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Watch Episode 3 of “Stories of Stewardship” Video Series

“If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you.”

For Ben and Stephanie Bowsher of Harrod, Ohio, field tiling is an integral part of “taking care of the land” because it removes excess water from the soil, reduces erosion, and helps ensure higher quality soft red winter wheat and other crops.

Episode 3 of the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) “Stories of Stewardship” series features the Bowsher family and their efforts to improve their land.

Watch Episode 3 here: Stories of Stewardship – U.S. Wheat Associates (uswheat.org).

Wheat harvest in 2022 on BS Farms, Harrod, Ohio.

Soft red winter wheat harvest on Ben and Stephanie Bowsher’s farm in Harrod, Ohio, in 2022.

USW’s new video series focuses on the sustainable practices applied by five farm families growing different classes of wheat across the range of conditions in the United States. They share a commitment to farm in ways that sustain economic viability to produce safe, wholesome wheat for the world while ensuring the land is passed on in better condition for future generations.

USW wants to thank Tom Cannon of Blackwell, Okla., the Bowshers; Nick Jorgensen of Ideal, S.D.; Art Schultheis of Colton, Wash.; and Aaron Kjelland of Park River, N.D. for sharing their Stories of Stewardship.

Future episodes will be released Feb. 21, March 6, and March 20.

To learn more about sustainable U.S. wheat production, visit the USW website at https://www.uswheat.org/stories-of-stewardship/. USW is also a member of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance where you can see a fact sheet on wheat sustainability.

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Early Optimism Blooms for 2024 U.S. Winter Wheat Production

Drought in major U.S. wheat-growing regions over the past few years is well-documented. The persistent dry conditions acutely impacted U.S. wheat yield and increased abandonment, with 2023/24 production coming in 6% below the pre-drought five-year average. Now, entering the second half of the marketing year, the focus has shifted to the 2024 harvest and its impact on both U.S. and global supply and demand. Although it is early, optimism has begun to bloom for the 2024 winter wheat harvest, and the following highlights the factors that have helped boost the U.S. wheat outlook.

Acreage Down, But Conditions Improved

The Winter Wheat and Canola Seedings Report, published on Jan. 12, put the preliminary winter wheat acreage at 34.4 million acres (m.a.) (34.3 million hectares), down 6% from 2023 but still 4% ahead of the five-year average. The hard red winter (HRW) wheat area is estimated at 24.0 m.a. (9.7 million hectares), down 5% on the year, while the soft red winter (SRW) area is approximately 6.89 m.a. (2.8 million hectares), a 7% decrease. The white winter wheat (including soft white and hard white winter) area came in at 3.5 m.a. (1.4 million hectares). Desert Durum® seedings in Arizona and California for the 2024 harvest are estimated at 65,000 acres (26,300 hectares) total, up 16% from 2023 and 48% below 2022.

This bar chart shows U.S. wheat planted area by class between 2013/14 to 2023/24.

According to the Winter Wheat and Canola Seedings Report, published on Jan. 12, the winter wheat acreage is estimated at 34.4 m.a., down 6% from 2023 but still 4% ahead of the five-year average. The HRW area is estimated at 24.0 m.a., SRW at 6.89 ma, and the white winter wheat area came in at 3.5 m.a. Desert Durum® seedings in Arizona and California are estimated at a combined 65,000 acres. Source: USDA Winter Wheat and Canola Seedings Report.

Moving toward fall of 2023, moisture helped replenish dry soil in the U.S. Southern Plains, aided planting, and supported early-season growth and emergence, while making visible improvements in the U.S. Drought Monitor. According to USDA, as of Jan. 30, 2024, winter wheat area in drought registered at 17%, down from 22% the week prior and 58% last year. Meanwhile, the last aggregate USDA Crop Progress Report, published on Nov. 27, 2023, put 50% of winter wheat in the good to excellent category, the highest since 2020.

This line chart shows the percentages of U.S. winter wheat rated "good to excellent" from 2015 to 2024.

The last national USDA Crop Progress Report put 50% of the U.S. winter wheat crop in good to excellent condition, the highest since 2020. Source: USDA NASS Data.

Despite the decreased acreage, the cautious optimism about wheat conditions suggests the potential for improved yield and reduced abandonment for the 2024 harvest. Improved yields will provide a welcome boost to U.S. wheat production, helping improve supply and relieving pressure on the U.S. balance sheet and wheat prices.

An Early State-by-State Snapshot

Comments from producers at a recent meeting of the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Wheat Quality Committee echoed the optimistic sentiment. However, despite the objectively improved crop outlook from the year prior, winter conditions have started to vary as the season progresses, serving as a reminder that much can change before harvest time.

Following are condition recaps in major winter wheat-producing states from committee members and National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) data as of Jan. 28:

Kansas. Data from NASS rates 54% of Kansas winter wheat good to excellent, and optimism has bloomed regarding the 2024 harvest. Kansas wheat farmer and USW Secretary-Treasurer elect Gary Millershaski highlighted visible improvements to wheat stands compared to the previous year.

Texas. NASS data put Texas wheat conditions at 42% good to excellent, while Texas farmers remain optimistic about current conditions.

Oklahoma. An Oklahoma farmer commented that soil moisture remains adequate, and the wheat entered dormancy in good condition. Oklahoma crop conditions rated 63% of the crop in the good to excellent category.

Colorado. About 61% of the crop sits in the good to excellent category, though winds and dry weather this winter may cause some condition deterioration.

Nebraska. According to a Nebraska farmer, rain during planting helped boost conditions, and the stands continue to benefit from the soil moisture. Current conditions put Nebraska winter wheat at 69% good to excellent.

South Dakota. South Dakota Wheat Commission CEO Jon Kleinjan commented that the state’s HRW wheat was seeded with adequate moisture. As good snow cover remains, he is optimistic about the 2024 crop. Likewise, NASS put 53% of winter wheat in good to excellent.

Montana. Approximately 41% of the HRW crop sits in the good category; however, cold and a lack of snow coverage have negatively impacted crop conditions this winter.

USDA/NOAA Map of Winter Wheat in Drought from Jan. 30, 2024.

According to the weekly USDA Agriculture in Drought Report, as of Jan. 30, 2024, 17% of U.S. winter wheat resides in areas experiencing drought, down from 22% last week and much improved from 58% last year. Source: U.S. Agriculture in Drought.

More Data to Come

The upcoming USDA Prospective Plantings Report will provide preliminary estimates for spring wheat, durum, and the white spring wheat area and update the winter wheat estimates. It is important to remember that the 2024 harvest is still months away, and conditions can and will change as the crop year progresses. Nonetheless, even after an extended drought, U.S. wheat farmers remain resilient and committed to growing a reliable supply of high-quality wheat for their customers around the world.

By USW Market Analyst Tyllor Ledford

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Video: USW/NAWG Joint Winter Board Meeting Provides Opportunity for Collaboration in Nation’s Capital

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) recently met in Washington, D.C. for a joint board of directors meeting. The gathering included a plenary policy session, meetings with members of U.S. Congress, and presentations from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and USDA.

USW staff, officers and board members reviewed the organization’s producer-funded operating budget for fiscal year 2024/25, heard a comprehensive market update and were given a look at the global wheat supply and demand situation.

Gary Millershaski, a USW director and Kansas Wheat Commission member, was elected 2024/25 Secretary-Treasurer.

A short video recapping the Winter Board Meeting can been seen below.

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Washington Grain Commission CEO Testifies on Behalf of Columbia Snake River System

On Jan. 30, 2024, Casey Chumrau, CEO of the Washington Grain Commission, offered compelling testimony supporting the crucial infrastructure of dams and locks on the Columbia Snake River System (CSRS) at a U.S. House Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee hearing. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) sent separate letters with their observations of the essential nature of the CSRS for U.S. wheat export competitiveness.

Following are excerpts from Chumrau’s testimony.

Grain growers in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) rely on the Columbia Snake River System, and the Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) in particular, for their livelihoods. More than 55 percent of all U.S. wheat exports move through the PNW by barge or rail. Specifically, 10 percent of wheat that is exported from the United States passes through the four locks and dams along the Lower Snake River. This is especially important for our state because Washington is the fourth largest wheat exporter in the nation, exporting 90% of the wheat produced in the state. Across the agriculture industry, the Columbia Snake River System is the second largest gateway for soybean and corn exports coming from as far as the Midwest. The river system also serves as an important channel to bring crop inputs, like potash, to farmers in the region who need fertilizer to produce the safe and affordable food supply that is found on every American’s table.

Casey Chumrau, CEO, Washington Grain Commission, giving testimony on Columbia Snake River System Jan. 30, 2024, to a U.S. House subcommittee hearing.

Casey Chumrau, CEO, Washington Grain Commission, giving testimony on Columbia Snake River System Jan. 30, 2024, to a U.S. House Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee hearing.

Economic Impact

Washington’s agriculture industry, and its ability to produce and export products globally, are critical to the state and region’s economy. The total value of wheat exported through the PNW is nearly $4 billion per year.

For Washington, the state is among the top 20 states for agricultural exports in the nation, with over $8 billion in Washington-grown or processed food and agriculture exports in 2022. A significant volume of food and agriculture products from other states including soybeans, wheat, and corn are exported through Washington state ports each year. Once these pass-through exports are combined with Washington-grown or processed exports, the total value reaches over $23 billion.

The Washington wheat industry alone contributed over $3.1 billion to the state’s economy in 2022, with a heightened impact in rural areas. In the same year, total direct employment associated with Washington wheat production amounted to 3,672 jobs in 2022. Indirect and induced employment also grew and supported another 11,676 jobs.

The impact that Washington farmers have on their local and regional economy is similar in communities across the country. In addition to direct sales of farm goods and commodities, farmers contribute to the economy and support other rural businesses through purchases of farm business inputs – everything from seed and fertilizer to business services. Additionally, the personal purchases of both farmers and their employees help to stimulate local economies and keep small businesses ruining.

Locks and dams on the Lower Snake River and the Columbia River provide essential infrastructure for moving U.S.-grown wheat to high-value markets around the world. We cannot overstate the positive value they create for U.S. farms, [the] economy of the Pacific Northwest and far beyond. – From USW letter to House subcommittee hearing on the Columbia Snake River System

Supply Chain and Transportation

Over the last seventy years, growers and their federal government partners at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have invested billions of dollars and countless hours to build strong relationships with our trading partners. The U.S. wheat industry differentiates itself by providing high-quality wheat and reliable delivery. The United States is a reliable trading partner in large part because of our world class, multi-modal infrastructure, which allow us to safely and efficiently ship products around the world. Any disruption to that system would hurt our ability to consistently provide abundant, high-value food products and remain competitive with other agricultural exporters in the world and weaken the competitiveness of U.S. producers in global markets.

Grain growers in PNW states are at the tip of the spear of those who would feel the disruption of having to divert export goods to trucking and rail because there is insufficient alternative transportation infrastructure to replace the barge shipments of grain along the Columbia Snake River System to export markets. For example, one loaded covered hopper barge carries over 58,000 bushels of wheat. It would take 113,187 semi-trailers each year carrying 910 bushels of wheat to replace the 103 million bushels shipped on the Snake River via barge annually. That is 310 more trucks each day, making round trips to the Tri-Cities, 365 days per year. To that end, barging is the most fuel-efficient mode of transportation when compared to railroads and trucking. Each barge that must be replaced by a truck means more pollution, more traffic, increased costs and increased wear and tear on our roads – and that’s if we could even hire the drivers needed to drive these trucks in the increasingly tight labor market for drivers.

Path Forward

We strongly believe that dams and salmon can and do co-exist. With a myriad of challenges facing the salmon population, we are committed to building upon current investments and technological advancements. Currently, the Lower Snake River Dams have world-class fish passage and juvenile survival rates upwards of 95 percent. We believe any work moving forward should build off the fish passages, instead of eliminating them. We also support investments made at the federal and state level for culvert removal, fish habitat restoration, toxin reduction, and predator abatement.

Conclusion

The opportunities to ensure salmon populations continue to grow do not have to come at the cost of destroying the integrity of the Columbia Snake River System and the livelihood of farmers. The importance of the river system for the agriculture industry, and particularly for grain growers across Washington, cannot be overstated. I look forward to discussing the importance of the four Lower Snake River Dams with you today. Thank you.

To read more about this issue, see these previous “Wheat Letter” posts:

“Exports Depend on Snake River Dams“

“USW Expresses Support for Maintaining Lower Snake River Dams“

“Wheat Leaders: Protect Lower Snake River Dams“

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Wheat Industry News

News and Information from Around the Wheat Industry

 

Speaking of Wheat

“USDA does not currently have agricultural representatives in Russia nor locally employed staff [and] there is a significant number of unknowns and assumptions. The lack of reporting from our agricultural attaché network, and the limited access to official government reports, has cut out important sources of information in our estimation process.” – From comments made by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service officials to Western Producer magazine.

USW Colleagues Celebrate Anniversaries

Marcelo Mitre, USW Mexico City

Congratulations and thank you to Cathy Marais, USW Regional Finance and Administration Manager in the Cape Town, South Africa regional office who marked 30 years of service on January 17, and to Marcelo Mitre, USW Director of Technical Services in the Mexico City, Mexico, Regional Office who celebrated 15 years of service on January 12.

U.S. Winter Wheat Planted Area Down

USDA’s recent Winter Wheat Seedings Report put preliminary acreage estimates at 34.4 million acres, down 6% from 2023 but still 4% ahead of the five-year average. HRW area is estimated at 24.0 MMT, down 5% on the year, while SRW area is approximately 6.89, a 13% decrease. The white winter wheat area came in at 3.5 MMT. Despite the decreased acreage, recent conditions suggest the potential for improved yield and reduced abandonment. The early season outlook for the 2024 harvest remains cautiously optimistic.

Commercial Wheat Exports

Net U.S. wheat commercial sales for the week ending Jan. 18 of 451,400 metric tons (MT) for 2023/2024 were up 45% from the prior 4-week average. Increases primarily for Mexico, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, and Bangladesh. Net sales of 59,000 MT for 2024/2025 were reported for Egypt, Japan, and Mexico.

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Wheat Organizations Gather in Washington, DC

Farmer leaders of U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are meeting in Washington, DC, Jan. 23 to 26, 2024, for a joint board of directors meeting. Activities included a plenary policy session, separate meetings with members of Congress, and consideration of USW’s producer-funded operating budget for fiscal year 2024/25.

At the policy session, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Alexis Taylor expressed excitement about seven U.S. agricultural trade missions planned for 2024 including the first to Angola in which USW Vice Chairman Clarke Hamilton will participate. Legislative staff for U.S. House of Representatives members of the congressional agricultural trade caucus said there is more support in Congress now for increasing export market development investments in farm legislation.

Alexis Taylor and Dalton Henry.

Alexis Taylor (left), USDA Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agriculture, did a question/answer session with USW Vice President of Policy Dalton Henry during a USW and NAWG joint policy session Jan. 24.

Congressional Leaders

The Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and the Ranking Member Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas met with NAWG directors to discuss progress on the “Farm Bill” legislation that is currently being considered in Congress. There is much to do, they said, but reconfirmed their commitment to work together to pass the bill as soon as possible.

NAWG CEO Chandler Goule in a panel discussion with Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Sen. John Boozeman, leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

NAWG CEO Chandler Goule (left) moderated a panel discussion with Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Sen. John Boozeman, leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee during the NAWG session Jan. 25.

On Friday, Jan. 25, USW farmer directors will elect officers for FY 2024/25. Gary Millershaski, a USW director and Kansas Wheat Commission member, has been nominated to stand for election as 2024/25 Secretary-Treasurer.

USW will share a video report from the joint board meeting the week of Jan. 29.

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Watch Episode 2 of New “Stories of Stewardship” Video Series

Episode 2 of the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) “Stories of Stewardship” series features Tom Cannon, a wheat farmer and cattle rancher from Blackwell, Oklahoma. Cannon, who operates Goodson Ranch with his family, went “all-in” and became a 100% no-till farmer.  And he didn’t stop there.

Watch Episode 2 here: Stories of Stewardship – U.S. Wheat Associates (uswheat.org)

USW’s new video series focuses on the sustainable practices applied by five farm families growing different classes of wheat across the range of conditions in the United States. They share a commitment to farm in ways that sustain economic viability to produce safe, wholesome wheat for the world while ensuring the land is passed on in better condition for future generations.

Future episodes will be released Feb. 7, Feb. 21, March 6, and March 20.

Watch Now

Watch Episode 2 here and stay tuned as new episodes are released Feb. 7, Feb. 21, March 6, and March 20.

USW wants to thank Cannon, Ben and Stephanie Bowsher of Waynesfield, Ohio; Nick Jorgensen of Ideal, S.D.; Art Schultheis of Colton, Wash.; and Aaron Kjelland of Park River, N.D. for sharing their Stories of Stewardship.

To learn more about sustainable U.S. wheat production, visit the USW website at https://www.uswheat.org/stories-of-stewardship/. USW is also a member of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance where you can see a fact sheet on wheat sustainability.

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USW Analyst Shares Global Wheat Market Summary with Farmer Directors

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Market Analyst Tyllor Ledford compiles a comprehensive “World Wheat Supply and Demand” summary for three USW Board of Directors meetings each year. Using the USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report as her primary source, Ledford prepared the attached market summary for the USW Winter Board Meeting in Washington, D.C., Jan. 23 to 26, 2024.

Following is the start of Ledford’s report. Continue reading the entire report here.

World Wheat Supply and Demand

Released on January 12, the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) had a bearish impact on the market, as the estimates quantified the sustained record export flows from the Black Sea and increased ending stock levels. The 2023/24 global wheat production is forecast at 784.9 MMT, up 1.9 MMT from December’s estimates. Meanwhile, world wheat demand remains at a record high of 796.4 MMT, outpacing world wheat production by 11.5 MMT

Page 2 USW World Wheat Supply and Demand Summary

USW Market Analyst Tyllor Ledford’s report to the USW Board of Directors includes highlights of world wheat supply and demand. Read more at https://www.uswheat.org/wp-content/uploads/USW-Market-Summary-Winter-2024.pdf.

Although demand surpassed supplies, the January WASDE increased world ending stocks by 1.8 MMT. The current estimate of 260.0 MMT is a 4% decrease from the year prior and the lowest level since 2015/16. In major exporting countries, wheat stocks sit at 58.7 MMT, an improvement from previous estimates but still below 60.4 MMT the year prior. Increased ending stocks in the EU and Ukraine helped support the recent increases. World wheat trade is expected to reach 209.5 MMT, down from 220.2 MMT in 2022/23.

Domestically, the January WASDE made few significant changes, while the Winter Wheat Seedings Report overshadowed the WASDE’s impacts. U.S. ending stocks came in 300,000 MT lower, though USDA foresees ending stocks at 17.6 MMT, a 14% increase year over year and the first increase since 2015/16. That estimate helps loosen the U.S. wheat balance sheet and relieve underlying price pressure, though ending stocks still sit 13.9 MMT below the recent highs hit in 2016/17.

 

 

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Inspired by Bread Made with U.S. Wheat, Ambassador to Chile Tours Major Flour Mill

Breads made with U.S. wheat caught the attention of the U.S. Ambassador to Chile during September’s Espacio Food and Service trade show in Santiago. It set in motion a series of discussions that led to Amb. Bernadette Meehan touring a top Chilean flour mill arranged by the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) South American regional team.

The bread Meehan raved about at the show was baked in the USW wheat flour and baking laboratory on the campus of Universidad Mayor.

“Ambassador Meehan opened the Food and Service Show this past fall and noted an interest in the bread at our display. She wanted to know more about U.S. wheat’s work in Chile, the flour milling process and the products produced using U.S. wheat,” explained Miguel Galdos, USW Regional Director in South America.  “I contacted a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) specialist and set up a visit to a mill. We met and toured a mill on Jan. 10 at Molinos Cunaco, a customer of U.S. wheat and one of Chile’s largest milling companies.”

Molinos Cunaco processes approximately 300,000 metric tons of wheat each year, of which 30% to 35% is U.S. wheat.

USW arranged a tour of a Molinos Cunaco flour mill for U.S. Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan. In this photo, USW Regional DIrector Miguel Galdos (far left) and Meehan (second from right) pose with Molinos Cunaco executives in the mill's packaging room.

USW arranged a tour of a Molinos Cunaco flour mill for U.S. Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan. Posing for a photo in the mill’s packaging department are (left to right) USW Regional Director Miguel Galdos, U.S. Agricultural Attaché Bret Tate, Ambassador Meehan, and Molinos Cunaco General Manager Cristian Diaz.

A Close Look at U.S. Wheat in the Market

Meehan became Ambassador to Chile in July 2022.   She was joined on the mill tour by U.S. Agricultural Attaché Bret Tate and FAS Marketing Specialist Maria Jose Herrera. Molinos Cunaco’s General Manager Cristian Díaz, Director Juan Enrique Ojeda and Finance Manager José Ignacio Vargas hosted the American group.

“The meeting between the Ambassador and the executives covered a lot of topics,” Galdos reported. “One topic was the current situation of the milling industry in Chile. They also discussed the commercial relationship between the company and its wheat suppliers. Cooperation of the U.S. government on issues involving Chilean agriculture and trade was also part of the chat.”

After the meeting, the group moved to the mill. Meehan walked all five floors of the facility to see the entire milling process – from U.S. wheat being brought into the mill to the department where flour made with the wheat is packaged.

Galdos shares a U.S. wheat sample card with ambassador Meehan during discussions about the many uses for U.S. wheat and the preferences of end users in Chile.

Galdos shares a U.S. wheat sample card with ambassador Meehan during discussions about the many uses for U.S. wheat and the preferences of end users in Chile.

Chile Typically Imports Four Classes of Wheat

Galdos shared with her the fact that U.S. wheat currently has about a 30% market share in Chile. He explained that Chile typically imports four classes of U.S. wheat: hard red winter, soft red winter, soft white and hard red spring wheat. In 2023, due to the pricing situation, only three classes were purchased by Chilean millers – soft white, soft red winter and hard red winter.

“The ambassador asked a lot of questions about wheat, the milling process and the end products. We answered all of her questions,” said Galdos. “She had the opportunity to meet the people who work in different areas of the company.”

Ambassador Shares Appreciation for USW

Later that day, Meehan posted an account of the tour on her X, formerly Twitter, account, which can be seen here.

“Incredible experience today at #molinocunaco with representatives from U.S. Wheat Associates,” Meehan noted in her post. “I discovered that Chile imports American wheat varieties for bread and other high-quality delicacies – continued collaboration to deliver exceptional products to consumers.”

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Wheat Industry News

News and information from around the wheat industry.

 

Speaking of Wheat

“Farmers have a unique perspective of longevity and sustainability because our livelihoods depend on it. And it breeds a level of commitment to these practices over the generations. Wheat is an integral part of our system and has been for generations, but it’s important to see it in a context of the whole system that is anchored in this crop that just naturally fits.” – Park River, North Dakota, farmer Aaron Kjelland, in Episode 1 of the new “Stories of Stewardship” video series.

Thank You and Best Wishes to Ann Murchison!

Our colleague Ann Murchison (shown in the photo at the top of this page) has retired from her position as Office Manager, West Coast Office in Portland, Ore., after almost 29 years with U.S. Wheat Associates (USW). Over those years, Ann has welcomed hundreds if not thousands of overseas customers and other office visitors, shipped tons of wheat samples around the world, and cheerfully taken care of the people and busy office in the Albers Mill Building on the Willamette River. We all wish Ann a long and healthy retirement and sincerely thank her for such dedicated service!

Congratulations to Cathy Marais

USW is happy to recognize the service of Cape Town Regional Finance and Administration Manager Cathy Marais who marks 30 years of service on Jan. 17, 2024. Dankie, Cathy, for your hard work and dedication from all your colleagues!

Photo of Cathy Marais

Cathy Marais, USW Cape Town

K-State Seeks Nominations for New Grain Science Department Leader

The College of Agriculture at Kansas State University (KSU) is now accepting nominations and applications for the Head of the Department of Grain Science and Industry. This is a critical position for the milling industry. Click here for more information. Screening of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Wheat Breeding Innovation News

Researchers at the United Kingdom’s John Innes Centre have announced use of gene-editing techniques to help identify a temperature tolerance factor that may protect wheat from the increasingly unpredictable challenges of climate change. A team headed by Prof. Graham Moore made the discovery during experiments looking at wheat fertility in plants exposed to either high or low temperatures. Read more about this wheat breeding innovation here. In other news, U.S. based company Cibus, Inc., said it has successfully regenerated wheat plants from single cells in a wheat cultivar, a breakthrough the agricultural technology company said may be used to develop traits like disease resistance and nitrogen use efficiency that support increased yields. Read more about this innovation here.

Durum Prices are More Competitive

“World Grain” recently reported that pasta manufacturers looking for 2024 semolina coverage will find durum values lower than a year ago and down sharply from mid-December 2021. And yet U.S. Northern Plains durum growers deciding when to sell stored supplied will encounter bids hovering about a $1 a bushel higher than the five-year average for the date. Four months before the typical seeding time for the U.S. northern durum crop, soil moisture conditions were in much better shape than a year earlier. Read more here.

Durum

El Niño Winter Outlook

“Farm Progress” publications in the United States recently looked at the potential impact of the El Niño weather patterns on global wheat production. A wetter summer and fall in 2023 helped reduce the amount of wheat produced in areas experiencing drought conditions. The article notes that early in 2024, top hard red winter wheat-growing regions in the Southern Plains enjoyed higher rainfall volumes than at the same point over the past two years. Ratings improved for winter wheat crops in top producer Kansas, as well as Texas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. But dry soil continues to plague the entire Heartland. Through early February, 32% of U.S. winter wheat acres were rated in drought condition (below). And perhaps more notably, 25% of spring wheat acres were located within a drought area at that time (see additional maps here). Read more here.

 

 

 

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