News and Information from Around the World Wheat Industry

 

Speaking of Wheat

“The agricultural equipment market is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements and changing agricultural practices. Innovations in precision agriculture, automation, and sustainability are transforming the industry, offering opportunities for growth and efficiency improvements. As farmers continue to embrace these technologies, the future of agriculture looks increasingly digital, connected, and sustainable.” – From “Agricultural Equipment Market: Innovations and Trends Shaping the Future,” CropLife.com.

Congressional Staff, USDA Visit Wheat Farm

The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) and Maryland farmer Eric Spates hosted a farm tour June 25, giving congressional staff and USDA officials to observe wheat harvest and discuss farm policy. One of NWF’s main tour goals is educating officials about the complex issues that affect farm families and the meticulous stewardship they practice to maintain a viable food production operation. Read more here.

Spring Wheat Conditions Remain Positive

The North Dakota Wheat Commission reports that the U.S. spring wheat crop is now 18% headed out, ranging from 11% in North Dakota to 44% in South Dakota, close to the 5-year average. Mild weather is helping the crop develop normally, a contrast to last year when hot conditions pushed crop development. Condition ratings remain high with 71% of the U.S. crop rated in good to excellent condition. That is down from 76% last week but compare that to 50% at this time last year. Read more here.

Responsible Plant Breeding Innovation

Agri-Pulse reports that seed trait developers are looking for ways to show they are using gene editing responsibly, including a management program for companies engaged in developing gene edited plant products, which involves altering plant DNA without introducing foreign genetic material. The Plant Breeding Innovation Management Program “establishes a common set of best practices as we address the diversity of varied regulatory frameworks around the world while embracing the opportunities presented by gene editing,” said the CEO of Global Stewardship Group (GSG), which developed the program. Read more here.

Historic Wheat Lines Yield Genetic Diversity for Research

An international study, published in Nature, has revealed that 60% of the genetic diversity found in a historic collection of wheat is unused, providing a unique opportunity to improve modern wheat and sustainably feed a growing global population. A collaboration led by the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, China, together with United Kingdom research teams from Rothamsted and other institutions, studied the A.E. Watkins Landrace Collection, and compared those lines with modern wheats, helping facilitate wheat research and development. Read more here.

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News and Information from Around the World Wheat Industry

Speaking of Wheat

“I think, overall, the earliest [U.S. spring wheat] seeded … in the first and second week of April looks good. I don’t see any stand problems. We’re going to see a little bit of drown-outs with some standing water in the fields. The crop that got seeded late, in the third week of April, especially in the Southern [Red River] Valley, is all … popping out of the ground now so I think we’re in good shape.” – University of Minnesota Small Grains Specialist Jochum Wiersma.

Chinese Bakery Team Workshop

A recent U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Bakery Products team from China hosted by the Wheat Marketing Center completed markets surveys to better understand the wide variety of wheat products in the U.S. market. They were very interested in frozen dough products like bagels and biscuits that can be baked in an air fryer of particular interest because most Chinese households do not have an oven.  This adaptation of U.S. formulations with frozen doughs could create new markets for these products made with US origin wheats. The team also travelled to Oregon’s North Willamette Valley for a visit to Loren Behrman’s farm (photo above).

Additional FY 2024 Export Credit Funds Available Under GSM-102

On May 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced increased availability of export credit guarantees for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Commodity Credit Corporation’s (CCC) Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) for fiscal year 2024. Total available funds are $3.34 billion. Further details of the announcements may be found at:  https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/export-credit-guarantee-program-gsm-102/gsm-102-allocations.

K-State Innovation Center to Start with Additional Funding

Kansas State University announced on May 8 that ADM has pledged $1 million to the university’s Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation, one of four new or renovated facilities included in the university’s visionary Agriculture Innovation Initiative led by the College of Agriculture. There will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the facility May 17. With a focus on interdisciplinary research and development, 30% of the Global Center’s space will be allocated for public and private collaboration. It also will include modern milling and baking research and teaching laboratories and classrooms. Read more here.

HB4 Drought Tolerant Wheat Offered to Argentine Farmers

Reuters reported May 15 that Bioceres Crop Solutions has begun sales of HB4 genetically modified (GM) wheat seeds in Argentina, the first time the technology has been commercially available to farmers anywhere in the world according to CEO Federico Trucco. Trucco told Reuters that after years of tests followed by planting under pilot agreements between Bioceres and a small number of farmers, the company has started distributing seeds to agricultural input retail companies in the South American country. “Hopefully we can have it available in Brazil as well, in one or two seasons,” Trucco said. Read more here. Also read more about the U.S. wheat industry position on biotechnology.

2024 World Food Prize Laureates Established Global Seed Vault

Dr. Geoffrey Hawtin OBE of the U.K. and Canada and Dr. Cary Fowler of the U.S. will share the $500,000 award for their work to preserve the world’s heritage of seeds. The two men played key roles in establishing the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which today holds 1.25 million seed samples of more than 6,000 plant species in an underground facility in the Arctic Circle. The repository, often referred to as the “Doomsday Vault,” opened in 2008 and stands as the last line of defense against threats to global food security, including pandemics and climate catastrophes. Read more here.

Dam Breaching Article Series

The Idaho Wheat Commission shared a link recently to a series of three articles in the Idaho Dispatch online news outlet examining “The Ramifications and Reality of Breaching the Dams of the Pacific Northwest.” Buyers who source U.S. soft white, hard red winter, and hard red spring wheat from PNW ports will benefit from understanding the competing political and commercial interests behind this topic. At stake is the current efficient barging of wheat from interior Idaho and Washington.

Potential Canadian Rail Strike a Threat to All Ag Shippers

The Agricultural Transportation Working Group representing U.S. farm organizations including the National Association of Wheat Growers has urged Canadian government officials to take “swift action” to avoid the Canadian rail strike that could begin as soon as May 22. “A rail stoppage would lead to shutdowns or slowdowns … resulting in devastating consequences to national and global food security,” the groups said in a letter released by the National Grain and Feed Association. “Our memberships rely on freight rail to move essential products across Canada and the U.S., and a disruption to CN and CPKC’s rail service could ripple across North America.”

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo and YouTube, and more on LinkedIn.

 

News and Information from Around the World Wheat Industry

Speaking of Wheat

“USW received an invitation to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister al Sudani during his trip to Washington, DC. He was accompanied by the Director General of the Grain Board of Iraq, who we met with privately ahead of the meeting with the Prime Minister. This was an opportunity for us to remark to the Prime Minister about USW’s relationship with Iraqi Grain Board and the efforts that USW has extended in our work with Iraq’s flour milling industry going back more than 50 years.” – U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) President Vince Peterson. Read more here.

Ana Laura Salinas Marks 25 Years with USW

Ana Laura joined the USW Mexico City office in 1999 and serves as Regional Finance and Administration Manager. “Over the past 25 years, Ana Laura has played a pivotal role in the overall financial management of our office,” said USW Regional Vice President, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Mitch Skalicky. “She has been a key factor in assuring we are in full compliance with all regulations, policies, and procedures. Beyond that, she plans regional conferences, workshops, and seminars. We highly value Ana Laura’s contributions as a much-appreciated member of the USW/Mexico City team.” ¡Gracias por tu servicio Ana Laura!

Report Cites Indian, Russian, Turkish Trade Barriers

The United States Trade Representatives’ 2024 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers includes several concerns from U.S. wheat stakeholders. For example, the report notes that wheat and rice account for the largest share of products procured under the Indian government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) program, which utilizes highly distorting market-price support. The report shares concerns about Russia’s provision of transportation subsidies for wheat and other products from the interior to export destinations. Concerns also continue about Türkiye’s subsidies, inward processing program for wheat, and its reimbursement of freight costs for certain exports.

The Craft of Wheat Quality

Kansas Wheat publishes an interesting podcast called “Wheat’s On Your Mind.” A recent episode featured a conversation with Kathy Brower, Laboratory Manager for Grain Craft’s Innovation and Quality Lab at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan, Kan. Noting that wheat is a food ingredient that requires quality control, she explains what makes wheat good or bad from a miller’s perspective. Listen to the podcast here.

International Food Aid Showcase

The United States provides critical foreign humanitarian assistance through international food aid programs administered by USDA and USAID, helping populations in need around the world while supporting U.S. suppliers. On Thursday, May 2, stakeholders from all segments of the U.S. food assistance value chain including USW and the National Association of Wheat Growers will participate in an International Food Aid Showcase at USDA including a panel discussion and interactive displays for networking and collaboration.

Resilience in the Face of Climate Variability

In recent decades, the U.S. wheat market has shown remarkable stability despite facing the growing challenges of climate change and extreme weather conditions. A recent study led by the University of Southampton delves deep into the wheat sector’s resilience and the broader theme of food security in developed countries. The research highlights the crucial role of market forces in maintaining price stability in the food market. Even under the pressures of varying climate conditions, this stability has persisted over the past half-century. Read more here.

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo and YouTube, and more on LinkedIn.

 

News and Information from Around the World Wheat Industry

Speaking of Wheat

“It’s not what we did yesterday, but it’s the knowledge we accumulate today to make us better understand how to deal with (the market) and make more sales tomorrow.” – Gary Millershaski, Kansas wheat farmer, on his interactions with millers and wheat buyers during the recent USW Sub-Saharan Africa Board Team trade mission to South Africa and Nigeria. Read more here.

Minnesota Wheat Hires Sorenson as New Executive Director

The Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council (MWRPC) and Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG) have hired Brian Sorenson as executive director of Minnesota Wheat. Sorenson was raised on a wheat, barley and sugar beet farm near Fisher, Minn., and joins Minnesota Wheat after working as a program manager with Northern Crops Institute since 2018. “We’re thrilled to have Brian join our team,” MWRPC Chair Tim Dufault said. “His background and passion for agriculture make him a perfect fit for the goals of Minnesota Wheat and Minnesota wheat producers.” Sorenson, who earned a Master of Science degree in cereal chemistry from North Dakota State University, said he is looking forward to the role and the duties that come with it. “It’s very important that our producers have access to improved wheat varieties and cutting-edge farming practices for wheat to be a profitable crop in their rotation, but also to provide the quality and value expected by millers and bakers around the world,” said Sorenson, who begins his position on April 2. Read more here.

Martin to Retire From NAEGA on March 31

Gary Martin is retiring March 31 as President and CEO of the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA). Martin, who has been in the role since June 2000, has also served as the President of the International Grain Trade Coalition. His many industry leadership activities include service with the U.S. Food and Agriculture Dialog for Trade, the Canada-U.S. Grain and Seed Trade Task Group and the Board of Directors of Soy Export Sustainability LLC. Alejandra Castillo will succeed Martin as NAEGA President and CEO. Castillo brings 15 years of industry experience having worked previously as regional director for South Asia based in Singapore and India. Most recently she served as director of global programs in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and before that, worked in trade execution for Cargill.

Number of U.S. Wheat Farms Declined 40% in Last 20 years

Since 2002, the total number of wheat farms in the U.S. fell by more than 40%, according to a new USDA report. The number of wheat farms went from 169,528 in 2002 to 97,014 in 2022. Also, “wheat production is down slightly, but has been variable year to year,” USDA reported. “Annual wheat production ranged from about 1.6 billion bushels in marketing year 2002/2003 to as much as 2.5 billion bushels in 2008/2009. Notably wheat production has not topped 2.0 billion bushels from 2017/2018 to 2023/2024.” Much of the decline in U.S. wheat production has been the result of lower area harvested, which dropped from 56 million acres in marketing year 2008/2009 to a low of 35.5 million acres in 2022/2023, the report notes. Area harvested has remained below 40 million acres from marketing year 2017/2018 through 2023/2024. Read more here.

WSU Wheat Breeders Put Royalties to Work

Established more than a decade ago, Washington State University’s (USW) licensed wheat royalties are helping improve farm facilities, train the next generation of scientists and growers, and, for the first time this year, enhancing grower assessments to address wider research priorities, the Washington Grain Commission (WGC) reports. “Royalties have become a critical source of support for public wheat breeding programs,” Rich Koenig, chair of the recently established WSU Grain Royalty Advisory Committee, said. In May of 2012, the WGC supported a WSU-sponsored initiative to license its future wheat variety releases. Working with the commission, WSU established a royalty of 2 cents per pound of certified seed sold. That charge is in the low-to-middle range compared to similar wheat-releasing institutions. Read more here.

U.S. Miller Surveys Consumers on Purchase Trends

In a report titled, “Trend to Table,” Ardent Mills identified key trends in purchasing decisions through a survey of adult U.S. consumers. The U.S. flour miller surveyed more than 10,000 consumers over the age of 18 for their thoughts on food purchasing decisions. Trends include an increased focus on sustainability, traceability, and nutrition. The company has also noted a growing interest in plant-based and specialty grains, as well as a shift towards locally sourced ingredients. Read more here.

 

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo and YouTube, and more on LinkedIn.

 

News and Information from Around the World Wheat Industry

 

Speaking of Wheat

“Every one-degree increase in global mean temperature is predicted to result in a six to 10 per cent decrease in wheat yields.” – Australia’s Grains Research & Development Corp.

NAWG Names Thompson Congressional Wheat Leader

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) awarded Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania with its 2023 Wheat Leader of the Year Award for his work as Chair of the House Agriculture Committee. “On behalf of NAWG, I thank Chairman Thompson for the work he has done on behalf of wheat growers nationwide,” said NAWG President and Oregon wheat farmer Brent Cheyne, “The 2023 Wheat Leader of the Year Award is the highest honor wheat growers can use to recognize legislators, and it finds the most deserving recipient in Chairman Thompson.” NAWG also presented 19 Members of Congress with its Wheat Advocate Awards for their exceptional support of the wheat industry during 2023.

 

APHIS Reduces Karnal Bunt Regulated Area

On Feb. 14, 2024, APHIS issued a Federal Order (DA-2024-05) reducing the Karnal Bunt (Tilletia indica) regulated areas around eight fields in Maricopa and Pinal Counties to 0.2 miles. This action was based on a scientific analysis required under federal law and completed by APHIS, potentially allowing Desert Durum^® production in the newly unregulated area.

K-State Scientist Discusses Wheat Breeding Innovation

Gene editing, genetic modification, transgenic; ever wonder what those terms mean? Eduard Akhunov (photo above) with Kansas State University does, and he explains it all in the latest “Wheat’s On Your Mind” podcast from Kansas Wheat. Learn how powerful new tools like gene editing can transform the world of wheat breeding, and how science is leveraging ancient genetics to improve modern-day wheat.

Progress on Rapid Falling Number Test

Researchers are advancing on several fronts in their efforts to develop a new immunoassay rapid test for wheat falling number, a key quality factor, according to Washington State University and USDA Agricultural Research Service. Wheat with a low falling number has starch damage and must be sold at a discount because it reduces end-use quality. Beta testing of the new rapid tests is likely to begin in March. The new test should offer results in 5 to 15 minutes and is intended for grain elevators at first to test commercially grown wheat. The current falling number test protocol is prohibitive for point-of-sale use.

Climate-Resilient Crop Research in Australia

Australia’s Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) has partnered with the Australian National University (ANU) and industry partners to invest in research to accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops. The three-year effort will focus on developing heat tolerant wheat genetics and determining what makes a wheat crop able to survive, grow and produce yields under high-temperature conditions. Read more here.

Wheat Food Donations Keep Growing

U.S. Wheat Associates tracks the volume of U.S. wheat donated by the government to food insecure countries, feeding programs, and to non-governmental organizations for monetization programs. To date in marketing year 2023/24, U.S. wheat donations stand at just under 406,000 metric tons (MT). In the five marketing years prior to 2023/24, U.S. wheat donations total more than 5.4 million metric tons.