AGP Executive Report

Biosecurity Alert: USDA confirmed New World screwworm in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, triggering quarantine and movement controls to protect livestock and wildlife. Input-Cost Pressure: Reports link soaring fertilizer and diesel prices to Middle East disruptions, warning higher costs could hit crop yields and food prices. Crop Progress Watch: Illinois corn and soybean planting is near completion (91% corn, 89% soybeans planted) with mostly favorable conditions, while Saskatchewan seeding reached 80% after a slow start. Water & Land Governance: Montana farmers and senior water-right holders are pushing back on exempt well proliferation, while Ireland faces EU legal action over weak enforcement protecting carbon-rich bogs. Trade & Policy: Armenia approved compensation for duties on fruit, vegetables and flowers exported to the EU/UK/Canada amid Russia-imposed restrictions. Sustainable Farming Data: A France-wide regenerative dataset finds drought yield losses were about three times lower on the most regenerative farms. Local Food Systems: Markets and farm-share programs keep expanding, from Augusta’s summer farmers market to VINES Farm Share weekly vegetable pickups.

Policy Shift: Malawi’s National Economic Recovery Plan 2025-2030 signals a move away from subsidies toward mega farms, contract farming, solar-powered irrigation corridors, and agro-processing clusters aimed at boosting exports and jobs. Climate Preparedness: PNG officials are urged to prepare now for possible El Niño impacts, with a focus on water security, irrigation backups, and contingency plans for rural schools and health services. Farm Income Pressure: Ireland’s CAP-linked income fell for Teagasc and Bord Bia, with reduced EU funding affecting promotion and school fruit/veg programs. Kharif Governance: India’s Kharif 2026 campaign calls for faster, farmer-first scheme delivery and fewer bureaucratic hurdles. Input Shortage: Kenya’s Eldoret farmers protest delays in top-dressing fertiliser at NCPB depots, raising costs during maize top-dressing season. Labour Rights: Italy’s migrant farmworker deaths spotlight alleged exploitation in fruit-picking supply chains and renewed scrutiny of caporalato. Food Security Tech: China reports a second high-protein gene in corn that could raise feed-corn protein and cut reliance on imported soybean meal. Water Stress: Colorado farmers face sharply reduced irrigation flows as record-low snowpack cuts Gunnison Tunnel deliveries. Weed/Plant Health: Weld County warns about spreading rush skeletonweed and asks residents to report sightings early.

Crop Threats & Pest Pressure: Moroccan locust swarms are sweeping eastern Iran, threatening grain and fruit crops and prompting pesticide spraying as drought and shifting weather help the outbreak spread. Farm Labor Abuse: A deadly attack on migrants in southern Italy has reignited scrutiny of labor exploitation in fruit-picking supply chains. Wheat Innovation & Food Security: CIMMYT and Uzbekistan are launching a wheat innovation initiative, starting with an 18-month “bridge phase” to tackle rust, soil-borne diseases, and Fusarium head blight. Policy & Payments: USDA finalized new payment-limit rules for pass-through farm entities, letting eligible owners qualify for separate limits starting with the 2026 crop year. Input Costs & Farm Income: A new survey finds most U.S. farmers expect lower income, with input prices and Iran-linked uncertainty weighing on sentiment. Regional Weather Watch: India’s monsoon forecast points to a potentially deficient season, raising stakes for rainfed farming. Market Signals: Brazil’s strong corn outlook could boost global competition for U.S. corn, depending on weather and China’s buying. Minnesota Ag Compliance: Dicamba restrictions for 2026 take effect in June for over-the-top use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans. Local Resilience: North Dakota’s APUC approved grants for corn, dry bean inoculants, and value-added processing projects.

IMF-Linked Policy Backlash: Sri Lanka’s farmers’ union warns agriculture could “collapse” as IMF/World Bank-influenced policies push imports over local production, squeezing growers who rely on farming for a big share of livelihoods. Pest & Biosecurity: Texas rebuilt a major USDA livestock-insect lab to tackle screwworms and cattle fever ticks, while California’s Glenn County urged residents to contain a glassy-winged sharpshooter find tied to Costco grapevine shipments. Climate Stress on Food: Guatemala’s Maya communities in the Dry Corridor fear El Niño-driven drought could trigger hunger, and India’s agriculture ministry is putting monsoon and El Niño risk on “alert mode” with advisories for kharif farmers. Food Safety Alarm: Kenya warned markets are flooded with cereals containing aflatoxins far above safe limits, raising public health concerns. Farm Economics & Inputs: Australia faces mouse-plague pressure as growers seek emergency bait permits, and fertilizer supply/cost shocks keep tightening margins for grain producers. On-Farm Risk & Safety: Grain bin incidents and training highlight how larger bins are changing rescue tactics. Local Resilience: 4-H is helping save a fair’s Clover Café by growing food for meals, and Nepal reports organic farming boosting vegetable income for smallholders.

Coffee Supply Chain: India shipped advanced Arabica coffee seeds to Nepal, aiming to diversify a sector long reliant on one variety and strengthen the crop’s future. Farm Data Modernization: USDA’s Farm Service Agency will scan farmers’ acreage maps into spreadsheets in North Dakota and Maryland first, with a longer-term push toward more real-time reporting. Policy & Funding: Iowa’s bipartisan Farm Act is now law, pairing ag support with animal disease preparedness and water-quality funding through the “Farm to Faucet” package. Fertilizer Tariffs Under Fire: A coalition of farm groups urged the Commerce Department to end countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer, saying they’re raising costs as farm margins tighten. Research Investment: Texas wheat leaders approved $400,000 for 16 research projects focused on breeding, disease resistance and farm management. Weather Pressure: Heavy rain in Alberta delayed seeding for some farmers, while Kenya’s tomato prices jumped sharply after flooding disrupted production and transport. Global Outlook: China released its 2026-30 plan to accelerate agricultural and rural modernization, targeting higher grain capacity and improved product quality.

Highland Veg Price Crash in the Philippines: Atok, Benguet used a rescue-buy push (Project UBBO) to move about 79,236 kilos from 146 farmers after oversupply crushed farm-gate prices, while organizers renewed calls for fair long-term pricing reforms. Food Security Under El Niño in Guatemala: In Quiché’s Dry Corridor, drought and drying wells are driving fears of hunger as subsistence corn struggles and 2023-style crisis memories return. Garlic Trial Boosts Kavango West in Namibia: President Nandi-Ndaitwah praised Sikondo Green Scheme’s first garlic production on one hectare, highlighting low-maintenance, seed-saving potential alongside other crops. Climate-Proofing Wine in France: French growers are experimenting with “vitiforestry,” mixing vines with trees and fruit species to blunt heat, drought, and extreme weather impacts. Water for River Health in Australia: The Campaspe received precautionary environmental flows from Lake Eppalock starting June 1 to protect fish and reduce downstream low-oxygen and salinity risks. Input-Cost Pressure and Fertilizer Alternatives: Farmers in multiple regions are turning to cheaper, lower-impact options—from nano fertilisers to organic compost—amid fertilizer price shocks. Farm Labor Safety in the U.S.: North Carolina advocates warn heat stress is still killing or injuring H-2A workers, pushing for stronger protections as summer ramps up. Market Signals in Grains: CBOT corn, soybeans, and wheat slid on favorable U.S. weather and ample global supplies, even as condition ratings stayed slightly weaker than a year ago. Invasive Pest Control in Colorado: Mesa County expanded free Japanese beetle grub treatments to protect turf and reduce adult emergence, especially as drought weakens plants. Local Food Access via Markets: New Ulm’s farmers market returns June 11 with SNAP/EBT and Sun Bucks, plus transport support to keep fresh produce within reach.

Fertilizer Pressure: The FTC opened an industrywide probe into fertilizer price hikes as spring planting costs squeeze farm margins, with urea and nitrogen jumps cited and growers weighing what they can afford. Water Stress & Risk Management: Kona coffee farms in Hawaii are still reeling after a May earthquake destroyed water tanks, while in Virginia drought-stricken growers are weighing federal disaster aid after recent rains offered only partial relief. Crop Loss Decisions: Iowa farmers are facing the tough “to replant or not” call as wet/dry swings and soil crusting complicate corn emergence. Climate-Smart Soil: A Bangladesh report spotlights “hidden” climate benefits from healthy soil—more carbon storage, better moisture, and lower fertilizer dependence. Tech for Growers: A Binghamton University greenhouse “digital twin” uses VR plus real-time sensors to let people monitor crops remotely. Local Food Systems: Utah won a $350,000 USDA Farm to School grant to expand locally grown fruit in school meals. Agri-innovation & Inputs: Cambodia’s NISTI is working with cashew processors to upgrade harvesting and processing to meet international standards.

Post-harvest tech funding: India’s Impensus Electronics raised Rs 1.6 crore to scale controlled-environment ripening and storage aimed at cutting fruit and veg spoilage and improving shelf life. Drone spraying rules: Agriculture Victoria reminded operators that drone chemical spraying needs the right licences and must follow both aviation and ag-chemical requirements to protect people, animals, and crops. Soil moisture data for farmers: Victoria is pushing a soil moisture probe network and a regional e-newsletter to help growers interpret deep water levels for sowing, pasture growth, and grazing decisions. Regenerative tree push: LandLife SouthWest launched in Victoria with a goal of planting 1 million trees and restoring 400 hectares, linking regenerative farming with biodiversity and coastal resilience. Supply-chain training for fruit: Australia’s avocado industry rolled out a global-first VR training program with Woolworths to standardize orchard-to-retail handling. Bees and research lab closure risk: A report warns USDA plans to close the Beltsville bee research hub, just as beekeepers face varroa-driven losses. Monsoon uncertainty: India’s IMD forecast a below-normal monsoon, with El Niño concerns raising stakes for crop planning. Trade and farm access: The India-Oman CEPA starts June 1, offering duty-free access for many tariff lines and potential lift for Kashmir horticulture and dry fruits.

Desert Fruit Breakthrough (UAE): An Emirati farmer in Al Ain is using worm castings, grafting, and farm-waste recycling to grow and propagate non-native fruit trees in harsh desert conditions. Food Security & Irrigation (Namibia): Namibia’s Ekoka Green scheme is expanding maize and vegetables with irrigation, aiming to boost local jobs and food security through trial plots and community labor. Farm Support Payments (Philippines): DA-Davao released nearly P13M in cash aid to 5,600 rice and corn farmers in Marilog to cushion rising costs and market shocks. Fertilizer Shock & Organic Shift (Senegal): As fertilizer prices jump amid Middle East-linked supply disruptions, Senegalese farmers are turning to compost and manure to protect yields and cut dependence on chemicals. Soil Health Push (Zimbabwe): Zimbabwe’s soil degradation crisis is getting attention, with emphasis on soil testing and better sustainable management to restore productivity. Disaster Relief Request (US—New York): New York is seeking a USDA disaster declaration after April frost damaged fruit crops, with losses estimated up to 100% in some areas. Climate Stress on Crops (Europe): Heat waves are affecting egg quality and shrinking fruit sizes, while water scarcity is worsening orchard stress. Pest Pressure (Australia/Iran): Australia faces a mouse plague threatening grain crops, while Iran is battling a locust swarm that could devastate young fields. Market & Policy Signals: Russia set zero export duties on wheat, barley, and corn to encourage grain exports, while India-Oman CEPA starting June 1 could expand duty-free access for agricultural trade.

Irrigation Breakthrough in Coffee: Austria’s Komet Rain Gun sprinkler system irrigated 100 acres of a Sakleshpur coffee estate in 24 hours, drawing thousands of growers and spotlighting faster water delivery for plantation crops. Weather Tech for Farmers: Telangana launched an AI weather-advisory program delivering alerts to 15 lakh farmers via the Rythu Bharosa phone network, aiming to cut climate-driven crop losses. Procurement Tensions in Wheat: In Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh, thousands of farmers escalated a wheat procurement dispute by briefly blocking the Bikaner–Hanumangarh rail line, demanding longer procurement and higher targets. Farm Inputs Under Fire: Farmers in Kulaura (Bangladesh) blamed poor-quality DAE-distributed seeds for weak germination and low yields in watermelon and tomato fields, calling for investigation and compensation. Pest Watch at the Border: U.S. officials intercepted a rare leafhopper species in a leafy greens shipment into Arizona, quarantining it to protect crops and prevent disease spread. Cold-Chain Expansion: Ethiopia inaugurated a $30M cold storage facility in Addis Ababa to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilize fruit, vegetable, and animal product supply. Regenerative Restoration Push: Oleifera International launched a regenerative agriculture initiative across 10 African countries targeting nearly 100 million hectares of degraded land.

Farm Policy & Inputs: India’s fertilizer fight is heating up as Prime Minister Modi pushes chemical fertilizer cuts, while Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra restrict subsidized urea/DAP sales to products that don’t match the government’s “discouraged” list, raising alarms for specialty-crop growers. Weather & Crop Losses: Oklahoma wheat faces hail damage and late rain risks, while Eastern Panhandle growers report severe April freeze losses to peaches, apples, plums, and cherries. Procurement & Farmer Support: Telangana officials and critics clash over paddy procurement delays; meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh’s Hemanta Keshav Patil says wet paddy will still be procured at MSP with relaxed quality rules, and lorry shortages are being addressed. Pests & Biosecurity: U.S. CBP found a rare leafhopper pest in leafy greens at Nogales, and Northern California warns about glassy-winged sharpshooter on plants sold at Costco. Ag Science & Sustainability: Chinese researchers map sugarcane genetics for higher sugar and resilience; Ghana’s entomologist warns pesticide use is driving mosquito insecticide resistance. Community & Agritourism: South Dakota launches an Agritourism Adventures Passport, and Iowa’s farmers markets and fairs gear up for summer.

Disaster Relief for Fruit Growers: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul asked USDA for secretarial disaster designation after April frost hit Hudson Valley and other regions, with reported losses topping $30 million and eligibility for low-interest emergency loans. Plant Health Threat: Oregon’s Columbia Gorge cherry growers are battling an epidemic of tomato ringspot virus, spread by nematodes and hard to treat once established, cutting fruit size and yields. Cover Crops Timing: Maryland extended its 2025-26 cover crop termination deadline to June 5 due to wet field conditions, aiming to protect soil health while keeping spring cash crops supplied. Fertilizer Market Scrutiny: The FTC launched an investigation into fertilizer industry anticompetitive behavior after farmers complained about surging prices and consolidation limiting competition. Nutrient “Hidden Hunger”: Arkansas agronomists urged tissue sampling as farmers cut fertilizer inputs, warning nutrient deficiencies can quietly reduce yields. Trade and Inputs: Russia imposed restrictions on Armenian fruit and vegetables, saying supplies can be replaced for its market. Local Food Access: GrowNYC marked 50 years of Greenmarkets, with producer-only markets expanding across NYC boroughs. Agriculture Mental Health: Sen. Jerry Moran joined a bipartisan push to designate May 29, 2026, as Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day.

Water & Packing Efficiency: Water reuse is getting more attention inside fruit and nut packhouses, with operators moving toward multi-stage filtration to keep recirculated wash water stable during peak loads. Crop Inputs & Stress Management: TOPZinc Max is being positioned for early vegetative foliar zinc support, aiming to strengthen establishment and help crops better handle stress around herbicide programs. Energy & Land Use: Serbia’s EPS has suspended a tender for supervision of EUR 5.5M self-balancing solar power plants after bids failed key conditions. Farm Economics & Consolidation: Victoria’s orchard belt is seeing an “exit plan” land sale, putting large apple, pear and plum holdings on the market as growers weigh the future. Climate Risk: India expects 2026 monsoon rains to be below average as El Niño develops, raising stakes for farm output. Sustainable Rice Research: Trials in India suggest mycorrhiza-based bio-fertilisers can boost basmati yields 5–15% when paired with synthetic fertiliser, with potential fertilizer and emissions cuts. Food Safety Rules: Sri Lanka tightened EU-bound export controls after regulators flagged excessive pesticide residues, requiring SL-GAP certification and authorized facilities. Farm Stress & Mental Health: A webinar highlights rising anxiety and depression risks in agriculture tied to costs, weather, and loss of control. Local Food Access: Maine’s Senior FarmShare enrollment opens June 1, expanding older adults’ access to fresh Maine-grown produce. Women Farmers’ Rights: A push is growing to register women farmers so they can access land-linked finance and government benefits.

El Niño Risk to Rice: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture warned severe El Niño could cut national rice output by up to 700,000 metric tons, prompting renewed planning for drought impacts, including cloud seeding and irrigation support. Spring Seeding Watch: Manitoba reports seeding at 55% complete (behind the 5-year average), with wet pockets and cool weather slowing progress, while Alberta says seeding is past halfway but uneven due to frost, wind, and inconsistent moisture. Trade Tension for Soybeans: U.S. farmers are cautiously optimistic after a reported China commitment to buy at least $17B more in U.S. ag products annually, but skepticism remains over details and confirmation. Water and Heat Pressure: Kansas wheat faces its smallest crop since 1972 amid drought and virus spread, while the UK’s heatwave is already stressing wheat and dairy. Ag Finance Debate: A civil society coalition at the AfDB meetings is urging a shift away from industrial factory farming toward community-led agroecology. Pest Alert: California officials detected glassy-winged sharpshooters on Costco grapevine shipments, raising Pierce’s disease concerns for vineyards. Farm Safety/Community: Local markets and farm tours keep rolling, including Richland County’s Ag + Art Tour June 6-7.

Invasive Pest Alert: Northern California counties are warning shoppers after Costco grapevines and citrus plants were found carrying the glassy-winged sharpshooter, which can spread Pierce’s disease—residents are being told to isolate plants, avoid moving them, and contact county agriculture offices for inspection. Disaster & Crop Losses: Maryland is seeking federal disaster aid after an April freeze wiped out specialty crops, with estimates pointing to major deficits for the 2026 wine vintage. Regenerative Push: A coalition of major food and beverage companies backed a shared framework to scale regenerative agriculture across ingredient supply chains, aiming to improve soil health and climate resilience. Wheat Outlook: India projects wheat output up 2.29% to 120.65 million tonnes for 2025-26, despite localized weather damage. Soil-Borne Disease Research: Australian researchers found some soils naturally suppress Sclerotinia stem rot, driven by beneficial microbes—an approach that could help reduce broadacre crop losses. Weatherwatch: Chinese farmers are watching the “small fullness” period for rain to keep fields from drying out before summer.

Invasive Pest Alert: Northern California officials are tracing grapevines sold at Costco after detecting the glassy-winged sharpshooter, which can spread Pierce’s disease and kill vines—stoking new guidance for buyers in multiple counties. Crop Conditions & Weather: USDA reports mixed winter wheat conditions in the Eastern Corn Belt, while drought and freeze damage are still shaping yields from Kansas to the Carolinas and Virginia; some areas are seeing brief moisture relief. Planting & Procurement Pressure: In Illinois, corn and soy planting wrapped up in DeKalb County; in Telangana, officials are scrambling to protect rain-soaked paddy and speed procurement and payments. Biofuels & Markets: Iowa biodiesel plants are restarting after a winter slowdown, helped by Renewable Fuels Standard requirements and tax credits; U.S. corn and soybean markets remain choppy after Memorial Day. Policy & Regulation: Vermont moves to ban paraquat with limited exemptions, and Morocco faces animal-welfare backlash over a draft law that could undermine its TNVR rabies-control commitments. Ag Innovation: A Philippines World Bank deal pairs education reform with a grant for sustainable agriculture transformation. Biochar & Alternatives: RegenSoil pitches a microbe-enhanced biochar growing medium aimed at soilless cultivation.