U.N. needs more donations for Iraq
U.N. officials said Monday they still have a "massive shortfall" in food donations for relief efforts in Iraq.
World Food Program officials last week noted their efforts to raise food and money to benefit Iraq received significant donations from the United States, Britain, Australia, Germany, Canada, Spain, New Zealand and Italy.
But more is needed if the U.N. effort is to reach its intended goals.
"We are happy with our progress so far, but we still have a long way to go and we cannot afford to lose time," food program Director James T. Morris said.
Thus far, donations total about $290 million -- enough to feed for about a month.
World Food Program officials say they are going under the assumption the war will disrupt agriculture and the food supply so thoroughly, they will have to feed the entire Iraqi population for several months.
Morris also noted Iraqi relief efforts are competing for attention and resources with relief efforts for other parts of the world, particularly in African nations where drought has caused severe starvation.
"I cannot escape the thought that we have a double standard," Morris said. "How is it that we routinely accept a level of suffering and hopelessness in Africa that we would never accept in any other part of the world?"
He noted the month's worth of food intended for Iraq could have benefited other parts of the world, had there been no war.
"I can assure you, these 40 million Africans, most of them women and children, would find it an immeasurable blessing to have a month's worth of food," Morris said.
Insofar as Iraq relief efforts are concerned, the food program opened its first food aid corridor this weekend from Turkey into Iraq.
Thirty-six trucks loaded with 850 metric tons of wheat flour were sent into the country. Another 59 trucks containing 6,000 tons of wheat flour were to be shipped into northern Iraq during the coming week.
Feds provide $10M for Texas farmers
Texas farmers along the U.S.-Mexican border who suffered crop losses last year due to water shortages received $10 million in aid from the Agriculture Department.
"These funds will help vegetable, citrus and other crop farmers to recover from the financial losses resulting from the lack of irrigation water," Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said.
Farmers living in the nine Texas counties along the Rio Grande will receive money. The loss of irrigation water is attributed by the United States to Mexico not providing an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water annually for each five-year cycle.
During the past decade, Mexico has accumulated a 1.5 million acre-feet water debt.
No. America groups sign genetic crop agreement
Trade representatives from Canada, Mexico and the United States signed agreements recently to work together on issues related to genetically modified crops, seed labeling, food safety and national security.
Officials from the three North America nations met last week in Montreal to discuss how to minimize trade disruptions.
For genetic crops, officials agreed to "encourage the countries to move in a parallel manner on science-based approval of new biotechnology products without compromising the marketability of those products."
Popcorn becoming popular specialty crop
Growing corn for use as popcorn is becoming a growing specialty crop in certain regions of the United States.
Nebraska is the leading popcorn state, although Indiana, Iowa and Ohio are close behind. Each state produces about 65,000 acres worth of corn for popcorn each year.
Unlike field dent corn, popcorn is a type of flint corn that is grown to maturity in the field. The one problem is that the crop's stalks can easily fall over, which makes harvesting difficult and causes reduced yields.
Crop plantings progress
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday 15 percent of the rice crop this year is planted, compared to 7 percent last week, 13 percent at this time last year and 12 percent average the past five years. Of that, 4 percent of the crop is emerged, compared to 6 percent last year and 5 percent the past five years.
For cotton, 5 percent of the crop is planted, compared to 6 percent last year and 5 percent the past five years.
For spring wheat, 5 percent of the crop is planted, compared to 2 percent last year and 4 percent the past five years.
For barley, 7 percent of the crop is planted, compared to 4 percent last year and 6 percent the past five years.
For oats, 8 percent of the crop is planted, compared to 1 percent last week, 8 percent last year and 10 percent the past five years.
For sorghum, 12 percent of the crop is planted, compared to 10 percent last week, 14 percent last year and 13 percent the past five years.
For sugarbeets, 7 percent of the crop is planted, compared to 3 percent last week and 5 percent last year.
Fifty-one percent of the winter wheat crop is in excellent or good condition, with 35 percent fair and 14 percent poor or very poor.
Grains up on CBOT
Grain futures were mostly higher at the close Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Soybeans rose on purchases made to benefit relief efforts for Iraq, along with higher Malaysian palm oil prices and anticipation Thursday's export figures from the Agriculture Department will be positive.
Corn received a boost from export inspection figures and influence from soybeans.
Wheat rose in anticipation Congress would resolve differences in bills providing donations for food aid programs.
Oats were mixed.
The prices:
Soybeans: May 5.98 3/4 up 8, Jul 5.97 1/4 up 8 1/4, Aug 5.83 3/4 up 8 1/2, Nov 5.26 1/2 up 7.
Corn: May 2.43 1/4 up 4 1/4, Jul 2.44 1/2 up 4 3/4, Sep 2.43 3/4 up 4 3/4, Dec 2.43 3/4 up 4.
Wheat: May 2.90 1/4 up 5 1/4, Jul 2.94 1/4 up 5, Sep 2.99 1/4 up 4 1/4, Dec 3.09 1/4 up 4.
Oats: May 1.88 3/4 up 3 3/4, Jul 1.62 1/2 up 1, Sep 1.50 unch, Dec 1.47 off 1/4.
