It is all smiles for the lobster industry of Maine after the repeal of a controversial standard gauge resize. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) via its American Lobster Management Board on May 5 passed Addendum XXXII. As a section of Amendment 3, it replaces the erstwhile Addendum XXVII, across 11 lobster states. Addendum XXVII of October 2023 sought to...
Agricultural machinery sales rebound before South Africa’s mega show
South Africa is observing uptick sales of agricultural equipment and machinery, precipitating an overdue mega equipment show on May 13, 2025. Thanks to late coming La Niña rains, the domestic Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) rose 11 points in Q1, 2025, quarter-to-quarter. According to the industry’s confidence index tracker by Agbiz/IDC, the growth was the highest since end 2021. The crop outlook has...
Italy scores 5% floriculture export growth before tariffs
Italy managed 5% floriculture shipment increments between January and September 2024, ahead of Trump’s 10% universal tariffs. While tariffs could impact the country’s fifth biggest flower market, the United States, in Europe trade remains shipshape. Regional sales aided Italy’s flower sector maintain the second export value position in Europe, after the Netherlands. According to an Il Messaggero report, France led Italy’s January-September...
U.S.-UK trade deal creates $5 billion market for American farmers
An era-defining U.S.-UK trade deal on May 8, 2025 could bring American farmers $5 billion. Echoing a landmark UK-India pact, the agreement happened on Victory in Europe (VE) Day, which commemorates the Allied WWII victory. In a White House statement, the U.S. President Donald Trump said that “the deal includes billions of dollars…especially in agriculture.” While the concession concentrates on steel,...
Watermelon production in eastern Taiwan to take a 10% icy dip
A watermelon production hub in eastern Taiwan expects a 10% annual drop in the mid-May 2025 harvest due to foregoing spring cold. According to Taiwan News, the 1,600 hectares (ha) under watermelon in Hualien County could reap some 20,000 tonnes this initial harvest. In the lead is the Fenglin township, which tops the county’s watermelon acreage at 600 ha. The township however...
“Time for Polish Apples” ends spring with “a series of sampling activities both at home and abroad”
The Association of Fruit Growers in Poland is ramping up apple sampling events around Europe via its “Time for Polish Apples” moniker. Having so far toured Poland, Germany and Portugal, the spring campaign’s final stops this May incorporate Denmark. The series finds Poland heading the Council of the European Union (EU) and in the first rank of continental fresh apple output. Selina Wamucii learns...
Agricultural production growth in PH hits 1.9% in Q1 2025
Annual production growth in seafood, poultry and crops has propelled the Philippine’s agricultural sector by 1.9% in Q1, 2025. The Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) on May 7, 2025 reported that agriculture and aquaculture generated 437.74 billion peso ($7.89 billion) this first quarter. This is vis-á-vis the 429.62 billion peso ($7.75 billion) of Q1, 2024. Crops Although their output rose modestly by 1%,...
Lamb for prawns: monumental India-UK trade deal dawns
India and the UK on May 6, 2025 struck a major trade deal that scraps duty for especially whiskey, textiles, prawns and lamb. The two top 6 economies mutually expect the deal to generate £25.5 billion ($34.1 billion) yearly, starting 2040. While India will initially slash duties on 90% of incoming goods, it will reduce them to zero levy by 2040. Britain...
Sugar consumption up along with market distortion
The U.S. secretary of health Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reference to sugar as “poison” is helping spotlight rising global consumption and market distortion. When Kennedy Jr. banned some artificial sugar dyes from processed public food in April 2025, he illuminated the global consumption situation. The American Heart Association brings the federal context forward by citing that each American utilizes 60 pounds of...
The Canada lobster rate has fishers circumspect before Mother’s Day
As the spring lobster season in Canada nears Mother’s Day when demand rises, lobstermen are worried about the rate. Beforehand, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) published the starting April 20-26 price at C$10.39 ($7.50) a pound. FFAW’s rate usually considers industry publication Urner Barry (UB), which stipulates that for every US$5 UB price, fishers get US$3.25. Furthermore, all prices...