drought-Rain Hope Rituals: In India’s Andhra Pradesh, farmers facing parched fields held a symbolic “frog wedding” to pray for rain, reviving a centuries-old tradition as sowing stalls. Heat Hits Grain Yields: France’s soft wheat crop is forecast down 7.6% to 30.80 million metric tons after heatwaves and dry weather, with quality boosted but volumes squeezed. Pest Pressure: Japanese beetles are spreading in northern Italy, damaging vineyards and orchards and weakening plants. Export Moves, Logistics Still Matter: APEDA facilitated Uttarakhand’s first frozen French fries shipment to Iraq (24 MT), while Romania’s Danube hit its lowest level since 1996, restricting irrigation and disrupting grain shipping. Ag Innovation & Events: Nepal launched a China-supported agriculture-food system strengthening project with FAO and Nepal partners, and Malaysia’s Road to MAHA Labuan 2026 will feature themed ag zones and a “Eat More Local Fruits” push.