3rd April, 2014 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

3rd April, 2014
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Scientists Develop New Way to Make Food Ingredient from Rice Bran Oil Rice bids sought from at least seven countries S.Korea should shift away from rice import quotas -local industry officials Vietnam state-run grains agency bids for 0.8 MMT rice imports NACC to question 3 out of 11 witnesses in rice mortgage corruption probe on Yingluck DIT proposes to curb direct sales of rice to ease low price problem TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi- Apr 03 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Apr 03 Philippines seeks bids from exporters in at least 7 countries in rice deal Price war seen as Thai rice glut swamps market Ricegrowers welcome On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Funding RIRDC - Applications sought for Non-Executive Directors World Environment Day Awards - 2014 Vilsack Promises Farmers Have a Voice in Implementation GIPSA Updates Website for LibertyLink Changes Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures The Role of Analytical Testing in Maintaining Food Safety "Rice is an Important Part of TPP"
News Detail
Scientists Develop New Way to Make Food Ingredient from Rice Bran Oil
Marcia Wood April 3, 2014 Some of today's popular baked goods might tomorrow contain a butter-like extract, derived from rice bran oil, as a partial replacement for margarine, butter or shortening. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) chemist Erica L. Bakota and her colleagues with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Peoria, Ill., developed a process for making the extract, which somewhat resembles a nut butter.The product's texture and composition are apparently unique, according to Bakota.In preliminary experiments at the ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Bakota and her colleagues used the extract in place of some of the butter called for in standard recipes for granola and for white bread. Feedback from taste testers who participated in these preliminary experiments indicated that the substitutions did not detract from the taste or texture of either the granola or the bread.
Unlike some shortening and margarines, the extract is free of trans fats, which contribute to increased risk of heart disease. Another plus: The product is shelf-stable and resists oxidation that could otherwise result in off-flavors and unpleasant odors.The extract consists primarily of unrefined rice bran oil and rice bran's natural wax, which is used in confections. It also contains minor amounts of vitamin E; plant sterols, including some that are of interest to medical and nutrition researchers because of their potentially health-imparting properties; and gamma-oryzanol, shown to lower levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol in humans.The Peoria team's extraction procedure evidently differs from other approaches for making a butter-like product from rice bran oil in that it uses very low temperatures. ARS, the USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency, is seeking a patent for the procedure. Bakota is looking for collaborators interested in developing new uses for the product.A staple at Asian food markets or other specialty or gourmet grocery stores, rice bran oil has a mild flavor and is high in vitamin E, an advantage that many other well-known cooking oils don't offer. The oil comes from the outer layers that are removed when rice grains are milled and polished to produce white rice.Bakota and teammates Michael J. Bowman, Hong-Sik Hwang, Sean X. Liu, Debra L. Palmquist, and Jill K. Winkler-Moser, all with ARS at Peoria, described the research in a 2013 article published in the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, and in a new article accepted for publication in that journal. The studies are highlighted in the April 2014 issue ofAgricultural Research magazine.
Image: ARS scientists have developed a very low temperature process to make a shelf-stable nut-butter-like extract from rice bran oil as a trans fat free replacement for some of the margarine, butter or shortening in certain baked goods. Click the image for more information about it.
Rice bids sought from at least seven countries

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THE PHILIPPINES is seeking bids from exporters in at least seven countries in its tender to buy 800,000 tons of rice, a government official yesterday said.
The country, which typically imports rice from Vietnam and Thailand, is looking to bolster stockpiles for the second half of the year when little of the staple grain is harvested domestically.We have invited all rice exporting countries, even the United States, said National Food Aut hority (NFA) Deputy Administrator Ludovico J. Jarina, adding that he hoped this would boost the chances of getting a good deal.Vinafood 2, Vietnams top rice exporter, has taken bid documents and is looking to supply the entire volume, while Thailands government has expressed interest in participating in the April 15 open tender, Mr. Jarina said. Vinafood 2 and the embassies of Thailand and Cambodia in Manila sent representatives to a pre-bidding conference held at an NFA office yesterday.Also present were international commodities traders and grain exporters such as Louis Dreyfus, South Koreas Daewoo International Corp. and Vietnams Gentraco Corp. Thailands Asia Golden Rice Co. Ltd. and Thai Hua Co. Ltd. were there as well.Rice exporters in Myanmar, Pakistan and India may also bid for each or all of the four 200,000-ton lots, Mr. Jarina said.
Its possible that there will be multiple winners. We will choose the lowest price, he said.Bids will be for the supply of 15% broken, long grain well-milled rice in US dollars per ton, on a CIF/DDU basis.The Philippines, one of the worlds biggest rice buyers, is also looking to stabilize local retail prices of the grain, which hit a four-month high in February amid thinning local supplies.The NFA is seeking delivery of the 800,000 tons in four shipments between May and August, with an approved budget of P17.2 billion.Its purchases could provide support to rice export prices in Asia, with Thai rice prices steadily falling on rising supply as farmers harvest their second crop. -- Reuters
S.Korea should shift away from rice import quotas -local industry officials
Thu Apr 3, 2014 5:58am EDT
By Meeyoung Cho SEOUL, April 3 (Reuters) - South Korea should shift away from a quota system on rice imports to ease pressure from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to open its markets for the grain, agricultural industry and government officials in the country said on Thursday.Although they suggested switching to a system of high tariffs that would still curb shipments into the country, removing caps would mark a key psychological shift in a politically-sensitive sector and could potentially pave the way for lower duty in future.Rice exporters in countries including China and the United States have been closely watching South Korea's import policy, hoping to ship more grain to Asia's fourth-largesteconomy."We should have switched to a tariff scheme 10 years ago," a senior government source with direct knowledge of the matter said on the sidelines of a hearing on the issue, adding that this would be cheaper for the country in the long term. A 20-year-old agreement with the WTO has seen South Korea gradually increasing import quotas for the national staple to 408,700 tonnes this year. Under the system, the country must import exactly the amount specified in the annual quota.But the international trade group is looking to boost South Korean purchases under a new deal set to be negotiated from October.The Northeast Asian country is understood to be considering either proposing at least doubling import quotas gradually or suggesting a system of high tariffs on imports after obligatory purchases of 408,700 tonnes had been made each year.At the hearing, most industry officials said the latter would result in lower imports than increasing quotas, but others argue tariffs would eventually fall due to upcoming free trade talks. The duty amount would be a steep 300-500 percent, but proponents said this would bring prices for imported rice in line with the local grain. They said that level should also be acceptable under WTO rules.China has typically accounted for 50-60 percent of South Korea's total rice imports, the United States for 20-30 percent and Thailand for 10-20 percent, according to government data.Of the 159 WTO members, only South Korea and the Philippines have quota systems for rice imports, while others use tariffs.South Korea aims to produce 4.15 million tonnes of rice this year. ANGRY FARMERS But farmers in the country, who have a history of street protests, argue that both proposals should be binned, demanding that the government fight to keep the current quota system.
"While maintaining the current import policy, the government should help increase local rice production and guarantee production costs for local farmers," said Kim Young-ho, president of the Korean Peasants League, a farmers' group.Another participant at the conference said: "We already depend heavily on grain majors such as Monsanto and Cargill for corn and soybean imports. If they say they will not provide rice later, we would have to beg for our main staple." (Reporting by Meeyoung Cho; Editing by Joseph Radford)
Vietnam state-run grains agency bids for 0.8 MMT rice imports
Category: Agri-Commodities 03 Apr 2014 Written by Alladin S. Diega / Correspondent VIETNAMS state-run grains agency has expressed interest to supply the entire 800,000-metric-ton (MT) rice requirement of the Philippines this year.In a pre-bidding conference on Thursday, Ludovico Jarina, National Food Authority (NFA) deputy administrator and concurrently Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman, said at least five international firms, private traders and a state-run grains agency have already bought bidding documents, a requirement to be qualified for the actual bidding, scheduled on April 15. Vietnam Southern Food Corp. [Vinafood II], Thai Hua Co., LG International, Asian Golden Rice and Louis Dreyfuss have expressed bidding interest, according to Jarina, with Vinafoood buying biddin g documents for the entire rice requirements of the country.The open tender, which will be extended until the actual day of bidding, is an effort of the NFA to secure the lowest-priced possible for the staple food with acceptable quality, Jarina added.The NFA has approved a P17.18-billion budget from corporate resources for the purchase of the rice stocks, which should be long-grain white rice, with 15-percent broken- and well-milled.The NFA announced on March 27 that it would require the winning bidder/s to deliver the rice in four tranches, or a quarter of the total volume for each shipment, from April to August. We have divided the entire volume to four lots, or 200,000 MT per lot to bid, Jarina told reporters.He added that bidders can join the tender for the maximum 800,000 MT, while the minimum quantity to be offered per supplier must be 100,000 MT with single price, and to be shipped in break bulk.While Vinafood II has expressed interest to supply the entire 800,000 MT of rice, the four remaining participants bought one bid document, which would allow them to join in only one bid lot come April 15.We have also invited the governments of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan, India and even the United States to join the tender, the NFA official said.Various trading companies representatives and officials of the embassies of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam were present during the pre-bidding conference.For this year a total of 1.2 million MT of
rice will enter the country. A portion of this, or 400,000 MT, arrived in March, according to Jarina.That is part of the rice imports in 2013 to replace heavy rice withdrawals from NFA warehouses last year due to Supertyphoon Yolanda, he added.Last year the NFA approved 205,700 MT of rice imports under the omnibus minimum access volume for rice, plus the 500,000 MT of rice from Vietnam.
In Photo: A farmer puts rice inside a sack at a rice field in Candijay, Bohol, on April 1. The Philippines plans to import 800,000 metric tons of rice this year as the government said the countrys supply has been weakened with the onslaught of deadly typhoons in 2013. (Stephanie Tumampos)
NACC to question 3 out of 11 witnesses in rice mortgage corruption probe on Yingluck

Thursday, 03 April 2014By NNT
BANGKOK, 02 April 2014 The National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) has resolved to allow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to bring in 3 witnesses for the NACC to question in the rice mortgage corruption case, out of 11 witnesses that were presented. Prime Minister Yingluck asserted on Tuesday she needed to request that more witnesses be brought in because there was involvement from many agencies in the rice pledging program, and they could provide additional information from the side of the accused to the NACC. She said the request was a usual one in justice proceedings, and she hoped the NACC would consider the case fairly and independently after listening to information from all aspects.According to NACC commissioner Prasat Phongsiwaphai, the 3 witnesses who will provide witness accounts to the commission include Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuang-rat and Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong. The commission deemed that the remaining witnesses need not make additional accounts to the NACC.
DIT proposes to curb direct sales of rice to ease low price problem
Date : 3 2557 BANGKOK, 3 April 2014 (NNT) - The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) will next week propose measures to address the ongoing low rice price to the Rice Policy Committee. Mr. Somchart Sroythong, the DIT Director General, made the announcement after his meeting with rice mill operators and exporters aimed at maintaining
the stability of grain prices in the local market and seeking assistance measures for rice farmers. He said the department would focus on selling rice to exporters through auctions rather than direct sales, following the private sectors views that the latter method made them unable to predict the exact amount of rice entering the market, leading rice prices to further plummet.
Mr. Somchart revealed there were other approaches proposed during the meeting such as requiring exporters and rice mills to increase the amount of rice reserves and to have the government pay for the compensation, but his department discarded the suggestions as they are likely to breach the constitution which prohibits a caretaker government from spending additional budgets. He strongly believed that a delay in direct rice sales would not affect the governments ability to repay 20 billion baht it has borrowed from the central budget to pay farmers under the rice pledging scheme.
TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi- Apr 03

Thu Apr 3, 2014 6:29pm IST Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi Tel: 011 2619 1464 Indicative Previous Grains opening close (in rupees per 100 kg unless stated) ---------------------------------------------------------Wheat Desi 2,100-3,100 2,100-3,100. Wheat Dara 1,650-1,750 1,700-2,200. Atta Chakki (per 10 Kg) 220-240 220-240. Roller Mill (per bag) 1,800-2,000 1,800-2,000. Maida (per bag) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100. Sooji (per bag) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200. Rice Basmati(Common) 8,800-9,500 8,900-9,600. Rice Permal 1,900-2,500 1,900-2,500. Rice Sela 2,750-2,950 2,750-2,950. I.R.-8 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100. Gram 3,250-3,800 3,225-3,475. Peas Green 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200. Peas White 3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400. Bajra 1,300-1,500 1,350-1,500. Jowar white 1,500-2,650 1,500-2,650. Maize 1,500-1,650 1,500-1,650. Barley 1,350-1,450 1,350-1,450.
Guwar
3,500-4,000
3,500-4,000.
Source: Delhi grain market traders.
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Apr 03

Thu Apr 3, 2014 5:15pm IST Nagpur, Apr 3 (Reuters) - Tuar prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) zoomed up once again on renewed demand from local millers amid thin supply from producing regions. Weak overseas supply and fresh rally in Madhya Pradesh tuar prices also boosted sentiment, according to sources. * * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders amid ample supply in ready position. TUAR * Tuar gavarani recovered in open market here on good demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing regions. * Batri dal and Lakhodi dal suffered heavily in open market here in absence of buyers amid profit-taking selling by stockists at higher level. * In Akola, Tuar - 3,900-4,100, Tuar dal - 6,100-6,300, Udid at 6,100-6,500, Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,200-7,700, Moong - 8,500-8,700, Moong Mogar (clean) 9,800-10,500, Gram - 3,200-3,300, Gram Super best bold - 3,800-4,200 for 100 kg. * Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in thin trading activity, according to sources. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Gram Auction Gram Pink Auction Tuar Auction Available prices Previous close n.a. 2,300-2,900 n.a. 2,100-2,600 4,300-4,510 4,300-4,400
Moong Auction n.a. 6,100-6,300 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold 4,000-4,300 4,000-4,300 Gram Super Best n.a. Gram Medium Best 3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a. Gram Mill Quality 3,650-3,750 3,650-3,750 Desi gram Raw 2,850-2,950 2,850-2,950 Gram Filter new 3,300-3,600 3,300-3,600 Gram Kabuli 8,900-10,900 8,900-10,900 Gram Pink 7,900-8,300 7,900-8,300 Tuar Fataka Best 6,600-6,700 6,600-6,700 Tuar Fataka Medium 6,100-6,300 6,100-6,300 Tuar Dal Best Phod 6,000-6,100 6,000-6,100 Tuar Dal Medium phod 5,900-6,000 5,900-6,000 Tuar Gavarani 4,450-4,600 4,400-4,550 Tuar Karnataka 4,600-4,700 4,600-4,700 Tuar Black 7,700-7,800 7,700-7,800 Masoor dal best 6,100-6,200 6,100-6,200 Masoor dal medium 5,600-5,900 5,600-5,900 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold 10,500-10,800 10,500-10,800 Moong Mogar Medium best 9,800-10,200 9,800-10,200 Moong dal super best 9,200-9,500 9,200-9,500 Moong dal Chilka 8,500-8,700 8,500-8,700 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 8,700-9,600 8,700-9,600 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,600 5,800-6,600 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,300 5,000-5,300 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,500 4,500-5,800 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,050-3,100 3,100-3,200 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,350-3,450 3,350-3,450 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,500 3,400-3,500 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,100 4,800-5,100 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800 Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,850-1,900 1,850-1,900 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,650-1,850 1,650-1,850 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 2,050-2,200 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,900 2,400-2,900 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,600-1,700 Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,750 1,700-1,750 Rice BPT new(100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900 2,700-2,900 Rice BPT old (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,500 3,200-3,500 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,850 1,700-1,850 Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,100 3,800-4,100 Rice HMT old (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,600 4,400-4,600 Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,800 5,300-5,800 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 12,000-13,500 12,000-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,500-9,000 6,500-9,000 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,000 5,600-6,000 Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,500 5,100-5,500 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 39.4 degree Celsius (102.9 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp. 21.7 degree Celsius (72.9 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a. Rainfall : nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 41 and 23 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
Philippines seeks bids from exporters in at least 7 countries in rice deal

MANILA, April 3 Thu Apr 3, 2014 1:36pm IST
(Reuters) - The Philippines is seeking bids from exporters in at least seven countries in its tender to buy 800,000 tonnes of rice, a government official said on Thursday.The Southeast nation, which typically imports rice from Vietnam and Thailand, is looking to bolster stockpiles for the second half of the year when little of the staple grain is harvested domestically."We have invited all rice-exporting countries, even the United States," said National Food Authority (NFA) Deputy Administrator Ludovico Jarina, adding that he hoped this would
boost the chances of getting a good deal.Vinafood 2, Vietnam's top rice exporter, has taken bid documents and is looking to supply the entire volume, while Thailand's government has expressed interest in participating in the April 15 open tender, Jarina said. Vinafood 2 and the embassies of Thailand and Cambodia in Manila sent representatives to a pre-bidding conference held at an NFA office on Thursday.Also present were officials from international commodities traders and grain exporters such as Louis Dreyfus, South Korea's Daewoo International Corp and Vietnam's Gentraco Corp. Thailand's Asia Golden Rice Co Ltd and Thai Hua Co Ltd were there as well.Rice exporters in Myanmar, Pakistan and India may also bid for each or all of the four 200,000-tonne lots, Jarina said."It's possible that there will be multiple winners. We will choose the lowest price," he said.Bids will be for the supply of 15-percent broken, long grain well-milled rice in U.S. dollars per tonne, on a CIF/DDU basis. The Philippines, one of the world's biggest rice buyers, is also looking to stabilise local retail prices of the grain, which hit a four-month high in February amid thinning local supplies.The NFA is seeking delivery of the 800,000 tonnes in four shipments between May and August, with an approved budget of 17.2 billion pesos ($383 million).Its purchases could provide support to rice export prices in Asia, with Thai rice prices steadily falling on rising supply as farmers harvest their second crop.Rice prices in Vietnam were stable this week, with the harvest of a major crop peaking.
(Reporting by Erik dela Cruz; Editing by Joseph Radford)
Price war seen as Thai rice glut swamps market

Published: 3 Apr 2014 at 18.1
Asian rice prices will keep slumping from a near six-year low as Thailand clears out record stockpiles, threatening a price war with Vietnam and India.A farmer drives an e-tan in a rally to press the caretaker government to pay them money from the rice-pledging scheme. Thailand plans to dump rice from stockpiles to the world market. (Photo by Patipat Janthong).The government plans to sell about 1 million tonnes a month, compared with average monthly exports of 558,000 tonnes last year. The nation's benchmark price, which is already below cost in Vietnam and India, may retreat US$11 (352 baht) to $350 (11,375 baht) a tonne by May, the Thai Rice Exporters Association forecasts.Thailand accumulated
reserves under a state-buying programme which ended this year amid a political crisis. Its stockpiles reached 12.8 million tonnes in 2013, or about one-third of the global export market. Vietnam's minister of industry and trade said this week that Thailand was willing to sell the grain at any price. "We could see a price war, with Vietnam cutting prices, selling lower than Thai rates," said Chookiat Ophaswongse, an honourary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.The 5% Thai broken white grade, used as a reference price in Asia, tumbled 30% to $394 in the past year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Thai grain is currently quoted at about $365 to $370 a tonne, lower than $385 in Vietnam and $420 in India, said Mr Chookiat. His forecast for $350 would be the lowest since December 2007.Cheaper rice may contribute to lower food costs, helping to damp inflation across Asia, where billions depend on the staple. Global food prices tracked by the United Nations fell 2.1% in the past year. Thailand, India and Vietnam, the three biggest shippers, accounted for 62% of the rice trade last year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates. Rice is falling as wheat in Chicago rose 11% this year."Now that Thailand is selling from government stockpiles at cheaper rates, trade inquiries have stopped," said B.V. Krishna Rao, managing director of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh-based Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt, India's largest exporter of non-basmati rice. India's export price needs to be dropped by $20 a tonne to be competitive against Thailand.Thailand is short of funds to pay farmers under the now-ended programme, which is the target of an anti-corruption probe. The country's reserves more than doubled from 5.6 million tonnes in 2011, when the intervention began under the Pheu Thai Party administration, to 14.7 million tonnes this year, USDA data show. The programme, which paid farmers above-market rates for their crop, was designed to lift rural incomes.While stockpile sales increase, dry weather in Thailand may curb harvests this year just as farmers adjust to the absence of guaranteed prices. The so-called minor crop, which runs to October, may contract 5% to 10.2 million tonnes, the Office of Agricultural Economics forecast March 25.World demand is expected to rise 1.5% to 471.2 million tonnes this year, below production of 474.8 million tonnes, according to the USDA, which forecasts the ninth year of a glut. Thai shipments may expand 27% to 8.5 million tonnes as India's drop 4.8% to 10 million tonnes and Vietnam ships 7.5 million tonnes, 10% more.''We will see heightened competition in the market because Thailand is quite eager to release the stockpiles,'' said Darren Cooper, a senior economist at the London-based International Grains Council. ''Thai prices have been falling steadily for the past year. We have seen some acceleration in the past few weeks, when it became clearer that Thailand needs to offload stocks to generate funds.''The Philippines, Asia's largest buyer this year after China and Indonesia, will hold a tender for 800,000 tonnes on April 15. While Thailand will offer the full amount, it's concerned the sale is taking place as crops from Vietnam are coming onto the market and hurting prices, according to Surasak Riangkrul, directorgeneral of the Department of Foreign Trade.
''Thailand is willing to agree to sales at any price,'' Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang said on Tuesday in a television broadcast. Vietnam's shipments dropped about 20% to 1.2 million tonnes in the first quarter.The National Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating allegations that caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was negligent for failing to stem losses from the programme. Ms Yingluck has defended the policy, a centrepiece of her administration, and is contesting the allegations.The caretaker government has sold about 17 million tonnes of stockpiled rice since the programme began, according to data from the Commerce Ministry. State stockpiles are estimated at 10 million to 13 million tonnes, caretaker Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan told reporters on March 7. The administration plans to raise at least 8 billion baht a month from sales, Mr Niwatthamrong said.Thailand will have spent 880 billion baht on rice under the programme from October 2011 to February 2014, according to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, including about 100 billion baht that hasn't yet been paid to farmers. The government has recouped about 200 billion baht through stockpile sales, according to the Commerce Ministry.''If the government continues selling at low rates like this, that will help the country regain its position as the top exporter,'' said Mr Chookiat. ''At this low price, buyers who buy from India and Vietnam will switch to Thailand.''
Ricegrowers welcome On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Funding

The Ricegrowers Association of Australia Inc (RGA) has welcomed $280,000 in principle funding awarded to the New South Wales Murray Valley Consortium to deliver on-farm irrigation efficiency projects under the Australian Governments On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program (the Program).Following the successful implementation of around $49.5 million worth of projects in Rounds One, Two and Three of the Program, RGA Executive Director, Ruth Wade, said that the RGA, in collaboration with Murray Local Land Services and Moira Private Irrigation District, was pleased to be delivering a further $280,000 worth of irrigation efficiency projects in the Murray Valley.
Improved irrigation efficiency allows additional water to be allocated to the environment without reducing the productive capacity of the region, Mrs Wade said.Along with maintaining the viability of farm businesses dependent on irrigation, it helps secure the economic base of related industries through the purchase of goods and services locally. Mrs Wade said irrigators in the Murray and Murrumbidgee Valley would be disappointed the RGAs Murray Consortium was not awarded more funding and the Murrumbidgee Consortium missed out altogether in what is likely to be the final round of funding under the current Program.There was an enormous level of interest in Round Four from irrigators keen to undertake irrigation efficiency works on their farms. With around 200 projects missing out in the Murray and Murrumbidgee, there is clearly a need for the Government to continue funding for these kinds of programs to achieve the water recovery target that has been set by the Basin Plan, Mrs Wade said.
Ricegrowers Association welcomes pause on CSG applications

The Ricegrowers' Association of Australia (RGA) has welcomed the announcement that the NSW Government has decided to put the CSG exploration licensing process on hold while it revisits the regulation of CSG activity.RGA Policy Manager, Andrew Bomm, said the government has previously indicated that no more Strategic Regional Land Use Plans will be developed and there will be a transition to Regional Growth Plans as part of new planning reforms. It is anticipated the new Regional Growth Plans will deal with strategic planning issues including Critical Industry Clusters, however this system is not yet finalised.Mr Bomm said the decision gives the government some breathing space to let the regulatory system catch up to the CSG industry. "In the interests of certainty for landholders and exploration companies, the NSW Government needs this chance to get its regulatory house in order," Mr Bomm said."Before applications are made, everyone needs to know what critical agricultural areas across the state are off limits for CSG development. It is simply untenable to have exploration companies going through this approval process while
the rice industry waits for the state government to sort out its planning system and declare critical industry status. This decision gives the government time to get its system worked out and avoid damaging uncertainty for farmers and the CSG sector."Mr Bomm cautioned that the decision did not mean that a suitable regime for managing co-existence is assured."There is still a lot of work be done to ensure these complex engineering projects are not going to harm the water resource. CSG activity is currently permitted without a sufficient understanding of the effect of de-pressurising interconnected ground and surface water systems. The government needs to slow things down to allow this critical scientific work to be done independently of any approval process.""We do not oppose the co-existence of farming and CSG, but only if we have the right conditions in place. This requires a lot of scientific work to be done to inform the planning process, which will not happen overnight," Mr Bomm concluded.
The Ricegrowers Association is going to the Royal Easter Show

The RGA and SunRice will be taking a rice industry display to the Food Farm Pavilion at the Sydney Royal Easter Show from 10 - 23 April. The show provides a wonderful opportunity to tell the Paddock to Plate story of the Australian rice industry and reach thousands of children and their parents.The display was a great success last year and we are looking forward to attending again in 2014. See you there!!!
Coming Soon! - The Story of Rice
The RGA has commissioned the production of a series of videos which tell the story of rice, from planting right through to milling.The videos will be uploaded next week and can be viewed by visiting our website.
RIRDC - Applications sought for Non-Executive Directors

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) is an Australian Government statutory authority, jointly funded by the Australian Government and rural industries.RIRDC invests in research and development to assist rural industries to be productive, profitable and sustainable.Applications sought for RIRDC directors Applications are being sought for non-executive directors of the corporation for a three-year term, commencing in July 2014. To be considered for these part-time positions, applicants must be able to demonstrate knowledge in one or more of the following fields: commodity production, processing or marketing conservation and management of natural resources environmental and ecological matters science technology/technology transfer economics finance and business management administration of research and development, including evaluation of R&D projects communication public administration. Applicants are asked to provide career and personal details (not more than three pages), noting those areas from the above list in which they have particular skills and experience. Applications should be lodged by 17 April 2014 via email or post to: Robert Granger Presiding Member 6 Billeroy Crt The Gap, Qld 4061 Email: rirdcdirectorselection@gmail.com
World Environment Day Awards - 2014
United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards 2014 NOW OPEN !!
Each year, in support of United Nations World Environment Day (June 5), the United Nations Association of Australia recognises innovative and outstanding environmental initiatives and projects from across Australia through the World Environment Day Awards. The Awards invite nominations from individuals, organisations and businesses that have taken positive steps towards sustainability and demonstrated environmental excellence in their homes, schools, communities and workplaces. Click here to view the flyer or visit www.unaavictoria.org.au
Media Release - NSW Famers'

Farm energy efficiency and innovation lands in Griffith
Fuel efficiency for broadacre farms will be the focus of attention at an energy seminar being hosted by NSW Farmers Association in Griffith on Wednesday 16 April.The seminar is the third in a series being run by NSW Farmers under its farm energy innovation program.Gerry Flores, NSW Farmers energy innovation manager, said: Diesel is a major input cost for most broad acre farms and tractors, farm vehicles and pumping stations are responsible for a large part of diesel being used.After biocides and fertilisers, diesel is the next largest cost and bills of more than $100,000 are common. But there are ways to reduce these costs using newer technologies, better management and machinery setup.Our research shows that getting just one thing wrong in your tractor set up or operating methods can lead to 10 percent more fuel being used. If you get a few factors wrong, wastage can be as much as 30 percent. Irrigation pumping is also an area where significant energy savings can be achieved, he said.The seminar will address opportunities available to improve farm energy management including diesel, gas and electricity.Mr Flores said the seminar would look at the whole farm energy equation from negotiating better energy prices through to planning capital expenditure. Our focus is on
practical solutions and a strong return on investment. Those attending will have the opportunity to ask questions about their own operations and discuss their situation with presenting engineers and researchers.Local farmers and members of the farming community are encouraged to attend this free seminar to be held on 16 April from 11:00am-3:00pm at the Southside Griffith Leagues Club, 2 Bridge Road, Griffith. Sandwiches and refreshments will be served. To RSVP visit the NSW Farmers website or follow this link: www.tinyurl.com/griffithenergyinnovation For further information call Gerry email florestorresg@nswfarmers.org.au Flores on 02 9478 1004 or
Vilsack Promises Farmers Have a Voice in Implementation

WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing today with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on the state of the rural Reece Langley tells Louisiana economy that included significant discussion about implementation of the new growers about new Farm Bill. Farm Bill. In opening remarks, Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) reminded those in attendance of the long process in getting the Agricultural Act of 2014 passed, and said he was proud of the final product, noting that now the Committee is "rightly focused on ensuring proper implementation. "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued areport today providing details on Farm Bill implementation efforts. Secretary Vilsack said, "This law is critically important to America's farmers and ranchers and to our nation's economy. Every USDA agency is working diligently to implement the Farm Bill's new provisions quickly and effectively." Vilsack also noted the importance of conservation programs and stressed that the Regional Conservation Partnership Program is a key priority for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. USDA is studying how proposed changes to the actively engaged rules will affect farm structures. Vilsack said any proposed rule will seek to offer clarity and certainty on the issue, and that USDA will allow ample time for stakeholders to offer their comments.USDA launched a website that provides details on Farm Bill implementation in one convenient location and the Economic Research Service launched awebsite highlighting economic implications of the new programs and provisions. "We appreciate USDA's commitment to efficiently and fairly implementing all the new provisions in the Farm Bill," said USA Rice Federation Vice President of Government Affairs Reece Langley. "USA Rice is doing
our part to help educate rice producers and other industry stakeholders on the key provisions impacting the rice industry, having already conducted a series of Farm Bill briefings. Our sessions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri were attended by more than 1,000 people, and we'll be conducting similar briefings in Texas later this month." Contact: Lauren Echols, (703) 236-1440
GIPSA Updates Website for LibertyLink Changes

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has revised certain statements on its website in the section called Letterhead Transgenic And Biotechnology Statements For Grain And Graded Commodities to reflect the availability of the agency's statement that there are no transgenic rice varieties for sale or in commercial production in the United States. This link will take you directly to the language dealing with rice: http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/rdd/transgenic_statements.pdf. For those seeking a hard copy of the statement on letterhead, please contact your local office of GIPSA's Federal Grain Inspection Service. Contact: Bob Cummings, (703) 236-1473
Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported

WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 81,200 MT for 2013/2014 were up noticeably from the previous week and 34 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Sales Export Highlights report. Increases were reported for Colombia (42,900 MT), unknown destinations (15,000 MT), Japan (12,800 MT), Guatemala (3,500 MT), and Canada (2,200 MT). Decreases were reported for Iraq (300 MT). Exports of 27,700 MT were down 71 percent from the previous week and from the prior four-week average. The primary destinations were Haiti (8,900 MT), Jordan (4,600 MT), Canada (3,700 MT), Mexico (3,200 MT), and Japan (1,700 MT). This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period March 21-27.
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for April 3
Month
Price
Net Change
May 2014
$15.700
+ $0.045
July 2014 September 2014 November 2014 January 2015 March 2015 May 2015
$15.615 $14.395 $14.430 $14.605 $14.660 $14.660
+ $0.015 + $0.125 + $0.115 + $0.120 + $0.120 + $0.120
The Role of Analytical Testing in Maintaining Food Safety

By John Szpylka, Ph.D., and Xochitl Javier
The safety of the food supply appropriately remains a high priority for industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies and consumers. With the emergence of new safety challenges and issues, companies are establishing and upgrading programs to reduce risk factors. These programs are continuously monitored for reliability and effectiveness. Due to the health and safety risks posed by chemical, microbiological and environmental contaminants, analytical methods are increasingly becoming a centerpiece of food safety programs. Innovative analytical approaches are being developed in response to emerging food safety issues. Established, officially approved methods are used to monitor for known issues. Oftentimes, new analytical methods are developed or modified rapidly in response to issues, such as melamine contamination, which are unforeseen. In such instances, accurate data derived from sound, validated analytical methods are required to enable industry stakeholders and regulators to make sound scientific decisions.Through research, industry has improved a host of analytical methods in recent years, resulting in higher sensitivity for difficult-to-detect contaminants, detection of contaminants in new matrix classes and faster turnaround times for results.
These advances have been made in the face of changing regulations, more rigorous method-validation standards and consumer demands for safe, quality products. Going forward, this spirit of innovation will continue to be crucial in industrys efforts to ensure the safety of the global food chain. Microbial Contamination When you hear food safety, there is a natural tendency to think initially of microbiological issues. Over the past few decades, foodborne illnesses associated with Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenesand Escherichia coli O157:H7 have been hammered into the public consciousness. In 2013 alone, significant news and media coverage were devoted to the discovery of L. monocytogenes in salads and Salmonella in peanut butter.Among the top causes of product recalls nationwide, Salmonella is the number one pathogen of concern in the U.S., causing over 19,000 hospitalizations each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Salmonella contamination is most commonly associated with eggs, poultry, meat, unpasteurized milk or juice, cheese, raw fruits and vegetables, spices and nuts. Chemical Contamination Public awareness of chemical safety issues is quickly gaining ground. Recent events have been captured in news headlines, highlighting the diverse safety and analytical challenges posed by chemical contaminants.After years of consideration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed an action level of 10 parts per billion this summer for inorganic arsenic in apple juice. For two decades, FDA has monitored apple juice for arsenic and other contaminants through its Total Diet Study and the Toxic Elements in Food and Foodware, and Radionuclides in Food Program. The results of the latest FDA survey on apple juice indicated that the majority of samples were below the action level for inorganic arsenic.[1].Higher arsenic levels in juice products have been reported in previous studies. An action level and risk assessment for arsenic in rice and rice-based products might be the next step, and FDA has recently released analytical test results, indicating that levels found were too low to cause immediate or short term health effects. However, FDA will next assess the potential health risk from long-term exposure to arsenic in rice and rice-based products.[2]
Acrylamide has long been a part of the human diet, commonly found in industrial settings and used in a wide range of products. Acrylamide formation is particularly likely in potatoes and cereals and other carbohydraterich foods, approximately 40 percent of the American diet. Due to the endogenous matrix interferences inherent to starchy foods, the analysis of acrylamide presents numerous challenges.This past summer, dicyandiamide, an agricultural chemical used by New Zealand dairy farmers to promote grass growth and reduce soil nitrogen leaching, was detected in minute traces in certain New Zealand milk powders.[3] The issue was isolated to a small number of manufacturing plants and products. Food safety authorities significantly boosted surveillance to prevent any further incidents, and a number of laboratories worldwide developed methodologies utilizing sophisticated analytical techniques to address the issue.Building an arsenal of reliable and validated methods to meet todays and tomorrows challenges rests on three essential elements: consensus, continuous Building Consensus The 2007 melamine crisis, which significantly impacted the pet food, feed and infant formula industries, is an ideal example for building a process to quickly achieve a scientific consensus in analytical methods. When melamine and related compounds were initially discovered in various food sources, cascading events led to investigations both in the U.S. and abroad. Government bodies and laboratories around the globe developed methods, collected data and dutifully reported their findings. However, analytical techniques, range-of-detection limits, sampling programs and other important factors varied in the development of these methods.[4] At a December 2008 meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO), food safety experts set forth melamine thresholds that government bodies would be able to adopt. Canada was the first country to adopt tolerable daily intake guidelines matching those set by the WHO and set a standard for allowable melamine levels in infant formula.[5] While we have learned a great deal from this unfortunate event, it was plainly evident that industry could and should do more to handle the next crisis. For example, the formation of an emergency response consensus method group could be highly beneficial. Joining with recognized global agencies, such as the International Food Safety Authorities Network, the group would be empowered to establish a process, allowing experts to evolution and new processes.
organize a forum, agree on a method and quickly standardize the selected method to offset the impact of a crisis.AOAC International has established a Priority Response Working Group as part of its Stakeholder Panel on Strategic Food Analytical Methods. The objective of this is to develop a proposal on establishing a consensus method in response to an emergency situation. Evolving to Meet Changing Needs When recalls and tragedies occur, beyond their significant economic impact on food companies, the trust of the consumer is compromised. The industrial microbiology market is driven by public concerns, increasing regulations and the need for faster results and meaningful data.According to Food MicroFifth Edition: Microbiology Testing in the US Food Industry, over 200 million microbiology tests were collected in the U.S. food processing industry in 2010. Published by Strategic Consulting, the 2012 report covers released research findings conducted with more than 100 food processing plants producing a broad range of products in different food segments. Microbiology testing will continue to move toward ever-more rapid and sensitive methods and techniques. As an example, the industry has moved toward increasing sample sizes, from 25 g to 375 g. A larger sample size increases sensitivity, increases the likelihood of finding bacterial concerns and ultimately decreases risk.The need for meaningful and actionable results has led to rapid methods, revolutionizing the industry. As part of this period of transformation, the food industry may look to existing technologies and applications in neighboring industries. Real-time polymerase chain reaction brought us more powerful and sensitive techniques, allowing industry to quantitate DNA sequences through this breakthrough technology. The microbiological testing evolution will likely include continued gains in speed, as well as in the depth of the analysis, due to the ongoing efforts of research laboratories and leading diagnostic testing companies.Chemical analysis is an important component in many quality and safety programs. A few of the more prevalent issues of concern include pesticides, toxins, veterinary drugs, heavy metals, allergens, economic adulterants and environmental pollutants. Instrumentation such as liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-MS/MS has given us the ability to detect chemical contaminants at very low concentrations, improving confidence in the food supply. To improve the
quality of surveillance, industry has developed a number of multiresidue methods, wherein multiple substances can be analyzed simultaneously. However, there are drawbacks in that some residues and metabolites may not be included in the screens. Furthermore, due to different extraction protocols, the same method cannot always be used for all matrices. As the evolution in contaminant screens continues to advance the scope and depth of these methods, the ability to more completely monitor the food supply for known contaminants will improve. New Directions nwanted or undeclared ingredients can find their way into foods either intentionally or by accident. For these occurrences, targeted testing cant directly identify the issue and will only be useful once the chemical compound is known. Improvements in analytical instrumentation and data analysis software are allowing the development of nontargeted testing protocols to create a fingerprint of an ingredient (or food). Data from the subsequent testing of new lots of ingredients (or new productions of foods) are compared with the base fingerprints, with high degrees of difference raising warnings. A high degree of difference would prompt deeper examinations to assess the ingredient or food for possible contamination.Various technologies are being explored for nontargeted screening. A recent example employed LC-MS/MS coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) to recognize adulterated and unadulterated foods.[6] After extraction of polar and nonpolar components of a variety of food ingredients, the two classes of components were analyzed using general separations on a C18 column with MS/MS detection. PCA identified the spiked ingredients as containing a high degree of difference. The MS data allowed identification of the adulterating agents.Other technologies have also been shown to identify potentially adulterated materials. One example uses nuclear magnetic resonance.[7] Near-infrared analysis with chemometric data analysis is being used in the food industry as a quality assurance tool, and this technology has been expanded to monitor for food adulteration.
Once Beyond Our Grasp
The availability of more sensitive, accurate and rapid testing methods is enhancing testing efficiencies, improving food safety programs and helping create a safer food supply. Advancements in technology are allowing industry to meet many analytical challenges in food product testing that were beyond our grasp not too long ago. The future holds much excitement, raising the bar for industry stakeholders to stay abreast of these new technologies. John Szpylka, Ph.D., is the director of chemistry, North America, with Silliker Inc.
Xochitl Javier is the senior product manager with Silliker Inc.

"Rice
is an Important Part of TPP"
From left: Michael Froman and Mike Thompson
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today on Capitol Hill, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) began his Committee hearing by saying, "[t]he success of American workers, businesses, farmers, and ranchers is directly linked to finding new markets, expanding existing ones, effectively dealing with market access barriers, and strictly enforcing our existing agreements."As the sole witness on the panel, United States Trade Representative Michael Froman said that he "very much" expects to finish talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement this year. "The critical issue right now is Japan market access on agriculture, on autos," Froman told the Committee. While some progress is being made on these issues, there is still much work to be done. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), a recent recipient of the USA Rice Federation's Friend of the U.S. Rice Industry Award, raised the issue of market access for rice in the TPP negotiations with Japan and noted that any final agreement should not exclude U.S.-grown rice. Froman responded that USTR is working to resolve many of the disputes with Japan and that rice is an important concern.
Contact: Lauren Echols, (703) 236-1440
For Advertising SPECS & RATES Contact: Advertising Department Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2874

3rd April, 2014 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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3rd April, 2014 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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3rd April, 2014

Chinese COLOR SORTER as low as

Share developments in RICE and allied sectors,

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Thu Apr 3, 2014 5:58am EDT

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Source: Delhi grain market traders.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Apr 03

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Price war seen as Thai rice glut swamps market

Ricegrowers welcome On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Funding

Ricegrowers Association welcomes pause on CSG applications

The Ricegrowers Association is going to the Royal Easter Show

Coming Soon! - The Story of Rice

RIRDC - Applications sought for Non-Executive Directors

World Environment Day Awards - 2014

Media Release - NSW Famers'

Vilsack Promises Farmers Have a Voice in Implementation

GIPSA Updates Website for LibertyLink Changes

Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

$15.615 $14.395 $14.430 $14.605 $14.660 $14.660

+ $0.015 + $0.125 + $0.115 + $0.120 + $0.120 + $0.120

The Role of Analytical Testing in Maintaining Food Safety

Once Beyond Our Grasp

Xochitl Javier is the senior product manager with Silliker Inc.

is an Important Part of TPP"

From left: Michael Froman and Mike Thompson

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