HOW TO GROW A CASHEW TREE.

Cashew or Anacardium occidentale originates from the Caribbean Island and the North East of Brazil. But today it is grown in several other tropical parts of the world. Mostly in Africa, India and Southeast Asia for cashew nuts.

It is also called as cashew apple tree; it is part of the Anacardiaceae family, the same family that belongs to pistachio and mango.

Cashew tree can grow up to 6 – 12 m (20 – 40 f) high. Its evergreen leaves are oval, leathery and dark green. They have a prominent midrib.
The flowers, white and pink are gathered in inflorescence at the tips of young shoots. They are smaller in size but very fragrant.

As for the fruits of this tree, do not be fooled by appearances. The cashew apple is oval-shaped, like bell pepper: yellow, orange or red in color is a false fruit (it is also edible). The real fruit, more discreet is a nut attached to the end of the fake fruit. It is that which contains the edible kernel, which we called cashew.

How to Grow Cashew Tree from Seed

Cashew tree can be grown from seeds, air layering, and grafting. To propagate it from seeds, you will need a matured unshelled nut (seed). These seeds are viable up to 4 months.

If you have collected the fresh seed from the tree, dry it in the sun for 3 days and soak in water overnight before sowing.
Sow the seeds in good quality seed starting mix; the seeds will germinate anywhere from 4 days to 3 weeks.

Requirements for Growing Cashew Nuts Tree

Sun

Cashew tree needs at least 6 hours of direct sun, it grows slowly and doesn’t fruit if grown in the shade.

Soil

Cashew prefers poor sandy and laterite soil with the pH level around 5 – 6.5. Never grow cashew tree in a clay-rich soil. It is heavy and encourages waterlogging, and in the case of growing cashew tree, the soil you use should be well drained in a way that water will flow smoothly.

Water
Cashew trees are moderately drought tolerant once established, but they produce more fruits if watered regularly. During the summer, water weekly or twice and deeply. Reduce or withhold watering during winter. Overwatering can harm or even kill your cashew tree, so water only if soil is dry and let the soil to dry out between spells of watering.

FERTILIZER
Cashew tree needs regular application of fertilizer to grow vigorously and produce fruits. Use slow release fertilizer with N-P-K 8 – 3 – 9 according to the product instructions given on the packet, around the base of the tree every two months during growing season. Also apply compost or farm manure once in a year, around 30 pounds (15 kg) on the surface of the soil to a mature tree.

Cashew Nuts Growing Care

Pruning

Prune cashew trees regularly to remove weak, dead and entangled branches and branches that are infested with diseases or pests. Also, cut overcrowded branches to promote vigorous growth.

Mulching

Do mulching around your cashew tree with organic matters to prevent weeds and to conserve moisture.

Pests and Diseases

The cashew tree is generally pest free if it is in good health. Major pests that attack it are tea mosquito, stem and root borer, leaf Miner and blossom Webber.

Harvesting and Cashew Nut Processing

Harvest when cashew apples turn pink or red and cashew nut shell are gray. After harvesting, separate the cashew apple from the nut.

Cashew apple can be eaten raw or make juice of it. Unshelled cashew nut can be stored up to 2 years.
Do not attempt to break the shell before roasting; cashew shell contains very caustic oil which can burn skin.

When processing cashew nut at home must wear gloves and safety glasses and take special care. To learn more on how to process cashew

Cashew Nuts Growing Tips

• Sow fresh cashew seeds for germination, as they germinate easily.
• A tree grown from seeds take 3 to 5 years to produce its first fruits. Our recommendation is to buy a potted plant from a nursery, this way you’ll not have to wait that long.
• Choose a location that is well protected from the wind.
• Cashew grows better when the temperature remains around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (25 C) although it can withstand temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 C) and as high as 105 Fahrenheit (40.5 C) without any problem.
• Keep the area around the base of your cashew tree free from weeds, small shrubs, vines, and debris.
• One of the most delicious and healthiest nuts cashews are an amazing source of nutrients, and not only the cashew nuts but its fruit cashew apple is nutritious too. It is a rich source of vitamin C, five times more than an orange. It also contains higher amounts of calcium, iron and vitamin B1, which is more than most of the fruits. To know more about the benefits of cashew nuts
  

  Benefits of Cashew Nuts

  Watch for sick or dead branches, prune them if necessary. NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

CROSS RIVER SIGN AGREEMENT WITH CHINA ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Cross River State government and Hunan province of China, have signed a sister-state agreement to partner in areas of manufacturing, construction, agriculture and education.

The Hunan 50-man delegation was received on arrival at the Margaret Ekpo International airport, Calabar, by the deputy governor, Prof Ivara Esu.

During the pact signing ceremony held at the State Executive chamber, Calabar, Governor Ben Ayade, said: “Hunan and Cross River must come together to form a new economic embrace that depicts cross-economy, culture, respect and prosperity to the two divides.”

Explaining that Cross River State remains the epicenter of tourism with a people highly moderated by their conduct and act, the governor charged the investors to “capture and explore the African market, take advantage of the 1.3billion Africa people waiting to buy your products by using Cross River as your base.”

In demonstration of the sister-states commitment, Ayade announced the donation of land for the establishment of China town in Calabar.

The governor said that Cross River also provides hospitality and create investors ambience for local and international investors.

“Open your hearts to the great businesses as we conduct you round. You are going to have great opportunities in pharmaceuticals, construction, infrastructure, agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing and final end products. The opportunity is limitless and great, even as the landscape is illimitable,” the governor hinted.

Ayade, who said he was overwhelmed by the visit, further disclosed that “the first 50 investors that will come from Hunan to invest in the state will have land for free to establish their factories.”
Assuring the team of President Muhammadu Buhari’s interest in Cross River and his resolve to ensure that the various projects in the state were completed, the governor said: “We have the President of the country with us, he is ready to make sure that your investment in Cross River and indeed Nigeria is fully protected while ensuring that your investment in the country is also expanded.”

Earlier, Vice Governor of Hunan province in the Peoples Republic of China, Bao Xiang, explained that his team was in the state to not only get the pact implemented, but to ensure that the relationship between China and Nigeria got a boost.

Xiang who spoke through an interpreter disclosed that Hunan has over 73million people, located in the Central part of China with 210,000sq km of land, adding that “in 2016, the total GDP of the province was 430billion US dollars and after more than 30 years’ development, Hunan transited from traditional to a modern province.”

The vice governor explained that his team intended to go into agriculture, education, infrastructure development, manufacturing and cultural partnership with Cross River. He expressed the hope that the relationship between the sister-states will yield fruitful results that will tremendously impact on both countries. BY BABATUNDE AKINSOLA.

WEATHER AND OUTSIDE MONEY FLOW TO DIRECT CORN MARKETS NEXT WEEK.

Early on Friday morning, it appeared that fund selling was active once again. That selling took the July futures contract under the first chart support level, which then worked back above that level when the selling slowed. Looking back at Thursday's selling, we see that open interest increased by 22,000 contracts showing new sellers which many will be quick to attribute to fund activity.

Friday's noon weather maps continued to suggest active rains in the six- to 10-day outlook. Rains during that time frame have been in the forecast since Wednesday with little market reaction. If there were any changes in the noon update, it was increasing rains in the 11- to 15-day time frame. A combination of funds wrapping up their buying for the day along with these maps could have caused the move back to flat where July actually spent most of the day.

If Sunday night's maps are just as wet as in Friday's forecast, we can at least expect support in Sunday night trade. Once the day session starts Monday, it will become a combination of weather maps and seeing if funds return with selling once again. Short-term, we need to factor in fund activity equally with weather forecasts to determine direction next week. Long-term, we still have to figure that weather forecasts will determine the longer term direction of this market.

Bulls

• Bulls will be looking for Friday's weather forecast to continue into Sunday night suggesting slowed planting reports going forward.
• Bulls will need funds to move back to the sidelines, eventually funds will need to cover current short positions but that could be quite some time down the road.
• Monday's five-year average planting pace will be 16%. Bulls will want to see the planting pace come in at any amount under that level.

Bears

• Funds are by far still the #1 factor on the bearish side, even if Friday's COT report shows them adding to shorts there will likely be much more room before reaching record shorts of 229,000.
• Bears were likely happy to see recent lows taken out Friday and will want to see fall/winter lows of 357 1/4 taken out as well.
• If those lows are taken out the next (and last), chart support will be contract lows of 340 1/4. BY RICH NELSON

IMPROVING CORN YIELDS WITH WEX

Planting has commenced and the corn markets are still down. That being said, many farmers are looking for ways to increase their corn yields without hurting their bottom line. One solution many have turned to is the use of a soil amendment product. Such products have shown to help corn crops develop deeper, strong root systems throughout the growing season and higher yields at harvest.
Beck’s Practical Farm Research (PFR)® started testing soil amendment products in an effort to provide farmers with the data and information they needed to make the most informed decisions when purchasing these crop performance inputs. One such product is Wex®, a soil amendment product made by Conklin.


Wex® is a multipurpose wetting agent that maximizes the effectiveness of pre-plant, pre-emergent and some post-emergent liquid-applied fertilizer and pesticides with improved suspension. It’s exclusive nutrient-related action (NRA) technology is designed to stimulate root development and improve water and nutrient absorption.

While results varied across the three PFR sites that tested Wex in 2016, mid-season differences such as increased root growth were observed in corn crops where Wex had been applied when compared to the control.


Data from the last two years across multiple locations has shown a +4.99/A. average return on investment (ROI). In 2016, Beck’s PFR site in southern Illinois saw the greatest success with Wex with a $6.73/A. ROI increase and a yield increase of over 3 Bu./A.
The PFR team will continue testing this product in 2017 to determine its ability to stimulate root development, improve water and nutrient uptake, and increase yield and profitability. BY BECKS HYBRID.

LIVESTOCK-CME LIVE CATTLE SCORES 1YEAR TOP FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT DAY.

* Feeder cattle futures end mixed
* USDA cattle report mildly bearish for futures Monday
* Lean hog contracts post more losses
By Theopolis Waters
CHICAGO, April 21 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange
live cattle notched a one-year high for a fourth
consecutive session on Friday, bolstered by improved wholesale
beef demand and futures' discounts to this week's cash prices,
traders said.
Analysts viewed the U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly
Cattle-On-Feed report, issued after the market closed, as mildly
bearish for futures on Monday.
The report showed U.S. cattle ranchers in March placed 11.0
percent more cattle into feedlots than a year ago in a record
high for the month.
"Some people are still focused on this strong wholesale beef
market and exciting situation with the market hitting new
highs," said Allendale Inc chief strategist Rich Nelson,
explaining why traders might take Friday's bearish report in
stride.
Friday afternoon's average wholesale beef price climbed
$1.44 per cwt to $217.16 from Thursday. Select cuts rose 32
cents to $203.89, the USDA said.
Packers this week paid $130 to $133 per cwt for cattle, as
much as $5 higher than last week given good beef demand, tight
cattle supplies and profitable packer margins.
Investors may expect steady-to-better cash prices next week
as long as beef demand holds up, said traders and analysts.
On Monday USDA will issue the monthly cold storage report at
2 p.m. CDT (1900 GMT) that will include March total beef and
pork inventories.
A few analysts, on average, projected last month's total
beef stocks at 491.8 million pounds and 546.1 million for pork.
CME feeder cattle April futures tracked the exchange's
feeder cattle index for April 20 at 138.05, but profit-taking
pressured the May contract.
April feeder cattle ended 0.650 cent per pound
higher at 138.550 cents. Actively-traded May ended 0.500
cent lower at 139.250 cents.
HOGS AGAIN HIT NEW LOWS
CME May lean hogs slumped to a fresh contract low, and
deferred contracts again racked up new monthly lows, pressured
by their premiums to the exchange's hog index for April 19 at
61.59 cents, said traders.
They also said futures prices may be over-valued based on
current cash hog prices.
May closed 0.775 cent per pound lower at 63.025
cents, and posted a new contract low of 62.500 cents.
Most-actively traded June ended down 0.350 cent at
68.325 cents, its lowest since Oct. 3, 2016.
Fallen futures reflect farmers being paid less for their
animals as supplies grew seasonally and after packers closed
plants during the Easter holiday, said traders. BY THEOPOLIS REUTERS.