Russian Grain Exports Forecast to Rise
World-Grain – 05/24/2019
Russian grain exports are expected to rise sharply in 2019-20, according to SovEcon, an agriculture consultancy in Moscow. SovEcon told Reuters on May 24 that it forecasts Russian grain exports at 49.4 million tonnes, compared with 44 million tonnes in 2018-19. The 2019-20 export total includes 38.2 million tonnes of wheat, 5.3 million tonnes of barley and 3.9 million tonnes of corn, according to SovEcon.
Bulk Grain to be Imported From Canada as Drought Worsens
Bulk Handling Review – 05/24/2019
A single shipment of bulk wheat from Canada will head to Australian shores as the drought places further pressure on the local market. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has issued the permit for one shipment of bulk wheat, subject to strict conditions to manage any potential biosecurity risks. Import conditions will require the grain is sources from areas that present a low plant and animal biosecurity risk and impose strict movement, storage and processing controls within Australia. It will be the first time Australia has had to import bulk grain since 2001.
NAWG Responds to Second Round of Support for Farmers Impacted by Trade Disruptions
NAWG – 05/23/2019
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that the White House has authorized the Agency to provide up to $16 billion dollars in assistance to farmers who are being impacted by the U.S. trade war with China and other trade disruptions. NAWG President and Lavon, TX farmer Ben Scholz attended today’s ceremony at the White House which focused on this announcement and made the following statement in response: “NAWG is grateful for the President’s understanding of the stress and damages China’s retaliatory tariffs have had on growers. Further, we look forward to working with the Administration to quickly finalize other trade agreements that open up new markets for wheat farmers.
China Agricultural Products Import Tariff Quotas Report 2019-2023
Morningstar – 05/24/2019
The Interim Measures for Administration of Import Tariff Quotas for Agricultural Products (hereinafter referred to as the Interim Measures) was a government document formulated by China’s National Development and Reform Commission and put into force on Feb. 5, 2002. The Interim Measures determines the annual import tariff quotas for agricultural products according to China’s schedule of concessions on goods in the accession to the WTO. According to this analysis, by May 2019, the Interim Measures applies to agricultural products including wheat, corn, rice, sugar, cotton, wool and wool top.
U.S. Spring Wheat Planted by 5/19
DTN – 05/24/2019
As of May 19, 70% of the U.S. spring wheat crop had been planted which is a big jump from the 45% the week prior though down from the year ago 76% and the five-year average of 80%. A look at the data shows the correlation between plantings by May 19 and the percent that final yields deviated from the long-term trend at 12.0%, with the correlation between May 19 seedings and the change in seedings from the end of March prospective plantings report to the final crop production numbers an even lower 8.1%.
FCA Chairman Dallas Tonsager, former USDA undersecretary, dies
Agri-Pulse – 05/23/2019
Dallas Tonsager, the chairman of the Farm Credit Administration since 2016 who earlier served as an undersecretary for rural development at USDA, died Tuesday after a battle with lymphoma. He was 64. Tonsager, who grew up on a dairy farm near Oldham, S.D., was long active in rural development and with the Farm Credit System, which the FCA oversees. Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that the Tonsager family “lost a loving husband and a caring father and grandfather, and rural America lost its champion. Dallas devoted his life to help those living and working in rural places have better opportunities.”
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates