Latest news with #cropdamage
Reuters
2 days ago
- Climate
- Reuters
Ivory Coast cocoa farmers warn of crop risks as rains fall short, cold spell hits
ABIDJAN, July 28 (Reuters) - Rainfall was well below average last week across most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa-growing regions, while a cold spell has raised concerns among farmers about potential crop damage that could reduce expectations for the October-to-March main crop, farmers said on Monday. Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, is in its rainy season which runs officially from April to mid-November, when rains are abundant and often heavy. Several farmers said the main cocoa crop was developing well, with many flowers turning into small pods and young pods gaining weight. However, they warned that persistent overcast skies and a cold spell could dry out flowers and pods, while limited sunshine may increase the risk of disease in plantations. "There is a cool spell during the day and in the evening. If this weather persists in August, it could cause the flowers and cherelles to fall," said Salame Kone, who farms near the western region of Soubre, where 2.8 mm fell last year, 11.9 mm below the five-year average. Farmers in the southern regions of Agboville and Divo, and the eastern region of Abengourou, where rainfall was well below average, said more moisture and sunshine in the coming weeks will be critical to support crop development. Farmers in the centre-western region of Daloa, and the central regions of Bongouanou and Yamoussoukro, said below-average rainfall and persistent overcast skies were hampering main crop development. They added that more sunshine is needed by mid-August to properly dry beans due for harvest, warning that a continued lack of sun could lead to poor quality. "More sunshine is needed to help the cocoa," said Francois N'Guessan, who farms near Daloa, where 0.9 mm fell last week, 18.5 mm below the average. The weekly average temperature ranged from 23.9 to 26.5 degrees Celsius.
Times of Oman
7 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
India: Uneven rainfall distribution may cause supply shock in crop prices
New Delhi: The uneven rainfall distribution across various states in the country implies a near-term supply-shock in prices of key crops, according to a report by ICICI Bank. The report highlighted that crop damage in certain regions, where rainfall has been deficient, could lead to upward pressure on prices. According to the report, several states have received excess rainfall. Rajasthan recorded 118 per cent above the Long Period Average (LPA), Madhya Pradesh received 57 per cent above LPA, Gujarat saw 48 per cent above LPA, and Haryana received 24 per cent above LPA. In contrast, Karnataka (8 per cent above LPA), West Bengal (4 per cent above LPA), and Chhattisgarh (3 per cent above LPA) have received normal rainfall. "The divergence in rainfall distribution implies a near-term supply-shock in prices of key crops that are produced in affected areas, due to crop damage," the report stated. On the other hand, key agricultural states such as Bihar (42 per cent below LPA), Telangana (22 per cent below LPA), Andhra Pradesh (15 per cent below LPA), Tamil Nadu (6 per cent below LPA), Maharashtra (3 per cent below LPA), Punjab (2 per cent below LPA), and Uttar Pradesh (2 per cent below LPA) have received lower-than-normal rainfall. Despite the uneven rainfall, the report mentioned that the kharif sowing has shown positive growth. Out of the normal sowing target of 109.7 million hectares, 70.8 million hectares have already been sown, compared to 68.0 million hectares in the same period last year. Last week alone, the sown area was 59.8 million hectares. India's cumulative rainfall, as of July 21, stands at 374 mm, which is 6 per cent above the long-term average. However, this is a decline from the 9 per cent surplus recorded last week, mainly due to reduced rainfall in the Central and Northeast regions of the country. The report suggested that while overall kharif sowing is progressing well, the divergence in rainfall could impact crop production in rain-deficient regions and may lead to supply-side price pressures in the near term.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Most Sask. crops in normal stages of development: crop report
Most Saskatchewan crops are in their normal stages of development and consistent with what has been reported in recent weeks, according to the province's crop report for July 8-14. Seventy-one per cent of fall cereals are at normal stages of development with 27 per cent estimated to be ahead of normal for this time of year. While 75 per cent of spring cereals are at normal stages of development, 17 per cent are ahead. Seventy-three per cent of oilseeds are at normal stages of development, while 12 per cent are ahead and 15 per cent are falling behind the normal stages of development, the province said in the report. Currently, 79 per cent of pulse crops are at normal stages of development, while 18 per cent are ahead of the normal stages of development. Sixty-five per cent of perennial forages and 72 per cent of annual forages are at the normal stages of development for this time of year, the province said. Crop conditions continue to vary across the province but overall are reporting to be in good to fair condition. Areas experiencing a lack of moisture are reporting that canola and mustard are finishing the flowing stage early, the report said. The heaviest rainfall reported was in the Ponteix area at 44 millimetres (mm), followed by the Shaunavon region (39mm), and the Semans and Lafleche areas, which both reported 37 mm. The southwest and some of the northwest is reporting moderate to severe crop damage due to a lack of moisture and minor to moderate damage is being reported in other areas also due to a lack of moisture. Other crop damage the past week was mainly due to gophers and grasshoppers, the province said. The province's full crop report can be read here.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
N.C. Cooperative Extension talks crop damages this summer
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Throughout the summer so far, we've seen a lot of rain and a lot of heat. The N.C. Cooperative Extension in Pitt County says this weather has been impacting farmers. 'So in the Eastern part of the state, especially Pitt County, we're seeing a lot of water damage. And following that, water damage has been high heat, and it causes crop damage, especially in tobacco,' Pitt County Agriculture Agent, specializing in field crops, Jonathan Smith said. 'You know, water, if it doesn't move out of the fields in 3 to 4 days, it'll flop over and then it'll cause an issue where the grower can't really find a profit on that because the crop is out of a damage in which we can't really repair.' Smith says the Cooperative Extension keeps a close eye on rainfall to see how it affects crop systems. 'So with rainfall news, we want to track that water, make sure it moves out, and rainfall, of course, after to fertilizers, and that's another input cost. The extension's job is to minimize the inputs and maximize yields,' said Smith. Although he says tobacco crops are struggling this year, they have high hopes for peanuts and corn. 'We have a 15 window and these later plant varieties to pollinate, and the rain has been beneficial to help with that. But moving forward, the next week is really going to be important with, you know, looking at how land plasmon applying and peanuts, how the rain affects that, and our other inputs across the county. So, looking for the next week is really pivotal to what we see,' Smith said. Click the video above for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Artificial intelligence to help growers assess hurricane crop damage
The Brief University of Florida scientists are developing new technology using artificial intelligence (AI) to make assessing crop damage after hurricanes faster and easier. Farmers will be able to get answers about their fields and crops by interacting with an AI assistant through a chat-based interface that will eventually work with smartphones and computers. TAMPA - University of Florida scientists are developing new technology using artificial intelligence (AI) to make assessing crop damage after hurricanes faster and easier. Imagine you're a farmer, and, unfortunately, a hurricane has just come through: How do you assess crop damage? Right now, it might be through surveys, field visits, and drones. But wouldn't it be easier, and faster, if you could just ask your phone or computer: What percentage of my field is damaged? That's the kind of technology scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are working on right now. "The system is like ChatGPT combined with some maps," Nikos Tziolas, a faculty member at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, said. Dig deeper Known as the Gaia Bot, farmers interact with an AI assistant through a chat-based interface by typing in questions about their crops and fields. "We just ask if my crops look healthy," Tziolas explained while showing FOX 13 an example. "And in real time, (the AI system) generates this map." OTHER NEWS: Higher rain chances for Bay Area on Thursday, more heavy rain possible for July 4th Farmers type in simple questions and also respond when asked for more information about their fields and crops. Then the conversational AI system analyzes satellite imagery, weather information, and soil maps developed in UF labs before responding. "The system automatically retrieves this data without any experience from the user," Tziolas added. By quickly generating maps and data for specific fields, this technology – which is funded by a USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant -- can help tell farmers which areas saw the most flooding and how their crops are looking before and after a storm. What's next UF/IFAS scientists expect this technology to be available to farmers at no cost later this hurricane season in the fall. Agricultural losses can be costly after hurricanes. UF estimates the state saw up to $640 million in agricultural damage during Milton. The Source FOX 13's Ariel Plasencia gathered the information for this story.
