Could El Niño Return in 2015?

Once more there is an increased risk that an El Niño weather phenomenon may occur according to weather forecasters.

Last week the US Climate Prediction Centre reported the possibility of El Niño occurring by summer 2015 had reached 70 per cent. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology quickly followed suit.

The phenomenon typically brings drier weather to South East Asia (main palm oil production area) and Australia, and can cause severe drought.

The impacts vary depending on the time of year El Niño develops and in its strength - continue reading.

Is South Korea a changing market for rice?

US exports have averaged more than 104,000 MT of rice to Korea annually over the past six years - representing about 25 per cent of the roughly 410,000 MT imported by volume, or 26 per cent of imports by value.

However, a shift may be coming. While Korea continues to purchase US rice, officials are attempting to manage rice supplies that exceed domestic demand.

In 2013, Korea's rice harvest produced a nearly 200,000 ton surplus. In reaction, the Korean agriculture ministry is looking west to tap into China's rice market - continue reading.

Also this week...

The NFU is urging UK MEPs to reject a draft law limiting the amount of crops involved in biofuel production which is to be presented to the European Parliament (EP) at the end of the month.

This is the last EP vote on the draft before it is instated as legislation and comes after extensive debates on Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) in a European Council, Parliament and Commission trialogue and in the Environment Committee - read more.

~ Gemma