NAWG Weekly Wheat Digest
NAWG in the News
AgriPulse (July 12, 2017) Report: Falling Wheat Acres Threaten Stability of Domestic Supply
Wheat acreage in the U.S. is at its lowest level in more than 100 years and that’s bad news for the country’s millers and bakers who depend on stable supplies of the grain, according to a new report from Rabobank…David Schemm, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, tells Agri-Pulse that much of the planting reduction can be blamed on “unfair trade practices” employed by foreign governments – especially China – that prop up their producers and exports at the expense of U.S. farmers.
DTN News (July 13, 2017) President Nominates Steve Censky for Deputy Agriculture Secretary
President Donald Trump has nominated Stephen Censky, chief executive officer of the American Soybean Association, to be deputy secretary of Agriculture. The announcement came late Thursday. Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers, said Thursday that NAWG supports Censky’s nomination as well. “I’ve worked with Steve for years and over the last year as a fellow commodity organization CEO. I have seen firsthand his dedication to American agriculture,” Goule stated. “He is an aggressive advocate for farmers and truly understands how important international trade is to the ag economy, and how critical a strong crop insurance program is for farmers to farm another year when they experience a weather or economic storm.” (Also reported in AgriPulse, E&E News, and The Hagstrom Report)
High Plains Journal (July 14, 2017) USW Board Seats New Officers at 2017 Annual Meeting
The U.S. Wheat Associates Board of Directors seated new officers at its annual meeting July 11 in Annapolis, Maryland. USW officers for 2017-18 are: Chairman Mike Miller of Ritzville, Washington; Vice Chairman Chris Kolstad of Ledger, Montana; Secretary-Treasurer Doug Goyings of Paulding, Ohio; and Past-Chairman Jason Scott of Easton, Maryland. Vince Peterson succeeded Alan Tracy as USW president, a staff office position, July 1. USW officers were elected to these one-year positions at the February 2017 Winter Wheat Conference in Washington, D.C. Also during the USW board meeting, committees met July 9 and 10, including the Joint Wheat Breeding Innovation and Joint International Trade Policy committees that operate in conjunction with the National Association of Wheat Growers. Official business was called to order at 1 p.m., EDT, July 10 and continued through 10 a.m. July 11.
Wheat in the News
Ag Web (July 12, 2017) U.S. Wheat Output Is Looking Better Than Analysts Had Feared
The situation for the U.S. wheat crop is starting to look less dire. Domestic production of all varieties will be bigger than analysts expected, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed. The agency boosted its outlook for the winter-wheat harvest from a June estimate and said that output for spring varieties, while down from last year, will be bigger than the average analyst estimate in a Bloomberg survey.
KTIC (July 13, 2017) Former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns Joins Alliant Group as New Chairman of Agriculture
Alliantgroup, a leading tax consultancy in the area of government-sponsored credits and incentives, is proud to announce the addition of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns as the firm’s new Chairman of Agriculture. A former Governor and U.S. Senator representing the state of Nebraska, Johanns brings more than 30 years of experience at virtually every level of government and a strong background in both agriculture and economic development.
New York Times (July 10, 2017) Vatican Refuses to Go Gluten Free at Communion
The unleavened bread that Roman Catholics use in the celebration of Mass must contain some gluten, even if only a trace amount, according to a new Vatican directive.
The directive, which was dated June 15 but received significant attention only after it was reported by Vatican Radio on Saturday, affirms an existing policy. But it may help to relieve some of the confusion surrounding church doctrine on gluten, a protein that occurs naturally in wheat and has become the subject of debates over nutrition and regulation.
Reuters (July 13, 2017) EU Wheat Slides to 2-Week Low as Supply, Weather Worries Ebb
European wheat futures fell to a two-week low on Thursday in a broad retreat on grain markets after a closely watched U.S. government crop report projected higher than expected supplies and as weather forecasts looked more favourable. December milling wheat, the most active contract on the Paris-based Euronext exchange, settled down 3.50 euros, or 1.9 percent, at 181.25 euros ($206.34) a tonne.
U.S. World News (July 13, 2017) Extreme Drought Conditions Expand in South Dakota
…Roughly 31 percent of the state is rated in severe drought, up slightly from a week ago. Another nearly 31 percent of South Dakota is experiencing moderate drought conditions, an increase from just below 24 percent last week. The Agriculture Department estimates the state’s winter wheat crop will total 28 million bushels, down 56 percent from last year, and the spring wheat crop at 32 million bushels, down 32 percent.
Wheat Industry News
High Plains Journal (July 12, 2017) Oklahoma Wheat Growers’ Association to Hold Annual Convention
The Oklahoma Wheat Growers’ Association annual convention is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., Aug. 3 at the Redlands Community College Conference Center in El Reno. Wheat growers from across the state are encouraged to attend, according to the OWGA.
High Plains Journal (July 13, 2017) Colorado Wheat Organization Announce New Executive Director
The three Colorado wheat organizations—Colorado Wheat Administrative Committee, Colorado Association of Wheat Growers and Colorado Wheat Research Foundation—are pleased to announce that Brad Erker, of Fort Collins, Colorado, has been selected to serve as the next executive director for the organizations. Erker comes to Colorado Wheat from Limagrain Cereal Seeds, where he worked for seven years as the company’s product development manager. Having been raised on a dryland wheat farm in eastern Colorado, Erker brings a great deal of knowledge and passion of the wheat industry to the table for Colorado’s wheat farmers.
High Plains Public Radio (July 14, 2017) Yields Continue to Vary as Wheat Harvest Wraps Up in Kansas
This is the final 2017 Kansas Wheat Harvest Report brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. Wheat’s resiliency has been a common topic during this year’s Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports. From lack of moisture to a late season snowfall, wheat for many farmers has managed to cling on, produce bushels and show the value of modern wheat genetics. But, other wheat acres weren’t as lucky with circumstances like visits from hail, the “big white combine,” and widespread Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus.
Source: National Association of Wheat Growers