Houses and farmlands in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures were flooded Thursday, Sept. 10, as Typhoon Etau which turned into a tropical cyclone brought about torrential rain in the Kansai and Tohoku regions. In Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture, banks of the Kinugawa River collapsed and a large area in the eastern side of the river was swallowed up by the muddy stream. A number of houses were swept away and greenhouses and rice plants which were almost ready to be harvested were submerged under water. “The river was flooded and water came closer and closer,” said Yukihiko Yamaki, 52, totally aghast by the heavy rain that he has never experienced before. He … Continue reading →

  45 percent of primary agricultural co-operatives (JAs) nationwide have become a member of local chambers of commerce and industry, indicating improved coordination between commercial and agricultural organizations, according to a survey conducted by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The survey showed that many farm co-ops and the chambers have cooperated in holding events, as well as developing new products and services. The chamber says such joint efforts by different industries is important to make good use of local resources and revitalize regional areas. The survey was conducted on chambers of commerce and industry nationwide between November last year and the end of January. 451 chambers, 88 percent … Continue reading →

  Daisuke Matsumoto Prices of skim milk powder — indispensable ingredient for calf feeding – have risen to a record high, becoming a serious concern for the wagyu cattle production industry. As market prices are predicted to remain high in the future, it may become difficult for the industry to meet the government’s goal of increasing wagyu production. According to the farm ministry’s agriculture price index, the price of skim milk powder for livestock feed stayed at around JPY10,000 per 20 kg since the end of 2013, nearly twice as much compared with a decade ago. Although the price dropped slightly in the recent months, it is still 20 percent … Continue reading →