AGP Executive Report

Food Safety: USDA/FSIS issued a public health alert and expanded recall lists for jalapeño-linked Salmonella risk, tied to a multistate outbreak affecting at least 27 states, with officials warning more downstream products may surface. Food Safety: City Foods, Inc. recalled about 3,215 pounds of ready-to-eat pastrami and corned beef over possible Listeria contamination; no illnesses confirmed. Climate & Prices: South Korea’s severe heat wave is driving sharp jumps in produce prices (spinach, cucumbers, lettuce) and killing large numbers of livestock and fish, pushing seafood costs higher. Water Scarcity: Lake Mead hit a record low, underscoring looming pressure on drinking water and irrigation across the U.S. Southwest. Animal Health: Vermont began aerial wildlife rabies vaccination along the northern border as cases rise, targeting raccoon spread. Land Use & Farming Futures: UTIA and Tennessee Farm Bureau will host a Southeast Farm and Forest Land Summit to tackle rapid farm/forest land loss and improve access for young and beginning farmers. Agricultural Trade: Pakistan imported over 1m tonnes of U.S. soybeans annually, signaling growing bilateral ag trade momentum. Agricultural Innovation: Kazakhstan and Japan researchers collected diverse wild plant genetic resources for a genetic bank to support disease- and climate-resilient crop breeding. Conservation Grazing: Highland cattle returned to Norsey Meadow in Essex as part of a conservation grazing program, with councils urging residents to stay out of fenced areas.

MAHA 2026 Push for Value Creation: Malaysia’s Agriculture ministry says the MAHA 2026 expo (Aug 28–Sept 6) will connect innovative farmers with aid agencies and buyers to speed up commercialization, with a focus on “Value Creation for Food Security.” Trade & Biosecurity: Malaysia’s agriculture minister says talks over shrimp imports from Thailand are in the final stage, with a decision expected by mid-August after a June 1 temporary suspension of five shrimp species. Rice Protection Fight: Spain’s Valencian rice sector is in a standoff after officials accused the government of vetoing aerial treatment against rice blast, arguing it leaves farmers “defenseless” in hard-to-access fields. Farmer Talent Awards: Spain’s Chaleco Agricultor Awards (the “Michelin Stars of Agriculture”) have reopened applications in Asturias, seeking innovators in crops, inputs, sustainability, and tech use. Aquaculture & Land Use: Bangladesh plans to expand fish sanctuaries in haor and wetland areas, replacing conventional leasing with a new framework to protect breeding grounds. Export Win for Bihar: APEDA backed the first commercial sea shipment of GI-tagged Mithila makhana from Bihar to Australia, aiming to lift farmer returns. Heat Stress in France: A farmers’ union warns extreme heat, wildfires, and drought could require billions of euros in aid, saying insurance won’t cover losses at that scale. Farm Economy Signal (US): Purdue’s Ag Economy Barometer rebounded in July, but farmers still flag commodity prices as the biggest long-run challenge.

Livestock Relief: Philippines’ DA-BAI released P4.9m in cash indemnification to 116 hog raisers in Silago, Southern Leyte, to help rebuild after African Swine Fever culls. Climate-Smart Farming: Kenya’s Ministry of Environment launched training for farmers in key food regions to use anticipated El Niño rains, push short-season crops, and reduce drought-hit maize losses. Food Processing Push: India’s Odisha unveiled a plan to turn the state into a food-processing hub, signing major investment MoUs aimed at jobs and farmer-linked rural growth. Trade & Post-Harvest: India plans to help Nigeria cut post-harvest losses (near 50%), modernize livestock, and strengthen processing and logistics through tech transfer and capacity building. Policy Gridlock (US): The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance Farm Bill 2.0 over SNAP cost-sharing and ethanol provisions, sending the fight into recess. Ag Tech & Logistics (Asia): China-Laos Railway moved 100,000+ tons of cold-chain vegetables, boosting exports via faster, mixed logistics shipments. Research & Risk (Hemp): South African researchers report measurable water-use impacts of hemp using drones and sensors, informing policy for water-scarce regions. Animal Welfare Scrutiny (US): PETA asked USDA to investigate alleged monkey welfare violations at UW-Madison.

Livestock Policy Shock in Cyprus: Outgoing Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou used a handover ceremony to defend 30 months of work, but the term is still shadowed by the 2025 Limassol wildfire. Cattle Cull Fallout: Her successor, Christos Senekis, steps in as livestock farmers demand unpaid compensation after a foot-and-mouth-linked cull of 51 cattle near Fivemiletown, with protests and arrests adding pressure on the new minister. Food Prices: The FAO reports global food prices rose 0.6% in July to the highest level in over three years, driven by higher cereals, vegetable oils and sugar amid heat, energy moves, and geopolitical risks. Farm Bill Politics (US): The Senate Agriculture Committee marked up Farm Bill 2.0, but it failed to gain bipartisan support, with SNAP cuts a key sticking point. Trade Disruption (Mexico): Mexico deployed 1,500+ troops to protect avocado operations in Michoacán after the US suspended export inspections, threatening shipments and jobs. Regenerative Push: More products are being marketed as regenerative, as big brands and retailers expand commitments while regulation remains looser than for organic. Local Conservation (US): Carroll County approved a USDA ACEP conservation easement for 60+ acres, aiming to protect working farms and wetlands.

Farm Bill Gridlock (US): The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance a new farm bill after a SNAP cost-sharing fight, with Democrats pushing back on state error-rate rules and Republicans citing a “best and final offer” as the clock ticks toward the current bill’s expiration. USDA Payments Update: USDA APHIS will shift to electronic-only customer payments starting August 2026, moving producers toward faster, online methods. Producer Support (US): Iowa State Extension is running fertilizer-and-finance workshops to help farmers manage high input costs with better nutrient decisions. Animal Health (Australia): South Australia’s Royal Adelaide Show canceled bird and poultry exhibits due to rising H5 bird flu cases. Agriculture Output (Philippines): Philippine agricultural production rebounded in Q2, up 2.9% year-on-year to P452.22B, led by palay, livestock, and especially poultry growth. Local Agriculture & Community (US): Idaho’s Pocatello Potato Festival returns Aug. 22 with family events, vendors, and free fries. Livestock Health (Venezuela): Apure reported top results in the 2026 foot-and-mouth vaccination cycle, with a second cycle planned for November.

Disaster Response: The Philippines’ La Union is tallying about P11M in agriculture damage after monsoon rains and Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay, with thousands of families affected and flooding incidents reported across multiple towns. Farm Economics & Output: Philippines farm and fisheries output rebounded in Q2, rising 2.9% to ₱452.22B as crops, poultry, livestock and fisheries all grew, with palay output up 5.7%. Market Access for Farmers: Malaysia’s Farmers’ Organisation Authority plans to upgrade 90 farmers’ outlets nationwide for stronger branding and retail competitiveness, starting with 30 already improved. Ag Tech & Power Resilience: Ukraine’s Kernel is installing decentralized solar plants (first seven, 345 kW) to back up schools, a hospital and water pumping in frontline regions. Policy & Inputs: Afghanistan’s wheat season faces a fertilizer squeeze as FAO asks $38M to help 600,000 households access DAP, urea and certified seed. Climate-Smart Investment: Mitti Labs raised $9.5M led by Aramco Ventures to scale AI-powered, water-efficient farming and expand its carbon credit platform across India and Southeast Asia. Trade & Food Security: Syria says it has met domestic wheat needs this season, reporting 2.7M tons received against a 2.55M ton requirement. Nutrition & Production: The Philippines’ agriculture department is pushing to scale enoki mushroom production for export and a growing local market, noting heavy reliance on imports. USDA & Fertilizer Politics: US Senate Agriculture Committee work on the farm bill includes a push for fertilizer price transparency amid concerns about market concentration.

Ag Tech & Inputs: Guthrie launched NEXA NURSERY, a semi-automated oil palm pre-nursery using GenomeSelect to boost seedling quality, cut wastage, and tackle labour and cost pressures. Sustainable Research Partnerships: Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) and KBC inked a pact to promote sustainable agriculture via biofertilisers, field demos, and farmer awareness. Local Economic Planning: Watertown’s new economic development plan leans into farming roots, agritourism, farm stands, and an “enterprise center” to spur jobs and startups. Policy & Prices Watch: Tamil Nadu’s 2026-27 agriculture budget is set to focus on crop loan waivers, higher procurement prices/MSP, climate resilience, irrigation, and farm infrastructure. Farmer Education & Workforce: LCCC rolled out an Emerging Agriculture Technology Program, while New Zealand’s industry-led school subjects aim to build practical farm skills. Climate & Risk Management: South Korea’s Ulsan will subsidize crop and farm income insurance; Jeonnam-Gwangju activated a heatwave/drought response center to protect crops and water. Trade & Disruption: South Africa citrus export forecasts were cut after floods and Middle East conflict pressures. Youth Livestock Spotlight: Cheyenne’s 62nd Kiwanis FFA Livestock Sale of Champions returns Friday. Food Access After Disasters: In NC’s Swannanoa, a nonprofit is running produce markets after Helene destroyed the local grocery store.

Pollinator Policy Shift: Vermont is rolling out community screenings for “Seeding Change: Farming Beyond Neonics,” spotlighting farmers and researchers on how to grow without neonicotinoid-treated seeds as the state phases them out by 2029. Crop Development & Markets: In the Philippines, a bill would declare ube (purple yam) a national priority crop, backed by a proposed industry council and support for seed, processing, marketing and exports. Ag Safety & Training: UMaine Extension launched a self-paced online Tractor Safety: Foundations course for beginning operators, with a Level 2 option for full certification. Food Supply Chain Tech: Medical Care Technologies launched StrainScan Pro, an AI visual identification tool aimed first at cannabis strain analysis, with expansion plans for broader agricultural and food quality control. Disaster & Flood Impacts: Flash floods in Pakistan’s Chitral region damaged farmlands and infrastructure after glacier lake outburst and heavy rains. Drought Relief (US): USDA expanded drought disaster area designations in Virginia’s Ninth District, adding more counties eligible for assistance. Fertiliser Crackdown (India): Gujarat appointed investigation and inspection officers to curb subsidised fertiliser diversion, hoarding, black marketing and counterfeits. Social Protection (Cambodia): Experts urged expanding Cambodia’s NSSF to cover older adults left out after war and informal work, warning of mounting healthcare and debt pressures.

Beef Expansion vs Odor Concerns: A Wiltshire planning bid would greenlight a new Potterne beef unit with large sheds and a worker dwelling, despite earlier fights over solar alternatives and worries about impacts. Food Manufacturing Jobs: U.S. food manufacturing hit a record 1.77M workers in 2025, underscoring how farm inputs become grocery staples even as employment share keeps slipping. Rice Cooperation: Vietnam handed Cuba its first large batch of OM5451 rice from a joint project, aiming to bolster Cuba’s food security. Livestock Health & Safety: South Dakota State University Extension is expanding free nitrate forage testing drop-offs as dry conditions persist, helping producers manage feed risks for cattle. Community Food Systems: California made its Farm to School program permanent, locking in local sourcing and kitchen investments. Aquaculture & Biosecurity: Brazil confirmed columnaris-causing Flavobacterium in multiple fish species, pushing for tighter surveillance and better-matched vaccines. Policy & Land Use: Iowa’s new transmission rules restrict certain structures on pasture and cropland without landowner consent, with noise and electric-field limits. Water & Climate: Colorado’s water future is tied to forest health, with wildfire mitigation framed as a drinking-water strategy. Regional Agriculture Security: Ukraine warns Russian port strikes could cut Black Sea export capacity, threatening billions in farm losses and storage shortfalls.

Rice Policy & El Niño Prep: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture says it will not ban rice imports even as shipments hit 3.3 million MT, arguing it needs buffer stocks ahead of expected El Niño impacts later this year. Water Security: South-central Washington’s water-rights fight is escalating as irrigators urge faster groundwater approvals that have stalled farmworker housing. Farm Inputs & Finance: Nigeria’s agricultural finance push highlights digital lending and data partnerships aimed at widening farmers’ access to credit. Regenerative Agriculture: HEINEKEN UK is scaling a regenerative malting barley program, paying farmers premiums to make the transition commercially viable. Livestock Tech: LoneStar Tracking expands satellite-powered GPS monitoring for cattle and livestock in remote areas without cellular coverage. Aquaculture Governance: Iraq’s Kurdistan region is cracking down on unlicensed fish farms, with only a fraction of operations holding valid permits. USDA Wildlife Access: USDA backs voluntary public access on private lands via a $52M program, supporting hunting and fishing while benefiting farmers and ranchers.

Mechanization Boost (Philippines): The Sugar Regulatory Administration handed over a cane grabber and tractor to Mindanao’s MINFED in Bukidnon, aiming to cut costs and speed harvest logistics for tens of thousands of sugarcane farmers. Farm Bill Momentum (US): Sen. John Boozman released updated “Farm Bill 2.0” text ahead of a Senate Agriculture markup, including support for year-round E15 sales and changes tied to SNAP error reduction. Water Stress & Flood Impacts (South Asia): Kashmir saw multiple cloudbursts and flash floods that damaged agriculture fields and swept away a woman working in an agriculture plot. Climate Pressure on Crops (Europe): Heat and drought are expected to push olive oil prices higher again as vegetable and grape yields take hits across multiple countries. Food Safety Recall (US): Botticelli Foods recalled Walmart-distributed pistachio nut butter after salmonella was found in jars. Agricultural Finance & Trade Rules (Pakistan): Pakistan is moving to overhaul agricultural trade with a new AI-enabled single-window regulator (NAFSA) to speed clearances and strengthen food safety. Irrigation Worries (Cyprus): Farmers’ union in Cyprus warns of worsening irrigation shortages and criticizes delayed planning and desalination-first priorities. Agri-Trade Logistics (Black Sea): Shipowners reduced commercial traffic through Black Sea ports as attacks cut Ukrainian grain export capacity by about a third. Seed Policy Shift (China): China’s new seed IP “Essentially Derived Variety” rules begin rolling out, expanding protections for breeders across multiple major crops.

Port & Food Safety: The Philippines’ Bureau of Customs at Subic pulled four more overstaying refrigerated containers with agricultural and processed goods for condemnation and disposal, bringing the total to 25 of 118, after foul-odor and leachate pollution concerns. Regional Fruit Losses: SAARC Agriculture Centre urged stronger regional cooperation to cut fruit post-harvest losses across South Asia, calling for shared solutions to protect food security and farm incomes. Co-ops Push: Tanzania’s VP Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi urged farmers, livestock keepers and fishers to join Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies to access markets and services, with tighter oversight for misuse of assets. Crop & Input Support: Bangladesh’s Jelapang Padi Darul Ehsan rice initiative reported 7.5 MT/ha average yield in 2025/26 Season 2; Ghana’s MP Agbeve secured 1,000 fertilizer bags for farmers. Policy & Finance: USDA Rural Development opened applications (to Aug. 17) for the $500m FIELDS program to expand domestic fertilizer production. Livestock Controversy: Northern Ireland’s Stormont agriculture committee will meet over the shooting of 51 cows near Fivemiletown, with an external review already ordered. Tech & Farming: University of Idaho researchers identified a naturally occurring wheat mutation linked to a 5–10% yield increase, with molecular markers to speed breeding. Food Business: Bhutan’s “Taste Bhutan” brand launched for Singapore, while Georgia appointed Levan Karumidze to lead its National Gastronomy Agency.

Biogas & CBG Investment: Finnish and Indian firms launched a joint venture to build modular plug-flow compressed biogas plants in India, aiming to turn farm and municipal organic waste into cleaner energy faster and with less water. Animal Health Shock: Australia confirmed its first H5 bird flu mass mortality event after seabirds died in South Australia, warning more wildlife losses are likely as surveillance ramps up. Floods Hit Farming Communities: Monsoon flooding across India’s Assam, Kerala and Chhattisgarh left dozens dead and over a lakh people affected, with local rescues saving more than 1,000 villagers and officials reviewing farm support and erosion plans. Water Stress Protest: Tamil Nadu farmers staged a sand-burial protest demanding Cauvery water release and opposing the Mekedatu dam, escalating pressure on Karnataka and the Supreme Court. Agri-Finance & Market Access: Ireland’s Budget debate includes simplifying business succession, while EPA Victoria fined an intensive farm operator for illegal burning of treated farm waste—another reminder that compliance and waste handling matter. Value-Chain Growth: Africa trained 81 cashew value-chain actors in Mombasa to boost production, processing and market access, while Zamboanga del Sur in the Philippines mapped 2026–2031 commodity priorities from rice and corn to milkfish and seaweed.

Plant Health Watch: Mindanao sugarcane planters are battling the fast-spreading Red Stem Scale Insect, now confirmed across four provinces and 1,306 hectares, with officials pushing monitoring and containment to protect yields ahead of the November milling season. Food Security & Tech Trials: In Eastern Samar, the Philippines’ Rice Derby 2026 is testing modern rice production methods on 150 hectares with 200+ farmers, aiming to lift yields, cut costs, and help farms adapt to climate stress. Water Infrastructure: India’s Ujh Multipurpose Project in Jammu & Kashmir is set to move forward in phases, starting construction while land acquisition continues, with plans for power generation and irrigation for nearly 90,000 hectares. Market Stabilization: Bangladesh expects green chilli prices to fall within 2–5 days after green chilli imports begin and import duties are reduced. Climate Extremes: Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district is reeling from torrential monsoon rains, with rivers near danger levels and landslides flooding arecanut plantations and fields. Agritech for Farmers: Bangladesh’s HSTU student built an AI “Crops Doctor” to diagnose crop diseases from uploaded photos and guide treatment. Drought Relief (US): USDA designated five Montana counties as primary drought disaster areas, unlocking emergency loan assistance for eligible farm operators.

Aquaculture Support: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture will distribute fingerlings to fishpond operators hit by fishkills and plans solar-powered aerators for small farms, with officials stressing local bangus and tilapia production remains stable. Wildfire & Burn Restrictions: Washington State declared a statewide emergency and burn ban as extreme heat and wind fueled major fires; Spokane-area evacuations escalated to “go now” orders, with shelters and animal support opened. Water Stress for Farming: Maharashtra’s monsoon is leaving many villages short of drinking water and dams at about 66.8% capacity mid-season, with Marathwada hit hardest—an early warning for farm and rural supply. Bird Flu Preparedness: New Zealand officials told MPs the H5N1 spread is likely to continue, focusing on surveillance and resilience while noting trade status is unaffected. Agricultural Finance Push: Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture is shifting toward digital lending and value-chain financing to reach more farmers, using farmer aggregation and technology to cut loan administration costs. Policy & Rural Livelihoods: India’s Odisha and Madhya Pradesh are expanding support for women’s self-help groups with new centers and large loan disbursements.

Climate & Food Prices: Europe’s record June heat is already reshaping grain forecasts, with traders cutting expected EU/UK production after weeks of extreme temperatures. Drought & Wildfire Risk: Oregon’s Lane County is bracing for worsening drought and wildfire threats as snowpack hits record lows. Monsoon Damage: Maldives monsoon rains have caused major, fast damage to fields on Kandoodhoo, with councils now assessing losses. Farm Policy & Support: The U.S. approved federal farm relief for New York fruit and specialty crop growers after an April frost; separately, Wisconsin warns storm victims about repair scams. Ag Tech in the Field: China is scaling drone crop-dusting across rice paddies, reporting lower per-hectare costs and higher yields. Livestock & Biosecurity: USDA confirmed New World screwworm cases in Texas and New Mexico, triggering movement controls and surveillance. Soil & Resilience: Delaware plans a soil health field day featuring mapping tools to cut fertilizer use. Local Markets: Qatar’s dates exhibition at Souq Waqif drew ~38,000 visitors and ~76,500kg of sales in six days. Agricultural Development: Sarawak will develop the RASCOM site for housing, infrastructure, and agriculture. Energy & Land Use: New York pushes back on claims that solar is swallowing farmland, arguing leases can keep land in production. Research for Climate-Resilient Crops: Bangladesh is prioritizing new rice varieties, including a cold-tolerant release for flood-prone Haor regions.