India: Walnut exports from Jammu and Kashmir register quantum jump
Export of walnut from Jammu and Kashmir registered a quantum jump in the recent years, with a spurt in production.
The export from the state has touched 1.15 billion rupees in the year 2005-2006.
"Hundred and sixteen crore rupees have been collected as revenue from the export of the walnuts. Total revenue collected from it is 300 crore rupees. The export market of walnut is very good. We don't have that much production. Our production adjust to the demand with in three four months," said Akhtar Hussein, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Jammu and Kashmir Government.
According to traders, kashmiri walnut is superior in quality and thus in great demand in the export market. "As compared to foreign dry fruits Kashmiri dry fruit is more in demand. It is sweet, has more oil and is considered good for health," said Nisar Ahmed Beig, a trader.
The state had very sparse cultivation of walnuts in its wastelands until a few years ago. Long gestation period of walnut trees, sometimes as long as 50 years, was a dampener for farmers to take up its plantation.
But the state's horticulture department has introduced high-yielding varieties of plants with gestation period of four to six years. The Government has also initiated steps for propagation of walnut trees by budding grafting walnut plants and distributes material among farmers so as to reduce the gestation period of walnut trees from ten years (seedling origin) to 4-6 years.
It will also improve the quality of the nut and also promote the concept of uniformity in shape, size and texture. This has helped the farmers to take up plantation of walnut on a large scale, increasing production from 89,000 metric tonnes in 2004-05 to 109,000 metric tonnes in 2005-06.
The foreign exchange earned through export of dry fruits mainly walnuts has reached a level of Rs 115.95 crores in 2005-06. Around 30,000 people are associated with the walnut trade in the state.
The Himalayan state is also well known for its fruit and dry fruit range.
Fruits like apples, pears, cherries, plums, grapes, pomegranates, mulberry, peaches, apricots, walnuts and almonds require a cool climate, moderate rainfall and bright sunshine. (ANI)

Farmers scramble for dwindling numbers of bees to pollinate crops
OLIVIA MUNOZ
Associated Press
FRESNO, Calif. - As the cold slowly loosens its grip on California's Central Valley, the pink and white flowers on fruit and nut trees are just beginning to blossom and growers are scrambling for a dwindling supply of bees to pollinate their fields.
Harsh weather across the country, pesticides and mites are blamed for killing off billions of bees needed to pollinate just about every crop throughout the year - oranges in Florida, apples in Washington, blueberries in Maine and California's $1.4-billion-plus almond crop, according to some preliminary research by scientists with Pennsylvania State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"It's startling. We were just starting to get information through word-of-mouth from beekeepers in the east a couple months ago and we thought about what it was going to mean once it got time for them to travel to California," said Dennis vanEngelsdorp, a bee expert with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
The number of commercial honey bee colonies is less than half of what it was 25 years ago, said Maryann Frazier, a bee expert at Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. A colony is defined as a queen bee and thousands of her workers.
Scientists were in California this week gathering bee samples to study what's killing them off.
"We came to California because at this time of year there are bees from about 15 states represented here," vanEngelsdorp said.
At stake are crops, especially huge industries like California's almonds, which account for 80 percent of the world's almonds, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture.
Soon, half of the commercial bees available nationwide will get busy in California, transporting pollen from flower to flower on their legs. The blooming season that paints large squares of the valley in warm pastels lasts through mid-March.
"I wish we had more answers than questions right now," said Jeff Pettis, a researcher at a USDA honey bee lab in Maryland who was in California this week. "This couldn't be happening at a worse time."
California farmers began to worry after a cold snap swept over the West earlier this year followed by plummeting temperatures in the Midwest because it takes more energy for bees to stay alive in the cold, said Steve Park, a second generation beekeeper in Northern California.
The frigid temperatures were compounded by droughts, which meant less food for bees, vanEngelsdorp said.
"One thing, like weather, will not kill them," he said. "But if there's already one thing making them weak, than the added stress of a mite or a chemical makes life harder for them."
The already feeble bees may not be strong enough to handle a cross-country trek, though beekeepers have made the annual migration to California for at least 60 years, vanEngelsdorp said.
Meanwhile, farmers stand by, hoping enough bees are available during the late winter window when pollination is possible.
"It's kind of wait-and-see right now," said farmer George Miller.

Russia temporary abolishes the import tariff rates for cashew, almond, hazel-nut and sesame
According to information provided by USDA, the Government of the Russian Federation made a decision to tentatively abolish the tariff rates for the import of such nuts as cashew, almond, hazel-nut in the shell and sesame. The import tariff rate for these types of nuts was 5% earlier.The governmental decision is motivated by the growing world prices for the mentioned types of nuts; this fact affects the rates of the confectionary industry development in Russia. As a result of the world price growth for the mentioned types of nuts, during the first 9 months of 2006 the import of the product to Russia has decreased 18% comparing to the same period of time in 2005 (down to 16,700 tons).
The cost of the imported nuts has grown nearly threefold during the same period of time. It is worth mentioning that almost all shipments of almond (98%) are supplied to Russia from the USA.
To the opinion of the specialists of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal, the decision of the Russian Federation will hardly solve all problems of the consumers of nuts; however, the volumes of nut shipments are likely to be somewhat increased. This fact will contribute to the trend of the persistent price growth for nuts in the world.

Vietnam cashew chairman nuts over position
amid oppositionIn February last year VINACAS held a congress and elected Doctor Pham Van Bien to be its chairman amid controversy. Bien at the time was not eligible for the post as he was not an official member of the association.
He was then director of the Agricultural Science Institute of Southern Vietnam which was only an honorary VINACAS member. The VINACAS charter not only requires its chairman to be an official member but also requires he/she to be leader of a company or an organization.



^^^Mr. Pham Van Bien, the head of the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) is vehemently defending his position, as members of the influential organization claim he is both incompetent and ineligible for the key post.
Thus, 20 days before he retired last December as director of the agriculture organization, meaning his membership and the prerequisite to be chairman was automatically gone, he had applied to VINACAS for an official membership. This would in effect legalize his position as VINACAS chairman.
Just some 10 days ago, his deputy Pham Van Cong ratified his membership request and issued a resolution, ruling he could continue as chairman. Many opposed, saying they need a congress to decide on that matter and not a resolution from a deputy. Others said he was incompetent and did not win members’ trust, causing them to “boycott” VINACAS by halting payment of membership fees.
He had never visited the members in person, they said further. Late last year when his chairmanship was in jeopardy, he asked the trade ministry to stop considering awarding titles of “prestigious exporters” to 12 cashew firms for failing to pay membership fees.
Self-defense
He told Thanh Nien angrily on Wednesday that he had been member of the VINACAS management board for 12 consecutive years. “That means I have already been an official member…when I retired, I applied for official membership as an individual and was granted it. So, I have met the requirements to continue as chairman. It is only a switch from official membership as a representative of an agriculture institute to official membership as an individual,” Bien said.
Last year VINACAS collected over VND300 million (US$18,750) in membership fees, less than half compared to the year before, when he was not chairman. Vietnam, which exported over 130,000 tons of cashew nuts worth US$520 million last year, is one of the largest cashew exporters worldwide.
VINACAS holds certain sway over the cashew market. It is instrumental in setting floor and ceiling prices, advising the government on cashew polices, and engages in international negotiation.

Iran remains world's leading pistachio producer in 2006

Following gas condensates and ironware, pistachio accounted for Iran's major non-oil exports in the past nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2006).
As a commercial output, pistachio product has a special importance in the agricultural production of some countries like Iran and contains large portion of their non-petroleum exportation. "Iran's share of pistachio export quantity of its non-oil exports in the recent years has hit something around 66 percent," ILNA news agency on Wednesday, quoted an official with Iran's Trade Promotion Organization as saying. Pistachio figures prominently among other nuts due to its nutritious value. Because of its high food value and favorable taste, planting pistachio trees has become common in other parts of the world.
According to the latest statistics released by the World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) affiliated to the United Nations, the pistachio production in the world stood at 501,000 metric tons in 2005, Iran producing 38 percent of the world production ranked first during the year. The U.S. with a production of 28 percent, Syria with 12 percent, Turkey with 12 percent, China with seven percent, and Greece with two percent took other places after Iran.
Despite the fact that Iran ranks first in the world in terms of pistachio production, harvested area and exports, it does not enjoy such a high position in global marketing due to exporting challenges. Iranian pistachio is considered the best in the world in terms of its taste and flavor. Kerman Province is the main center of pistachio production in Iran.

Macadamia prices drop in wake of large world supply

Tuesday, 30/01/2007
A large amount of macadamia nuts on the world market is expected to hit prices for Australian growers this year.
Prices have almost halved since their peak two years ago, which high returns attracted a large amount of investor interest.
Andrew Heap from the Australian Macadamia Society says many investors in macadamia farms are suprised by the sharp drop.
But he says processors will be wary about offering higher prices.
"After unusually low prices last year, after our own grower prices had been set, that hurt some of our processors, there's no doubt about that," he said.
"They have every reason to be cautious about where the market, considering stock levels and so forth, should open.

Bentzy Klein January 30, 2007

WALNUT MARKET/CROP REPORT

CROP:

The California Walnut Marketing Board has announced the 2006 crop at 343,844 tons.

As expected, the 2006 walnut crop came in under the official estimate of 350,000 tons. However, what we don’t know is the final kernel yields. Most of the industry is reporting that yields are down about 2% from last year (40.7%), and if this is the case, it helps explain why the industry is short of inventory.

The Walnut Marketing Board announced the December shipments at 29,921 inshell equivalent tons, 2,800 tons more than last year. Inshell shipments were 5.8 million pounds, 0.4 million pounds more than last December. Shelled shipments were 23.3 million pounds, 3.3 million pounds more than last year. Total inshell equivalent year to date shipments were 196,450 tons; 19,186 tons less than last year.

Although the crop was exposed to record temperatures earlier in the year, it did not seem to affect the final quality of the crops. Early varieties (Serr’s, Payne's/Ashley's) appeared to have little damage as were the mid- varieties (Vina’s, Tulare’s, Howard’s). However, the Chandlers were darker than normal and the yields were off as well.

The WMB reported the December 31, 2006 inventory for Inshell* at 96.5 million pounds (39.1 million pounds more than last year) of which 9.0 million is certified. The Shelled* inventory is 127.1 million pounds (30.7 million pounds less than last year) of which 28.7 million is certified.

*Note: It appears that some handlers were confused on what material to report as inshell and what material to report as shelled. The WMB has sent a follow up notice advising the handler how to assign their tonnage to the correct category. In any event, the total inventory tonnage will not change and the majority of the inshell inventory noted above will be diverted to shelled.

The WMB is using a 42.9 percent yield factor (five year average) for the 2006 crop. However, most in the industry believe, the yields are closer to 40.0 percent. After taking the future inshell shipments into account and using a 40.0 percent yield factor, my numbers show that we will be completely out of walnuts shortly and a carry-over of less than 68,000 tons.





MARKET:

The Inshell market remains very firm with the latest trading taking place at $1.07 and higher. Also, it appears that all Inshell, including larges and mediums are basically sold out. Main reason……..the Hartley 2006 crop was only 59,521 tons, down 15 percent from last year (69,000 tons).

The Shelled market has also firmed with recent trading of LHP at $2.85 and higher and CHP trading in the $2.65 range. Again, most handlers have withdrawn from the market on Combo and Baker material and are offering only a limited amount of Light material.

One of the industries main concerns is that some walnut users may come up short and there will not be enough walnut material, (especially smaller product) to cover their requirements.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments……

Will 2007 be a good year for Vietnam’s cashew nuts?
13:07' 04/01/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Cashew nut processors and exporters believe that 2007 will be a good year for the industry after 5-6 years full of hardships.2005-2006: suffering losses, Vinacas Chairman resigned

In 2005, the US and EU members joined forces with each other in forcing the cashew nut prices down to $4-4.3/kg of peeled nuts. Meanwhile, Vietnamese exporters, encouraged by the 2004 successful export year, signed contracts with farmers to buy material cashew nuts at high levels of VND16-18,000/kg. As a result, cashew nut exporters incurred the severe loss of VND1tril ($62.5mil).The situation was so pessimistic that Chairman of the Vietnam Cashew Exporters and Processors (Vinacas) Ho Ngoc Cam, had to resign. Mr Cam said that Vinacas once warned its members that cashew nut prices may drop in 2005, but the warning was ignored by the exporters who were so happy with the successful crop.A paradox exists that when Vietnamese cashew producers and exporters are miserable with heavy losses, Vietnam-made cashew nut is favourite by millions consumers in the world. Vietnam’s cashew nut is very delicious with high content of oil, and Vietnam’s cashew nut exports rank the second in the world, just after India.The situation became even worse, when Vietnamese cashew nut exporters, who were in critical situation as partners tried to force the prices down, could not extend the time to pay bank debts. Cashew nut exporters had no other choice than bartering the products away to get money to pay the banks. All the cashew nut exporters incurred heavy losses in 2005. The situation has been improved a little in 2006, but remains gloomy.2007, time to regain cashew industry’s strengthEncouraged by high economic value, cashews has been developing very strongly in Vietnam. In 1995, Vietnam had 190,300 ha of cashews, and the figure rose to 433,000 ha after 10 years, which can provide 350,000 tonnes of cashew nuts. There are some 200 cashew nut processing workshops, which have the total capacity of 600,000 tonnes a year. Vietnam can export 115 tonnes of cashew nut a year, which can bring $500mil worth of products.Vinacas has learned that the cashew processing industry has the development period of 5-6 years, i.e, after 5-6 years of failure, there will be a new period of development. 2007 will be the time for the cashew processing industry to regain strength.Vinacas has called on cashew enterprises to give up the old way of doing business, and to compete with Indian exports.Vinacas plans to export $700mil worth of products in 2007, which, according to Phan Van Bien, Chairman of Vinacas, within reach if local banks agreed to give support.Several days ago, Vinacas has sent documents to local banks, asking for cooperation in support in raising cashew nut exports.Nguyen Thi Tam, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Technological and Commercial Bank, known as Techcombank, and Director of Techcombank’s HCM City Branch, said that Techcombank loaned $350bil to cashew enterprises in the last year, and will lend another sum of VND600bil in this year. She said that if everything goes smoothly, the bank can provide the loans of up to VND1tril ($62.5mil). Techcombank has also cooperated with transport and forwarding companies in an effort to support cashew enterprises.Pham Van Cong, Deputy Chairman of Vinacas, said that the association would not set the fixed prices of purchasing materials for cashew enterprises. Vinacas will let enterprises to decide the prices themselves. Vinacas will only give the information about international and domestic prices to enterprises for reference only. The information will also be given to commercial banks, so that they can decide whether to make loans to enterprises.Ha Yen

Warmth a worry for fruit growers +
By Joan KernLancaster New Era
Published: Jan 06, 2007 11:27 AM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - It may feel like spring, but we aren’t about to send our winter coats back to storage.
Fruit trees, on the other hand, don’t have coats to put on and take off.Pictures of flowering cherry trees — due to that oxymoron in these parts: a warm winter — have been in the media lately.But orchard owners in Lancaster County seem to be staying calm so far.“We’re concerned,” said Ken Kauffman, owner of Kauffman Fruit Trees in Bird-in-Hand, “but there’s not a blessed thing we can do about it.”Richard Haas, former owner of Cherry Hill Orchards in Pequea, said he hasn’t “seen any evidence of buds pushing.”Nor has he had time to talk to other fruit growers about weather concerns.“I just haven’t given it a whole lot of consideration,” he said. “I have other irons in the fire.”At Barr’s fruit and vegetable stand at Lancaster’s Central Market, employee Frank Pennell said he is definitely concerned.“It’s a worry,” he said. “Peaches and apples are a big percent of our yearly income.”Everyone said the worst case scenario is a sudden drop in temperature, resulting in crop failure.Wild temperature swings hurt orchards because trees may not have hardened enough to weather the colder conditions.“If the temperature drops gradually, we’ll be fine,” Ruth Thomas said at her market stand this morning.Thomas said she has about nine apple trees and three pear trees on her farm in Lititz but hasn’t checked on them lately, although she has noticed that her rose bushes are pushing buds “just a little.”“I don’t think it’s a danger yet,” she said. “We had a couple of nights of heavy frost this week.”But what if temperatures never drop significantly? What if the El Nino weather continues right into spring?“Oh, that’s not going to happen,” Thomas said. “It will change tonight.”And everyone else who commented echoed her. They all believe winter will come, sooner or later.Haas, whose son owns Cherry Hill Orchard — 150 acres of fruit trees with about 40 of peaches, 40 of apples and the rest in cherries, apricots and plums — said a late spring would be to his advantage.He explained that the varieties of fruit trees grown in the area need about certain period of cold weather to set bud.“Our trees don’t normally bloom until the 15th of April,” he said. “We have a lot of time to get our (cold) days in.”Haas plans to attend the Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Show in Hershey at the end of the month.“I’m sure (the warm weather) will be a topic there,” he said.Kauffman works in his 90-acre orchard, primarily of apple and peach trees, all year long, weather permitting.Right now, he’s pruning.“It’s very nice,” he said of the warm weather, “too nice. It gets old. I don’t talk about it a lot.”The head of the family business, founded in 1915, said he has definitely seen a change in the color of bark, which means sap is starting to flow,.“It reminds me of March,” he said.

Iran: exports of dried fruits and nuts hit $770mln in eight months

Iran’s exports of dried fruits and nuts during the first eight months of the current year hit $770,391,000 mark which is indicative of 44.1 percent increase compared with the same period last year. The nation exported 289,201 tons of dried fruits and nuts in the current year, posting 25.4 percent growth as compared with the corresponding period in preceding year, the Persian service of official IRNA news agency on Sunday, quoted a statement issued by Iran’s Customs Administration as saying.
During the period, the share of the products in the country’s non-oil exports in terms of weight and value were 1.4 percent and 7.9 percent respectively. The report also announced that exports of dried fruits in the eight-month period hit $23,894,000. During the period, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Germany, Russia and Italy were the main importers of Iran’s dried fruits and nuts.
Source: mehrnews.ir

India: pistachio prices up on short supplies
Barring a rise in Pistachio irani and hairati, prices generally ruled steady on the the wholesale dry fruits market today in the absence of any worthwhile activity and closed around previous levels. Arrivals and offtake also remained negligible and volume of business was small.
Traders said restricted arrivals mainly pushed up pistachio prices. Pistachio irani and Hairati prices were up by Rs 10 each to trade at Rs 510-535 and 510-540 per kilo respectively.

U.S. peanut production down by almost a third

Dec 28, 2006 4:30 PM
By Paul L. Hollis
Farm Press Editorial Staff


U.S. peanut producers, responding this year to warnings of an over-supply, dropped production by almost a third, down to 3.37 billion pounds harvested from 1.21 million acres. This is down 31 percent from the 2005 crop.



The national average yield is forecast at 2,780 pounds per acre, down 209 pounds from last year’s peanut crop. Much of the yield drop is being blamed on drought conditions experienced throughout the U.S. Peanut Belt this year.

Production in the Southeast states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina, is expected to total 2.36 billion pounds, down 30 percent from last year’s level. Expected acreage for harvest, at 924,000, is down 23 percent from 2005. Yields in the region are expected to average 2,550 pounds per acre or 258 pounds below 2005.

In Virginia-North Carolina, peanut production is forecast at 339 million pounds, down 4 percent from 2005. Expected acreage for harvest, at 101,000, is down 14 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 3,352 pounds per acre, up 352 pounds from 2005.

U.S. corn production is forecast at 10.7 billion bushels in 2006. This is 3 percent lower than in 2005. Yields are expected to average 151.2 bushels per acre. This is 3.3 bushels higher than last year. If realized, the yield would be the second largest on record, behind 2004.

Yield forecasts are lower than earlier estimates across much of the western and central Corn Belt and Atlantic Coast states as producers reported that actual harvest yields were not as good as expected earlier due to lower grain weight per ear. Stalk quality and lodging problems also were reported in some areas.

Producers in the northern Great Plains, Delta states, and parts of the Southeast reported better than expected yields. Compared with last year, yields are higher in all Corn Belt states except Iowa and Minnesota.

Soybean production in the United States is forecast at 3.20 billion bushels this year. This is about 5 percent above 2005. If realized, this would be the largest U.S. soybean crop on record. Yields are expected to average 43 bushels per acre, equal to last year’s record-high yield.

Producers in the northern Great Lakes States, Delaware, New York, North Carolina and the Dakotas are realizing higher yields than earlier expectations, while yield prospects decreased slightly as harvest progressed in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Pennsylvania. U.S. area for harvest is forecast at 74.5 million acres, up 5 percent from 2005.

Upland cotton harvested area, at 12.5 million acres, is down 8 percent from last year. American-Pima harvested acres are up 21 percent from last year.

Mac nut association's future in doubt

The Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association, which for years has represented growers and processors of mac nuts, is running low on cash and scaling back operations.
The board met Thursday to discuss the critical shortage of funding and decided to operate on a volunteer basis.
"Funding will be minimal, from those who still believe there is value in the organization," said MacFarms CEO David Rietow, the chairman of the association board. "The big loss is in the area of research and in the promotion of the Hawaiian nut as the world's finest."
Macadamia growers and manufacturers of mac nuts products do not always have the same economic interests. Growers benefit from higher prices. Processors don't. Growers want to aggressively market the Big Island mac nut brand. Processors don't, because most of them import a lot of the mac nuts they use from other places. (Rietow said, however, that foreign kernel is mixed only in products shipped to the Mainland.)
"The [association] has been struggling to find its identity for a long time," said one board member on condition his name not be used. "The funding of the organization was 99 percent from the generous donations of four or five of the larger processors and the rest from a token donation of $25 per year from the growers."
Association membership peaked years ago around 200 members. Four times as many farmers grow mac nuts. However, fewer than two dozen growers have 20 acres or more and it is these that have generally supported the association.
The board member and other sources said foreign competition sent prices lower while expenses kept climbing and growers became apathetic about supporting the association, and more recently one of the major processors decided to drop its support as well. The result has been insufficient cash to continue operating as usual.
"Hawaii macadamia growers need to take ownership of this organization or start a new one and fund it through assessments on their crops, to fund a full-time director who can assist in acquiring grants, funding important research projects and marketing 100 percent Hawaiian macadamia nuts," said Richard Schnitzler, president of Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co. and a former association board member. "Processors and manufacturers should not be allowed in the organization."
Schnitzler said this does not mean that the relationship between the processors and the growers should be adversarial.
"On the contrary," he said, "it would be important for both to share information and work together, but processors should not be left to manage or mismanage the Hawaii macadamia nut growers' future."
Members of the association include, among many others, Mac Farms Hawaii, Hawaiian Host Inc., Island Princess, ML Macadamia Orchards and Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Co.

Universal to sell nonleaf units Universal to sell nonleaf units

Saturday, December 16, 2006
Richmond-based Universal Corp. said yesterday that it plans to sell its remaining nontobacco agricultural-products businesses in six to 12 months.

Universal, the world's largest tobacco leaf merchant, said selling the units will allow it to focus more management and financial resources on its core tobacco business. The company buys tobacco from farmers in the United States and other countries, processes the leaf and sells it to cigarette makers.
Universal plans to sell Red River Foods Inc. a Richmond-based trading subsidiary that imports nuts and dried fruits; Nestmink Ltd., a London-based company that sells nuts, dates and apricots; and Madera Quality Nut Inc., a California nut-processing company.
The companies employ fewer than 150 people worldwide.
In the fiscal year that ended March 31, the businesses reported combined revenue of about $325 million and a combined operating loss of about $6 million, Universal said. The company's tobacco revenue was $1.8 billion, with operating profit of about $156 million.
The company said it will use proceeds from the sales to strengthen its balance sheet. The businesses will be reported as discontinued operations for the third quarter that ends Dec. 31.
In September, Universal sold the non- tobacco businesses of a Dutch subsidiary, Deli Universal Inc., to a new company owned by Deli managers and a Netherlands-based investment group. That business included lumber and building-products distribution, and rubber, tea and sunflower seed trading. -- John Reid Blackwell
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Richmond-based Universal Corp. said yesterday that it plans to sell its remaining nontobacco agricultural-products businesses in six to 12 months.

Universal, the world's largest tobacco leaf merchant, said selling the units will allow it to focus more management and financial resources on its core tobacco business. The company buys tobacco from farmers in the United States and other countries, processes the leaf and sells it to cigarette makers.
Universal plans to sell Red River Foods Inc. a Richmond-based trading subsidiary that imports nuts and dried fruits; Nestmink Ltd., a London-based company that sells nuts, dates and apricots; and Madera Quality Nut Inc., a California nut-processing company.
The companies employ fewer than 150 people worldwide.
In the fiscal year that ended March 31, the businesses reported combined revenue of about $325 million and a combined operating loss of about $6 million, Universal said. The company's tobacco revenue was $1.8 billion, with operating profit of about $156 million.
The company said it will use proceeds from the sales to strengthen its balance sheet. The businesses will be reported as discontinued operations for the third quarter that ends Dec. 31.
In September, Universal sold the non- tobacco businesses of a Dutch subsidiary, Deli Universal Inc., to a new company owned by Deli managers and a Netherlands-based investment group. That business included lumber and building-products distribution, and rubber, tea and sunflower seed trading. -- John Reid Blackwell

December 15, 2006

WALNUT MARKET/CROP REPORT

CROP:
The Walnut Marketing Board announced the November shipments at 47,004 inshell equivalent tons, 5,054 tons less than last year. Inshell shipments were 16.7 million pounds, 0.4 million pounds less that last October. Shelled shipments were 33.2 million pounds, 2.3 million pounds less than last year. Total inshell equivalent year to date shipments were 166,551 tons; 21,964 tons less than last year.

Please be aware that last year’s shipment numbers have been adjusted to reflect the lower shellout rates (40.7%) than the original 44.5% forecasted shellout rate. As an example, last years November shipments originally indicated we shipped 47,916 tons (inshell equivalent) about the same as this November, however, because of the lower yields; the November 2005 shipments were later adjusted to 52,058 tons.

This year (2006/07) the Walnut Marketing Board is forecasting a 42.9 shellout rate, the average for the last five years. This is 2.2% more than last years final 40.7% yield, however, most of the industry is reporting lower yields from the 2006 crop than last year. If this becomes the case, the shellout rates will once again be adjusted downward.

The final crop tonnage will be out in late January and the majority of the growers/packers believe it will be under the 350,000 ton estimate. This makes the shellout rate situation even more critical as it will also have an impact on the final crop tonnage.

The overall quality of the crop was above average. The expected heavy sunburn damage never happened and the crop yielded above average “lighter“kernel’s and lower than average “darker” kernels. This has been reflected in the market as most packers have withdrawn on both Combo and Baker type material. In addition, it appears that medium and small piece material will also be in short supply.

MARKET:
The Inshell market remains firm with Jumbo trading on both sides of $1.06. I do not see much change in the forward market. The Shelled market is also firm with Chandler LHP trading around the $2.70 levels and medium and smaller pieces five to ten cents higher.

Most packers have withdrawn from the market on Combo and Baker material and the few that still have inventories are asking $2.50 for Combo Halves and Pieces and $2.30 for Baker type products.

I still believe the crop will come up short of the forecast and firmly believe the market will continue to strengthen as we go forward.

Pecan production drops 33 percent in 2006

TULSA, Okla. The government is predicting a 33 percent drop in pecan production in Oklahoma this year, but some experts believe the crop could be even smaller.Oklahoma ranks fifth nationally in pecan production and recorded a record crop of 63 million pounds in 1999. Pecan growers harvested about 20 million pounds last year.
But the U-S Department of Agriculture says Oklahoma will produce 14 million pounds of pecans this year. The harvest could be as low as only 8 million to 10 million pounds.
Drought, bugs, animals and high fuel prices plagued producers, which means higher prices for shoppers.
The U-S-D-A says pecan production nationally will be 190 million pounds, down 5 percent from October's outlook and 32 percent below last year.

MACADAMIA FACTS
• The macadamia was discovered in Australia in 1858 and introduced to Hawaii in 1881.
• It is grown on a large scale only in Hawaii and Australia but also is produced in South Africa and Central America.
• There are approximately 40 described varieties, most of them in Australia.
• The trees grow in warm, subtropical conditions. Mature trees can withstand temperatures as low as 25-26 degrees Fahrenheit.
• They often are sold as salted nuts packed in glass jars. Their largest use is in confections.
• Hawaii produced 30,000 tons of macadamia nuts, with a farm value of $44.4 million, in 2005-06.
• In 2005-06, U.S. imports totaled 8.9 million tons; exports amounted to 784 tons.
• The edible kernel is enclosed in a thick, hard shell that is encased in a husk.
• The kernel is 72 percent to 78 percent oil.
SOURCES: University of Florida, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Pecan crop is smaller than expected, but quality is high
ELLIOTT MINOR
Associated Press
ALBANY, Ga. - This is the season when consumers go nuts for pecans, a popular ingredient in fruit cakes, pies and candies with sweet Southern names like divinity and pralines.
The nuts are grown across the southern tier from South Carolina to California, but thanks in part to a failed land-speculation scheme in the early 1900s, Georgia remains the largest producer, with the heaviest concentration of trees in three southwestern counties, Dougherty, Mitchell and Lee.
Southerners grow up with pecans. To increase their popularity elsewhere, the industry launched a campaign in the late 1990s that included health studies which found that pecans, like other tree nuts, were heart healthy, high in antioxidants and packed with nutrients. They contain lots of fat, but it's unsaturated fat - the kind that's considered "good fat."
"We hope folks in the rest of the country know about pecans," said Larry Willson, vice president of Sunnyland Farms in Albany, a mail-order company specializing in gift packs containing all types of nuts, including pecans.
"The quality this year is very good, which often happens in short years," said Willson, who is also the farm manager for Willson Farming Co., which grows 1,300 acres of pecans. "The trees don't have as many nuts on them to fill out."
Growers report record prices and excellent quality this year, but there's a hitch - they have substantially fewer nuts to sell. For this reason, they aren't expecting 2006 to go down as a banner year.
"It was probably one of the shortest, if not the shortest on record," said Joey Collins, who grows 1,100 acres of the nuts in the Thomasville area and operates a plant that removes rocks and twigs that are picked up when the nuts are harvested.
"The quality has been really good, but the quantity has been really bad," he said. "Even with the big prices, it won't offset the lack of quantity. There's still going to be some pretty big losses taken out there."
Pecans grow on alternate-bearing trees that produce big crops one year and smaller crops the next. They were expected to produce a smaller crop this year, but a drought last year stressed the trees, reducing the yield even more.
In early estimates, Georgia was expected to produce about 45 million pounds, but Lenny Wells, a pecan specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service, believes it'll be more like 40 million, 19 million less than the state's five-year average.
Prices normally peak at the start of the harvest season in October as buyers rush to supply the demand for pecans to fill holiday gift packs, but by now they've fallen considerably, said Wells.
Schley, a common variety, has dropped from $2.30 per pound early in the season to about $1.55, and Desirable, another popular variety, has dropped from more-than $2 per pound to about $1.72, Wells said.
"The quality is excellent this year," he said. "We had some dry weather throughout most of the year. The disease pressure was extremely low. That and the dry weather causes the nut size to be a little smaller than normal, making them easier to fill."
Georgia is not the only state plagued by a smaller-than-anticipated crop.
"There are production problems everywhere," Wells said, noting that the Texas crop was hurt by an extended drought and the New Mexico crop got hammered by hail.
U.S. growers had a large crop totaling 259.6 million pounds last year, but they're expected to harvest only 201.4 million pounds this year, 21.5 percent less than the 10-year average of 256.6 million pounds.
Speculators planted millions of trees in the Albany area in the early 1900s, hoping to sell the land in small lots to newcomers. The scheme failed, others acquired the land and turned pecans into a major crop.
As a result, Georgia continued as the leading producer last year, followed by Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma.

Louisiana pecan growers getting pleasant surpriseNov 27, 2006 9:23 AM
This year’s plentiful Louisiana pecan crop is a pleasant surprise following last year’s hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It is unusual to have a good pecan crop following a hurricane, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist John Pyzner.

Many pecan orchards had a lot of broken limbs, fallen trees and lost much of their foliage because of the hurricanes.
“It usually takes at least two years for pecan trees to recover,” Pyzner said, adding, “Little production is expected the year following a hurricane.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s October forecast projected Louisiana as producing 19 million pounds of pecans — 36 percent above Louisiana’s average production of 14 million pounds.
Miles Brashier, LSU AgCenter county agent in Pointe Coupee Parish, which is Louisiana’s top pecan producing parish, said, “Pointe Coupee has a good pecan crop and should produce 5 million to 5.5 million pounds.”
Ben Littlepage, a pecan grower from Colfax, La., remarked, “I probably have the best pecan crop that I have had in three years.”
Pyzner said the reason for the unexpected pecan crop is not well understood. Two possible reasons are that the hurricanes struck late in the pecan production cycle, and Louisiana had below average pecan crops the previous two years.
Louisiana growers should also benefit from the below average national crop, which is projected at 201.4 million pounds — 22 percent below the national 10-year average of 256.6 million pounds.
The light national crop should help Louisiana growers obtain good prices on their pecans. The two major pecan producing states of Georgia and Texas are both expecting to be at least 30 million pounds below last year’s crop. Some of their buyers are likely to look to Louisiana to obtain some of their pecan supply.

At its annual meeting in Modesto, the Blue Diamond Growers cooperative said sales of its branded almond products rose 36 percent in the most recent marketing year. Almond production is expected to increase sharply, but the co-op president said that represents an opportunity to introduce more consumers to almonds.

I wonder why they dont write about their non branded sales how much down it is!!!

GUINEA-BISSAU: Cashew crops rot as prices plummet

DAKAR, 15 November (IRIN) - Piles of cashew nuts painstakingly picked by Guinea-Bissauan farmers to sell for cash are going unsold, and the poorest are being hardest hit as the bottom falls out of the market for the product, aid agencies warn.
Guinea-Bissau, a poor West African country where most people are farmers and some 85 percent of the population rely on growing cashew nuts for at least part of their income, has been roiled by decades of conflict and political instability since winning independence from Portugal in 1974.
Surveying by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in 2005 deemed over 30 percent of the country's 1.4 million people "very vulnerable" to food shortages.
Tons of cashew nuts from Guinea-Bissau are usually bought for cash from poor farmers every year by traders who ship the nuts to India for processing before reselling them on the world market for a healthy profit.
But as global consumption of cashews has declined, especially in the United States where food market analysts say health scares and nut allergies have cut demand, the market has slumped.
Guinea-Bissau's government has set a price that traders fume is artificially high at 350 CFA (US $.70) per kg of nuts.
Non-official prices in Guinea-Bissau and in the countryside see traders shelling out closer to 100 (US $.20) or even 50 CFA (US $.10) per kg, agricultural development officials told IRIN.
In real terms, that means whereas one kg of nuts used to buy a straight swap of one kg of rice, now it takes four kg of nuts to get the same rice. In Britain, a kg of organic cashew nuts sells for about US $30.
Jose Peter Ita-Gros, the WFP representative in Guinea-Bissau, warned there has been a "deterioration" in the nutritional situation in the country.
"We can confirm that there was a deterioration of the nutritional situation especially among children under five," he said.
The results of nutritional surveying by WFP and the UN children's agency (UNICEF) will be released in December, but WFP officials said they already know Guinea-Bissau exceeds the emergency thresholds for acute and chronic malnutrition.
Floods last year in Guinea-Bissau's rice-growing southern region ruined 85 percent of rice paddies. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has repeatedly warned that Guinea-Bissau is on the brink of an agricultural crisis.
At a roundtable meeting between Guinea-Bissau's government and its traditional donors, the European Union, Spain, Portugal, and Japan, in Geneva earlier this month, Guinea-Bissau requested US $460 million to move ahead with poverty reduction and security sector reforms.
Prime Minister Aristides Gomes said in an interview with a Portuguese newspaper published on Wednesday that donors had stumped up $266 million.

This has been a year of record almond sales of nearly $700 million and record payments to almond growers, members of the Blue Diamond Growers farmers cooperative were told this week at their annual meeting in Modesto.
"Since 2001, returns have increased on a per pound basis above the prior year by 26 percent, 35 percent, 43 percent and 27 percent respectively,” says President and CEO Doug Youngdahl. "Your 2005 crop payments were the highest ever paid in our cooperative's history."
Mr. Youngdahl specifically attributed the last five years of record grower returns to leaner, more efficient operations and strong customer relationships.
"Our partnerships with growers, employees, customers and others combine good planning and execution with powerful relationships that enhance and strengthen an already strong balance sheet," he says.
Blue Diamond's branded almond product sales increased by 36 percent in 2005-06, after doubling over the last three years.
While almond bearing acreage is expected to increase by 25,000 acres to 605,000 acres in 2007 and an additional 50,000 acres per year to 2010, Mr. Youngdahl says the challenge will be to "effectively market the increased supply while not under-valuing California almonds." He calls the estimated increase to 1.5 billion pounds a "golden opportunity to introduce millions of new consumers worldwide to California almonds."
Due to larger future crops and a significant increase in bearing and non- bearing acres committed to Blue Diamond over the last year, the cooperative is building a new 70,000 square feet cold storage distribution center at its plant in Salida. A new processing line designed to produce almonds at high speed and volume will also automatically segregate out foreign material and optimize new capacity opportunities in Salida.
An "erratic 2005" marketing year that reached historically high prices above $4.00 per pound in September 2005, deflated prices to $2.00 per pound later in the year and then moved up by $1.00 per pound during the balance of the crop year, is now settling in to a less volatile marketplace for the 2006 crop, according to Mr. Youngdahl.
"Adequate 2006 crop supplies should keep market prices steady and shipments strong," he says, adding that fall shipments were at near record levels, strengthening market confidence.
"The industry needs a good 2007 bloom next February and a substantial crop to sustain the 25-year California almond consumption trend that has been increasing at an average rate of 5.4 percent compounded annually," he says.

Peanut farmers improvise as crop decline continues
By LINDA MCNATT, The Virginian-Pilot
© November 11, 2006
Last updated: 9:17 PM


ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY - When the 2002 Farm Bill eliminated a decades-old peanut growing system, the price farmers got for Virginia's gourmet goobers plummeted to $355 a ton from $610 a ton.

There's been nothing gradual about the collapse. Peanuts went from being planted on 75,000 acres in the state before the Farm Bill to about 16,000 acres this year.

Most local farmers decided they just couldn't make money on Virginia peanuts, but there are still devotees who hope peanuts will make a return. They are also holding out hope for a runner-type peanut.

Because of development across the state, Virginia probably no longer has the land to ever again support 75,000 acres.

"But I still feel we can move back up," said Del Cotton, director of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association. "Farmers like to grow what they know. Peanuts are ingrained in their system."

In Isle of Wight County this year, the Byrum family planted 50 acres, a tradition that 73-year-old Roland Byrum has insisted on since his son Cecil sold most of their peanut harvesting equipment.

"Use to be, peanuts was my livelihood," the elder Byrum said. "My daddy grew them. My granddaddy grew them. Time was, we had over 200 acres on this farm."

This year, he pulled runner peanuts from the soil, smaller than their Virginia cousins and used in candy.

"The ones we're growing this year look like soybeans," he sai d. "Won't be anymore on this farm."

The runners take about three weeks longer to mature, so the nuts must stay in the ground longer. That made the harvest later than ever this year. An overabundance of rain in the p ast several weeks added to the problems. Some peanut fields were still so wet at the beginning of November that there was little hope they would ever be dug up.

Bubba Crocker and his brother Peter Frank have held on to the peanut tradition.

"We planted 175 acres this year, and it should have taken us about 10 days to harvest," he said. "It's taken us four weeks. We have grown as high as 525 acres, but we'll never see that again."

John Brock Jr. still grows peanuts in Surry County. He has a small shop in Bacon's Castle and a Virginia peanut distributorship. Brock hasn't grown runners, and he doesn't intend to do so.

"We're having to buy peanuts for the shop right now and will probably have to the rest of the year," he said. "I can remember when I planted 250 acres. We have 17 acres this year.

"Runners? Those things would grow on concrete. The Virginia peanut is still superior."

Dee Dee Darden, an Isle of Wight farmer who is actively promoting peanuts with the National Peanut Council, grew 170 acres this year. She and her husband, Tommy, grew about half Virginia-type and half runners. The runners did well.

"We're still growing peanuts because we can make more money on an acre of peanuts than we can make on anything else," she said.

"The way it looks right now, I may end up loving runners more than I ever thought I would."

Peanut
Crop
Production

National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C.


Released November 9, 2006, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.




Peanuts: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State
and United States, 2005 and Forecasted November 1, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Area Harvested : Yield : Production
:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
State: : : : 2006 : :
: 2005 : 2006 : 2005 :-------------------: 2005 : 2006
: : : : Oct 1 : Nov 1 : :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --- 1,000 Acres -- --------- Pounds -------- --- 1,000 Pounds ---
:
AL : 223.0 158.0 2,750 1,900 2,100 613,250 331,800
FL : 152.0 120.0 2,700 2,500 2,400 410,400 288,000
GA : 750.0 575.0 2,840 2,500 2,650 2,130,000 1,523,750
MS : 14.0 15.0 3,200 3,000 3,000 44,800 45,000
NM : 19.0 16.0 3,500 3,500 3,500 66,500 56,000
NC : 96.0 85.0 3,000 3,300 3,400 288,000 289,000
OK : 33.0 22.0 3,270 3,000 3,000 107,910 66,000
SC : 60.0 56.0 2,800 3,200 3,000 168,000 168,000
TX : 260.0 150.0 3,750 3,700 3,700 975,000 555,000
VA : 22.0 16.0 3,000 2,950 3,100 66,000 49,600
:
US : 1,629.0 1,213.0 2,989 2,693 2,780 4,869,860 3,372,150
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please call with any questions...

Thanks,

Peanut
Crop
Production

National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C.


Released November 9, 2006, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.




Peanuts: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State
and United States, 2005 and Forecasted November 1, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Area Harvested : Yield : Production
:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
State: : : : 2006 : :
: 2005 : 2006 : 2005 :-------------------: 2005 : 2006
: : : : Oct 1 : Nov 1 : :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --- 1,000 Acres -- --------- Pounds -------- --- 1,000 Pounds ---
:
AL : 223.0 158.0 2,750 1,900 2,100 613,250 331,800
FL : 152.0 120.0 2,700 2,500 2,400 410,400 288,000
GA : 750.0 575.0 2,840 2,500 2,650 2,130,000 1,523,750
MS : 14.0 15.0 3,200 3,000 3,000 44,800 45,000
NM : 19.0 16.0 3,500 3,500 3,500 66,500 56,000
NC : 96.0 85.0 3,000 3,300 3,400 288,000 289,000
OK : 33.0 22.0 3,270 3,000 3,000 107,910 66,000
SC : 60.0 56.0 2,800 3,200 3,000 168,000 168,000
TX : 260.0 150.0 3,750 3,700 3,700 975,000 555,000
VA : 22.0 16.0 3,000 2,950 3,100 66,000 49,600
:
US : 1,629.0 1,213.0 2,989 2,693 2,780 4,869,860 3,372,150
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please call with any questions...

Thanks,

Peanut
Crop
Production

National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C.


Released November 9, 2006, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.




Peanuts: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State
and United States, 2005 and Forecasted November 1, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Area Harvested : Yield : Production
:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
State: : : : 2006 : :
: 2005 : 2006 : 2005 :-------------------: 2005 : 2006
: : : : Oct 1 : Nov 1 : :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --- 1,000 Acres -- --------- Pounds -------- --- 1,000 Pounds ---
:
AL : 223.0 158.0 2,750 1,900 2,100 613,250 331,800
FL : 152.0 120.0 2,700 2,500 2,400 410,400 288,000
GA : 750.0 575.0 2,840 2,500 2,650 2,130,000 1,523,750
MS : 14.0 15.0 3,200 3,000 3,000 44,800 45,000
NM : 19.0 16.0 3,500 3,500 3,500 66,500 56,000
NC : 96.0 85.0 3,000 3,300 3,400 288,000 289,000
OK : 33.0 22.0 3,270 3,000 3,000 107,910 66,000
SC : 60.0 56.0 2,800 3,200 3,000 168,000 168,000
TX : 260.0 150.0 3,750 3,700 3,700 975,000 555,000
VA : 22.0 16.0 3,000 2,950 3,100 66,000 49,600
:
US : 1,629.0 1,213.0 2,989 2,693 2,780 4,869,860 3,372,150
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please call with any questions...

Thanks,

Peanut
Crop
Production

National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C.


Released November 9, 2006, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.




Peanuts: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State
and United States, 2005 and Forecasted November 1, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Area Harvested : Yield : Production
:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
State: : : : 2006 : :
: 2005 : 2006 : 2005 :-------------------: 2005 : 2006
: : : : Oct 1 : Nov 1 : :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --- 1,000 Acres -- --------- Pounds -------- --- 1,000 Pounds ---
:
AL : 223.0 158.0 2,750 1,900 2,100 613,250 331,800
FL : 152.0 120.0 2,700 2,500 2,400 410,400 288,000
GA : 750.0 575.0 2,840 2,500 2,650 2,130,000 1,523,750
MS : 14.0 15.0 3,200 3,000 3,000 44,800 45,000
NM : 19.0 16.0 3,500 3,500 3,500 66,500 56,000
NC : 96.0 85.0 3,000 3,300 3,400 288,000 289,000
OK : 33.0 22.0 3,270 3,000 3,000 107,910 66,000
SC : 60.0 56.0 2,800 3,200 3,000 168,000 168,000
TX : 260.0 150.0 3,750 3,700 3,700 975,000 555,000
VA : 22.0 16.0 3,000 2,950 3,100 66,000 49,600
:
US : 1,629.0 1,213.0 2,989 2,693 2,780 4,869,860 3,372,150
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please call with any questions...

Thanks,

2:01 pm | N.C. pecan growers shelled by small crop
MELISSA WILLETT
The Fayetteville Observer
Pecans might be a little pricier this year. Farmers in the region say not only has it an off year, but it's been an off-off year.

In Sampson County, Carla Peterson decided not to post her bright pink open-for-business sign. Her farm, Twiddle Dee, didn't yield enough pecans this year to make it worth her time. And if the poor harvest wasn't enough, her garden has suffered almost as much.

"Last year, I was open practically every Saturday," Peterson said. "There was too much damage from Ernesto to the garden. Last year was a bumper crop. This year's not bearing any."

She does have a small trailer of last year's pecans still in the shell that she's willing to give away. After a freezer full, she's run out of storage space.

Like Peterson, Laurie Wood's freezer is capped with nuts. Wood is a marketing specialist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"North Carolina's season starts having pecans from late October, early November," Wood said. "But you can still get fresh ones through December."

Since she works for the state, she's in contact with growers regularly. She says she believes the overall harvest is down but is unsure how it will affect grocery store prices.

"Most of what you buy in the store are from last year," Wood said. "I actually think they'll be up because of storms last year in Georgia, Alabama and Florida causing damage."

North Carolina produces 3 million to 5 million pounds of pecans each year. A well-managed farm should yield between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds per acre when the orchard reaches 20 years old, according to the state agriculture department.

US: almond growers hope nuts help with weight loss

The almonds are off the trees and the harvest has been very good, growers say. But abundance is not the only good news about our region's most notable nut. Almonds, it turns out, can help control your weight. Two studies suggest almonds contribute to a feeling of fullness. Another word for that is "satiety" — and finding foods that create that effect has been called "the holy grail of nutrition" because something that make you feel full can help in the ever-widening worldwide fight against obesity.

The North American Association for the Study of Obesity reported at its annual meeting last month that eating "a handful or two" of almonds every day can calm your appetite. Why isn't precisely known, but another study — this one funded by the Modesto-based Almond Board of California — has found similar results. In that study, conducted at Purdue University in Indiana, 20 overweight women were given two servings of almonds a day — totaling about 300calories — for 10 weeks. Another group got no nuts (too bad for them).

At the end of the study, researchers found that the women given the nuts did not gain any weight — despite having eaten an additional 300 calories every day for 10 weeks. In other words, by eating the healthy almonds they were less likely to turn to less healthy foods such as pizza, pretzels and chips.

That almonds provide health benefits is exciting news to the area's almond growers — as if they needed any more good news. Almonds were worth $473 million in Stanislaus County alone, and more than $1 billion statewide in 2005. This year's crop — which growers are saying is "very, very good" — is likely to be of similar value. With consumption of almonds growing every year, the good news just keeps blossoming.

But there's a bit of a conundrum involved with this latest research. Those who grow food generally want you to eat more of it — not less. So isn't a food that makes you feel full after eating only a little sort of defeating the purpose? Would you continue to buy that "can a week" if you're not going to finish it?

Our area's almond growers certainly hope so.

US: pecan production down

The heat, the drought and the immutable rhythms of nature have combined to knock pecan production off by 70 percent or more in the San Saba area and other parts of Central Texas, early estimates indicate. "It's not going to be pretty this year," said Neal Alexander, the Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural agent in San Saba County.

Alexander predicts pecan production will hit 25 percent to 30 percent of normal in the area, and San Saba considers itself the Pecan Capital of the World. Shawn Oliver of Oliver Pecan Co. in San Saba said 30 percent production might be optimistic. One of his Central Texas orchards that would normally produce about 100,000 pounds of pecans may turn out just 3,000 pounds this year.

"Some people can't even justify getting their equipment out to harvest," he said. "There's just not enough there to go out and get." In the roller-coaster world of pecan growers, 2006 was expected to be an off year, one that routinely follows a heavy year for production. But with abnormal dryness and heat much of the year, followed by punishing rains and wind as harvest time approached, the drop-off could be steeper than normal.

In a normal off year, Texas producers could harvest 45 million to 50 million pounds of pecans, said Jose Peña, a Texas A&M University extension economist in Uvalde. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's initial production estimate, the state will market 36 million pounds this year, down from 65 million pounds last year.

It may not be abnormally low in all regions. Some experts, including Kenneth Pape of Pape Pecan Co. in Seguin, said growers in the Winter Garden area south and west of San Antonio should have a fairly strong crop if they irrigated enough and managed their fields well.

Gary Schmidtke with South Country Pecans near Pearsall said that at the halfway point of the harvest early this week it was hard for him to say if the yield would fall short of his reduced expectations. "It'll be another two or three weeks until we have a good fix on it," he said. An off year for production does not mean, however, that pecans will be scarce as families begin to plan their dessert menus for the holiday season.

H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos said retail prices this fall are the same as last year. Peña reported that initial estimates call for nearly 134 million pounds of stored pecans to be carried over nationwide from last year's crop.

That's almost twice the size of the carry-over inventory that was available last year and would push the nation's total pecan supply to about 335 million pounds. The total is only 11.1 percent smaller than the 2005 pecan supply and is 50 million pounds more than the 2004 crop, which produced record prices, Peña said.

With pecan imports, including an estimated 70 million to 80 million pounds from Mexico, the United States' surging appetite for pecans should be satisfied, officials said. Pape said one exception could be the large paper-shell pecans that are popular early in the season but were hit particularly hard by the drought. If Georgia, the nation's leading pecan producer, has a weak crop, shortages for top-end pecans could arise, Pape said.

The U.S. is the world's largest producer of pecans. Georgia is expected to raise the most pecans this year, followed by New Mexico and Texas. In 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts pecan output nationally will reach 201.4 million pounds, down 28 percent from 2005.

The value of the nation's pecan crop exceeded $400 million last year, according to a preliminary USDA estimate. Texas pecans generated more than a quarter of that total, based on an average sale price of $1.70 a pound.

The good news for Texas growers is that pecan quality generally is up and prices have stayed strong. Pape said the difference paid between the bigger, soft-shell nuts and lower-end nuts is wide, but some prices are at an all-time high.

Those prices are what growers count on to cover accelerating production costs, which one grower said were the highest he had ever seen, mainly due to energy costs. The fear is prices could slip as more pecans come on the market.

Darrell Sparks, a University of Georgia professor who has researched pecans for more than 40 years, said pecan farmers generally must make half a crop to get by, and not everyone will make half a crop this year. "You'll need a cushion for off years," Sparks said.

Cameron Ocker, who manages the Bar D River Ranch southeast of San Antonio near Poth, said pecan farmers will probably do better than other South Texas farmers who did not irrigate this year. But in an off year, pecan growers typically just "hang on and survive," he said.

That's Nuts! Crooks Steal Mounds of Almonds

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Authorities in California have recovered 44,000 pounds of stolen almonds, after the suspected thieves tried to sell the processed nuts on the black market.

The Fresno County Agriculture Crime Unit says thieves drove a truck full of Campos Brothers Farm almonds off the lot of a trucking company,
where the almonds were sent for distribution earlier this month.

Officials found the truck in a nearby Fresno County city, but it had been emptied of the nuts, valued at an estimated $135,000. But last week an almond broker called authorities when he suspected someone was trying to sell him illegal nuts.

A spokeswoman for the farm says "We're very
cooperative, even though we're competitors. We talk." Fresno County officials found the almonds in a San Leandro warehouse. Their unique packaging helped officials track them down, and
authorities have two "persons of interest" in the case.

U.S. PEANUT CROP UPDATE – From National Agricultural Statistics Service as of October 15, USA peanut crop is rated as 5% Very Poor, 19% Poor, 39% Fair, 32% Good and 5% Excellent. Last year on this same date, the crop was rated 2% Very Poor, 8% Poor, 37% Fair, 46% Good and 7% Excellent. Crop is 36% harvested compared to 46% last year and 55% 5-yr average.

STATE
ITEM
Oct 15, 2006
PREV. WEEK
Oct 15, 2005
5-YEAR AVG.

GEORGIA
Peanuts Dug
53%
38%
69%
78%

Peanuts Combined
40%
26%
52%
61%

Conditions
9% VP, 21% Pr
37% Fair
28% Good
5% Excellent

Soil Moisture (State)
31%Very Short
44% Short
25% Adequate
0% Surplus

Continued dry weather has been detrimental to late planted peanuts, including irrigated fields. Peg strength has been weak as a result of summer heat and drought. Yields and grades have been low. Lack of soil moisture has made digging difficult in some fields.

ALABAMA
Peanuts Dug
36%
21%
70%
78%

Peanuts Combined
25%
12%
47%
65%

Conditions
7% VP, 34% Pr
37% Fair
20% Good
2% Excellent

Soil Moisture
31% Very Short
47% Short
22% Adequate
0% Surplus

Peanut harvest continued at a rapid pace during the past week. Cool dry weather is not helping late peanuts finish maturing. Hard, dry ground is making digging difficult.

FLORIDA
Peanuts Harvested
42%
29%
65%
76%

Conditions
0%VP, 36% Poor
35% Fair
28% Good
1% Excellent

Soil Moisture
35% Very Short
45% Short
20% Adequate
0% Surplus

Another week of dry weather has not helped harvest. Peanut fields continue to suffer in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula areas. Without rain, late-planted peanut crop will not mature. Hardened soils make digging difficult with some peanuts losing pods in some Panhandle areas.

MISSISSIPPI
Peanuts Harvested
60%
42%
-
-

Conditions
0% VP, 2% P
28% Fair
59% Good
11% Excellent

Soil Moisture
26% Very Short
42% Short
32% Adequate
0% Surplus

No rain and good weather conditions allowed for harvesting all week.

N. CAROLINA
Conditions
1% VP, 1% Poor
21% Fair
71% Good
6% Excellent

Harvested
45%
23%
43%
51%

Soil Moisture
2% Very Short
18% Short
75% Adequate
5% Surplus

Below average temperatures for the week while peanut harvesting continued.

S. CAROLINA
Conditions
1% VP, 2% Poor
35% Fair
58% Good
4% Excellent

Harvested
44%
34%
49%
54%

Soil Moisture
4% Very Short
32% Short
61% Adequate
3% Surplus

No report available.

VIRGINIA
Conditions
0% VP, 13% Poor
34% Fair
43% Good
10% Excellent

Peanuts Combined
39%
35%
47%
46%

Soil Moisture
3% Very Short
9% Short
75% Adequate
13% Surplus

No report available.

OKLAHOMA
Conditions
3%VP, 9% Poor
36% Fair
45% Good
7% Excellent

Mature
83%
74%
90%
89%

Peanuts Dug/Combined
32% / 14%
12% / 3%
42% / 26%
43% / 27%

Top Soil Moisture
40% Very Short
32% Short
25% Adequate
3% Surplus

Recent rain was beneficial to producers but too late to make a difference for some crops. Peanuts dug and harvested jumped ahead this week although still behind normal.

TEXAS
Conditions
1%VP, 5% Poor
49% Fair
33% Good
12% Excellent

Harvested
27%
16%
20%
22%

Soil Moisture (WT)
17% Very Short
26% Short
48% Adequate
9% Surplus

Despite rainy conditions in the Southern High Plains, some producers dug and threshed peanuts. Growers also dug peanuts in South Texas. Peanut condition statewide was mostly good to fair.

India: cashew exports decline during H1 this fiscal

Cashew exports have declined during the first half of this fiscal, though during September alone there were considerable increase. Given the trend which was expected to sustain, exports during the remaining months should help in making the goods decrease, according to Cashew Export Promotion Council chairman Walter D’Souza who has been re-elected for another term. At the annual general meeting (AGM) of Cashew Export Promotion Council here, he said that during April-September exports were 58,210 tonne

worth Rs 1,222.93 crore as against 59,112 tonne worth Rs 1,331.41 crore during the corresponding period last year. There was a 1.53% fall in quantity and 8.15% in value. Even the unit value realisation decreased by 6.72% to Rs 210.09 per kg as against Rs 225.23 last year. However, this decrease could be offset given the positive growth in exports during September alone.

A total 7,228 tonne valued at Rs 152.31 crore was exported when it was 6,373 tonne worth Rs 139.78 crore during September 2005, registering a 13.42% rise in quantity and 8,96% in value. He added with installed capacity of the cashew processing industry estimated to be around 12 lakh tonne annually, the industry was forced to import raw nuts.

During the last fiscal, 5.65 lakh tonne was imported when the total production in the country was 5.73 lakh tonne. It was important that domestic production had to be not only increased but productivity at 815 kg per hectare had to be raised on par with Vietnam where it was 2,000 kg per hectare.

273,000 families live off hazelnuts
Thursday, October 19, 2006


The real number is considerably higher than official figures, says the industry minister

ANKARA – TDN Parliament Bureau



Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coşkun said on Wednesday that 273,876 families worked in the hazelnut sector and were registered as farmers.

In a statement released in response to a parliamentary question filed by Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) deputy Hüseyin Güler, Coşkun said the registered number was considerably lower that the real figure, believed to be around 400,000. Coşkun also said that while thousands of families from the East and the Southeast went to the Black Sea region every summer to work the hazelnut harvest, no official figures existed on their number.

The summer was dominated by a hazelnut crisis, one of the most serious problems the current government has had to face in its four years in power.

Until 2003 the Hazelnut Growers Union (Fiskobirlik), which purchases the excess hazelnut harvest, was state run. The purchase of excess hazelnut production caused it to record an average annual loss of YTL 100 million. After 2003 the union became autonomous and state assistance stopped. Turkey's annual hazelnut consumption is around 70,000 tons. It exports between 400,000 and 450,000 tons, almost 80 percent of global consumption, making it the world leader in hazelnut production. In 2005, it exported hazelnuts to 50 nations, netting more than $1.5 billion (1.17 billion euros) for the state coffers. This year growers will produce around 650,000 tons of hazelnuts, a figure that considerably exceeds current demand. Efforts are under way to increase domestic consumption to 100,000 tons per annum. More than 2 million people in the Black Sea region make their living from hazelnuts, and the plunge in prices is having major social consequences, with smaller growers facing huge debts and even financial ruin. Industry-wide losses are estimated at $2.5 billion, experts say. The recent collapse in hazelnut prices provoked a fury against the government, blamed by many farmers for failing to sufficiently help them. The problem arose because Turkish production outstripped world demand, causing prices to drop over the past year from 6 to 2.5 YTL (3.2 to 1.3 euros) per kilogram.

In July, between 100,000 and 150,000 protesters took to the streets of Ordu on the Black Sea, in Turkey's hazelnut heartland, to protest government policy. Industry representatives warn there is more trouble in store unless the situation is remedied.

After months of wrangling, the government decided to help the producers by allowing the Agricultural Products Office (TMO) to purchase the surplus hazelnuts.

Later, Fiskobirlik and TMO announced an agreement under which TMO will purchase surplus hazelnut production in exchange for permission to use Fiskobirlik storage facilities and will also secure loans enabling Fiskobirlik to pay for its 2005 surplus hazelnut purchases.


© 2005 Dogan Daily News Inc. www.turkishdailynews.com.tr

Walnut market update
CROP:

The Walnut Marketing Board announced the September shipments at 21,917 inshell equivalent tons, 6,000 tons less than last year. Inshell shipments were 5.9 million pounds, 3.5 million pounds less that last September. Shelled shipments were 16.8 million pounds, 3.9 million pounds than last year. Total inshell equivalent shipments were 39,533 tons; 11,666 tons less than last year.

Due to the crop being two weeks late, both inshell and shelled production was impacted, with very little shipments from new crop taking place in September. This helps explain why both the Inshell and Shelled shipments were off from last years numbers.

Surprising, the early varieties did not receive the sunburn damage the industry expected. In addition, the serious damage (insect, mold) appear to be average as was the overall quality.

Most of the industry leaders believe the crop will come up short of the official California estimate of 350,000 tons. This early analysis’s is based on packers receiving less tonnage from orchards that had higher production last year.

The State’s survey projected the Chandlers would be off 22 percent, Serr’s off 18 percent and Hartley’s up by 9 percent. I have a problem accepting some of the state’s objective measurement of the 2006 crop. First, I find it hard to believe the Chandlers will be down 22 percent and the Hartley’s up by 9 percent. I believe the Chandlers will be off from last year but not by much. In addition, I believe the Hartley tonnage will not be up, but down from last year. I will let you know how it turns out later.


MARKET:

The market has remained stable and has firmed slightly since opening prices. Packers are offering Chandler LHP at $2.70, regular LHP at $2.60 and CHP at $2.40. Most bookings have been taking place five cents below these levels; however, the Combo material has firmed with most recent bookings taking place at the $2.40 level.

Because of the late crop, the inshell market will have some challenges meeting required shipment dates. I do not believe production will be able to make up for the late crop and there will be a lot of pressure to make early vessels to Europe.


I expect the walnut market to remain firm with the possibility of some strengthen if the crop continues to come up short. However, I do not see a big fluctuation one way or the other.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

UPDATE TO THE TRADE

October 13, 2006
The USDA has announced their first estimate of the 2006 pecan crop at 201.4 million inshell pounds. The National Pecan Shellers Association estimated the crop back in September at 204 million inshell pounds while the Louisiana and Texas average estimates ranged from 171 to 181 million inshell pounds. Cold storage holdings for July and August were slightly higher than normal and we expect to see a carryout between 120 and 130 million inshell pounds at October 31, 2006. We utilize the October 31st cold storage number as the official carryout number as October is a very large shipping month yet very little new crop inshell will move during this month.

The general consensus from growers and accumulators is that the USDA estimate is close to accurate with a good quality crop on the trees. Harvest should begin in the Southestern states in a few weeks. Holiday demand for first new crop availability will be strong as gift packers and other retail users specify only new crop material. The western states will begin their harvest in late November.

We will continue to keep you informed as the crop begins to harvest and the next USDA estimate will be released in early December.

California Prune Harvest Jumps
WASHINGTON - Oct 12/06 - SNS -- California's 2006 prune production is forecast at 170,000 dried tons, up 17% from the June 1 forecast and 89% above the heat damaged 2005 crop, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Bearing area, at 67,000 acres, is unchanged since last year. This year's prune crop experienced an unseasonable rainy period during bloom which hampered pollination and led to a small fruit set statewide.

As the season progressed, the crop prospects improved. This production forecast is based on a survey of prune growers conducted from August 21 through September 13.

US: pistachio farmers harvest a lighter crop

A later and lighter California pistachio harvest continues in the Central Valley. Farmers say they're finding fewer pistachios in their orchards, and that crop volume may be down as much as 20 percent compared to a year ago. Warm weather was a factor in making for a smaller harvest that at first expected.

“They don’t bloom uniformly without enough chilling hours. We figure we need about 1,000 hours of chilling,” says Tom Coleman, a Madera County pistachio farmer explaining the pistachio tree’s need for enough cool weather during the bloom. “We had erratic spring weather so they did not bloom uniformly,” Mr. Coleman says. “Consequently, we’ll have a lot of nuts that will be left on the tree because they were not pollinated so they will have nothing inside of the,”

Mr. Coleman says consumers should not see any impact because of a carryover of pistachios from last season's crop that should ensure steady supplies and prices. But Mr. Coleman says he sees demand for pistachios remaining strong for years to come. “People are looking toward healthy snack foods. Pistachios are right in there,” he says.

Pistachio farmers harvest a lighter crop

MADERA October 11, 2006 12:01am


• Weather is getting the blame
• Many shells without nuts inside A later and lighter California pistachio harvest continues in the Central Valley.

Farmers say they're finding fewer pistachios in their orchards, and that crop volume may be down as much as 20 percent compared to a year ago.
Warm weather was a factor in making for a smaller harvest that at first expected.
“They don’t bloom uniformly without enough chilling hours. We figure we need about 1,000 hours of chilling,” says Tom Coleman, a Madera County pistachio farmer explaining the pistachio tree’s need for enough cool weather during the bloom.
“We had erratic spring weather so they did not bloom uniformly,” Mr. Coleman says. “Consequently, we’ll have a lot of nuts that will be left on the tree because they were not pollinated so they will have nothing inside of the,”
Mr. Coleman says consumers should not see any impact because of a carryover of pistachios from last season's crop that should ensure steady supplies and prices.
But Mr. Coleman says he sees demand for pistachios remaining strong for years to come.
“People are looking toward healthy snack foods. Pistachios are right in there,” he says.

UPDATE ON PEANUTS October 5, 2006

Supply2005
Crop production 2,410,000 tons of farmer stock
2005 Crop production 1,601,000 tons of farmer stock (USDA est.) Down 34%
Industry estimates closer to 1.5 mil tons. (Down 38%)
Tonnage is down due to 25% reduction in acres and poor growing conditions
Carry-in from 2005 is estimated at 700,000 tons.

Demand
Demand on US crop 1.85 mil tons
Demand includes domestic usage 1.4, seed .12 mil, exports .33 mil tons.
Supply 2,300,000 = 1,600,000 Crop + 700,000 carry-in
Demand – 1,900,000 = 400,000 carry-out
This is a normal carry-out


Market
The only reason we do not have 60-cent peanuts is the giant carry-in from 2005
Today, Oct – Dec ’06 shipments, ’05 crop:
JR $.4350/lb, MR $.3850/lb, Splits $.38/lb and #1’s $.36/lb.
No offers on 2006 Crop shipping Jan – Sep ‘07
Shellers have bought half of the crop at $365 / ton and sold, at least, this amount
Any future sales will be from farmer stock yet to be purchased. The word on the street is that it will take at least $400 / ton to buy, it may take $425. For a sheller to make his margins with $400 farmer stock, prices would be:
JR $.45/lb, MR $.41/lb, Splits $.40/lb and #1’s $.38/lb.
In the next 3 weeks we should know pricing on farmer stock
Note: Jumbo’s will likely be short and the differential may increase

2007 Crop

* We need to increase acres at least 10% to make sure we meet demand.
* 2006 acres 1,213,000 x 2640 lbs/ac. = 1,601,000 tons
* 2007 acres 1,334,300 x 2900 lbs/ac (5 yr. average yield) = 1,935,000 tons
* This would be a comfortable carry-out and hedge, if the yields are lower
* Talk is, with fuel cost and petro-chemical cost high, it will take $415 to $425/ton to increase acres. If storage and handling is not included in the 2007 crop, add $40/ton. Storage and handling should be settled by the middle of Nov ‘06
* Peanut Prices if farmer stock is:
$415/ton – JR $.46, MR $.42, splits $.41 and #1’s $.39/lb.
$425/ton – add 1-cent/lb.
$465/ton – JR $..48, MR $.45, splits $.44 and #1’s $.42/lb.

Vietnam earns less from cashew export in first 9 months
Vietnam is estimated to reap cashew export earnings of 359 million U.S. dollars in the first nine months of this year, a year-on-year decrease of 1.5 percent, despite its higher export volume, according to the Vietnam Cashew Association Friday. In the period, the country is set to export 90,000 tons of the product, mainly to China, the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, England and Russia, up 17.4 percent over the same period last year.
Vietnam is estimated to earn some 400 million dollars from exporting cashew nuts this year, down from 486 million dollars last year, said the association. The country, which had 350,000 hectares of cashew trees in 2005, plans to increase the cashew acreage to 450,000 hectares and export revenue of 700 million dollars by 2010. It shipped abroad 103,000 tons of nuts valued at 486 million dollars in 2005, said the association.

Iran pistachio farmers worried
As the annual pistachio harvest begins, Ali Bajvand has more to worry about than backbreaking labour and changes in crop prices. There is growing unease that possible economic sanctions over the country's controversial nuclear programme could stifle the world's largest pistachio exporter. It was unclear what effect sanctions could have on the pistachio business, but the prospect of losing lucrative markets in the Middle East, Asia and Europe is unnerving for growers like Bajvand.
"I'm harvesting the fruit of my life. What you see here now is the outcome of all the work and care that I've devoted to these trees for the past couple of months," he said. "But I'm told our life will become hard if sanctions are imposed and pistachios are not exported." There is similar nervousness and uncertainly among many Iranians, who are unsure whether there will be sanctions, and unclear on the possible effects, but worried about their livelihoods nonetheless.
The pistachio industry brings in an average of US$500m a year and provides work for hundreds of thousands of people in a nation where at least 11 per cent of the population is unemployed. Last year, Iran earned US$824m from a bumper pistachio crop of 140,000 tons, mostly produced here in southeastern Iran. The United States is leading the charge for sanctions if Tehran refuses to stop enriching uranium, a key step toward either producing nuclear fuel or building nuclear weapons. The US and others fear oil-rich Iran's goal in developing enrichment technology is to produce material for atomic bomb. Iran says it needs enrichment to provide fuel for nuclear reactors that will generate electricity for the developing nation.
Iran ignored an Aug 31 UN Security Council deadline to halt enrichment or face the possibility of economic sanctions. Should sanctions be imposed, Iran's oil industry would most likely suffer the most. Iran heavily relies on oil exports as a major source of revenue and is the world's fourth-largest oil producer. Other major exports include iron, steel, carpets and saffron. Still, the US faces an uphill battle in the UN Security Council to persuade Russia, China and others to impose punitive measures.
And even if sanctions are imposed, they may not extend to agricultural exports. "It's not clear if there will be any sanctions at all," said Ali Asadi, manager of Aria Pistachio, a pistachio export company. "And even if the worst comes and sanctions are imposed, it will initially be for the government-run factories, oil et cetera, not pistachios exported by private firms." "However, it will be a very bad development if sanctions are imposed because in the long-run it will harm our business," he said.