Wheat Industry News
Recent news and highlights from around the wheat industry.
Speaking of Wheat: “The last time that U.S. farmers planted so few acres with winter wheat, William Howard Taft was president and the opening salvos of World War I were still five years away.” – Ryan Dezember, Wall Street Journal Reporter, from his article Jan. 17, 2020.
USMCA Pact Moves to Pres. Trump. Senate Finance Committee chairman Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa), as president pro tempore of the Senate, led a ceremony Jan. 22, 2020, to sign the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act. Grassley’s signing of the legislation is the final step before it goes to President Donald Trump for his signature within 10 days. Canada has still not ratified the measure, which its parliament must do before the agreement enters into force, which is expected to happen within the next two months.
Mid-Year U.S. Commercial Sales Update. As of Jan. 2, 2010, total U.S. export sales for marketing year 2019/20 (June to May) of 18.9 million metric tons (MMT) are 6 percent ahead of sales at the same time in 2018/19. Hard red winter (HRW) and durum sales are both significantly ahead of last year’s pace. USDA projects total 2019/20 exports will hit 26.5 MMT (973 million bushels) which, if realized, would be 4 percent greater than 2018/19 and 7 percent more than the 5-year average. USW believes the high quality and competitive pricing for select U.S. wheat classes and other factors support USDA’s estimate. Export sales to date are 71 percent of USDA’s total projected U.S. exports of 26.5 MMT. Commercial sales to 11 of the top 20 markets for U.S. wheat are ahead of last year. Read the latest Commercial Sales report here.
Farmers Follow the Wheat. Intermountain Farm & Ranch reported that group of Idaho wheat farmers and industry representatives visited Portland, Ore., recently on a tour designed to give them a better understanding of the region’s wheat industry and the importance of the Columbia-Snake River system. Portland is the third largest grain export gateway in the world and more than 50 percent of U.S. wheat that is exported travels through the port. Every January, the Idaho Wheat Commission takes two growers from each of five districts in Idaho, and a handful of industry representatives on similar tours. Photo above, Copyright Intermountain Farm & Ranch. Read more online.
Condolences. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) was sad to receive the news of Mr. Poyen Policarpio’s passing on Jan. 12, 2020. Mr. Policarpio for many years led Pure Foods and, through its acquisition, served as President of San Miguel Flour Milling in the Philippines. Always with a smile and warm, friendly outlook, Mr. Policarpio was a good friend to USW and our extended U.S. wheat family. We offer our sincere sympathy to the Policarpio family and to his many friends and colleagues.
In 2012 at an event in Manila celebrating USW’s 50 years with an office in the Philippines, Mr. Poyen Policarpio of San Miguel Flour Mills accepted this recognition from USW and U.S. wheat farmers.
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