USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service:update

USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service

The following GAIN reports were released on March 10, 2022. _______   Ethiopia: Food Inflation Stands High in Ethiopia despite Policy Measures to Stabilize Prices Ethiopia’s inflation rate remains persistently high, reaching 33.6 percent in February 2022. The headline inflation in February 2022 is lower than the 34.5 percent recorded in January 2022. Food inflation stood at 41.9 percent in February, up from 39.9 percent the previous month. Non-food inflation declined to 22.9 percent from 27.3 percent registered in January 2022. The major factors driving food inflation are spikes in price of cooking oils and fats, non-alcoholic beverages, bread and cereals, fish and sea foods, dairy, and meat products. Weak domestic market supply due to agricultural production constraints and steady devaluation of the local currency are among the major factors contributing to the staggeringly high inflation levels. Although the Ethiopian government took various policy actions including monetary, fiscal, and structural measures to control price escalations, the inflation levels remain in the double digits.   India: India - FSSAI Publishes Approved List of Specialty Products for Inborn - Congenital - Errors of Metabolism Conditions  On February 22, 2022, India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published Stds/SP-05/Orders/FSSAI (E1317). The order includes a list of conditions associated with inborn (congenital) errors of metabolism (IEM) along with the specialty food products that can be manufactured, sold, marketed, or imported to address these imbalances. The FSSAI implementation date for the approved list is April 1, 2022. Until such time, the FSSAI will continue to allow the import of specialty food products listed in its earlier directive of June 30, 2021.   India: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine - Impact on Fertilizer Supply and Use in India's Agricultural Sector Black Sea regional producers Ukraine and Russia are significant suppliers to India of nitrogen and potassic fertilizers utilized in agricultural production. FAS New Delhi sources indicate that a short supply of potassic fertilizers is unlikely to affect agricultural production prospects in the upcoming crop year in the major food grain belt of northwest India and the Indo Gangetic plains. However, select crops in India’s western and southern regions can be affected by short supplies as a drop in potassic fertilizer applications will impact the stress tolerance and quality performance of some crops. Fertilizer prices are expected to increase in the upcoming season.   India: Russian Invasion of Ukraine - Agricultural Trade Impact on India  Since initiating the hostilities, Vladimir Putin’s Russian Federation’s war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine has led to volatility in different sectors of the global economy. For India and the region, trade is disrupted in the grains, oilseeds, fertilizer, and energy sectors. Post sources inform us that some 380,000 MT of sunflower oil shipments destined for India from the Black Sea region are waylaid at ports. New purchases are being suspended for the foreseeable future due to the war. India is the largest market for Ukraine’s sunflower oil, which in 2021 exported $1.9 billion to India (out of $5.69 billion total). Disruption of sunflower oil consignments from Ukraine will potentially offer possibilities for increased U.S.-origin soybean oil shipments to India. The crisis has also improved Indian wheat and corn export prospects in the region.   Philippines: Philippines Streamlines Biotechnology Regulations with Revised Joint Department Circular On February 15, 2022, the Philippines approved the revised Joint Department Circular No. 1 (JDC), streamlining the regulatory policy governing plant biotechnology. Signed by five Department Secretaries, the document was published in two newspapers on March 8, 2022, and will go into effect 15 days later. The reforms are expected to shorten the timeline for approvals significantly and greatly reduce compliance costs for commercializing genetically engineered crops. Passage of the revised JDC again highlights Philippine leadership in biotechnology, following its approval of Golden Rice for commercial propagation in 2021. The science-based policy will foster agricultural innovation to help the country address Sustainable Development Goals of zero hunger (SDG 2) and climate action (SDG 13).   Thailand: The Impact of Russian Invasion of Ukraine on Thai Agricultural Sector Russian invasion of Ukraine is expected to significantly affect Thai agriculture. Agricultural production costs are expected to increase 7-13 percent in livestock production and 10-17 percent in field crops due to the surge in prices of feed-quality grains and fertilizers. Feed mills are expected to shift their feed wheat procurement to Australia during the supply disruption in Ukraine in 2022.   Thailand: Thailand's Food and Restaurant Trends in 2022 The COVID-19 health crisis continues to change the behavior of consumers and shaping new trends in the food and restaurant industry. Restaurants and retail stores are producing new products and services that are based on the consumer trends towards health and wellness.   Tunisia: Oilseeds and Products Annual Tunisian MY 2022/23 soybean imports are expected to reach 560,000 MT, compared to 555,000 MT in MY 2021/22. Tunisian olive oil exports are forecast to reach 135,000 MT in MY 2022/23, compared to 200,000 MT in MY 2021/22.   Turkey: Turkish Government Intervenes to Stabilize Cooking Oil Market Fearing rising prices and the perceived threat of sunflower oil shortages, customers have scrambled in recent days to stock up on cooking oils. The Turkish government has reassured the public that a shortage doesn't exist. At the same time, in order to stabilize local market conditions, the government recently halted cooking oil exports and also zeroed out tariffs on imported oils. Meanwhile, the purchase price of imported wheat continues its upward climb, and some local feed companies are reportedly considering limiting sales volumes if feed ingredient supplies become tight.   For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.

U.S. Census Bureau:update

 

Get the latest Pulse Survey releases. Stay up to date with COVID-19 data and Business Formation Statistics.

Weekly Pulse Newsletter The U.S. Census Bureau is in a unique position to produce data on the social and economic effects of COVID-19 on American households and small businesses.  Small Business Pulse Survey Updates: Phase 8 Explore Data See Data Tables Based on responses collected February 28 through March 6, 2022, the Small Business Pulse Survey estimates that: 20.5% of U.S. small businesses report that their business has returned to its normal level of operations 46.1% of U.S. construction small businesses were affected by availability of supplies or inputs used to provide goods or services in the last week. For responses collected 2/21-2/27, this statistic was 48.9% 15.6% of U.S. accommodation and food services small businesses experienced a decrease in the total number of hours worked by paid employees in the last week. For responses collected 2/21-2/27, this statistic was 16.6% 17.8% of U.S. small businesses report being affected by availability of current employees to work in the last week. For responses collected 2/21-2/27, this statistic was 19.9% 20.7% of U.S. small businesses report a decrease in revenues in the last week. For responses collected 2/21-2/27, this statistic was 22.5% U.S. small businesses experienced decreases in foreign supplier and production delays. 18.0% reported foreign supplier delays and 12.7% production delays in the last week. For 2/21-2/27, these were 19.1% and 13.9%, respectively Household Pulse Survey: Phase 3.4 Explore Data See Data Tables Phase 3.4 of the Household Pulse Survey is underway. Phase 3.4 includes a new question on receipt/intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster; modifications to questions relating to children’s vaccinations that expand response options to include children’s age categories; modified reference periods for school enrollment and spending questions; removal of an educational catch-up question; and a reinstated question related to distance learning. The first data will be released on March 23 and will continue to be released monthly until May 18, 2022. Help us spread the word about Census Bureau data. Share this on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This COVID-19 Data Hub & Additional Resources The Census Bureau's COVID-19 Data Hub is designed to help guide the nation as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic by providing economic and demographic data. Version 2.6 is now available! Read More Additional Resources:  Looking for local data on how to reach the most vulnerable populations in your area? Use our Community Resilience Estimates (CRE) and dashboard. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Resource Page Taking America’s Pulse: the COVID-19 Pandemic Providing Perspective During COVID-19 Using Census Data Business Formation Statistics Updates The February 2022 Business Formation Statistics Report came out this week. Visit the link below for data, graphs, and more. Latest Updates About the Data  Updates You May Have Missed  The Census Bureau released results from two analyses about the quality of the 2020 Census counts. While both showed the strength of the count for the total U.S. population, each analysis revealed that the 2020 Census overcounted or undercounted various demographic groups. Read More America Counts: Who Was Undercounted, Overcounted in the 2020 Census? The results show that there was no statistically significant net national coverage error. But there were some populations that were undercounted or overcounted such as young children, older adults and working-age men. Read More America Counts: Despite Efforts, Census Undercount of Young Children Persists Young children ages 0 to 4, a historically undercounted population in decennial censuses, continued to be undercounted in the 2020 Census despite major efforts by the Census Bureau to mitigate this problem.  Read More On March 17, we will release the latest round of American Community Survey (ACS) estimates — the 2016-2020 5-year estimates, which were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We know many people will be curious what the ACS estimates can tell us about impacts from the pandemic. However, it’s first important to recognize that ACS estimates are period estimates and to understand what that means for interpreting them. Read More  Our xD team is hiring for the next cohort of Emerging Technology Fellows! We’re looking for purpose-driven technologists and innovators to join this unique fellowship experience. Apply Projects include: Automated Change Detection in Satellite Imagery Deploying Privacy-Enhancing Technologies Learn more and apply today! The deadline is March 21. In case you missed it, Census Bureau Director Robert Santos is now on Twitter! Get to know him by following his official account. @CensusDirector You May Be Interested In: Blog: Thinking Differently About Perpetuating Excellence Video: Director Santos Delivers Remarks About 2020 Census Quality Results Upcoming Events and Observances The Census Bureau is holding a pre-release webinar to give the media and data users an overview of 1950 Census records set to be released from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on April 1. Learn More  The webinar will highlight statistics from the 1950 Census, provide historical context to how the 1950 Census was conducted, and provide information from the NARA on how to access these records when they become available to the public and what resources are available now.  More Webinars and Virtual Events: March 30: Comparing the American Community Survey and Current Population Survey March 24: The Psychology of Mapping Census Bureau Data March 22: Your Community by the Numbers: Race and Ethnicity March 22: Demonstration Data: Demographic and Housing Characteristics File March 16: data.census.gov News and Updates  March 16: New Insight for Linking Census Data with Vital Record Statistics  Featured Observances: Equal Pay Day: March 15, 2022 Pi Day: March 14, 2022 Sunshine Week & Freedom of Information Day: March 13-19 & 16, 2022 Irish-American Heritage Month and St. Patrick’s Day: March 2022 Women’s History Month: March 2022 Red Cross Month: March 2022 Frozen Food Month: March 2022 About the Census Bureau We serve as the nation's leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. The Census Bureau is the federal government's largest statistical agency. As the world's premier statistical agency, we are dedicated to making our nation a better place. Policy-makers, businesses, and the public use our data to make informed decisions.

Πανελλήνιος Διασυλλογικός Αγώνας Ιστιοπλοΐας Ν. Ευβοϊκού «Αιγεύς 2022»

ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ ΔΗΜΟΥ ΜΑΡΑΘΩΝΟΣ

2ος Open Πανελλήνιος Διασυλλογικός Αγώνας Ιστιοπλοΐας Ν. Ευβοϊκού «Αιγεύς 2022» το Σ/Κ 12-13 Μαρτίου

Συνεχίζεται και αύριο Σάββατο 12/3 και την Κυριακή 13/3 ο Πανελλήνιος Διασυλλογικός Αγώνας Ιστιοπλοΐας Ν. Ευβοϊκού «Αιγεύς 2022» στις 9.00 στο λιμανάκι της Νέας Μάκρης από την Ελληνική Ιστιοπλοϊκή Ομοσπονδία με την συνδιοργάνωση των Ναυτικών Ομίλων Νέας Μάκρης, Ματιού και Ραφήνας. Ο αγώνας θα ολοκληρωθεί το επόμενο Σαββατοκύριακο 19-20 Μαρτίου. Για λόγους ασφαλείας πριν την έναρξη οι συμμετέχοντες θα υποβληθούν σε δωρεάν rapid test από κλιμάκιο του ΕΟΔΥ που θα βρίσκεται στο σημείο από τις 8.00 και στηρίζει από την πρώτη ημέρα την διοργάνωση, κατόπιν αιτήματος του Δημάρχου Μαραθώνος Στέργιου Τσίρκα. Ευχόμαστε καλή επιτυχία σε όλους τους διαγωνιζόμενους.