AGP Executive Report

Farm Economics & Inputs: A Federal Reserve Beige Book update says Corn Belt farm income expectations for 2026 improved, with corn/soy/wheat prices up on stronger demand, but higher fertilizer and fuel costs are squeezing margins. Diesel Shock: Separate reporting highlights record diesel prices pushing harvest and hauling costs higher, adding pressure right as farmers need to move product. US Crop Outlook: USDA forecasts point to tighter corn supplies after yield cuts, while egg receipts are expected to drop sharply in 2026. Drought & Flood Stress: Volunteers are helping Waiahole farms recover after a third flood this year, while Kansas and other regions face drought monitoring updates and moisture-stress concerns. Weather Risk for Crops: El Niño-linked dryness is driving emergency crop-protection steps in Andhra Pradesh, and farmers in India’s Telangana report power disruptions and crop losses. Soil & Water Policy: Alberta’s new wetland-drainage rules for “routine agricultural activities” are drawing conservation backlash. On-Farm Innovation: A “living sand” greenhouse approach aims to make desert sand workable for crops, and a smart greenhouse under “Project Paani” is bringing water-saving growing methods to students. Local Food & Markets: A Waldo sweet potato festival spotlights community agriculture history, and a Prince George farm market has limited remaining dates. Trade & Food Security: Bangladesh expects wheat imports to fall as global prices stay high, while Ghana’s maize glut explanation is challenged by critics.

Farmer Support & Inputs: Bangladesh’s Naogaon government distributed Taka 2.55 crore in incentives to 35,000 small and marginal Aman paddy growers, including free seed and fertiliser per bigha. Market Continuity: Naogaon’s Katimon mango variety is extending the season, keeping Sapahar’s mango market busy even after peak varieties fade. Climate Risk & Resilience: Papua New Guinea farmers are switching to drought-resistant kaukau sweet potato varieties to protect food and income as El Niño bites. Water & Soil Protection: Ireland’s Teagasc urged farmers to protect waterways during fertiliser season with practical steps on slurry timing, nutrient demand, and runoff risk. Food Prices Watch: The UN’s FAO Food Price Index rose in August, with cereals and vegetable oils climbing as climate shocks and trade disruptions tighten supply expectations. Power Reliability for Crops: Telangana farmers protested power disruptions and low voltage, saying borewell irrigation is failing and pump sets are getting damaged. Policy for Drylands: India’s Dryland Congress 2026 ended with the Delhi Declaration on Drylands, pushing South-South cooperation and shared innovation for dryland agriculture. Research & Planting Decisions: Kansas released its 2026 wheat variety guide, highlighting disease and insect resistance plus new variety profiles for growers planning fall planting.

BRICS Grain Exchange Push: BRICS leaders in New Delhi backed continued work on a BRICS Grain Exchange to cut food-price volatility and supply shocks, with plans to expand beyond grains and address fertiliser shortages. Farm Inputs Under Strain: Farmers in Bangladesh’s Kurigram say fertiliser allocations for T-Aman paddy and early winter vegetables are barely half what’s recommended, triggering dealer warehouse break-ins and assaults on officials. Weather Hits Crops: Heavy rain and hail damaged Kashmir paddy just before harvest, while parts of India’s Adilabad saw short-term relief for cotton and soya after a dry spell. Energy vs Farmland: Bulgaria saw a nationwide protest demanding a temporary moratorium on wind and solar projects on agricultural land, arguing pastures are being leased without a clear national plan. Tech for Smarter Farming: Nebraska’s Husker Harvest Days returns with drone and AgTech panels, and a San Antonio biotech facility is set to scale sterile-fly pest control against New World screwworm. Aquaculture Expansion: California approved plans for the U.S.’s biggest kelp farm off Ventura to support soil and plant health for nearby farms. Seed System Focus (Ghana): Ghanaian stakeholders urged fixing the seed system to improve access to certified, timely, affordable seed and strengthen climate resilience.

Crop Protection & Inputs: Kansas wheat growers are using the new K-State Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2026 to pick fall varieties, weighing yield alongside disease and insect resistance. Pest Watch: Ireland’s flea beetle is active in oilseed rape, with advice to scout closely at emergence and act fast if damage risk rises. Weather Stress: Light to moderate rains brought relief to Telangana’s Mancherial and Asifabad districts, easing stress in paddy, cotton and maize. Soil Health Tech: Clearfield County Conservation District is exploring drone seeding for cover crops to avoid soil compaction and tractor traffic, with a grant application for drone services. Policy & Trade: Colombia plans limited aerial spraying to eradicate coca crops using a different herbicide, reopening safety and effectiveness debates. Food Security & Energy Costs: U.S. farmers face record diesel prices above $6 a gallon, raising harvest and hauling costs right as corn and soybean work ramps up. Markets & Biofuels: India’s ethanol supply hit 895 crore litres by August, with grain-based feedstocks driving nearly 70% of totals. Local Food Systems: Telangana’s vegetable area has fallen nearly 80% in 11 years, pushing imports and raising concerns about affordability for low-income households.

Seed Integrity Push (India): India is finalising a new Seed Act after consultations with farming groups, aiming to curb fake, adulterated and substandard seeds and update rules that now cover only a fraction of seeds sold. Climate Shock & Food Security: A “super El Niño” is forecast to raise the odds of a mild central U.S. winter, while extreme weather is already driving up food-price pressure and disrupting farm systems. Energy Costs Squeeze Farms (Ireland): Irish lawmakers are urging faster delivery of fuel support as green diesel prices near €1.50/litre threaten farm and contractor budgets. Soil Carbon & Regenerative Systems (Argentina): Research in semiarid Argentina finds perennial alfalfa-based systems can build about 25% more soil organic carbon than continuous cropping. Agri-PV Expansion (India): PM-KUSUM’s next phase will add dedicated agrivoltaics support so farmers can grow crops and earn from solar on the same land. Cocoa Rebuild (Indonesia): Indonesia is launching a cocoa rejuvenation and downstream-processing push targeting aging smallholder trees to lift yields. BRICS Food Focus: India and partners are calling for more predictable BRICS agritrade and resilient supply chains, with summit menus spotlighting millets and local produce.

Government Procurement: Tanzania’s NFRA says it will start maize buying next week in Njombe, paying Sh450/kg through long-running collection centers, while local leaders push for more buyers to widen competition. Crop Planning & Risk: India’s Telangana Chief Secy Sanjay Jaju ordered a “robust” paddy procurement setup for 2026-27, including thousands of grain centers, transport and storage readiness, and tighter farmer ID/payment links. Weather Watch: Saskatchewan harvest is 27% complete but still behind averages after widespread rain; Iowa’s northwest saw heavy weekly rainfall, while central Minnesota growers report rain “shut off” after July 4, tightening yield outlook. On-Farm Tech: Illinois farm managers report rapid adoption of wind/solar deals, and New Holland is rolling out ForageCam to give real-time corn silage kernel processing scores in the cab. Farm Safety: A Putnam County man was rescued from a grain bin after getting trapped waist-deep, with responders using specialized confined-space support. Market Signals: U.S. grain prices stay high as harvest nears, with Iowa producers urged to plan marketing rather than chase the rally blindly.

Climate & Disaster Risk: Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. set aside $2.99m for payouts to nearly 25,000 farmers hit by typhoons and enhanced southwest monsoon (rice takes the biggest share), as officials assess broader $66.1m in ag damage. Drought & Water Security: Arkansas State University leads a $2.2m NSF project to boost drought tolerance in rice and wheat using mycorrhizal inoculants, while PNG’s FPDA opened an irrigation system to protect potato seed production during El Niño. Ag Policy & Markets: U.S. crop insurance guidance warns 2026 corn/soy indemnities may hinge more on yield losses than price, depending on coverage choices; in India, falling wholesale vegetable prices (bottle gourd, potatoes) are squeezing farmer earnings. Sustainable Inputs & Tech: Syngenta and Amoéba ink a long-term EU/UK wheat biocontrol fungicide distribution deal targeting major cereal diseases; Nordic Foodtech VC backs early AgriTech with up to €30m. Energy for Farms: India’s PM-KUSUM is framed as a way to cut farm energy costs via solar pumps and decentralized power. Aquaculture Expansion: California officials cleared steps for a giant kelp farm off the coast, despite environmental concerns. Trade & Biosecurity: India allows Uzbek chilli and pomegranate imports with strict phytosanitary curbs. Agri-Environment Governance: Virginia’s cost-share program grows, but unused funds rise as installation capacity lags.

Crop & Weather Watch: Storms brought heavy rain to central and eastern Iowa, boosting crop conditions but also raising disease pressure as farmers head toward harvest. Renewables on Farms: India’s PM-KUSUM “next phase” could add a dedicated agrivoltaics component, aiming to let farmers keep growing crops while earning from solar power. Farmworker Protections: California’s expanded crop lien law helped Coachella Valley farmworkers recover nearly $10,000 in unpaid wages and penalties after moringa harvest violations. Soil Health Momentum: Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says cover-crop enrollment hit 1 million acres in state cost-share, with 300,000 acres enrolled in the Greater Des Moines Watershed. Market Signals: Traders are watching USDA’s September supply-and-demand report closely as corn and soy prices react to weather and global uncertainty. Local Food Access: Vermont’s “Vermonters Feeding Vermonters” program marks one year, investing $10M into farms to expand fresh produce access statewide. Ag Innovation: Radicle Growth and U.S. Corn Growers named Citroniq and Future Origins winners of the Radicle Corn Challenge, backing new corn-demand technologies. Sustainable Practices: Hawaiʻi Farm Fair diverted 1,200 pounds of food waste into composting and worm feeding as a zero-waste pilot.

Weather & Farm Losses: Philippines’ Department of Agriculture says habagat and Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay, Neneng and Pilandok damaged P4.38B in ag output, hitting nearly 100,000 farmers and fisherfolk and damaging 81,511 hectares, with rice the biggest share. Drought Pressure: Farmers in Bohol, Philippines, report rice fields cracking and withering as heat and dry spells persist, while northern Telangana, India, faces anxiety as paddy sowing runs 3.7% behind and rainfall deficits deepen. Water & Land Use: Aurora Water is set to buy more historic farm water in Colorado’s Lower Arkansas Valley, raising “buy and dry” fears. Food Safety: Qatar reports 97% compliance in its first-half 2026 food monitoring, with fresh fruits and vegetables showing a 98% compliance rate in pesticide and microbial checks. Policy & Markets: Kosovo imposes a temporary anti-dumping duty on Serbian wheat seed to protect local producers as wheat prices stay low. Ag Research & Capacity: Oklahoma State University will build a $330M veterinary teaching hospital and a new Agronomy Discovery Center, relocating long-running wheat research plots. Crops & Inputs: India’s kharif paddy area is down 3.71% year-on-year, with pulses and oilseeds flagged as the bigger import-dependent worry.

Weather & Crop Losses: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture says habagat and multiple tropical cyclones damaged about P4.38B in farm output, hitting nearly 100,000 farmers and fisherfolk, with rice the biggest share of losses. Heat & Drought Stress: In Bohol, cracked fields and withering rice show how prolonged dry spells are shrinking yields and water supplies. Harvest Timing Uncertainty: A wet forecast in Ohio is leaving corn and soybeans uneven, with some drowned-out areas and harvest likely pushing toward late September/early October. Plant Health & Community Control: Michigan State University urges wheat growers to coordinate volunteer wheat removal to cut Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus spread. Input Costs Squeeze: Record diesel prices are driving up harvest costs for Indiana producers, with fuel surcharges hard to pass on. Global Grain Pressure: FAO reports August food prices at the highest since late 2022, citing heat, drought, and Black Sea disruptions; meanwhile Iran topped Russian grain purchases early in the 2026–27 year. Indoor Agriculture Innovation: Canada’s agriculture minister announced nearly $895k for SmartGRO to test cleaner, AI-controlled lighting for year-round indoor farming. Trade Access: South Africa signed a protocol to open China market access for cherries, a major export milestone.

Solar for farms in India: Torrent Green Energy commissioned 322 MWp of feeder-level solar across Nashik, Maharashtra, under PM-KUSUM/MSKVY 2.0, aiming to cut grid losses and power irrigation and other farm loads. Farm tech on the ground (US): Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Innovation Grant helped a Butler County dairy buy an automatic robotic milker, showing how grants are pushing labor-saving automation. Food safety research: USDA researchers are testing electron-beam “cold pasteurization” for poultry pathogens, targeting salmonella/campylobacter while assessing meat quality and sensory impacts. Water stress hits households (Sri Lanka): El Niño-linked dry weather has left 115,000+ people facing drinking-water shortages, underscoring how climate swings spill into basic food and health needs. Trade and market access: South Africa’s cherries gained a China protocol for duty-free entry, while Armenia’s fresh fruit/veg exports to the UAE are already moving up to 40 tons per week. Policy and pricing pressure (UK): UK carrot growers warn of 15–30% yield losses from heat and drought, with higher irrigation costs squeezing margins. Agri logistics watch: NPR reports Colorado River water use is heavily tied to irrigating agriculture, with evaporation losses and shrinking supplies complicating allocation decisions.

Biocontrol Breakthrough: Negros Occidental, Philippines, says its government-made red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) biocontrol is working in sugarcane fields, with fungi found infecting dead pests after initial releases. Farm Income & Risk: Queensland fruit growers are leaning on off-farm work after fruit fly and heat damage cut returns, while corn bids in the U.S. are rising pre-harvest but input costs still squeeze margins. Climate Pressure on Crops: Ireland’s grass growth remains below normal despite recent rain, and El Niño-linked drought and flooding stories keep piling up—from Waiahōle banana losses in Hawaii to rain-deficit damage in India’s Rayalaseema. Food Prices & Power: A South Africa op-ed argues hunger persists not from lack of food, but from concentrated “gateways” that shape prices and access. Energy for Farms: Australia is expanding solar for farms, and a Yorkshire pig operation added an electric slurry mixer plus slurry storage to meet environmental rules. Market Access: India’s “Farmer Prosperity Special” rail service hit its 100th trip, moving thousands of tonnes of produce to distant markets.

Climate Risk & Crop Timing: Europe’s crops are maturing 10–20 days earlier than in 2000, with 2026 heatwaves pushing harvests forward and raising uncertainty for growers. Weather Extremes in Africa: NOAA warns a very strong El Niño is likely in 2026/27, with southern Africa facing drought and extreme heat while parts of East Africa could see flooding. Drought Relief Needs: South Sudan’s VP Taban Deng urged communities to stop relying on humanitarian food aid and boost local farming, while Sudan’s Aweil East appealed for urgent drought assistance after crops failed and water sources dried up. Pest Pressure: In Massachusetts, spotted lanternflies are spreading across 130+ communities; officials say “squish on sight” isn’t enough for large infestations. Farm Economics & Policy: U.S. taxpayer farm subsidies are rising, but critics question whether they mainly help wealthier operations. Ag Tech & Market Support: Korea’s aT is using AI to help flower farmers pick varieties and time shipments based on auction data. Local Food & Supply: South Africa’s agricultural exports jumped 10% in Q2, but El Niño could still threaten future harvests.

Pest Crisis in Sugarcane: Passi City in the Philippines has declared a state of calamity after red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestations spread across about 3,338 hectares, threatening the livelihoods of more than 8,000 sugarcane farmers and workers while officials validate the full damage. Climate Risk for Grains: South Africa’s summer grain and oilseed planting is starting with decent soil moisture, but farmers are bracing for an El Niño-driven dry spell later in the season as deliveries lag behind expectations. Heat Stress on Soybeans: University of Missouri Extension is warning that drought plus prolonged high temperatures are cutting soybean yield potential as soil moisture drops and heat accelerates stress near final growth stages. Food Safety Push at Home: After fruit and vegetable recalls, an organic gardening class in Tampa is seeing more interest in growing food at home, with lessons focused on soil and fertilizer. Farm Finances Under Pressure: USDA forecasts U.S. net farm income will fall in 2026 as expenses—especially fuel, fertilizer, and marketing—climb faster than revenues. Biosecurity + Tree Loss: Australia’s shot-hole borer threat may be quieter than before, but authorities stress it’s still present while bird flu takes center stage.

Food Safety Watch: A new Farm Forward report says dangerous salmonella strains are rising in chicken and turkey and that antibiotic resistance is increasing, renewing calls to tighten poultry rules after USDA withdrew a proposed anti-salmonella safeguard. Market & Trade: A U.S. farm-opinion piece argues the USMCA helps keep corn demand steady for Illinois growers, but warns farmers face more uncertainty as reviews replace the longer extension many expected. Grain Systems: Zimbabwe’s Grain Marketing Board expanded to 1,804 mobile grain buying points as deliveries surged 122% after strong rainfall, aiming to cut transport costs and boost formal sales. Ag Innovation & Inputs: Pune researchers say an organic produce-wash solution can remove up to 99% of pesticide residues in about two minutes, offering a household-level fix beyond plain rinsing. Climate & Disruption: Flash floods from cloudbursts hit Gilgit-Baltistan, damaging crops and orchards and closing parts of the Karakoram Highway. Local Land & Livelihoods: In Australia’s Barossa, canola growers are blasting tourists for entering private paddocks to snap photos, trampling crops and leaving gates open. Ag Policy & Energy: Zimbabwe’s Gweru council is pursuing a 200MW solar joint venture to diversify revenue and reduce reliance on the national grid.

Global Food Prices: FAO says August food prices hit the highest level since late 2022, with cereals, sugar and vegetable oils rising as weather shocks and Black Sea shipping disruptions tighten supply expectations. Climate & Labor Impacts: Japan farmers are shifting fieldwork to night hours as heat worsens, while extreme heat is also killing livestock and forcing schedule changes across agriculture. Pest & Disease Solutions: A new study highlights a soybean-root bacterium (Pseudomonas sp. JDE115) that suppresses southern blight through multiple mechanisms, pointing to biological alternatives to fungicides. Farm Support & Risk Management: USDA extended the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program application deadline to Sept. 30, 2026, and added flexibility for documenting quality losses. Local Food Systems & Training: Nigeria’s NEPC trained 70 smallholders on pesticide management in Adamawa, and Yemen launched school-based agriculture and afforestation projects, including a plan to plant 20,000 seedlings across hundreds of schools. Trade & Market Infrastructure: Ukraine changed settlement deadlines for key grain and oilseed export contracts to help producers meet deals amid Black Sea attacks and rerouted logistics.