Maryland’s and Virginia’s blue crab numbers on Chesapeake Bay in winter 2024 were at stable albeit lower levels than 2023’s. There were an estimated winter 2024 population of 317 million blue crabs, according to a May 22, 2024 survey report. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) alongside Virginia Institute of Marine Science have been conducting the...
The world’s food commodity futures revealed strengths and weaknesses in London, New York and Chicago exchanges in end May, 2024. Grain, live cattle, coffee and cocoa all performed differently in these futures markets, which usually impact retail food prices. Grain Markets Rise and Fall Setting the trend was corn which sold at 461.00 US¢ per...
The Senegal mango campaign in 2024 has begun end May amid a decrease in production due to fireflies on orchards. In its May 3, 2024 phytosanitary meeting, the Plant Directorate of Senegal (DPV) recounted a drop of 1.9% or 314 tonnes in the 2023 season. The decrease could continue in the 2024 season although high-profile orchard inspections...
India will see above-norm monsoon rains throughout the 2024 phase, in the event of which farm production will improve. According to a May 26, 2024 announcement by Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general at India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country will experience up to 106% saturation of the yearly average. This means that 2024 will have 2% more monsoon rain than...
Dairy farmers on May 27, 2024 wheeled plaster cows across the European Union (EU)’s capital Brussels, demanding fair milk rates. Some 100 protesters paraded before key EU offices demanding a legislation eradicating all milk product prices below production expenditure. The farmers were also drumming up support for an EU version of Spain’s recent “unfair commercial practices”act....
The oil palm industry in Indonesia is turning to organic fertilizer to end the menace of Phythoptora disease, particularly on aging trees. According to agricultural practitioner from West java’s Depak City, Irwan Margono, on May 26, 2024, herbicide residue causes leaf withering. He added that the most vulnerable plantations are those with more than 15 years in...
Milk production in the United States was down by 69 million pounds (31.364 million liters) year-on-year in April 2024. This is even as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts higher overall production in 2024 than in 2023. At 19.1 billion pounds (8.682 billion liters), April’s national output also decreased from March 2024’s by 500 million pounds (227.3...
The May 2024 soft citrus season in South Africa is proving strong for naartjies and mandarins, whose production could hit 31.3 million cartons. This impressive yield estimate comes just six months after South Africa announced slightly higher citrus exports in 2023 than 2022’s. Leading the output will be Nardocott/Tango mandarins, whose 2024 volume will rise by 16%...
Kashmir’s strawberry harvest was underway May 21, 2024 at the prominent farming village of Gasso in Srinagar. Though this fruit valley in eastern Pakistan looks pleasant at harvest time, it nevertheless promises low yields due to earlier unfavorable weather. Like in 2023, unpredictable rain and untimely April chill already point to yet another diminished production year in...
The celebrated three-week paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) fishing season in North Dakota has ended, to protect the local fisheries. The harvest period lasted between May 1 and 15, after which followed a snagging and releasing week ending May 21, 2024. Fishermen have not yet divulged the sizes of their catches to compare with recent weight records. So far, the largest...