AGP Executive Report

Smallholder Finance Push: Malaysia’s NASH is urging higher oil palm replanting support (RM18,200/ha) and easier payments, plus a long-term smallholders development fund to boost productivity and access to financing. G20 Trade Rules: India warned G20 ministers against “weaponisation of food,” arguing legitimate food-security measures shouldn’t be treated like coercive trade actions, as talks also target forced labour and industrial overcapacity. Food & Farm Supply Oversight: Maharashtra’s Nashik is asking onion suppliers to submit complaints and documents over 2026–27 procurement irregularities under India’s PSF scheme. Agritech & Startups: Ghana’s AgriTech challenge backed digital farmer-to-buyer marketplaces to cut post-harvest losses, while T-Hub launched Flashpoint to co-build startups with founders using industry-backed problems. Drought Relief: South Africa’s Loeriesfontein small-scale livestock farmers received maize, pellets and protein supplements to survive drought-driven feed shortages. Agricultural Innovation Awards: Australia’s Nutrien NextGen Leader winner Carli Davis is spotlighting new approaches to rethink carbon farming markets. Trade & Cooperation: Kazakhstan and Germany agreed to expand agricultural cooperation, including dairy support and market access efforts.

Trade Policy: The U.S. is pushing G20 partners to act on excess industrial capacity, spotlighting steel overproduction and coordinating measures as talks unfold in Milwaukee. Market & Food Safety: The U.S. recalled 2,000+ pounds of frozen pork breakfast sausage after reports of possible plastic contamination, warning some product may still be in restaurant freezers. Livestock & Local Governance: A Wisconsin landowner appealed Lafayette County’s approval for a new livestock facility, citing setback, odor-score, and manure-volume calculation concerns; a state review board will consider public “statements of position.” Agribusiness Finance: Nagaland’s Axis Bank opened a Jalukie branch, with officials urging more formal credit for farmers to buy seeds, equipment, and livestock. Farm Economics & Access: Guyana plans nationwide farmers’ markets to cut food prices by reducing middlemen markups. Policy for Storage: India is developing a grading and rating framework for warehouses and cold chains with ADB support to unlock incentives and credit. Global Supply Signals: Global cherry production is forecast to hit a record 5.44M tons, while the U.S. crop faces frost and rain losses. Sustainability Standards: Perdue Farms is backing a new environmental board of trade to standardize regenerative agriculture claims and related credits.

Agri-market promos: Malaysia’s Pahang FAMA is running a three-day Mega Agro MADANI Sales in Rompin (Oct 2–4) with up to 30% discounts and direct-to-consumer lots, including set-price deals on chicken, beef, eggs, fruits and vegetables. Sustainable farming, real-world pricing gap: Bangladesh farmers using pesticide-free GAP bitter gourd report good yields and quality, but say they’re not getting a premium because there’s no separate market for pesticide-free produce. Climate-smart tech push: Kenya’s Nairobi International Trade Fair is spotlighting climate-smart agriculture and trade, with organisers targeting 600,000 visitors and showcasing tools like drones for farm spraying. Food security and livelihoods: Nigeria inaugurated a coalition of farmers associations for food security (COA-FARMERS) as agriculture grew 4.39% in Q2 2026, while Zambia’s Muchinga Province praised WFP support for smallholder resilience. Trade signals for agri: China and the US agreed tariff cuts on $60B of goods, with China planning lower duties on some US farm products (soybeans excluded). Animal/agri investment: Solomon Islands’ SIART invested $8.7M into 20 community pig farming groups, aiming to boost household incomes. Policy & enforcement: Hong Kong’s AFCD starts a month-long crackdown on illegal feeding of wild animals, citing safety and ecological harm.

Livestock Health: Wisconsin confirmed epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in non-lactating dairy cattle in Waukesha County, with the virus also found in wild and captive deer; officials say there’s no treatment and urge insect/parasite control and fast vet testing. Food & Input Costs: Kyrgyzstan’s agriculture ministry says meat prices reaching 800–1,000 soms/kg are unjustified, pointing to lower pasture and stall cost estimates and expanding state meat sales points. Competition & Farm Costs: U.S. AG Raoul and the FTC secured a $35M settlement with Corteva to lower pesticide prices by dismantling a loyalty program that limited generic competition. Trade & Exports: Trump nominated Greg Ibach to lead USDA trade and foreign agricultural affairs, aiming to expand export markets and cut barriers. Biofuels: India’s Bharat Ethanol Forum 2026 wrapped in Mumbai, pushing ethanol as energy security and a lever for farmer incomes. Ag Tech for Traceability: Wingsure launched COFFEA™, a platform to capture and verify farm-level coffee evidence for decision-grade intelligence. Climate Finance: Indonesia offered carbon market incentives for low-emission rice and other green projects, backed by new carbon unit registry rules.

Trade Policy & Farm Impact: South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung vowed to protect farmers, fishers and livestock as CPTPP concerns grow, citing an estimate that accession could cut farm/forestry/fisheries output by about 850 billion won over 15 years and promising direct meetings plus a 1 trillion won compensation fund. Food Security Funding: FAO urged more funding for Sudan as El Niño threatens food security, focusing on staple crops, livestock health and animal feed after warning current needs far outstrip available budgets. Agri-Exports & Market Access: China approved fresh South African cherries after phytosanitary clearance, with exports projected to surge as orchards expand; meanwhile, US-China tariff cuts on about $30B of goods include many agricultural items, but soybeans were excluded, capping gains for US soy futures. Input Costs & Energy: Saskatchewan farmers face pressure from rising diesel costs and floods amid trade uncertainty, while markets also watched volatility tied to global oil supply risks. Innovation & Sustainability: South Korea researchers used hemp hurd to strengthen biodegradable plastics, and Brazil’s “AgTech Valley” is pushing bio-inputs to cut chemical fertilizer dependence. Finance & Risk: India’s SEBI ordered refunds and penalties in the Growpital farmland scheme, and the IRS/Treasury proposed rules letting qualifying farmland sellers pay tax in four installments. Regional Ag Development: Nepal reported foreign aid commitments fell to Rs 161.46B in 2025/26, with roads and water among top shares.

Digital Market Access: Malaysia’s Shopee Instant Mart and FAMA are teaming up to speed fresh-produce and agro-goods delivery (1–4 hours) and boost online visibility for local producers via the DuniaAgro+ campaign. Trade & Tariffs: After Xi’s U.S. visit, the China-U.S. Board of Trade recommends tariff cuts on $60B of non-sensitive goods (about $30B each side), with an ag working group aimed at market access—while soybeans were notably left off the list. Fuel Cost Relief: Ireland’s Macra is pushing for a doubled fuel support payment to 40c/l and wider eligibility for young farmers and contractors as diesel bites. EU Beef Shock: The European Commission confirms a 24-month-plus ban on Brazilian beef over hormone assurances, keeping product off EU shelves. Poultry Tech Investment: Cargill is investing $130M to expand cooked poultry capacity in Thailand and the Philippines, adding automation and AI to production and food safety. Policy Momentum (US): The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced Farm Bill 2.0 toward the next legislative stage. Market Watch: Grains slid as traders reacted to trade headlines; corn, soybeans, and wheat all posted losses, with soybeans hitting a three-month low. Food Prices Reality Check: A U.S. Farm Bureau review finds more beef imports haven’t yet lowered ground beef prices at most surveyed stores. Biosecurity: Cambodia reports a sixth 2026 human H5N1 case tied to poultry exposure, prompting animal and contact tracing.

US–China Trade Truce for Farmers: Washington and Beijing agreed to reciprocal tariff cuts on about $30B of non-sensitive goods, with agricultural products included on the US side—though soybeans remain excluded, leaving some farm uncertainty. Beef Supply Crunch: China’s beef prices hit a two-year high as earlier cattle losses tighten supply, with wholesalers warning further increases ahead. EU Market Rules: Australia’s exporters are getting ready for the EU’s deforestation rules from Jan 31, with beef and lamb shipments needing compliance and “low-risk” sourcing due diligence. Dairy Cooperation: China and the Netherlands are pushing deeper dairy exchanges on “grass-to-glass” food safety and full-chain management. Ag Finance for Climate-Smart Farming: Nam A Bank secured a $60M loan from FMO to expand green lending, including agriculture value chains and women- and youth-led agribusinesses. On-the-Ground Farm Skills: In Congo, farmers in Mindouli are being trained to run plots like businesses using the “Germe” method, while Iowa youth teams excelled in crop scouting. Industry Events: Growtech Middle East 2026 in Dubai will bring growers and tech providers together around food security and resilient production.

Cross-Border Trade Boost: Iraq and Syria agreed on eight measures to streamline customs and passenger movement, including electronic customs-data exchange, dedicated lanes, and expanded border capacity—Damascus expects bilateral trade to jump 30–50% in the first year. Farm Stress & Rural Health: Kansas and North Dakota coverage highlights mounting pressure on farm communities, from drought and price swings to mental-health risks; Kansas groups are also urging Congress to reform immigration after ICE raids disrupted meatpacking workforces. Livestock Disease Disruption: Namibia’s Grootfontein Show opened without livestock auctions after Foot and Mouth Disease restrictions forced animals back to farms. Agri-Trade Policy: The Philippines proposed phased pork tariff hikes to protect falling hog farmgate prices, while the US-China trade framework includes reciprocal tariff cuts affecting some agricultural goods. Market Access & Partnerships: Ghana’s Complete Farmer and Northern-Savanna plan to grow and export 500+ acres of organic white sesame, aiming to lift farmer incomes and reach higher-value markets. Food Industry Investment: Saudi Arabia opened Saudifood Show and Saudifood Manufacturing, pushing Vision 2030 goals for food security and local manufacturing scale-up.

US-China Agri Trade & Tariffs: After Xi’s Washington summit, the US and China agreed to cut tariffs on $30b of non-sensitive goods and set up an AI incident channel, with agricultural products included in the tariff-relief list. AI & Climate Footprint: GlobalData warns AI’s emissions and data-centre water use could outweigh climate gains, urging “predictive” uses over energy-heavy generative models. Fertiliser Push in Ghana: Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture signed an MoU with ABC Oyeasase Yie for a $50m Eastern Region fertiliser blending plant to produce organic fertiliser for the Feed Ghana programme. India Cold Chain & Exports: India’s cold-chain logistics is scaling fast, but exporters say airport handoffs and heat exposure remain the weak link for perishable cargo. Water Stress vs Data Centres (India): Maharashtra declared drought in 265 of 358 talukas as data-centre expansion raises fears over water allocation. Rural Roads for Farmers (Philippines): A World Bank-funded farm-to-market road in Davao Oriental aims to cut rain-related isolation and speed banana transport. Regulatory Watch (India): CCPA fined Amazon, Flipkart and JioMart over an unregistered herbicide listing, ordering takedowns and compliance audits.

Fertilizer Trade: Belarus jumped to 10th among global fertilizer exporters, shipping 2.44M tons in 2024 as Russia, Canada and Morocco lead the market. US–China Agri Backdrop: The US and China agreed to an AI incident channel and to keep trade talks moving after their summit, with tariff relief steps also in play—important context for farm input and commodity flows. Farmgate Pressure from Weather: Fiji’s agriculture minister urged farmers to store water, plan early livestock decisions and prepare for prolonged dry conditions tied to Super El Niño. Land Market Watch: Ukraine saw a sharp August drop in agricultural land sales (down 17.6%) while prices stayed nearly flat, with regional mix driving the national average. Beef Supply Chain Tension: Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma cattle groups say ICE enforcement is disrupting shipments and chilling documented workers—raising fears of higher beef prices. Agri Finance: Bangladesh’s Mutual Trust Bank will finance agri-based businesses under a Bangladesh Bank refinance scheme aimed at building an agriculture hub. Export Moves: The Philippines shipped fresh durian and mangosteen to Canada, signaling continued push to diversify fruit export markets. Food Relief: Arkansas rice mills donated 201,500 pounds of rice to the Arkansas Foodbank for hunger relief. Agri Infrastructure: Superior Ag broke ground on a new Indiana fertilizer terminal to boost high-capacity distribution for regional farmers.

Animal Health Watch: The Philippines’ Bureau of Animal Industry confirmed an African swine fever case in Agutaya, Palawan, triggering quarantine steps and checkpoints and urging pig owners to report illness and avoid selling or moving suspected animals. Farm Economics: USDA data show Virginia farmland values keep rising in 2026, with farm real estate averaging $6,300/acre (+3.3%) as land remains a resilient asset even while margins tighten. Policy & Compliance: Arizona’s AgTech is challenging Arizona State Land Department cancellations of five agricultural leases, arguing it wasn’t given proper notice or a chance to cure. Farm Risk Management (UK): Wales boosts advance payments for farm schemes from 70% to 80% and extends the slurry/manure spreading period to Nov. 15, 2026 to help farms manage drought-stressed slurry stores. Ag Trade & Rules: The US and China extended their trade truce for two months, with limited agreements including some agricultural products, while major issues like Taiwan remain unresolved. Inputs & Innovation (India): Dhanuka Agritech launched Polin, a new paddy fungicide aimed at longer-lasting protection against rice blast. Food Safety (Nigeria): Investigations describe dye-laced palm oil and adulterated ground pepper being sold to mimic richer colors, raising serious health concerns.

Cattle Supply Chain Under Pressure: Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma livestock groups say recent ICE enforcement is disrupting feedyards, dairies, processors and transport, delaying thousands of fed cattle and warning of higher beef prices. Cattle Markets Choppy: Thin volume is driving wild live-cattle swings as traders wait for more details from U.S.-China talks. Trade Truce Update: U.S. and China agreed to postpone new tariffs until Jan. 10, 2027, with Washington sending some ag goods and medical devices into a “leave it aside” category while more details are set for Monday. Poultry Biosecurity: Manitoba reports avian influenza detections in wild birds and poultry, urging Prairie producers to tighten access controls, disinfect, and postpone gatherings during fall migration. Crop Risk From Weather: Rain delays harvest in north Iowa, raising soybean loss concerns if wet conditions persist. Ag Policy Notices: Louisiana plans to amend seed-cane yellow leaf virus testing rules, and posts updates for structural pest control reporting. Dairy Prices Mixed: Butter prices rose while cheese blocks slipped at the CME. Plant Industry Expansion: Florida tissue-culture producer AG2 TC is expanding wholesale liners for nurseries, including tropical and carnivorous varieties.

US–China Summit: Trump welcomed Xi to Washington for talks centered on trade, AI, Taiwan, and Iran, with leaders projecting stability even as disputes remain. Food Costs & Fuel: A CEO warned record diesel prices could trigger a “vicious cycle” of higher farm costs and surging food prices. Agrifood Policy & Biosecurity: Bulgaria published a sheep and goat pox vaccination plan for public consultation, while Michigan announced a new untreated firewood quarantine starting Jan. 1, 2027 to curb invasive pests. Trade Deals for Agriculture: The UAE and Argentina launched CEPA negotiations, and the EU adopted temporary trade-liberalization measures for Armenian products covering about 80% of exports, including some ag goods. Regional Infrastructure: Ethiopia, Djibouti and Dangote backed a $660M pipeline to strengthen the Ethiopia–Djibouti corridor for fuel and trade. Farm Income Support: Arkansas approved a $5M bridge loan to save the Delta Peanut harvest as USDA pulled a warehouse bond. Agritourism Grants: Airbnb and American Farmland Trust launched a Farm to Stay program offering up to $10,000 for farm stays and experiences.

US–China Trade Truce: Trump welcomed Xi to Washington as the trade truce was extended to Jan. 10, with talks expected to cover tariffs and agricultural purchases. Market Access Pressure: US lawmakers urged Trump to demand enforceable soybean and beef access from China, warning past promises left farmers exposed. Zimbabwe Investment Push: Zimbabwe is seeking about US$1.42B to scale eight ag value chains, from maize and dairy to processing, logistics and export links. Jobs Beyond the Farm: Zimbabwe’s government said ag transformation must create work across mechanisation, processing, marketing and tech—not just raise output. Kenya Carbon Markets: County leaders argued carbon market plans must be tied to local priorities so communities benefit directly. Liberia Agribusiness Continuity: Liberia’s REALISE project commissioned a rice mill and communal farming in Bong, but questions remain on what happens after project funding ends. Liberia Oil Palm Regulation: LACRA and oil palm concessionaires agreed to a joint technical committee to tackle royalty, quality control and export compliance. Microfinance Stress (Nepal): Nonperforming loans at microfinance institutions hit nearly Rs 51B as loan quality deteriorated. Horticulture Under Strain (Kenya): The flower sector flagged tougher rules and phytosanitary standards, plus rising costs and taxes. Agritech for Livestock (Ireland): Enterprise Ireland highlighted digitised vet prescriptions, faster parasite diagnosis and methane-reducing mineral dosing. Kazakhstan Processing Goal: Kazakhstan targets raising processed ag exports to 70% by 2030 via deep grain-processing projects. Local Diversification (UK): Plans submitted to turn farmland near Peterborough into glamping pods as farmers seek extra income streams. Coconut By-Products (Philippines): DA-Davao began talks with a Malaysian firm to buy coconut shells for energy, aiming to add value for smallholders.

Export Push: The Philippines’ DA-11 says its first shipment of frozen whole steamed saba (Cardava) bananas to Australia is set to sail Oct. 3 (7,000 kg), aiming to reach a one-year shelf life and expand overseas market access for farmers. Livestock for Exports: Kenya is moving livestock from subsistence toward export business, boosting water, finance, breeding, and markets, with the Bachuma National Livestock Quarantine Centre being commercialized for animal inspection and certification. Trade Facilitation: Bangladesh’s commerce ministry is pushing a coordinated plan to cut import-export clearance time and costs, including a National Single Window to streamline permits and certificates. Farm Program Decisions: Kansas farmers get more time to choose 2026 ARC/PLC coverage, with K-State noting harvest timing could matter most if county yields swing. Food Security Pressure: The UN warns Russia-Ukraine disruptions are already hitting global food security via attacks on grain infrastructure and shipping in the Black Sea. Fuel Costs Hit Agriculture: Diesel price shocks continue to roil farm economics, with Louisiana offering a temporary tax break for dyed, off-road diesel through Oct. 22. Dairy Snapshot: U.S. milk supply rose slightly in August as herds expanded, even as per-cow output dipped. Food Safety: USDA recalled 167,000+ pounds of beef, pork, and goat meat after products were made without federal inspection and carried a false inspection mark.

Food Security & Prices: Pork shortages in Vientiane, linked to African Swine Fever restrictions, are pushing consumers toward pricier beef and squeezing restaurants and small food businesses. Climate & Water Risk: Guyana is preparing for extreme El Niño with expanded water storage, activated dual-purpose structures, and new reservoirs to protect farm output. Weather Watch (Asia): India’s monsoon deficit widened to 15% as El Niño strengthens, raising risks for kharif crops even as sowing is largely complete. Policy & Environment: California’s new dairy manure rules target nitrogen pollution and groundwater contamination, setting up higher compliance pressure for Central Valley dairies. Trade & Agri-Logistics: INBULK is expanding digital trade corridors to keep grain flows moving across Ukraine–Egypt and Romania–Egypt. Market Access & Processing: A first trial shipment of steamed saba bananas from the Philippines is headed to Australia, aiming to extend shelf life and create new livelihood links. Global Cooperation: ASEAN and Russia backed a 2026–2035 trade and investment programme that explicitly includes agriculture.