AGP Executive Report

Food Security & Local Production: Malaysia’s Agriculture and Food Security Ministry says Labuan’s “Road to MAHA Labuan 2026” drew 30,837 visitors in two days and nearly RM800,000 in sales, highlighting rising interest in agriculture and agro-entrepreneurship. Water Safety: A Georgia water agent urged private well owners to test annually, warning that homeowners—not the state—are responsible for keeping backyard drinking water safe. Water & Infrastructure Pressure: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller renewed calls for a special legislative session to rein in data center growth, arguing they threaten farmland, rural communities, the electric grid, and water supplies. Disaster Relief for Growers: New York received a USDA Secretarial Disaster Designation for frost and freeze damage, with losses topping $30 million and farmers eligible for low-interest emergency loans. Livestock & Biosecurity: South Africa launched an online system letting authorised livestock owners self-vaccinate against foot-and-mouth disease, aiming to speed outbreak control. Pest Watch: New York warned spotted lanternflies are active again, urging residents to report sightings to state agriculture officials. Ag Tech for Feed: Jamaica’s RADA rolled out a silage calculator app to help farmers plan quantities and support better livestock nutrition. Climate-Smart Irrigation: Zambia announced plans to expand irrigation development to 500,000 hectares by 2031 to reduce rain-fed risk. Market & Price Signals: The US expects at-home food prices to rise about 2.7% this year, with low-income households hit hardest.

Wage Pressure on Farms and Shops (Philippines): Metro Manila’s P85 daily wage hike starts with a P60 jump for workers, including agriculture-sector and small firms, with a second P25 tranche due in January 2027. Courtroom Accountability (Philippines): The Sandiganbayan convicts Janet Lim-Napoles and a former DAR official over misuse of P50 million meant for agricultural input support, ordering repayment and prison terms. Water Stress Hits Rice (India): Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta kuruvai farmers face groundwater decline, rising salinity, and delayed Mettur releases, worsened by reduced free pump power. Border Reopens for Cattle (US–Mexico): The US will resume limited Mexican cattle imports in phases from Aug. 24 via Douglas, Arizona, as the screwworm outbreak continues. Food Safety Alerts (Australia/US): Australia recalls Yumbah greenlip abalone over brevetoxin contamination; the US recalls imported chicken noodle soup due to missed import reinspection. Tech for Extension (India): Kashmir’s SKUAST-K trains KVKs on Kisan Sarathi 2.0 to speed up digital farm advisory content. Right to Repair (US): Deere reaches a right-to-repair settlement requiring diagnostic and repair tools be available to owners and independent shops. Aquaculture/Climate Resilience (Fiji): IFAD launches the US$25m Be-Green program to support rural livelihoods, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem resilience.

Milk & Feed Outlook: USDA’s WASDE cut 2026 Class III to $16.15/cwt and Class IV to $18.40, while 2027 averages were also lowered (Class III $17.05; Class IV $17.40). Crop Progress: Indiana corn and soybeans are mostly on pace, while Iowa reports corn and soy ahead of last year despite near-zero rainfall. Weather Stress: Iowa’s hot, dry stretch continues to push development, with some areas needing rain as crops hit key reproductive stages. Dairy Expansion Fight: Minnesota’s MPCA permit for a West River Dairy expansion is being appealed over greenhouse-gas planning. Animal Health Threat: FAO warns the New World screwworm is spreading again in the U.S., urging early prevention and stronger veterinary response. Policy & Land Use: Bozeman, Montana proposes wetland and watercourse zoning text changes affecting development review timing and jurisdiction determinations. Agri-Food Transformation: Rwanda’s Agricultural Show opened in Kigali, spotlighting innovation, insurance, and partnerships to boost yields and food security. Local Food & Fairs: Indiana’s Local Food Week kicks off with dozens of farm events focused on making local food businesses viable. Farm Succession Risk: An Oregon hop farm’s future is in jeopardy amid a family inheritance dispute tied to missing written agreements.

Hybrid Rice Breakthrough (China): Chinese researchers say they’ve developed a hybrid rice that can preserve high-yield traits through saved seeds, using synthetic apomixis—potentially cutting seed costs and boosting food security. Biosecurity & Trade (Nepal): Nepal has tightened entry conditions for fresh mangoes imported from China, targeting 27+ high-risk pests and clarifying it’s not a blanket ban. Aquaculture Inputs (Vietnam): De Heus opened a marine and cold-water fish feed mill in Vinh Long with 84,000 tonnes/year capacity, aiming to support specialized aquaculture and export feed. Food Security & Welfare (Philippines): Coverage of the Walang Gutom food stamp program is expanding, but a new survey suggests hunger levels haven’t yet fallen nationwide. Farmer Support & Risk (Zimbabwe): Umzingwane farmers were urged to fully adopt Pfumvudza/Intwasa as the 2026/27 season approaches, focusing on small, moisture-retaining planting stations. Rural Resilience (US): USDA is accepting applications for its FIELDS fertilizer investment program, while Louisiana approved D-SNAP for Tropical Storm Arthur-affected parishes. Market Watch (Nepal): Kalimati set wholesale prices for fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cabbage, and eggplants. Policy & Integrity (Malaysia/Indonesia): Malaysia’s MACC recorded witness statements in an investigation into a RM200m KWAP loss tied to Indonesia’s eFishery aquaculture tech investment.

Anti-Corruption Probe: Malaysia’s MACC has begun statements and document reviews in its RM200m KWAP loss case tied to Indonesia’s eFishery, including financial trail checks and overseas parties. Farm Tech & Markets: Farmers Business Network launched FBN Market Intelligence with an AI crop price outlook for corn and soybeans, aiming to cut through market emotion. Climate & Water Stress: North Wales declared drought after record-low rainfall and river flows, while Zambia rolled out a digital extension platform (Mulimi360) to boost climate-resilient advice. Food Security & Nutrition: A new global modeling study says healthier diets and less waste could cut farmland use by up to 6% by 2050 and sharply reduce ruminant livestock value. Ag Policy & Trade: China targets 725m tonnes grain capacity by 2030, and Poland’s agri-food exports to Mercosur jumped 28% in the first month of the interim EU deal. On-Farm Adaptation: Bangladesh plans to curb onion imports by funding farmer-level storage, including 15,000 airflow machines. Safety & Health: Tick populations are rising in Illinois, with extension urging proactive prevention and nightly checks.

Fertilizer Volatility: American Farm Bureau economists urged Congress to tackle fertilizer price swings with targeted policy tools, arguing global supply shocks ripple across U.S. farms. Rural Planning Uncertainty: New Zealand’s Waikato farmers are pushing back on PC1 nitrogen and phosphorus rules, with Agriculture Minister Chris Bishop hinting at possible further amendments to give “certainty.” Foreign Land Rules: USDA proposed changes to AFIDA could expand reporting for foreign interests tied to U.S. agricultural land and even utility easements—developers are urged to check compliance early. Disaster Relief for Fruit Growers: Pennsylvania’s new budget adds $10m for freeze recovery grants after late-April cold wiped out 80–100% of some summer fruit crops. Aquaculture Oversight: Maine scheduled a public hearing on an oyster lease application for Blackstone Point Oyster Co., with remote and in-person options. Trade & Market Access: A U.S. Senate Finance hearing highlighted tariff-driven market openings for agricultural exports, including a new U.S.-Jordan reciprocal trade deal. Heat Stress on Farms: Italy faces its third major heatwave, raising wildfire risks and prompting red alerts that could disrupt agriculture. Pakistan Input Supply: Pakistan’s food security minister met Punjab officials to secure affordable fertilizer and stabilize prices ahead of the crop season.

Coconut Value-Add Push (Indonesia): Indonesia’s agriculture ministry targets 151,554 hectares for coconut downstream production in 2026, backed by about 427 billion rupiah, with seed, organic fertilizer, and land-prep support—aiming to lift added value from its ~2.1 million tons annual output. Livestock Price Support (Namibia): Namibia and the farmers’ union are finalizing a US$5.5 million livestock price equalisation fund to narrow the north–south price gap, with fodder projects and feedlots on the agenda. Animal Health Alert (Croatia): Croatia confirmed two fresh African swine fever outbreaks, bringing 101 pig-farm outbreaks and 187 wild-boar cases this year; authorities plan to step up wild boar culling. Water Governance (Saskatchewan): A Saskatchewan auditor says water licensees are exceeding allocations more than before, urging stronger monitoring and enforcement by the Water Security Agency. Policy Pressure (U.S. Midwest): Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson pushes the Senate to act on E15 and the “Save Our Bacon Act,” tying progress to the farm bill timeline. Food Systems Research (Global): A Nature study says healthier diets plus less food waste could cut farmland use by ~6% by 2050, but reduce livestock output value sharply—reshaping what gets grown and where. Farm Tech for Decisions (Satellites): EarthDaily highlights how satellite monitoring of crop health and soil moisture helps spot emerging issues beyond local scouting. Manure & Soil Health (U.S.): UW–Madison Extension plans a free manure composting field day Aug. 5 in Lancaster, Wisconsin, focused on practical composting and regulations. Input Rules Under Review (Minnesota): Minnesota is seeking public comments by July 31 on whether its neonicotinoid-treated seed rules adequately protect natural resources. Cold Chain & Sorghum (Ethiopia): Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Institute is expanding refrigerated transport/storage and hybrid sorghum to cut post-harvest losses and raise incomes. Rural Infrastructure Funding (Nigeria): Nigeria’s House begins debate on a bill to create a national rural infrastructure commission and fund, targeting gaps that affect most agricultural communities. Agriculture Under Climate Stress (Canada): Northern Alberta’s Thorhild County declares an agricultural disaster after extreme rainfall floods fields and disrupts planting and hay drying. Market & Prices Watch (U.S.): USDA’s latest milk outlook lowers Class III and IV price forecasts for 2026–2027 while adjusting corn supply and use assumptions.

Fertiliser & hunger risk: IFAD warns that conflicts and energy-market shocks could push millions more into hunger by raising fuel, fertiliser and food costs, even as global hunger has eased modestly. Food safety & corporate response: Taylor Farms faced scrutiny after an FDA-linked cyclosporiasis lab result was described as a false positive, with the company’s public messaging challenged as misleading. Nigeria farm-to-planning push: VP Kashim Shettima says the $500m World Bank-backed AGROW programme will connect farmers to national value-chain planning and move agriculture from subsistence to scale. Food manufacturing investment: Australia’s FaBA plans to link farmers with universities and scale onshore food manufacturing with $180m aimed at reducing risk and boosting exports. Trade & standards: GTRI urges India to strengthen science-based food safety ahead of the India-EU pact to avoid trade barriers and protect farm exports. Climate & drought adaptation: Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South steps up traditional grains and climate-smart practices ahead of possible El Niño, including boreholes and water security measures. Farm safety spotlight: UK NFU backs Farm Safety Week after HSE data shows a rise in agricultural deaths. Water infrastructure for fisheries: Philippines’ agriculture chief inspected a new ice plant at Bulan Fish Port and outlined plans to expand it into a larger agro-marine port by 2028. Agtech & biotech: UC San Diego and IGI announce a new partnership to develop next-gen genome-editing tools for health and environmental challenges.

Global Hunger Watch: FAO’s SOFI 2026 says the daily cost of a healthy diet rose sharply since 2021, but the number of people unable to afford it fell to 2.69 billion; still, the Middle East conflict and energy/fertilizer shocks could push hunger higher by 2030. Food Safety: Quebec recalled lean ground beef sold at Marché Atlas in Saint-Léonard due to possible E. coli traces. Livestock Health: South Africa’s North West province reported 1,032,615 cattle vaccinated against Foot-and-Mouth Disease, aiming for 80% coverage by August. Farm Policy & Finance: India’s Kharif sowing reached 658.19 lakh hectares by July 17, with declines in pulses, coarse cereals, oilseeds and cotton; SBI plans to expand MSME, agriculture and digital banking in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Land & Water: A Texas–New Mexico water settlement reached in May 2026 sets new delivery rules and groundwater buyouts, with expected impacts on agriculture. Rural Disputes & Crime: A beekeeping fight heads to West Virginia’s Supreme Court; Wales police and show organizers report quad bike thefts at the Royal Welsh Show. Ag Tech & Automation: A UK startup’s AI robot is designed to pick raspberries to ease labor shortages.

Water-Smart Farming Tech: Suntory is testing a fruit-waste-derived soil additive in Japan to improve soil water retention and protect crop yields as drought and declining moisture threaten supply chains. Rice Market Support: The Philippines’ NFA will raise the wet palay minimum buying price to PHP21/kg from September and pause Iloilo rice imports during peak harvest to shield farmers from rising input costs. Global Policy Push: FAO’s COAG 30 opened in Rome with a strong call for science and innovation, focusing on One Health, soil health, pesticide use, water scarcity, and climate resilience. Pest Alert for Ranchers: Texas agriculture officials say pasture mealybug is now confirmed in 70 counties, urging early detection to slow spread. Rural Infrastructure: USDA is funding nearly $9m in Wisconsin to upgrade wastewater and water mains, including replacing lead service lines. Agrifood Trade & Growth: Ghana’s Volta Economic Corridor is set to link agriculture, aquaculture, logistics, and exports into a 24-hour economy hub. Fertilizer Pressure: Alabama farmers report fertilizer price spikes tied to overseas conflict, squeezing margins and delaying equipment upgrades. Seeds for Smallholders: Benue State in Nigeria distributed improved vegetable seeds to 300 smallholder farmers to boost year-round production and incomes.

Food Safety & Regulation: Sri Lanka is moving to curb alleged toxic chemical use in fruit ripening after complaints about bananas, mangoes and guavas, with agencies reviewing enforcement and legal gaps. Farm Economics & Inputs: Nigeria’s Enugu State will distribute fertilisers and seeds to 63,000 smallholder farmers, while also expanding Smart Green Schools staffing. Water Quality Policy: Ireland’s farm group says the EU nitrates review supports a “balanced and practical” approach, stressing smarter on-the-ground delivery. Regenerative Farming Partnerships: ADM has named Jeff Rowe to lead operations, and ADM with General Mills and Walmart is pushing regenerative wheat across hundreds of thousands of acres. Climate & Soil Innovation: Rodale Institute broke ground on a new Center for Regenerative Organic Innovation, aiming to scale practical soil-health solutions. Livestock Health Cooperation: SADC countries are coordinating a unified foot-and-mouth disease plan with cross-border vaccination and diagnostics. Market & Trade Signals: Kazakhstan’s milling sector is expanding as grain-processing investments grow, even as 2026 wheat output is forecast to fall. Farm Safety: Ireland’s Farm Safety Week urges risk planning as fatalities remain a concern. Agritech & Data: UK plans for an AI data centre in Shilton drew local objections, including concerns over wildlife and habitats. Agriculture & Nutrition: Cebu is grappling with the “triple burden of malnutrition,” with stunting, wasting and micronutrient gaps reported. Animal Welfare & Tech: Ireland is pushing to include virtual fencing in TAMS support for upland sheep and goats. Poultry & Pollution: Malaysia’s Linggi fly nuisance is being tackled via a shift toward modern closed-house poultry systems.

Water Stress & El Niño Impacts: In the Philippines, the National Irrigation Administration ordered strict water rationing under the Hapid Irrigation System in Ifugao as dry-spell conditions persist, while in BARMM agriculture damage from Typhoon Inday and habagat neared P885 million, with floods submerging crops. Right to Repair for Farm Machinery: Australia’s independent agricultural machinery repairers are pushing for expansion of Right to Repair rules, with a national roundtable set to hear directly from repair businesses as officials consider extending protections beyond passenger vehicles. Climate-Smart Farming in Practice: Zimbabwe’s climate-smart conservation agriculture programme is credited with turning drought-hit maize and small-grain plots into model farms, using minimum soil disturbance, water harvesting and mulching. Sustainable Farming Debate: A Singapore panel argues sustainable agriculture must combine biologicals and synthetics into scalable, grower-focused solutions that actually work on-farm. Livestock Biosecurity Tools: A new mapping app, SAFE MApp, helps livestock and poultry producers visualize disease entry points and plan prevention and outbreak response. Food Policy & Definitions: The US FDA says defining ultra-processed foods is “challenging” and won’t ban them while it works with USDA and others on a workable definition. Ag Trade & Market Access: Pakistan’s food exporters are sending a delegation to Dubai to boost Gulf sales, while wheat policy reform demands focus on transparency, storage and tracking to protect farmers and consumers.

Climate & Water Risk: Malaysia is urged to start early preparations for an expected Super El Niño, warning of hotter, drier conditions that could hit water, health, and farm output. Public Administration & Food Systems: Bangladesh’s home minister called for a politically neutral civil service, while a separate fertilizer update said stocks are adequate and fertilizer “syndicates” won’t be tolerated. Climate-Resilient Farming: Bangladesh’s Khulna University launched an international project on adaptive delta management for climate-resilient agriculture and food security. Meat & Prices: Jordan’s agriculture minister says meat and poultry prices fell in Q1 2026 after supply-chain steps and diversified import sources. Livestock Trade: Pakistan and China agreed to expand cooperation to boost halal meat exports, including slaughterhouse upgrades and cold-chain improvements. Fisheries Innovation: The Philippines’ BFAR and the British Embassy will co-host SAFET 2026 in Cebu to speed up fisheries tech and traceability. Horticulture Exports: APEDA facilitated the first export of premium Kashmir cherries and plums to Singapore. El Niño Planning (India): Telangana formed an expert committee to assess El Niño impacts and draft crop and water contingency plans. Farm Safety: Australia’s Safer Farms Report says 53 people died and 182 were seriously injured on farms in 2025, pushing renewed safety culture efforts. Agriculture & Politics (Local): A Malaysia election candidate pledged infrastructure, customary land support, and fertigation-based farming upgrades for an Orang Asli community. Food Demand Pressure: A global protein crunch is driving whey prices higher as consumers seek more high-protein foods. Water Reuse (Canada): Vernon in British Columbia got approval to expand reclaimed-water uses, including dust control and municipal tree watering. Regional Agriculture Infrastructure (India): Bihar’s Khagaria–Purnea highway approval aims to cut spoilage and improve flood-resilient transport for high-value crops.

Drought & climate risk: India’s Telangana set up a 27-member expert panel to study El Niño impacts and draft farm contingency plans, as officials warn of deficient monsoon and lower reservoir levels. Wildlife & farm chemicals: Western Australia research tagged endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoos and found “chemical cocktail” pesticide exposure from seed spills near grain silos, with some residues far above regulatory limits. Irrigation & production: Zimbabwe is restarting the Kanyemba Irrigation Scheme by fixing power and technical gaps, aiming to boost food security and livelihoods for hundreds of households. Market access: Fiji opened a new Wainunu Farmers Market to cut transport costs and help growers sell closer to home. Ag policy & tech: Nigeria signed a Morocco-backed satellite and AI agricultural monitoring deal to improve real-time data on land, crops and food-security risks. Food safety: Walmart removed four Taylor Farms Marketside iceberg lettuce salads as recalls expand in a cyclosporiasis probe. Livestock education: Mississippi held its first Southeast Livestock Ag Career Day for students, including heifer “guess the weight” contests and vet science demos. Cotton outlook: Zimbabwe’s 2026 seed cotton intake is down sharply versus last year, with payment timing concerns raised by farmers.

Dry Spell Watch: A prolonged dry spell is threatening the farming season in Ghana’s Upper East Region, with millet struggling after weeks of little or no rain. Export Boost: India’s APEDA helped ship Jammu & Kashmir’s Areko cherries and Scentrose plums to Singapore, aiming for higher returns and better post-harvest handling. Green Farming Metrics: China reported continued gains in agricultural green development in 2025, including improved water-saving and higher fertilizer/pesticide efficiency. Livestock Disease Control: Croatia is tightening African swine fever containment after dozens of outbreaks, with more measures planned to protect pig production. Organic Support: USDA is offering help to organic producers to cover certification costs for 2025–2026. Policy Shift on Inputs: Ladakh has banned chemical and synthetic fertilisers to protect soil and water and accelerate organic farming. Food Security Push: Bahrain is moving ahead with plans to strengthen food security, including allocating agricultural plots to farmers. Aquaculture Fraud Probe: Malaysia’s MACC opened an investigation into KWAP’s RM200m loss tied to Indonesian eFishery. Weather Disruption: Floods and landslides hit Arunachal Pradesh districts, with heavy rain forecast and thousands affected. Market/Quality Rules: Malaysia urged durian exporters to stick to China phytosanitary protocol for fresh durians, warning against unapproved methods.

Animal Ag Education: Ohio State Fair livestock barn tours led by CFAES animal science students aim to explain animal care, welfare, and careers. Legal Fight in Fruit Supply Chains: California grower Cesar Mora is giving away nectarines while a lawsuit over exclusive rights to a white nectarine variety heads to trial. Farmer Voice in Policy: USDA’s Farm Service Agency is accepting nominations for county committee seats, with elections tied to local administrative areas. Drought & Feed Logistics: South Dakota expands hay-hauling and oversized transport hours via an executive order as most of the state remains dry. Soil Contamination Research: Studies on biochar plus organic-fertilizer-derived dissolved organic matter show improved cadmium immobilization, but results vary by molecular makeup. Farm Economy Pressure: Iowa agriculture experts warn of a multi-year downturn as costs outpace revenues and net farm income drops sharply. Food Safety Alerts: Wisconsin issues a public warning after raw beef patties were found with undeclared milk allergen. Citrus Rule Change: FDA lowers the orange-juice Brix standard, which Florida officials say will reduce reliance on imported juice. Flood Impacts on Rice: Ghana’s Weta rice farming community reports major losses after severe flooding submerged fields and damaged infrastructure. Climate Risk Watch: Experts urge early action as El Niño strengthens, raising risks of heat, floods, and drought across multiple regions.