CropsHot, dry weather could fuel severe Bemisia tabaci outbreaks in the 2026/27 season; a consultant says unmanaged infestations can cut yields by 10 to 70 percent and urges treatment at the first nymphs.
EnvironmentNutrien Ag Solutions' Eric Snodgrass says an El Nino that has already passed the 2015 record helped bring up to 30 inches of rain to parts of the Corn Belt in August and September, with a drier window and a warm northern winter ahead.
Market ManagementThe FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points in September, up 1.5 percent on August, as cereal, sugar and vegetable oil prices climbed while FAO cut its forecast for world cereal output and trade.
EnvironmentIMD data to 29 September show 758.5 mm against a normal 865 mm; the northeast and south were hardest hit, while Odisha and Uttar Pradesh had more rain than normal.
WorldUnicef says 25.8 million children in Latin America, one in seven, face growing risks from droughts and floods brought by a record El Nino, with harvest losses raising malnutrition risk in Central America.
Market ManagementThe IGC sees a 90% chance of a very strong El Nino peaking in November, with world wheat and maize output each down 3%, though wheat futures kept falling on geopolitics and UK yields came in well below average.
EnvironmentWarm El Nino water travelling along the Pacific as a 'Kelvin wave' is heading for California, where it can raise sea levels and worsen flooding from tides and storms, scientists warn.
CropsThe Department of Agriculture counts 223,214 farmers and 249,028 hectares affected in 14 of 18 regions, and warns losses will rise as a very strong El Nino is forecast from October.
HealthUniversity of Chicago researchers project 66,800 extra heat deaths in Nigeria, Sudan, Niger and Chad, where poverty and scarce electricity leave people unable to cool down.
CropsWeather service and SADC outlooks favour below-normal rain and above-normal temperatures from October, but past El Nino years show strength alone does not decide the season.
EnvironmentWith Category 3 Hurricane Polo threatening landfall, power went out in parts of Mexico's Baja California peninsula and sea water broke through sand barriers at the fishing port of Puerto San Carlos.
EnvironmentAt the launch of a plan to install 100,000 weather stations in Africa, speakers said growers need clear spray-or-not advice and local trial results, not more raw data, as El Nino narrows their options.
CropsIndia's Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra told a national rabi conference that El Niño could cut foodgrain output from rainfed areas this winter, and set out priorities from crop diversification to farmer IDs.
