Russian Influence Key in US Wheat Area Decline
World Grain – 01/02/2019
Kansas Wheat indicated wheat acreage in the state will likely be down from 2018; in fact, planted area may be the smallest in 100 years. Wet weather during planting season has been identified as a culprit in keeping growers from their fields. But 2018 is hardly the first year rainy or snowy weather has interfered with wheat growers during planting season — many more influences have brought about wheat area atrophy in Kansas and across the United States.
Farmers Thankful for Payments, but Prefer Market Access
Farm and Dairy – 01/03/2019
Although they’d rather have free trade and market access, farmers say the $12 billion in commodity assistance being offered by President Donald Trump is worth applying for, in a year of high yields and low prices.
Ag, Food, Enviornment and Biofuel Groups Lay Out 2019 Challenges
Agri-Pulse – 01/02/2019
We know that Congress has a busy agenda ahead. How does the congressional agenda align with what some of the leading ag, biofuels, and food policy groups have on their 2019 wish list? Here’s what they told Agri-Pulse they will be focusing on this year.
Lawmakers Appluad Farm Bill Cuba Trade Provision
Farm and Ranch – 01/02/2019
President Trump signed the 2018 farm bill (Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018) into law with a provision that will allow U.S. agricultural producers to use federal market promotion dollars for exports to Cuba. This is the first law to repeal part of the U.S. embargo on Cuba in nearly 20 years and lays the groundwork for comprehensive trade between the United States and Cuba.
European Wheat Lacks Climate Resilience
Seed Today – 01/02/2019
The climate is not only warming, it is also becoming more variable and extreme. Such unpredictable weather can weaken global food security if major crops such as wheat are not sufficiently resilient – and if we are not properly prepared. A group of European researchers, including Professor Jørgen E. Olesen from the Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, has found that current breeding programmes and cultivar selection practices do not provide the needed resilience to climate change.
Washington Grain Commission CEO Glen Squires Works to Earn Overseas Customers’ Trust
Capital Press – 12/27/2018
Buyers from overseas sometimes stop in to Glen Squires’ office to talk about the progress of the crop that’s critical to their business: wheat. Squires has a knack for connecting with people. He’s able to humanize complicated issues during conversations with customers, said Ritzville, Wash., wheat farmer Mike Miller, a commission member and former chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates