Sudanese farmers struggling with the consequences of civil war face another devastating setback as drought destroys crops and weaken livestock.
In the United States, the government has announced an $8 billion agricultural relief programme to help farmers cope with record diesel costs.
Meanwhile, drought-hit farmers in India face a difficult decision: whether to delay winter planting until soil moisture improves or risk sowing into dry ground.
In Australia, biodiversity agreements are offering farmers regular environmental income in exchange for permanent restrictions on land use. And in Europe, proposed changes to organic regulations could reduce certification costs for smaller producers while protecting established international trade.
Plus, the Global Market Report examines a growing divide in Canada’s barley market, where poor grain quality is creating winners and losers despite a substantial national harvest.
Hosted by Simon Morris.
This week's stories:
00:45 Africa: Sudan’s drought destroys harvest expectations
Sudanese farmers who have survived or returned after years of civil war are confronting the weakest rainfall in more than three decades.
04:06 North America: US farmers await $8 billion in fuel relief
The US government has announced an $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief programme to help farmers cope with exceptionally high diesel prices.
06:52 Asia: Indian farmers face a winter planting dilemma
After losing monsoon crops, growers must decide whether to plant their rabi crops into dry soil or wait for better conditions.
10:19 Oceania: Australian farmers weigh permanent biodiversity agreements
Farmers in Central West New South Wales are entering agreements that provide annual environmental income in exchange for permanent restrictions on land use.
13:43 Europe – EU organic reforms offer relief for smaller growers
Negotiators have reached a provisional agreement to simplify organic certification for smaller producers
16:51 Global Market Report: Canadian barley quality divides the market
Canada’s barley harvest is estimated at approximately 9.7 million tonnes, but poorly timed rain has damaged grain quality.
Correspondents:
Samuel Njoroge – Africa
Ananya Rao – Asia
Daniel Mercer – North America
Claire Mitchell – Oceania
Lukas Fischer – Europe
Useful links:
Sudan – food security and humanitarian assistance (World Food Programme)
USA – agricultural relief programmes (USDA Farm Service Agency)
USA – diesel prices (US Energy Information Administration
India – agricultural weather and planting advice (India Meteorological Department’s Agrometeorological Advisory Service)
India – agricultural drought monitoring (India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)
Australia – biodiversity conservation agreements (NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust)
Australia – Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (EnergyCo NSW)
European Union – organic farming regulations European Commission
European Union – organic trade and certification (Council of the European Union)
Global Market Report — Canadian grain quality (Canadian Grain Commission)
Global Market Report — Canadian barley production (Statistics Canada)
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