Tuesday, April 29, 2014
China’s Dairy Appetite Satisfied for Now
But some believe recent declines in world dairy prices represent a market correction, rather than a shift into a bear-market cycle.
U.S. Dairy Export Council:
The world dairy markets have turned in the last 8-10 weeks, with Oceania milk powder and butter prices down around 15% and European prices down 5-10% compared with their mid-February peak. Oceania whole milk powder prices are the lowest in more than a year.
Supply shortages have eased – a combination of very strong production out of Oceania and Europe, and a break in China’s ravenous appetite. Since last August, milk production in the EU-28 and New Zealand is up almost 5% from the prior year – an additional 620,000 tons of milk per month. Record milk prices have created a strong incentive to push volume, and weather has been favorable for cows. In Europe, the final year of milk quota is underway.
In the first quarter of the year, China imported 564,000 tons of milk powder, cheese, butterfat and whey, up 58% from the prior year. This massive volume of imports absorbed the growing world supply. But they’ve pushed themselves away from the table in April.
In China and elsewhere, buyers have short-term needs covered. With prices falling, many are willing and able to wait until the market stabilizes before extending coverage.
We believe recent declines represent a market correction, rather than a shift into a bear-market cycle. We look for prices to find support in the next month or two. After a year of purchasing hand-to-mouth, buyers’ pipeline holdings are still relatively low and they can’t hold out for long. Oceania is heading into its off season, leaving a hole in world supply. U.S. production, too, is sluggish.
Supply shortages have eased – a combination of very strong production out of Oceania and Europe, and a break in China’s ravenous appetite. Since last August, milk production in the EU-28 and New Zealand is up almost 5% from the prior year – an additional 620,000 tons of milk per month. Record milk prices have created a strong incentive to push volume, and weather has been favorable for cows. In Europe, the final year of milk quota is underway.
In the first quarter of the year, China imported 564,000 tons of milk powder, cheese, butterfat and whey, up 58% from the prior year. This massive volume of imports absorbed the growing world supply. But they’ve pushed themselves away from the table in April.
In China and elsewhere, buyers have short-term needs covered. With prices falling, many are willing and able to wait until the market stabilizes before extending coverage.
We believe recent declines represent a market correction, rather than a shift into a bear-market cycle. We look for prices to find support in the next month or two. After a year of purchasing hand-to-mouth, buyers’ pipeline holdings are still relatively low and they can’t hold out for long. Oceania is heading into its off season, leaving a hole in world supply. U.S. production, too, is sluggish.
Other Key Factors
• Among the five major suppliers, milk production in the December-February period was up about 3.2%.
• New Zealand milk production for the current season is on track to finish about 9% ahead of a year ago, despite dryness on the north island. March output was up about 21% vs. last year, when widespread drought led to an early end to the season. Australia production is now slightly ahead of the depressed levels of a year ago, but will likely finish the year down about 1%.
• In December-February, EU-28 exports of milk powder, cheese, butterfat and whey were up 18% from the prior year, with a 41% jump in milk powder sales. In January, EU production of SMP was up 10% and WMP was up 11% vs. the year before. In January, EU SMP exports topped 50,000 tons for the first time since May 2012.
• China probably accounted for close to 25% of world dairy trade in the first quarter. Purchases of milk powder, whey products, butterfat and cheese were 564,000 tons.
• A new Algerian milk powder tender – for about 45,000 tons -- is reported to be in the works, with delivery prior to Ramadan (June 28). This should provide market support.
• Flooding in Argentina has knocked milk deliveries below the already-depressed levels of a year ago, limiting exportable supplies. Uruguay, too, is suffering from flooding.
• Russia has banned cheese from six of Ukraine’s leading exporters, causing inventories to build and manufacturers to direct milk supplies to butter and powder. About 85% of Ukraine’s cheese exports last year – 4,100 tons per month– went to Russia.
• Russia imports of butterfat were up 25% in the November-February period. Russian milk production was down 4% last year and is tracking 1-2% lower in early 2014.
Whether harvested early for scallions (green onions), for summer meals, or winter storage, onions need rich, well-drained soil and good weed control. Tightly spaced green onions fit well in ornamental plantings.
GROWING NOTES
Well-drained, rich soil, high in organic matter, neutral pH. Optimum pH is 6.2 to 6.8. Requires plentiful, even moisture for good yields.
Biennial grown as annual.
Easy if you have rich well-drained soil and good weed control.
Usually does not flower unless grown from sets that are too large (more than ½ to ¾ inches in diameter), or young plants (direct seeded or transplanted) are stressed by abnormally cold weather.
MAINTAINING
Can be direct-seeded, grown from transplants started inside, or from sets -- small bulbs about ½-inch in diameter grown from seed the previous season.
Choose a weed-free, well-drained location. Raised beds are ideal. Onions are good for intercropping with other garden plants, especially early-maturing spring greens. Do not plant where other onion family crops have been grown in the past 3 years.
Direct-seeding in the garden may not allow enough time for long-season varieties to mature, but is fine for shorter-season varieties or for scallions - onions harvested before the bulb forms.
Direct-seed in spring when the soil reaches 50 F. Plant seed ¼ inch deep, ½ inch apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Thin to 4-inch spacings for large bulbs, 2-inch spacings for smaller bulbs but higher yields, or 1-inch spacings for scallions.
Start transplants inside about 8 to 10 weeks before last frost date. Plant 4 or 5 seeds in each cell, or seed in flats ¼ inch deep and ½ inch apart. If tops grow too tall and begin to droop, trim back to about 3 inches tall with scissors. After hardening off, transplant 2 to 4 weeks before last frost date. Space 4 inches apart for large bulbs, 2 inches apart for smaller bulbs, or 1 inch apart for scallions.
From sets: Choose bulbs no larger than ¾ inch in diameter. Large bulbs are more prone to bolting. Plant sets about 1 inch deep 2 to 4 weeks before last frost date. Space 4 inches apart for large bulbs or 2 inches apart for smaller bulbs.
Onions have shallow root systems and need consistent moisture and good weed control. Water weekly if weather is dry, and mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
visit again for more information on harvesting
GROWING NOTES
Well-drained, rich soil, high in organic matter, neutral pH. Optimum pH is 6.2 to 6.8. Requires plentiful, even moisture for good yields.
Biennial grown as annual.
Easy if you have rich well-drained soil and good weed control.
Usually does not flower unless grown from sets that are too large (more than ½ to ¾ inches in diameter), or young plants (direct seeded or transplanted) are stressed by abnormally cold weather.
MAINTAINING
Can be direct-seeded, grown from transplants started inside, or from sets -- small bulbs about ½-inch in diameter grown from seed the previous season.
Choose a weed-free, well-drained location. Raised beds are ideal. Onions are good for intercropping with other garden plants, especially early-maturing spring greens. Do not plant where other onion family crops have been grown in the past 3 years.
Direct-seeding in the garden may not allow enough time for long-season varieties to mature, but is fine for shorter-season varieties or for scallions - onions harvested before the bulb forms.
Direct-seed in spring when the soil reaches 50 F. Plant seed ¼ inch deep, ½ inch apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Thin to 4-inch spacings for large bulbs, 2-inch spacings for smaller bulbs but higher yields, or 1-inch spacings for scallions.
Start transplants inside about 8 to 10 weeks before last frost date. Plant 4 or 5 seeds in each cell, or seed in flats ¼ inch deep and ½ inch apart. If tops grow too tall and begin to droop, trim back to about 3 inches tall with scissors. After hardening off, transplant 2 to 4 weeks before last frost date. Space 4 inches apart for large bulbs, 2 inches apart for smaller bulbs, or 1 inch apart for scallions.
From sets: Choose bulbs no larger than ¾ inch in diameter. Large bulbs are more prone to bolting. Plant sets about 1 inch deep 2 to 4 weeks before last frost date. Space 4 inches apart for large bulbs or 2 inches apart for smaller bulbs.
Onions have shallow root systems and need consistent moisture and good weed control. Water weekly if weather is dry, and mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
visit again for more information on harvesting
Monday, April 14, 2014
what is your take on retirement
Most countries impose a labor rule that employees whether in private sectors or government offices are entitled to have their retirement once they reach 65 years old. Some people feel that this rule should be strictly enforce, however, other people think that it should be optional and they should be given a chance to decide for themselves. This essay will examine whether it should be obligatory to all workers who reached 65 years of age to refrain in working.
There are numerous reasons why some people find it necessary to strictly implement a rule for retirement age. The first reason is that according to research conducted by World Health Organization the lifespan of human being nowadays will range between 50 and 70 years old. It is highly advisable that those people that reached the retirement age should enjoy the rest of their life with their love ones. They should find time together with their family to enjoy the nature as well, by visiting exciting and fascinating wonders of nature such as tranquil and magnificent mountains, white-sand beaches and serene farms. Secondly, many old workers have very slow performance and hesitate to venture in innovation because they want to avoid risk and prefer to be conservative. Because of this, we should provide an avenue for young and dynamic people to contribute in the society by allowing them to assume the position that old workers are about to leave. Furthermore, most old workers have sickness like hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and other body pains that cause them to absent from their work and become inefficient. If those people are holding key positions and having health related problems, that will surely have detrimental effects to the society and economy.
On the other hand, some workers does not have family to share their remaining years and they opted to continue working rather than spending the rest of their life waiting for their final days sitting and eating inside their house. They want and very much willing to continue in contributing to the society because they find enjoyment on their career and they become more energetic doing the jobs that they are used to do. Another important point is that all people were affected by global economic crisis. Therefore, they need to continue working in order to support their family especially those who still have children that are still studying. Lastly, there are countries like Japan, Switzerland and Sweden who have more old citizens than young ones. If they will be forced to stop working once they reach their retirement age, it will totally impede the growth of economy.
In conclusion, I can find valid reasons for both arguments. However, I do not think that age should force old people to stop with their career. I firmly believe that we should give chance to old workers to choose whether they are willing to continue or to retire.
Agriculture has always been looked upon by the current generation. I can remember my days in high school when my fellow colleagues used to look down upon me as an agriculture student. The subject in itself is enjoyable but only to those with passion. Let the passion you have be your driving force.
In this blog I will majorly focus on Agriculture, because my passion for it has never perished ever since the days of high school.
In this blog I will majorly focus on Agriculture, because my passion for it has never perished ever since the days of high school.
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