1. Japan's largest agricultural cooperative group, the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA), is increasing advance payments to rice farmers for this year's autumn harvests, indicating a likely high market price for rice again this year.
2. The prepayments from JA are used by farmers for purchasing seedlings, fertilizers, and agricultural equipment for the next harvest season, serving as a benchmark for the staple grain's market price.
3. Increased payments are being offered in various prefectures, with some regions like Niigata offering up to 30,000 yen (approximately $200) per 60 kilograms of rice, representing a significant increase compared to last year. This is due to concerns over rising costs of fertilizers, farming equipment, and extreme heat affecting rice quality and yield. The predicted retail price for autumn harvests could reach around 4,500 yen ($30) per 5 kilograms.