EU Wheat Firm With U.S. Market, Tepid Exports Curb Gains
Reuters – 11/28/2018
European wheat futures edged higher on Wednesday, supported by a rebound on the U.S. market and a weaker euro but with mixed export prospects helping keep prices in their recent range. Benchmark March milling wheat on the Paris-based Euronext exchange was up 0.50 euros, or 0.3 percent, at 202.00 euros ($228.97) a tonne by 1711 GMT. U.S. futures rose, led by a bounce in Kansas hard wheat after an eight-month low on Tuesday.
China Boosts Canada’s Early Season Wheat Export Pace
Western Producer – 11/22/2018
Canada exported 5.44 million tonnes of wheat in the first 15 weeks of the crop year, which is likely a record amount for this time of year, helping to keep Canada’s overall crop export pace ahead of last year. The Canadian Grain Commission weekly statistics report showed a very strong export performance in week 15 to Nov. 11 with shipments of all crops at 1.39 million tonnes in the seven days, of which wheat contributed 453,000 tonnes.
WTO Members Warn Pakistan Against Granting Subsidy on Wheat Exports
Tribune – 11/27/2018
The member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have warned Pakistan of initiating dispute settlement proceedings under the WTO over payment of subsidy on the export of wheat. The government has recently allowed export of 0.5 million tons wheat. Officials told The Express Tribune that WTO member countries had voiced serious concerns over the payment of subsidy on the export of wheat. They had pointed out that the quantum of subsidy granted by the government of Pakistan was higher than the freight cost of exporting wheat. These members had also indicated that in case Pakistan again grants rebate on export of wheat, they may initiate dispute settlement proceedings against Pakistan.
Ag Committee Leaders Reach Agreement on Farm Bill
Ag Week – 11/29/2018
House and Senate ag committee leaders say they have “reached an agreement in principle” on a farm bill. “We’re pleased to announce that we’ve reached an agreement in principle on the 2018 Farm Bill. We are working to finalize legal and report language as well as (Congressional Budget Office) scores, but we still have more work to do. We are committed to delivering a new farm bill to America as quickly as possible,” said a Nov. 29 joint statement from House and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairmen Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, and Sen. Pat Roberts, R- Kan., and Ranking Members Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.
Syngenta Scales Back Late-Stage Hybrid Wheat Development
Baking Business – 11/28/2018
After expectations for the release of hybrid wheat in North America around 2020-21, Syngenta said it will focus commercialization on Europe while scaling back late-stage development in North America, although the company said it remained fully committed to hybrid wheat commercialization. “We have recently decided to scale back our late-stage development work in hybrid wheat in North America, and all our hybrid wheat research in Canada will be put on hold for the time being,” Carlos Iglesias, head of North America cereals, Syngenta Seeds, said in a Nov. 19 message to Syngenta wheat stakeholders. “We will apply the learnings from commercialization in Europe and plan to ramp up our late-stage program in North America following the successful European launch.
Early History of Winter Wheat in The Central Plains
The Holyoke Enterprise – 11/27/2018
When the first settlers came to the Central Plains in what would become Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska, wheat was one of the first crops they planted. The first recorded wheat harvest was 1839 in Kansas and around 1870 in Nebraska. However, these crops were far less successful than those we grow today. The early setters came mostly from western Europe and the eastern U.S. and brought the wheat varieties that had done well for them at home. Their winter wheat varieties did not cope well with the move. What didn’t winterkill usually succumbed to drought stress, and attempts to grow winter wheat were quickly abandoned.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates