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Insect Population Growth Likely Accelerated By Warmer Climate Science Daily | Rob Taylor | October 31, 2006 It appears that insect species that adapt to warmer climates also will increase their maximum rates of population growth, which UW researchers say is likely to have widespread affects on agriculture, public health and conservation. Many studies have shown that insects readily adapt to the temperature of their environment. Now UW biology researchers have found that insect species that have adapted to warmer environments also have faster population growth rates. The research shows, in effect, that "warmer is better" for insects, said Melanie Frazier, a UW biology doctoral student. Seed firms bolster crops using traits of distant relatives Agnet | Scott Kilman | October 31, 2006 In a low-slung building amid farm fields, agriculture's second biotechnology revolution is dawning. Rows of robotic devices are deciphering the DNA in slices of thousands of corn plants sent daily from as far away as Chile and Hawaii. Scientists here search the results for subtle genetic differences that explain why a particular plant is better than others at tolerating cold, repelling insects, surviving drought or making more seed. Armed with this knowledge, crop breeders can create better corn. Cold snap hits farmers The Sunday Tasmanian | Jarrad Bevan | October 28, 2006 The combination of lambing and shearing seasons with snow falling down to sea level means unprepared farmers may suffer severe stock losses. Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association president Roger Swain said there was usually a cold snap at this time of year. "But it's rare to come on the back of an extremely dry spell," he said. "It is a double whammy for farmers." Mr Swain said highland snow was certainly out of the ordinary and he hoped no one had been caught out. Thousands of dollars in grapes destined to become wine were wiped out during the cold snap last week and there were fears that the cold this weekend could have a similar disastrous impact. If the weather turns for the worse, farmers will need to use fans, overhead irrigation systems and silicon sprays on the vines to ward off frost. Drought-Hit Australian Farmers Must Find New Water Planet Ark | Rob Taylor | October 25, 2006 Living in the world's driest inhabited continent, Australians are used to wild schemes promising deliverance from drought and precious water. But with their rivers disappearing and a searing spring sealing the onset of the country's worst known drought, desperate farmers are being asked to pack up and open a "new agricultural frontier" in the tropical north. Half of Australian Farmland in Drought Planet Ark | James Grubel | October 25, 2006 Australia declared on Tuesday more than half of the country's farmland was now in drought, but Treasurer Peter Costello said there was no need yet to cut economic growth forecasts. Acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile said 44 farm areas had been added to the total area officially in drought, meaning more than half of the country's farmland was suffering from a lack of rain compared with about a third previously. To help drought-hit areas, the government will provide an extra A$560 million ($424 million) on top of A$350 million announced a week ago in aid, he said. Climate Change to Hit Australian Wine Industry Planet Ark | Rob Taylor | October 24, 2006 Global warming will force changes to Australia's A$4.8 billion ($3.6 billion) wine export industry, threatening the very existence of some varieties as temperatures rise, a scientist said on Monday. With Australia in the grip of its worst recorded drought and heading into a searing summer, the country's biggest science organisation, the CSIRO, said wine growers needed to re-think plans to cope with climate change or face possible ruin. "What we will have to do is select different varieties to plant. The industry may need to breed grape varieties to suit these warmer climates," Webb said. Ontario Harvest and Planting Delayed by Rains Agri-ville | October 23, 2006 Ontario farmers continue to be stymied by the wet weather. Wet soils and slow soybean harvest have drastically limited wheat plantings to date. Soybean harvest has been slow due to frequent showers and wet field conditions. A small amount of the corn crop has been harvest with yields above average in most cases, and harvest moisture is in the 24 percent - 28 percent range. Hayfields in most areas experienced strong fall regrowth, with some unusually heavy top growth. Australian Farmers Commit Suicide as Hope Evaporates Planet Ark | Michael Perry | October 20, 2006 One Australian farmer commits suicide every four days, defeated by the country's worst drought in 100 years which has left them with dust-bowl paddocks and a mountain of debt. As drought rolls into a sixth year, stoic farmers are reduced to tears under the stress of trying to produce a crop and hold onto land sometimes farmed by the same family for generations. The suicide rate among male farmers and farm workers is more than twice the national average. Crop losses stretch across the country, 92 percent of economically dominant New South Wales state is in drought, and farmers have started off-loading stock before the hot, dry summer when they would be forced to buy feed and water. Prairie producers could fill gap left by Australian drought: SaskPool executive Canadian Press | October 18, 2006 An early harvest of high-quality wheat should allow Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Inc. (TSX:SWP) to benefit from a drought in Australia that has raised concerns about global supply. Commodity prices have strengthened substantially because of tightened world supplies and poor yields in crop quality available from competing countries. Wheat futures hit a 10-year high earlier this week amid concern that Australia's parched wheat fields will only yield a fraction of last year's production. Looking forward, the Prairie harvest was virtually complete by the end of September - approximately one month ahead of schedule. More than 90 per cent of the wheat available is in the top two grades, compared with about 45 per cent in 2005. Australia's PM Says Drought Will Hit Growth Planet Ark | Rob Taylor | October 16, 2006 Australian Prime Minister John Howard added his voice on Friday to warnings over the effects of a worsening drought, saying it will take the shine off stellar economic growth, though it was still unclear by how much. The drought, said by some experts to be Australia's worst ever, has taken the political centre stage in recent days as forecasters slash outlooks for agricultural production. Treasurer Peter Costello went so far as to say that rural Australia is in recession. Performance Plants to develop drought-tolerant corn with Syngenta Seeds Agnet | October 13, 2006 Performance Plants Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, enters agreement to use its ``yield-protection technology'' with Minnesota-based Syngenta Seeds (NYSE:SYT)) to develop drought-tolerant corn and soybeans; financial details not disclosed. Wheat prices soar on drought fear The Independent | Philip Thornton | October 11, 2006 Wheat became the latest commodity to be gripped by a speculative boom as fears of a drought in Australia triggered the sharpest price spike for almost two decades. The price of wheat for delivery in December surged 6 per cent yesterday after a similar rise on Monday, making it the largest two-day rise since July 1988. Drought pushes wheat to 10-year high Agri-ville | October 10, 2006 US wheat prices struck a 10-year high on Tuesday on fears of a further decline in global production at a time when world stockpiles are near 20-year lows. The latest rise is expected to lead to higher food prices, hitting bread, breakfast cereals, pizzas and pasta. Wheat harvests from Australia to Argentina, Europe and North America have been affected by drought, heatwaves and, in the case of Ukraine, infestation from the Eurygaster beetle. Global wheat supplies have fallen about 5 per cent – or 30m tonnes – from last year. 40 countries face food shortages worldwide Agri-ville | October 9, 2006 Forty countries are facing food emergencies and require external assistance, with the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan still the most pressing humanitarian problem. Prospects for the 2006 world cereal harvest have deteriorated further since July, according to the report. Exceptionally hot and dry weather is adversely affecting the wheat crops in Australia, Argentina and Brazil, while drier-than-normal weather in parts of South Asia is also raising some concern for the second 2006 paddy crop. Drought taking cash, mental toll on farmers: Warm U.S. summer fuels 'seasonal depression' Associated Press | October 5, 2006 Widespread drought is taking a psychological, as well as financial, toll on American farmers and ranchers. The summer of 2006 was the second warmest in the continental U.S. since records began in 1895. Despite some rainfall last month in parts of the country, moderate to extreme drought conditions continue in about 40 percent of the country. Some relief may be in the offing in some areas. Crop quality high despite challenges The StarPhoenix | Kevin Hursh | October 4, 2006 Grain producers are going to have a better year financially. The first proviso: the statement isn't true for every producer. Most Saskatchewan grain, oilseed and specialty crop producers are looking at a financial improvement compared to last year. There are three main reasons: improved crop quality, improving grain prices and a decline in some key input costs. Fla. citrus industry faces gloomy season Associated Press | October 4, 2006 It's getting hard to grow Florida's official state fruit. Month long droughts are broken by nasty hurricane seasons. Diseases that kill and damage citrus trees and fruit continue to spread. Urban sprawl is replacing groves. The story says that Florida is second only to Brazil in global orange juice production and puts out more than 90 percent of all juice consumed in America. But as the October harvest approaches, some growers are forecasting a gloomy citrus season for the Sunshine State. Until hurricane season ends Nov. 30 and the potential for a winter freeze passes next spring, the best prediction anyone can offer about Florida's citrus harvest is an educated guess. Spain Logs Second Year of Drought Planet Ark | October 4, 2006 Rainfall in Spain was below average in the water year just ended after the worst drought in more than a century last year. Water rationing is the responsibility of local governments and water boards. Irrigation for farming has been restricted this year in many parts of the country, but consumers have faced few curbs. Farmers suffered from a dry spring. May was the driest month of the year and recorded record high temperatures for the month. Summer rainfall was negligible, but that is normal for Spain. GM crops saving farm economy from drought Heartland Institute | James M. Taylor | October 1, 2006 An August 11 federal government crop report shows biotechnology is saving the Midwestern farm economy from devastation in the wake of this summer's prolonged drought. The report projects 10.98 billion bushels of corn production this year, up from 10.74 billion bushels projected in the federal government's July forecast. The report also projects a soybean crop that will come within 5 percent of last year's record. The August forecast for the two crops is striking because severe drought ravaged the Midwest between the July and August forecasts. Genetically enhanced seeds account for 61 percent of this year's corn crop and 89 percent of this year's soybean crop. |
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