Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture report that farmers have
purchased 11% more fertiliser this year than last, which if read in
conjunction with all the other announcements about increased productivity
suggest farmers are heading for another bumper crop in 2017.
History, however, shows us that the correlation between fertiliser
use in Russia and crop yield is weak, like no statistical correlation at all, kind
of weak, so I wouldn't read too much into it.
Elsewhere and the Russian Government published a “significantly
modified” draft of the quarantine phytosanitary control of imported planting seeds and planting materials regulations according to the USDA.
The inference seems to be that they are extremely bureaucratic,
cumbersome and effectively amount to a trade barrier. It’s being hammered out in the WTO as we
speak so watch this space.
Meanwhile in the southern Russia region of Krasnodar Krai, an
outbreak of African swine fever could disrupt grain exports if the Russian veterinary
and phytosanitary service, Rosselkhoznadzor, decide to impose quarantine restrictions
to prevent the spread of the disease.
The head of Rosselkhoznadzor, Sergei Dankvert, said that a
decision on a quarantine zone would be made this week. Watch this space.
Ukraine and the government has submitted to the Verkhovna
Rada a draft law on the basic principles and requirements for organic
production and certification.
I assume the standards will naturally be aligned to IFOAM standards
thus allowing the eventual organic produce that will appear once this is all in
place to be exported to the EU where the market for organic produce will be
because I doubt very much if there will be any sizeable market in Ukraine.
I’m sure someone has checked, watch this space.