US – Nearly 58,000 jobs will open annually across the US in occupations involving agriculture and environment over the next five years, according to an employment outlook led by Purdue University. The jobs reflect a need for a highly skilled workforce to support the industries amid projections of a world population that is expected to … Read more
US – As long-time farmers and ranchers grow older, it is becoming increasingly difficult to pass on the family farm or find young employees to pick up the reins at large corporate ranches. According to the current issue of the journal Rangelands while the US has a rich agricultural history, and family farms once employed … Read more
BRAZIL – Harvest of the 2014 wheat crop is almost concluded. Early official estimates point to a bumper crop of almost 7.5 million tonnes, or 30 per cent above last year’s good level and record, despite unfavourable weather conditions during the cropping season negatively affecting yields in some area and caused localized crop losses. This … Read more
MONGOLIA – Harvesting of the 2014 main season crops, mainly wheat, barley and oats, was completed with a slight delay in mid-October. Latest official estimates put the 2014 wheat production at 465,000 tonnes, 26 per cent up from last year’s weather-depressed harvest. The increase in production reflects higher yields, following favourable climatic conditions between April … Read more
ERITREA – Harvesting of the 2014 main season crops is expected to start at the beginning of November and, according to satellite-based monitoring, production prospects in main agricultural areas of Debub, Maekel, Gash Barka and Anseba zobas are favourable. The 2014 “kiremti” rainy season had a timely onset at the end of June and, especially … Read more
BANGLADESH – Harvesting of the 2014 Aman season rice crop is expected to start in early November and continue until mid-December. Overall, rainfall between June and mid-October has been near-average over the main rice-producing areas benefiting sowing activities and crop development. However, heavy rains during the second dekad of August over northwestern and northeastern parts … Read more
GLOBAL – Every day for more than 20 years, an average of 2,000 hectares of irrigated land in arid and semi-arid areas across 75 countries have been degraded by salt, according to a study by UN University’s Canadian-based Institute for Water, Environment and Health. Today an area the size of France is affected – about … Read more
SOUTH KOREA – Harvesting of the 2014 rice crop is almost complete. FAO forecasts the 2014 rice production (in paddy terms) at 5.5 million tonnes, 2 percent below last year’s good outcome. Assuming average yields, the anticipated decrease is attributed to a 2 percent contraction in plantings. The area planted to paddy has been declining … Read more
GLOBAL – Policy makers should support a broad array of approaches to overhauling global food systems, said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva in his opening remarks to the 24th session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG). Calling for a “paradigm shift,” he said that today’s main challenges are to lower the use of agricultural … Read more
CHINA – Harvesting of the 2014 early double rice crop was completed at the end of July, while that of single and late double crops will be concluded by November. On average, output of the single rice crop normally amounts to about 66 percent of the national rice production, with the remaining two harvests (early … Read more