American Ag Sows the Seeds for Foreign Markets of the Future
Agri-Pulse– 03/19/2019
If there’s one certain thing, it’s that American farmers, with the aid of technological innovation, will continue to be some of the most prolific food and fiber producers in the world. That’s why, especially in an increasingly volatile trade landscape where major importers can just shut their doors to U.S. commodities overnight, farm groups are scouring the globe and painstakingly laying the groundwork for trade over the next two decades…The Middle East is also a target for the U.S. wheat sector, which is counting on a growing middle class that will want a higher quality and more diverse selection of bread. Russia and its expanding wheat fields may be dominating the market for cheap grains, but there’s no beating the U.S. when it comes to quality and diversity. “New opportunities exist, even in these markets where Russian supplies dominate the price conscious government imports,” a spokesman for the U.S. Wheat Associates said. “There is growing demand in the private sector for niche premium bread products requiring higher gluten strength flour and confectionary products best made with flour from soft wheat classes. This creates new opportunities for U.S. hard red winter, hard red spring, soft red winter and soft white wheat imports.”
Brazil to Open Quota for US Wheat and Accept US Pork
Agri-Pulse – 03/20/2019
Brazil has agreed to lift its ban on U.S. pork and make good on a 24-year-old promise to set up an annual 750,000 metric ton tariff rate quota to allow in U.S. wheat, the two countries announced Tuesday after their presidents held a joint press conference at the White House. Brazil originally agreed to set up the wheat TRQ that was expected to benefit mainly the U.S. and Canada in 1995, back when Brazil joined the MERCOSUR trade bloc that includes Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The 10 percent tariff was lifted for those neighboring South American countries, but Brazil never followed through with the TRQ designated for all non-MERCOSUR countries, despite demands from Brazil’s own millers who wanted to make sure they always had plenty of access to wheat supplies…The announcement today was for “American wheat,” but an administration official confirmed for Agri-Pulse that the TRQ will be for all “for non-Mercosur origin wheat.” That being said, when Brazil sporadically lifted its tariff in the past on non-MERCOSUR countries, U.S. wheat ended up supplying more than 80 percent of the imports Brazil allowed in, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Wheat Associates.
Ukraine Grain Exports Surging
World-Grain – 03/19/2019
Ukraine’s grain exports for 2018-19 are significantly higher than this time a year ago, the Kiev Post reported. Ukraine has exported more than 35 million tonnes of grain crops since the beginning of the current marketing year, which began in July and ends in June…In particular, Ukraine has exported 12.7 million tonnes of wheat (including over 8.1 million tonnes of milling wheat and more than 4.6 million tonnes of fodder wheat), over 3.1 million tonnes of barley and 18.4 million tonnes of corn, according to the press service of the department for phytosanitary security, seed production and planting control of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
Egypt Set to Harvest, Import More Wheat
World-Grain – 03/19/2019
Egyptian wheat production and imports are forecast higher in 2019-20 as demand continues to increase, according to a March 18 Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA projects Egypt’s wheat production in 2019-20 to rise 4% from 8.45 million tonnes to 8.77 million tonnes. The agency forecasts a 1% increase in wheat imports to 12.6 million tonnes. In 2018-19, the General Authority for Supply Commodities, Egypt’s largest wheat purchaser, issued 24 tenders through Feb. 20, 2019, importing 6.13 million tonnes of milling wheat, the USDA said. “This represents a nearly 8% increase from the GASC’s purchases during the same period in marketing year 2017-18,” the USDA said.
National Festival of Breads 2019 Finalists Selected
High Plains Journal – 03/19/2019
A panel of judges has selected the recipes that will be represented in the sixth National Festival of Breads, sponsored by Red Star Yeast, King Arthur Flour and Kansas Wheat. The baking competition will be held June 8 in Manhattan, Kansas. Four home baker finalists and four food blogger finalists have been named for the biennial National Festival of Breads, the nation’s only national amateur bread-baking competition. They are from all over the United States, from the east to west coasts and several states in between…
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates