AGP Executive Report

Geopolitical Shock to Inputs: South African farmers are bracing for how Middle East conflict could lift fertiliser and fuel costs and disrupt supply chains just as margins stay tight. Animal Health & Air Quality: Michigan’s state vet warns pets—especially birds, young/older animals, and those with heart or breathing issues—need extra protection during air alerts. Farm Economy Watch: Iowa’s Rural Mainstreet Index fell sharply in July, with weak farm equipment sales signaling continued pressure on producers. Diversification Under Strain: A UK arable farmer is turning to padel courts and a café to survive shrinking returns and rising costs. Food & Nutrition in Schools: Kerala’s “Kanipanthal” scheme will plant fruit gardens across thousands of schools to boost nutrition and student interest in farming. Land-Use Politics: Barbados’ DLP criticizes a new housing plan on prime farmland, arguing it undermines food security. Soil as a Priority: Canada’s soil-health push highlights global degradation risks and the need for regenerative practices. Weather & Water: Southern Manitoba saw heavy rain in spots, while Telangana’s Kharif 2025 data shows paddy and cotton dominating despite diversification calls. Disaster Relief: Virginia farmers in multiple counties are now eligible for USDA emergency loans after drought, freeze and frost. Aquaculture Flood Damage: Bangladesh’s Chattogram floods caused major losses to fisheries, livestock and cropland. Policy & Compliance: Ireland’s Laois council plans 100 risk-based farm inspections next month to protect water quality. Trade & Certification: Rosselkhoznadzor asked Iran to pause flower export certification to Russia over similarities to Armenia shipments. Investment in Ag Jobs: Nigeria announced a $500m Niger Delta agriculture fund focused on aquaculture, palm oil and livestock. Regenerative Training: SEARCA will pilot a regional micro-credential on regenerative and resilient agriculture for Southeast Asia. Workforce Reform: A major H-2A ag labor overhaul bill gains broad support, aiming to make seasonal worker rules more workable. Solar Meets Grazing: Massachusetts is expanding “solar grazing,” using sheep to manage vegetation under panels while supporting farmers.

Land Restoration & Sustainable Farming: A UNEP-backed push highlights seven ways to restore degraded land, starting with making agriculture sustainable. Aquaculture Recovery: Andhra’s agriculture minister says the NDA government revived the aqua sector, citing feed pricing rationalisation and power subsidies to lift growth. Farmer Support Policies: Philippines’ NFA raises palay buying prices to P21/kg and temporarily bans rice imports in Iloilo to protect harvest-time markets. Land Access & Legal Certainty: Venezuela’s agriculture ministry delivered agrarian instruments and farm certifications, regularizing thousands of hectares, while another government move reclaims idle agricultural land for vetted farmers. Water & Climate Pressure: Montana DEQ is moving toward an impairment designation for the Big Hole River over nutrient-driven algae and oxygen loss. Ag Tech Adoption: Purdue’s survey finds many farmers are still cautious about AI, doubting real-world benefits. Energy-Agriculture Link: Indonesia’s B50 biodiesel rollout is framed as boosting farmer incomes and cutting diesel imports. Trade & Tariffs: Brazil weighs retaliatory steps that could include agricultural seed patent curbs in response to new US tariffs. Animal Health & Exports: India targets FMD-free status in nine states to unlock Europe’s dairy market.

AgTech Funding: Singapore’s Rize raised $31m Series B to expand its rice supply-chain platform, adding AI tools for farmers and pushing low-emission rice exports. Food Security & Local Supply: Morgarosa Farm in Wisconsin is turning community gardening into pantry support, with volunteers picking fresh produce and the rest shipped to Feed My People. Policy & Governance: Canada’s federal and provincial agriculture ministers will hold a media briefing after their annual conference, while Nepal moves to halt land plotting in 405 local levels that haven’t finished land classification. Fraud & Enforcement: Greece’s farm subsidy scandal deepened as EU prosecutors indicted four Greek lawmakers and others over alleged OPEKEPE-related fraud. Digital Agriculture Push: Kazakhstan is betting on AI, drones, and satellite monitoring to build a “smart farm” agro-industrial hub. War’s Impact on Exports: Russian strikes damaged Ukraine’s Kernel sunflower oil and grain export infrastructure, disrupting tens of thousands of tons of shipments. Risk Management: USDA expanded crop insurance access with a new pilot option for turfgrass producers. Climate & Water Stress: Nairobi doubled Ruai Sewerage Treatment capacity and is expanding Kariobangi to cut untreated sewage as the city grows. Research & Biosecurity: FFAR backs new screwworm control work with a $300,000 grant to test sterile male fly technology.

El Niño Preparedness: Philippines Sen. Kiko Pangilinan is pushing an inquiry into whether the Department of Agriculture, irrigation, crop insurance and fisheries agencies are ready with water management, seed, credit and food-supply contingency plans as Super El Niño is forecast to persist into early next year. Animal Welfare Under Scrutiny: Ireland’s Department of Agriculture euthanised cattle on two farms after enforcement actions, with widely shared drone footage sparking outrage and calls for a full investigation into how the culling was carried out. Drought and Crop Risk: Kansas drought monitoring shows improvement but lingering moderate drought in parts of the state, with forecasts pointing to warmer-than-normal conditions and mixed precipitation odds that could still stress corn, soybeans, alfalfa and pastures. Water Access for Rural Households: USDA awarded a $590,000 grant to help rural well users test drinking water quality and respond to problems, building on a large Iowa survey showing many households rarely test wells. Smart Farming and Logistics: China is developing Pinggu District into a smart agriculture and modern logistics hub, using sensors, remote sensing and digital platforms to flag disease, pests and weather risks earlier. Ag Policy and Reform: Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif says agriculture and livestock are the fastest path to economic recovery within a year, announcing steps on traceability, disease control and training. Tea Sector Push: Sri Lanka launched the “Ceylon Tea Village” program to boost smallholder productivity and exports, rolling out 144 tea villages with nurseries, insurance, finance, mechanisation and climate-smart practices. Protests Over Trade: Farmers in India staged motorcycle rallies in Amritsar and Kurukshetra against the proposed India-US trade deal, warning it could hurt livelihoods and agriculture.

Climate Risk Planning: Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim ordered its agriculture ministry to urgently draft mitigation steps for a Super El Niño expected to hit from November, aiming to protect food production and livelihoods. Water & Land Under Pressure: Bali’s 1,000-year-old subak rice irrigation system is losing ground as rice areas vanish and locals increasingly buy water. EU Farm Support & Policy Fight: Ireland’s ICOS urged Minister Martin Heydon to defend the CAP under the EU presidency, warning of fund cuts and unresolved carbon border and animal welfare issues. Biomethane Push (and Funding Gaps): Ireland approved nearly €19m for seven anaerobic digestion projects, but about €21m remains unspent under the biomethane capital scheme. Feed Costs in Focus: Kenya plans a Ksh 465bn national feed strategy to cut high animal feed costs via local production and contract farming. Agri-Tech for Decisions: Cropin launched OrbitAI on Google Cloud to deliver agentic, region-specific recommendations across crops, climate, soil and supply chains. Trade & Exports: Ukraine pledged to protect Black Sea ports to keep grain exports at least at last season’s level despite intensified attacks. Women in Farming: Maharashtra enacted a Women Farmers Empowerment Act to improve recognition and access to support for women agrifarmers.

Workforce & Training: Hawaii launched state-funded paid high school internships in agriculture and aviation, with Aloun Farms and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum among the first employers. Drought & Water Management: Alberta’s drought is easing in parts of the Prairies, while growers elsewhere weigh water stress and irrigation constraints. Extreme Weather: Jammu & Kashmir logged at least 15 cloudburst incidents in early July, damaging roads, infrastructure and agricultural land. Water Pollution & Farm Risk: Iraq’s Al-Muthanna faces worsening untreated wastewater pollution and water shortages, threatening livestock and farmland. Livestock Health: Libya confirmed a foot-and-mouth outbreak in Msallata, quarantining the area and restricting livestock movement. Crop Progress: Nepal reports paddy planting at nearly 50% of target, with hopes for a faster push as rains continue. Ag Exports & Policy: Vietnam plans to simplify “farm code” procedures to speed durian and other agricultural exports. Market Signals: USDA data shows lower corn and soybean export inspections week-over-week, while wheat improved. Invasive Pest Alert: Costco warned customers about desert willow plants potentially infested with a sharpshooter that can spread Pierce’s disease. Ag Innovation & Community: Fort Keogh internships are shaping the next generation of range and animal science researchers, while Nagaland’s backyard poultry project helped women SHGs earn over Rs 30.8 lakh.

Flood Response: Bangladesh’s agriculture minister announced emergency support for flood-hit farmers, including special seedbeds, paddy seedlings, dry cattle feed and foot-and-mouth vaccination. Food Security & Storage: Malaysia’s Selangor Fruit Valley says it has produced over 1,000 tonnes of fruits and crops this year and is pushing a “three-month” food warehouse plan. Ag Tech for Crops: McCain Foods is piloting an AI-enabled grower program in North America to spot field variability earlier and improve coordination. Drought & Heat Risk: Uganda set aside $13.5m for emergency food relief as El Niño-linked dry conditions threaten agriculture and water. Irrigation Governance: Ghana inaugurated a new ICOUR board to protect the Tono and Vea irrigation schemes and secure year-round production. Herbicide Policy: India issued a draft order to ban paraquat dichloride nationwide, citing severe toxicity. Trade & Inputs: The Philippines is seeking tariff cuts on Canadian farm inputs (fertilizers, pulses) to ease cost pressures. Livestock Safety: A NSW farm co-owned by MP Helen Dalton was fined $550,000 after a worker died in a quad-bike accident due to safety-law failures. Climate Volatility: FAO warns Africa’s coffee, cocoa and tea farmers face rising risks as prices swing with weather, disease and market instability. Grain Logistics: Russia says it will reroute grain shipments after attacks on the Sea of Azov, aiming to protect export volumes.

Farm Resilience & Rural Economy: The UK’s NFU used the Great Yorkshire Show to push for more resilient farm businesses, arguing for planning rules that unlock investment in farm infrastructure and for smarter tech (including AI) to handle extreme weather and rising costs. Fertiliser Supply Watch: Andhra Pradesh’s NTR district says there’s no urea shortage, pointing to APAIMS app-based allocation and warning dealers against hoarding or fake scarcity. Irrigation & Water Management: In India’s Vijayawada, Godavari water was released into Nunna irrigation tanks to support paddy ahead of Kharif, while Canada’s North Okanagan urged farm water allocation transfers as drought tightens supplies. Animal Health & Food Safety: Ireland’s IFA condemned videos of cattle euthanasia as “unacceptable and shocking,” calling for stricter Department protocols, and Kansas issued a boil-water advisory after a rural waterline break. Ag Tech for Climate: Michigan State researchers used machine learning to better predict nitrous oxide emissions from fertiliser use, aiming to improve climate-resilient planning. Rural Jobs & Training: Midway Co-op in Kansas is running agronomy internships for K-State students to build the next generation of rural ag professionals. Trade & Markets: Russia reported grain loading on Russian Railways up 1.4x in June, while Australia’s lamb exports to the US are gaining momentum as a “protein” luxury trend. Data Centers vs Farmland: Virginia and Canada saw local pushback on large data center campuses, with land currently zoned for agriculture and concerns over water, noise and wildlife.

Policy & Markets: Malaysia’s Dewan Rakyat passed the Control of Padi and Rice (Amendment) Bill 2026 to tighten enforcement and market rules, aiming to protect farmers from price or supply manipulation. Farm Bill Politics: In the U.S., Iowa Senate candidate Ashley Hinson is pushing her “Save Our Bacon Act” into the new Farm Bill, targeting state pork rules like California’s Proposition 12. EU Input-Cost Relief: The EU Council adopted measures letting member states deliver urgent liquidity support to farmers hit by higher fertiliser and other input costs. Trade Disruption: Ukraine’s Kernel Holding suspended operations at the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk after Russian strikes damaged grain and sunflower infrastructure. Water Stress: In India, kharif sowing is running 16% behind last year due to weak monsoon; in Telangana’s Palamuru, farmers face reservoir and canal drying tied to El Niño impacts. Biosecurity: Cebu City in the Philippines imposed a temporary ban on swine and pork movements to prevent African swine fever entry. Pest Control: USDA released nearly 400 million sterile flies in Texas to fight New World Screwworm. Workforce & Skills: Kansas’ Midway Co-op is running agronomy internships for K-State students, backing rural talent pipelines. Food & Community: Chicago’s Gary Comer Youth Center opened a Food Sovereignty Hub with greenhouse, hydroponics, and chickens to boost local fresh food access.

El Niño & heat risk: Zimbabwe’s agriculture ministry says El Niño odds are high and urges early summer cropping prep, while a separate study estimates 2,700+ heat-linked deaths in England and Wales during May–June record hot spells. Farmer livelihoods & logistics: In Angola, one fruit grower says he lost half his citrus output due to poor roads and costly transport; in Nigeria’s Plateau, officials commissioned a potato tissue-culture and value-chain push aimed at cutting imports and feeding schoolchildren. Food systems & processing: Australia opened a Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub to help small producers scale up; Japan is promoting rice-flour sweets to boost rice use as consumption declines. Agricultural workforce & training: Kansas co-op internships are placing agronomy students with local producers, highlighting the ongoing talent pipeline challenge. Policy & trade: Malaysia’s parliament will question contingency plans for a projected food supply crisis amid rising input costs tied to West Asia. Animal health & biosecurity: Zimbabwe also stepped up preparations around livestock and crop protection as climate uncertainty grows.

Extreme Heat & Food Risk: A “planet’s strongest heat dome” is forecast to bake the U.S. Plains and parts of the Mid-Atlantic, with temperatures near 110°F—raising alarms for crop stress and farm costs. Water Stress for Crops: Metro Manila’s Angat Dam keeps dropping even after Typhoon Inday rains, and authorities have reduced water allocations and suspended irrigation to protect supplies—threatening rice farmers. El Niño Watch: NOAA warns the 2026-27 El Niño could be “very strong,” with analysts flagging potential global food price pressure. Aquatic Conservation: Laos marked National Fish and Aquatic Animal Release Day, aiming to release over 72 million fish and aquatic animals to restore ecosystems. Ag Policy & Markets: Sri Lanka lifted restrictions on surplus rice use, allowing value-added products like beer, wine, biscuits and animal feed to absorb harvest swings. Farm Inputs & Compliance: Kazakhstan blocked cherry and plum imports from Kyrgyzstan after quarantine pests were found, with contaminated shipments returned and fines issued. Rural Livelihoods Tech: India’s eSaras is expanding digital commerce links for women’s SHGs and farmer groups to reach national buyers. Agronomy Careers: Midway Co-op in Kansas is running a summer internship for K-State agronomy students to build the next rural ag workforce.

Flood Damage: Typhoon Inday (Bavi) and monsoon rains hit Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, damaging about P7.93M in crops, infrastructure and livestock, with 173 hectares of farmland inundated and 1,000+ families affected. Food Processing Push: Japan’s farm ministry is urging more rice-flour use in sweets as rice consumption declines, aiming to lift demand to 130,000 tons by 2030. Climate Adaptation & Irrigation: Zimbabwe says it’s already executing El Niño preparations, including expanding irrigation by 20,000 hectares and targeting high-producing farmers near reliable water. Water Stress for Farmers: Canada’s North Okanagan activated an emergency operations centre as drought triggers Stage 3 water limits, adding irrigation specialists to protect crop output. Trade & Logistics Risk: Russia suspended shipping through the Kerch Strait and Don–Azov canal after Ukrainian drone strikes, a blow to grain export routes. Agribusiness Infrastructure: Sarawak (Malaysia) plans a RM15M expansion to turn its PPNS Agriculture Complex into a one-stop value-chain hub with inputs and cold storage. Market Signals: USDA data shows Arkansas rice acres fell to the lowest in half a century, reflecting drought and higher input costs.

India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership: PM Narendra Modi wrapped up his three-nation trip and helped elevate ties with New Zealand to a Strategic Partnership, unveiling a 2030 roadmap spanning trade, defence, maritime security, and agriculture/agrotech—including an Agricultural Productivity Arrangement for dairy and farming technology, plus plans to link India’s UPI with New Zealand’s fast-payment system. Regional Ag Cooperation: Malaysia and Thailand signed an agriculture cooperation MoU covering food security, research, innovation, capacity building and sustainable development, alongside border-security collaboration. Water & Farm Livelihoods (India): Chhattisgarh’s Balrampur is pushing the “Mor Gaon Mor Pani” campaign with contour trenches to boost water security and create local jobs, aiming to curb migration. Crop Threat (India): Maharashtra soybean fields face a snail infestation in waterlogged areas; officials advise immediate control measures. Food Systems & Infrastructure: Arunachal Pradesh inaugurated the Rongoge Mega Food Park to expand local agro-processing and animal feed production. On-the-ground Accountability (Uganda): Uganda’s Auditor General flagged major management failures at Bukalasa Agricultural College, including idle equipment and rising receivables.

Farm Safety: An 84-year-old man in Shelby County, Ohio, was killed when a tractor popped into gear while he was using a hydraulic splitter, pinning him underneath. Animal Welfare Enforcement: Ireland’s Department of Agriculture carried out an “enforcement operation” on a cattle farm in Munster, following earlier actions that included euthanising cattle; the department says it won’t comment on individual cases. Crop Outlook & Costs: Afghanistan’s Balkh Province expects wheat harvests up 65% year-on-year, but farmers warn fertilizer prices and irrigation limits remain major hurdles. Disaster Support: USDA announced expanded disaster assistance and commodity loan program improvements for livestock and other producers, including changes to ELAP and LFP coverage. Trade & Food Security: The WTO says Iran’s war has “severely disrupted” fertilizer trade, raising risks for yields and food prices. Sustainable Tech in Farming: South Dakota Mines students are working on microbe-based alternatives to synthetic fertilizers, using drones to analyze soils in the field. Human-Wildlife Conflict: Nepal’s agriculture minister says Rs. 411 million is allocated for youth-focused programs and human-wildlife coexistence, including solar fences and protection infrastructure. Conservation & Agriculture: Research warns crop-raiding elephant conflicts in southern Africa could double by century’s end as farming expands and aridity grows.

Geographical Indications: Japan’s farm ministry registered “Japanese tea” under its GI system to curb overseas imitations, with enforcement aimed at protecting brand value. Agroforestry Incentives: The Nature Conservancy and partners launched a 3-year agroforestry support program offering incentive payments from a $39M fund, with applications open until Aug. 11. Food Security & Prices: South Africa’s food-system inquiry ended with renewed calls for retailers to be accountable for hunger and affordability, despite claims that enough food exists nationally. Disease Watch: Australia confirmed H5N1 in a local seabird for the first time on the mainland, raising surveillance concerns while saying poultry and agriculture remain at low risk. Farm Resilience: Hawaii’s Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center is reopening free soil and plant testing for farmers hit by kona low storms, with the free-sample deadline July 21. Input & Market Pressure: EU lawmakers rejected a proposal that would have treated soybean oil as high ILUC-risk under the Renewable Energy Directive, backing the EU soy value chain. Local Disruption: Suffolk, UK, councils flagged that a solar-plus-storage scheme would remove about 96% from top agricultural land and could face opposition. Ghana Tomato Push: Ghana’s agriculture ministry says tomato supply measures—solar boreholes, irrigation and fencing—should show results in 3–4 months to cut imports.

Postharvest Push (Philippines): The Department of Agriculture is rolling out 380 mechanical drying facilities to cut postharvest losses and boost farmer income, with 230 units ready by end-2026 and the full network operational by Sept. 2027. Animal Health Alert (Australia): NSW confirmed H5 high-path avian influenza in a migratory seabird, triggering its H5 response plan with tighter biosecurity and expanded surveillance, while officials say poultry supply is not affected. Water Stress (Canada): Greater Vernon’s drought restrictions are forcing orchardists to use only 30% of remaining water, and some are proposing emergency wells into the Coldstream aquifer to protect crops. Flood Damage (India): A central team assessed losses from flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh, including damage to fishponds and farming sites, and ordered compensation estimates and repairs for infrastructure. Agri-Industry & Tech (Japan): Tokyo’s Plantx opened a pilot fully sealed vertical-farming facility, aiming for tighter control of growing conditions and higher-value produce. Food Safety Risk (Global): A Willis risk report says food safety and health are now top risks for many food and agriculture firms, alongside supply chain disruptions and rising costs. Agriculture Governance (Pakistan): Punjab’s Public Accounts Committee ordered inquiries into alleged irregularities in the agriculture department, including subsidy and seed management lapses. Heat & Crop Risk (US): A heat dome is expected to bring hot, dry conditions to the Corn Belt, with little rainfall and worsening crop stress risk.