El Niño Readiness (Philippines): The Department of Agriculture says it’s “more prepared” for a potentially strong El Niño, expanding rice and fertilizer purchases, adding food storage (365 active NFA warehouses), and opening cold storage to protect meat and vegetables. Sugar Supply Watch (Philippines): The Sugar Regulatory Administration asked the USDA for until November to confirm whether the country can meet its US sugar export quota as El Niño is expected to cut output and stakeholders push for all production to go to domestic use. Livestock Disease Alerts (Namibia/Indonesia): Namibia confirmed 79 new FMD cases across 11 farms in Karasburg, while Indonesia stepped up anthrax control in Yogyakarta after a case was detected. Farm Policy & Payments (Egypt): Prime Minister Madbouly reviewed progress on settling sugarcane farmers’ dues and strategic commodity procurement prices. On-the-Ground Farming Tech (California): Santa Cruz County began a $175,000 steam-treatment pilot to test soil steaming as a lower-risk alternative to fumigation for berry crops. Crop Progress (Canada): Saskatchewan harvest hit about 63% complete, with winter cereals and pulses nearly wrapped up despite quality downgrades from weather. Rural Livelihoods (Namibia): Otjinene’s councillor urged farmers to back new leadership of the Otjinene Farmers Association. Food Prices Risk (Global): Economists warn soaring energy costs could feed into higher food prices.