Greetings!
We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of KAWG E-News.
Senator Dole: A Champion for Kansas Wheat Growers
Senator Dole’s placement among the best agricultural products in the state was a strategic and logical choice. He has been a friend to Kansas agriculture during his time on the national political scene, and he remains as revered in the hallowed halls of the Capitol as he is on the wind-blown plains of Kansas.
The wheat farmers of Kansas have a particular fondness of Senator Dole. He fought for common-sense agricultural policy, including the landmark 1985 Farm Bill.
The 1980s was a decade of uncertainty for the American farmer. Inflation, climbing interest rates and pushback from a nation that did not understand the need for increased federal farm aid were looming over family farms. Senator Dole, with input from bi-partisan colleagues, negotiated the landmark bill that cut costs while keeping the much-needed farm subsidies intact.
The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers couldn’t be prouder to call Senator Dole a friend and a colleague. We support H.R. 3332, the Bob Dole Congressional Gold Medal Act, and its Senate counterpart, S. 1616. Please support this legislation to properly recognize a great Kansan and great American. [Read more]
Kansas Wheat Announces Winners of 2017 Yield Contest
Kansas Wheat is proud to announce the winners of the 8th Annual Kansas Wheat Yield Contest. This year’s top wheat yields belong to Spencer West of LeRoy, Eastern Region winner; Richard Seck of Hutchinson, Central Region Winner and Alec Horton of Horton Seed Services in Leoti, Western Region Winner. [Read more]
What is NASS Data Used For?
Fungicide seed treatments for wheat
Via K-State Agronomy eUpdate
Fungicide seed treatments are becoming an important part of wheat production in Kansas. Seed treatments may help with wheat stand establishment in certain situations, and greatly reduce the risk of problems with seed borne diseases such as common bunt, loose smut or flag smut.
Seed production fields are a top priority for fungicide seed treatments. These fields have a high value and investments in seed treatments here help prevent the introduction and development of seed borne diseases on your farm Due to the high value of the seed produced, even small yield increases can justify the use of seed treatments.
For grain production fields, seed treatment economics are less certain. Conditions favoring use of standard seed treatments in grain production fields include: 1) high yield potential fields, 2) seed saved from fields with even low levels of loose smut, common bunt, or Fusarium head blight last year, 3) field sown at low planting rates, or 5) planting under poor germination conditions, especially very early or late planting.
If planting late or into heavy residue, it’s probably a good idea to use a fungicide seed treatment, even on seed that has high test weight and good germination. Planting wheat late into cool wet soils often delays emergence, and reduces the tillering capacity of wheat seedlings. Plants with reduced tillering capacity may not be able to compensate for stand loss and maintain yield potential like earlier planted wheat. [Read more]
Volunteer wheat control: Protecting the state’s wheat crop
What can be done to prevent another widespread occurrence of wheat streak mosaic virus, High Plains virus, and triticum mosaic virus in wheat this coming season? There are several things producers can do: delay planting dates as long as feasible, control any significant stands of green foxtail and barnyard grass near fields that will be planted to wheat, and plant wheat varieties with resistance to wheat streak mosaic.
But getting good control of these virus diseases starts first and foremost with controlling volunteer wheat. Volunteer wheat should be controlled soon to protect the wheat crop that will be planted this fall.
Volunteer wheat within a half-mile of a field that will be planted to wheat should be completely dead at least two weeks before wheat planting. This will help control wheat curl mites, Hessian fly, and wheat aphids (bird cherry oat aphids and greenbugs, etc.) in the fall.
The most important threat from volunteer wheat is the wheat streak mosaic virus complex. These virus diseases cause stunting and yellow streaking on the leaves. In most cases, infection can be traced to a nearby field of volunteer wheat, although there are other hosts, such as corn, millet, and many annual grasses, such as yellow foxtail and prairie cupgrass. Control of volunteer is the main defense against the wheat streak mosaic virus complex. [Read more]
News from National Association of Wheat Growers
China rejects U.S. Request for Dispute Panel in Grain Quota Case
The United States’ first request to China to establish a dispute settlement panel in a WTO case involving tariff rate quotas has been denied. The panel would address concerns that China has been blocking billions of dollars in wheat, rice and corn imports and was requested following bilateral discussions within the WTO’s agriculture committee which didn’t result in any fixes. The U.S. can now reissue its request for a panel at the next meeting of the WTO’s dispute settlement body where unless all members in attendance agreed not to establish it, would allow the panel to move forward. This sets up what could be a lengthy litigation process with years of appeals.
USDA To Measure Small Grains Production with September Surveys
During September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts two surveys critical to small grains producers around the country, including those growing wheat, oats, barley and rye. The results of the surveys (Agricultural Survey – September and the County Agricultural Production Survey) help determine elements of farm payment and risk management programs. The Agricultural Survey also asks for grain stocks information.
Survey results will be published in several reports, including the annual Small Grains Summary and Grain Stocks on September 29 as well as County Estimates on December 14. These and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. See how NASS data are used via a video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBW-g1FgLNs.
LARRY GLENN COMMENTARY: FINALLY, THE WHEAT PRICE CHANGES DIRECTION
This week was a positive week for the wheat price. After two months of selling pressure, bearish traders decided to pocket some profit. The buying started on Wednesday and continued into the weekend. Open interest decrease the last three days of the week which indicates the liquidation of short positions.
Many times, the price will outrun the fundamentals. The wheat price illustrated this point during the after harvest selloff. There is bearish wheat news but in my opinion, not enough to justify a break in the December Kansas City wheat contract of $1.80.
Bearish fundamentals include the large surplus of wheat seen in foreign countries. Estimates for the Russian wheat harvest keeps increasing. This country should export 30 million metric tons of wheat this marketing year. France is predicted to export 17.8 million metric tons. This is above last year’s number of 11.3 million metric tons.
Indications of a trend change for the wheat include; first notice day for the September wheat contract was on Thursday. This can cause a market to change directions. We have a three day weekend ahead of us. Three day weekends give traders a time to think about the position and often those with profit made tend to liquidate. Bearish traders have good profit in their positions. Finally, bull spreads are starting to work. The December Kansas City wheat versus the July Kansas City wheat spread improved 2 1/2 cents this week. This is a small number but a move in the right direction.
Wheat producers who have not re-owned wheat should consider it at this time. I like using the March Kansas City Call Options or get long the board. Define your risk. A 50% retracement of the move down would be 60 cents above Friday’s closing price.
Source: Kansas Association of Wheat Growers