Global commodity production, area and yield estimates <br> for Grains, Oilseeds and Cotton. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/ Fri, Dec 28 2007 08:06:31 Fri, Dec 28 2007 08:06:31 http://www.fas.usda.gov/pecad/images/2005_h1.png http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/ OGA - Office of Global Analysis 62 72 A significant change in the oil palm industry has taken place during the past season, as Indonesia surpassed Malaysia in production of palm oil and is now the world leader. This designation will continue and Indonesia's production rate will outpace Malaysia for the foreseeable future. Personnel from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) conducted crop-assessment travel in the main palm oil production regions of Sumatra and West Kalimantan during August and September. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/12/Indonesia_palmoil Dec 27, 2007 A mid-season crop assessment tour for Niger, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia was conducted by personnel from USDA's Office of Global Analysis (OGA) and USAID's FEWS-NET project from September 10 to October 3, 2007. The general crop conditions and field observations within these countries are summarized below. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/12/Ethiopia_BF-Niger Dec 14, 2007 Heavy rain since mid-June has caused serious flooding and water logging in many parts of central China. According to local sources, as of mid-July more than 5.5 million hectares of cropland have been affected in 6 provinces (Anhui, Hubei, Henan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, and Sichuan). More than 400 people have died and about 3.19 million have been displaced. Economic losses are estimated at $4.25 billion dollars. Some analysts have described the current flooding along the Huai River as the worst in 50 years. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/07/China_FLood_Huai_July2007 Jul 20, 2007 An unusual combination of winter and spring weather events are shaping prospects for Europe's 2007/08 winter crops. The most important weather factors influencing this year's production include very warm winter and spring temperatures which have accelerated plant growth. Additionally, widespread spring dryness developed over much of Europe, stressing crops. Meanwhile, a hard freeze occurred in north-central Europe, possibly damaging already weakened vegetation. Finally, rain returned to the dry areas of the continent - both in northern Europe and in the Balkans during mid-May, aiding yield recovery. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/05/EU_21May07 May 24, 2007 Personnel from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service conducted crop-assessment travel in the main grain and oilseed production regions of Ukraine during mid-April. Conditions for winter crops were observed to be very good. Yield prospects for all major crops remain generally favorable despite persistent spring dryness that has reduced soil moisture in many areas of Ukraine. Recent precipitation has replenished surface moisture in most areas of Ukraine, but additional rain in May and June will be necessary to recharge subsurface moisture reserves and maintain the current yield outllook. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/05/ukr_11may2007 May 16, 2007 Unusually mild winter temperatures caused China's 2007/08 winter wheat and rapeseed crops to emerge from dormancy well ahead of schedule and grow abnormally fast, weakening their resistance to extreme weather. The mild winter also created ideal conditions for insects and plant diseases to thrive, but local authorities have taken appropriate control measures. Rainfall and temperatures have been highly variable in March and April. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/05/chinawheat_may2007 May 02, 2007 USDA performed a mid-season crop assessment for South Africa and Zimbabwe from February 19 - March 5, 2007, and in cooperation with United States Agency of International Development's (USAID) FEWS-NET project. The purpose of the trip was to update current crop estimates for both countries and observe how closely various spatial models resemble ground conditions. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/05/zimbabwe_corn_may07 May 02, 2007 A severe El Nino drought caused irreversible crop damage in southern Africa, especially for the countries of South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Nambia, southern Mozambique and southern Zimbabwe (Figure 1). High temperatures and prolonged dryness occurred during January through March, which is when crops in the region reach critical pollination and grain-filling stages. The severe drought is one of the worst droughts to hit South Africa's main corn belt since 1992. In addition, South Africa this year will have to import over one million tons of yellow maize when South Africa is typically considered an export granary for the region. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/05/southern_africa_corn_may07 May 02, 2007 Soybeans are currently being harvested in Brazil's Center-West including the major soybean producing state of Mato Grosso. Soybean harvest peaks in late March to early April and continues into May in the southern states, particularly in Rio Grande do Sul. In its March 2007 estimate the USDA forecast a record soybean crop for Brazil of 57 million tons, which is 4 percent larger than last year's crop, despite a 5 percent decrease in area. A yield of 2.7 tons per hectare is expected, which is the highest yield since 2002/03 due the serious problems with Asian soybean rust and drought over the last three years. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/03/brazil_soybean_30mar2007 Mar 30, 2007 While Brazil's corn area has been quite stable over the last decade, high world prices, largely influenced by increasing U.S. ethanol demand, are creating an invigorated interest in planting corn. Because the increase in corn prices did not occur until 2006/07 first-crop (summer) corn planting was underway in late 2006, summer corn area was relatively unaffected. Brazilian farmers, however, are currently planting more second-crop winter ('safrinha') corn such that safrinha area has increased approximately 16 percent from last year. On average, winter corn accounts for 25 percent of Brazil's total corn area and 23 percent of the total corn production. Winter corn planting should be nearly finished by the end of March. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/03/brazil_corn_30mar2007 Mar 30, 2007 Overall, the weather has been good to very good for Brazil's 06/07 rice crop and an above average yield of 3.76 tons per hectare (for unmilled rice) is expected. Harvest is underway in the southern states. Harvest will begin in April in the Center-West followed by harvest in the Northeast. USDA's March 2006/07 milled rice production estimate is unchanged at 7.7 million tons (or 11.3 million tons of rough production assuming a 0.68 milling rate). Brazil's harvested rice area is forecast at 3.0 million hectares, which is unchanged from last month and nearly the same as last year, however this year's area estimate is significantly lower than rice area in the years prior to 05/06. Analysts from the Foreign Agricultural Service traveled in the rice areas of Brazil from January 16 - 26. Many facts and opinions in this report were obtained from interviews and observations made during this trip. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/03/brazil_rice_30mar2007 Mar 30, 2007 Early prospects for 2007/08 Ukraine winter grains are generally favorable. Unusually mild weather throughout the winter raised alarms about the lack of protective snow cover, but despite brief episodes of cold weather, temperatures did not drop low enough for a sufficient length of time to cause significant widespread frost damage. Winter crops have resumed vegetative growth throughout the country, and officials estimate that winterkill will be slightly higher than last year but below the long-term average. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2007/03/ukr_30mar2007 Mar 30, 2007