AGP Executive Report

Weather & Risk: El Niño-linked forecasts are pushing Tanzania to prepare for flooding and strong winds, while Ireland’s farmers warn a fodder shortage is already biting as drought limits grass growth. Policy & Inputs: Brazil passed Profert to boost domestic fertilizer production and cut import dependence, and India’s agriculture minister says El Niño impacts on kharif look limited so far. Water & Tech: Illinois farmers are set to trial Green Evolution’s InteliGel hydrogel to hold water and nutrients, and Egypt is testing agrivoltaics to shade crops and reduce evaporation. Markets & Trade: South African citrus gets added cold-treatment options to expand access to India, and Afghanistan grape producers say border fighting with Pakistan is blocking their main export route. Farm Economy & Infrastructure: Midwest grain storage upgrades are getting a tax-driven boost, and South Korea’s Nonghyup is mobilizing emergency recovery funds for flood-hit farms. Protests & Supply Chains: Baja California wheat and corn growers block Mexico’s agriculture office over unpaid subsidies. Ag Innovation: Plant Culture Systems launches AGGI, an AI platform for crop monitoring and farm decision support.

Storm and monsoon impacts: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture says damage from typhoons Luis and Maymay plus the enhanced southwest monsoon hit P1.03B, with rice taking the biggest share and more assessments still coming. Water and irrigation management: In the Philippines, heavy rains replenished key dams enough to irrigate roughly 190,000 hectares, while India’s irrigation officials urged a cautious El Niño-era balance between drinking-water needs and keeping irrigation flowing. Farm losses and logistics strain: Benguet vegetable growers face over P1.4B in losses as rain, congestion, and poor roads delay shipments; the DA is also investigating dumped spoiled produce. Fertilizer supply pressure: Malaysia’s MADA is ramping monitoring to speed compound fertilizer deliveries for rice, citing delays and quality inconsistencies. Conservation and working lands: Iowa is expanding its Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Program into 22 counties with $1.5M over five years to cut erosion and improve water quality. Drought and fire risk: Texas A&M Forest Service warns wildfire risk is rising as intense heat and dry weeks rapidly dry vegetation. Market vulnerability: Cornell research flags a supply risk for fresh broccoli, since 90%+ of U.S. production is concentrated in California. Policy and labor: Mississippi Rep. Trent Kelly backs a bill to overhaul the H-2A agricultural guest worker program to reduce costs and administrative burden. EU heatwave fallout: European farmers warn yield drops could push food prices higher, with Germany projecting a 7% grain harvest decline.

Storm Damage in the Philippines: The Department of Agriculture says typhoons Luis and Maymay plus the enhanced southwest monsoon have caused P1.03B in ag and fisheries damage, with rice (palay) at P589.44M and 30,073 farmers affected across multiple regions. Local Flood Losses in Pangasinan: A separate report puts Pangasinan’s farm losses since Aug. 1 at P267.5M, led by palay, as farmers wait for floodwaters to recede to save newly planted seedlings. Supply Chain Investment in Australia: CBH Group unveiled 17 new narrow-gauge locomotives and 650 wagons to expand its grower-owned grain network toward higher export capacity by 2033. Water Strategy for Drought Risk in Australia: The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder launched its 2026-27 plan, prioritizing river connectivity, native fish movement, and wetland resilience as warmer, drier conditions loom. Conservation Funding in Virginia: Virginia approved a record $304M for farm conservation practices, including cover crops, nutrient plans, and rotational grazing. Market/Policy Pressure: Farmers in Baghdad protested unpaid wheat dues tied to Iraq’s state grain procurement system. Global Weather Watch: Reuters reports El Niño is strengthening and could become “very strong,” raising risks for tropical crops and commodity prices.

Disaster Relief for Crops: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture released P177.67 million in seeds, rice supplies, insurance payouts, and zero-interest SURE loans for farmers and fisherfolk hit by habagat and typhoons Luis and Maymay. Weather Watch in the Corn Belt: Indiana growers are weighing long-term damage after severe flooding, while Ohio’s late-season soybean disease risk is rising after heavy rains. Drought vs. Rain Reality: South Dakota farmers report mixed fields as dryness lingers, but Missouri got timely rain as corn nears harvest. Soil Health & Water Planning: Illinois’ La Salle County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting a Soil Health Field Day on Aug. 25, and Minnesota DNR is taking public feedback on a lake vegetation management plan through Aug. 31. Policy & Pollinators: New Hampshire regulators will consider restricting neonicotinoids amid ongoing concerns for bees and other pollinators. Local Food Systems: Kentucky’s Need More Acres is expanding into a new food hub with storage and education to grow farm-to-school and “Food is Medicine” programs.

Drought and disaster costs: Ireland’s dairy farmers are burning through cash as prolonged drought leaves grass scarce, with one herd owner estimating €3,500 a week in extra feed and early culling. Climate shock on food systems: The Philippines’ agriculture department put tropical-cyclone and monsoon damage at ₱1.03 billion, hitting rice hardest and preparing seed and rice aid for recovery. Farm income protection: The Philippines’ House approved a stronger crop insurance measure to help farmers and fisherfolk bounce back after typhoons, floods, drought and disease. Security and exports: Mexico’s avocado industry is restarting U.S.-bound shipments after a lifted security alert, but workers and producers still fear cartel violence and extortion. Seeds and breeding tech: KKR-backed Advanta agreed to buy Egypt’s Misr Hytech Seed for about $110 million, while Chinese researchers unveiled “Fengshu 2.0,” a soybean-focused AI model aimed at faster, data-assisted breeding. Policy and trade access: Russia outlined conditions to lift restrictions on Armenian agricultural imports, emphasizing safety, traceability and pesticide controls. Horticulture and local resilience: Delaware’s Bennett Orchards won a grant to test wind machines for frost protection in blueberries. Wildlife conflict: Indian farmers in Himachal Pradesh reported elephant damage to homes, tubewells and crops, demanding faster compensation and prevention.

Ag Insurance Push: The Philippines’ House approved HB 10365 to expand the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation’s coverage for farmers and fisherfolk, aiming to protect livelihoods from typhoons, floods, drought, plant and livestock diseases, and pests. Farmgate Crisis in Benguet: In the vegetable hub of Benguet, growers dumped Chinese cabbage and carrots after prices fell and buyers dried up, with heavy rains adding to losses. Plant-Based Protein Breakthrough: Scientists engineered lettuce to produce myoglobin, a meat-linked protein, as a potential ingredient for more convincing plant-based meats. Drought Pressure Builds: Minnesota farmers face worsening severe drought, with some scaling back planting and relying on costly irrigation. Water Conflict in the Jordan Valley: Zionist settlers allegedly diverted Palestinian irrigation water to fill a West Bank pool, leaving local farms unable to plant. Seed Sovereignty Movement: Women farmers in Bangladesh called for food sovereignty through local seed preservation and climate-resilient agroecology, highlighting a community seed bank conserving hundreds of varieties. Trade Policy Watch: The U.S. Senate backs extending South Africa’s Agoa for two more years, with continued importance for key farm value chains. Crop Safety Training: Mountaire Farms and a Delmarva fire company delivered grain safety drills for farmers to prevent silo engulfment tragedies.

Drought Relief & Inputs: Florida’s Lake Okeechobee is seeing a “renaissance” as low water levels expose muck for dredging and help native plants rebound, though experts warn a single hurricane could undo gains. Water Stress for Crops: British potato growers warn water shortages are threatening yield and quality, with drought already squeezing irrigation supplies. Policy & Insurance: The Philippines’ House backed a move to strengthen crop insurance via PCIC, expanding coverage for farmers and fisherfolk against calamities, diseases, and pests. Local Support for Farmers: Batac City in Ilocos Norte distributed foliar fertilizer to 555 registered farmers to sustain high-value crops and manage rising input costs. Agrivoltaics Spotlight: A new explainer breaks down how agrivoltaics can co-produce solar power and crops, plus the economics and tradeoffs farmers should weigh. Tech Caution: In China, a farmer reportedly lost 25 acres of sesame after following AI chatbot pesticide advice—another reminder that crop chemistry needs expert checks. Pest Pressure: Farmers in Kenya’s Murang’a county say velvet monkeys, rats, porcupines and moles are cutting harvests and are asking for extension support before the next planting season. Trade & Markets: South Africa’s cereals and oilseeds sector sees China cooperation as a reliable export path, with zero-tariff access boosting prospects for maize and fruit too.

Food Safety: FDA began inspecting Taylor Farms’ central Mexico plant tied to a multistate cyclospora outbreak, as U.S. officials press for faster ingredient tracebacks after thousands of illnesses. Drought & Water Policy: Britain’s government rolled out a £65m drought support package for farmers, while UK growers and water groups renewed calls for easier planning for on-farm reservoirs to capture winter rainfall. Crop Impacts: In Victoria, heavy rain and flooding left some growers with up to 15% crop losses, with others using drones to reach waterlogged paddocks. Water Stress in California: San Luis Obispo specialty-crop growers are adjusting to tighter groundwater rules and higher water costs under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. International Trade Rules: Vietnam warned exporters to prepare for EU tightening pesticide residue limits that could sharply reduce allowable levels for key crops. Climate Risk: NOAA says El Niño is moving toward very strong intensity, raising stakes for rainfall and farming across Latin America. Disaster Relief Needs: In Ilocos, a peasant group urged immediate government aid after monsoon flooding damaged crops, fishponds, and irrigation.

UK Drought Aid: Prime Minister Andy Burnham says England’s farmers are “at the sharp end” of climate change and will get a £65m package, mostly via a bigger Sustainable Farming Incentive budget, plus extra reservoir support and more flexibility in environmental schemes. Swiss Response: Switzerland’s agriculture minister Guy Parmelin defended the government’s drought measures, saying existing laws are enough and pointing to duty-free hay and fodder imports and faster direct payments. Prairie Dry Spell: In Canada, drought expanded sharply across the Prairies in July, though many farm areas stayed out of drought thanks to earlier spring moisture. Fertiliser Breakthrough: Scientists report a way to turn Morocco’s potassium-rich syenite rock into a slower-release fertiliser, aiming to cut Africa’s dependence on expensive imported potash. Water for Crops: Kenya’s Homa Bay County is starting a Sh1.7bn irrigation project that will shift 66,000+ farmers from rain-fed farming. Trade & Value Chains: Nigeria’s push to export better, not just more, is getting a boost as China’s zero-tariff regime drives a surge in imports from Nigeria, including farm products. Logistics for Fruit: South Africa’s Port of Cape Town is improving turnaround times and cutting vessel waiting ahead of the deciduous fruit export season.

Drought relief in the UK: Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a £65m package for drought-hit farmers, including extra Sustainable Farming Incentive support and flexibility to keep environmental payments when grass fails, plus help building water storage and getting water to crops and livestock. Weather damage payouts in the Philippines: The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. will pay P36m to 5,005 farmers after southwest monsoon flooding and typhoons, with rice taking the biggest hit. Ukraine grain sanctions: Zelenskyy signed sanctions targeting 13 vessels and entities tied to moving stolen Ukrainian grain from occupied territories, aiming to pressure the logistics chain. Food safety pressure in the US: FDA inspectors visited Taylor Farms’ Mexico operation tied to the cyclospora outbreak, as regulators face criticism over how long it took to go on-site. Plant health and resilience: Ethiopia researchers rolled out a faster wheat blast diagnostic test that can confirm infection in about 90 minutes, boosting surveillance before the disease spreads. On-farm water saving in India: ICAR-CCARI says rainwater harvesting and pond systems conserve nearly 3 crore litres annually for irrigation and aquaculture. Harvest training in Iowa: Iowa State’s Combine University launches Aug. 24-26 to help operators improve combine setup, grain loss control, and yield monitor calibration.

Weather Whiplash and Drought Damage: Germany’s farmers warn heat and persistent drought could cut harvests and even wipe out crops in worst-hit regions, with fodder reserves also shrinking. Drought Relief Hope: Switzerland is forecasting thunderstorms and rain that could finally ease decades-low water levels, but officials say soils may need sustained wet weather to recover. Livestock Under Pressure: In South Africa, freezing cold and wet conditions have killed 26 cattle, prompting calls for better shelter and bedding. Storm Losses in the Philippines: Tropical depressions and monsoon rains have driven up farm damage across multiple provinces, with the Department of Agriculture estimating nearly P700 million in losses, led by rice. EU Policy Shock for Farmers: Britain’s Labour EU reset deal could tighten rules on precision-bred crops, raising uncertainty for drought-resilient varieties. Input Costs: Fertilizer prices are expected to stay above pre-war levels through 2028, keeping pressure on U.S. farm budgets. Food Supply and Trade: Ukraine’s grain exports are down sharply as Black Sea routes remain disrupted, while Armenia and Russia move to intensify food-safety cooperation to restore restricted imports. Regenerative Push: Heineken UK is backing regenerative barley for its supply chain, aiming to make the UK barley sector more resilient.

Weather & Losses: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture says Tropical Depressions Luis and Maymay plus the enhanced southwest monsoon have damaged farm output worth P689.66 million, nearly double the prior estimate, hitting 21,115 farmers across 19,634 hectares; rice accounts for 65.46% of losses. Wildfire Impacts: In British Columbia, wildfire activity is forcing some growers to lose crops they can’t irrigate, with 269 agricultural premises reported affected. Harvest Watch: Saskatchewan’s cooler week slowed harvest to 2% complete, while topsoil moisture remains short in much of the province despite scattered showers. Soil & Crop Innovation: Ontario’s Huron County Plowing Match spotlights next-gen soil and crop improvement, including sprayer demonstrations, with “Wheat Pete” set to draw crowds. Regenerative Push: A West Michigan field day highlights how regenerative practices are being adopted to improve soil health, water resilience, and ingredient sourcing. Food Security & Trade: Ukraine says Black Sea strikes are trapping harvest and disrupting exports, while a proposed mutual halt on civilian attacks is floated. Biosecurity: Hawai‘i captured a live opossum at Hilo Harbor; it was euthanized and sent for rabies testing.

Black Sea Grain War: Ukraine strikes Russia’s Novorossiysk and Izmail grain infrastructure, forcing terminals to halt and raising fears for global wheat and corn supplies. Heat & Drought Impacts: South Korea’s record heat has devastated crops and livestock, while Europe’s drought is battering everything from potatoes to grapes and straining farm water rules. Fertilizer Crunch: Northern Bangladesh farmers can’t get enough triple super phosphate during Aman season, with some paying above fixed prices and still falling short on application. Water Security for Food: Indonesia warns El Niño could extend dry seasons, putting pressure on water systems that underpin planting, fertilizer use, and harvests. Ag Trade & Plant Health: Zambia handed over a rehabilitated plant quarantine lab in Livingstone to cut testing time and costs, helping horticulture and citrus exporters meet phytosanitary requirements. Farm Resilience & Risk: UK farmers describe cracked, moisture-starved soils despite cover crops, underscoring how extreme weather is outpacing adaptation. Renewables on Farms: New York utilities seek permission to generate their own wind and solar again, as regulators weigh grid and cost concerns.

Water & drought response: India’s Nellore endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy says reservoirs can sustain Kharif-2026 irrigation for 3.22 lakh acres, urging conservation and cracking down on illegal pumping. Crop protection under stress: Michigan State Extension is offering free PFAS testing and risk plans for farmers, while researchers warn hot, dry weather can intensify soybean stress and pest pressure. Tech in the field: Colorado State University is using sensor tech to predict peach ripening weeks ahead, and the Philippines Department of Agriculture is piloting drone-and-AI monitoring on banana farms to flag disease early. Biosecurity threat: An invasive Eastern Heath Snail is spreading across north-central Montana, with no reliable eradication once established. Wildfire risk: Arkansas says all 75 counties are at moderate wildfire risk and many have burn bans; Wyoming reports a small fire tied to agricultural equipment. Markets & policy: Brazil’s Supreme Court upheld parts of the soy moratorium framework, and USDA’s latest outlook helped lift corn and soy futures. Food system resilience: A Wisconsin grant is helping connect farms with food pantries, including more protein access via a new program. Safety reminder: A grain bin death in Indiana underscores the ongoing need for harvest and storage safety.

Water Crisis & Soil Impacts: New research warns parts of California’s Sacramento Valley are sinking fast as drought-era groundwater pumping compacts aquifers, threatening long-term water storage for major farming regions. Climate & Grain Logistics: With the Danube running low and Black Sea ports under pressure, Europe’s drought is complicating Ukraine’s grain export routes and even power generation. Crop Production Under Stress: India’s kharif sowing is down to 967.92 lakh hectares as deficient monsoon rainfall tied to El Niño reduces rice and other plantings. Pesticide Scrutiny: Jammu and Kashmir data shows 58 fruit and vegetable samples exceeded India’s pesticide residue limits, adding pressure on farm chemical use and monitoring. GMO Debate: Malaysia says a proposed controlled GM rice trial (MR219) is not approval for commercial GMO use and will be tightly monitored. Farm Tech Caution: A Chinese farmer reportedly lost nearly 25 acres of sesame after following an AI app’s pesticide mix, highlighting risks when guidance isn’t validated on the ground. Agri-Food Trade: Spain’s Comunitat Valenciana agri-food exports rose 5.4% in May, outpacing the national decline. Rural Livelihoods: Liberia secured a US$1M KOICA-backed grant to train youth in rice and cassava value chains through 2030.

Heat & Drought Pressure: A persistent European heatwave is stressing rivers, power and crops, with drought and low soil moisture raising fire risk. Monsoon Damage in the Philippines: The Department of Agriculture put combined Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay plus enhanced southwest monsoon damage at P197.2M, hitting rice hardest, with thousands of farmers affected. Food Safety After Flooding: Louisiana agriculture officials urged growers to follow FDA guidance on crops exposed to Tropical Storm Arthur, treating flood-contact produce as adulterated unless edible parts weren’t reached. Farm Resilience & Planning: India’s agriculture ministry outlined El Niño contingency steps for 342 districts across 15 states, including seed support and weekly crop-weather monitoring. Crop Health Watch: Saskatchewan chickpea growers are seeing disease ease after hot, drying weather, but researchers still urge continued scouting for Ascochyta blight. Market & Policy Signals: Farmland values in the U.S. Corn Belt stayed firm, supporting sticky cash rents, while a New Jersey bill would offer emergency relief for an April freeze that wiped out blossoms and developing fruit. Safety on the Farm: Canada’s Be Grain Safe Week spotlights grain-bin entrapment hazards as harvest ramps up. Data & Trust in USDA: USDA tapped Indiana grower Kip Tom to modernize NASS crop data collection, aiming to better reflect field realities.