Australia Receives Wheat Import from Canada
World-Grain – 06/18/2019
One shipment of imported bulk wheat from Canada arrived in Australia and according to the government of Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources it is subject to strict transport and processing conditions to manage biosecurity risks. It is the first time in 12 years that Australia has imported wheat. On May 14, the government of Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources issued a permit for a single shipment of bulk wheat from Canada to be processed for the domestic market. Prior to issuing the import permit, the department conducted an assessment of the potential biosecurity risks associated with the entire import pathway. “The importer is also required to meet a range of comprehensive, strict biosecurity requirements that are in place for imports of bulk grain,” the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources said. “The shipment will be securely transported from the point of discharge through to the point of processing.”
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U.S.- Japan Trade, Crucial to Montana, Expected to Improve
The Billings Gazette – 06/19/2019
Struggling U.S. agriculture exports to Japan, which have cost Montana farmers millions in sales since the start of 2019, are a few months away from being resolved, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer testified Tuesday. Lighthizer, taking questions from Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., before the Senate Finance Committee, said his office was working with Japan to smooth out tariff troubles brought about by the United States’ 2017 exit from the multinational Trans-Pacific Partnership. Nations who stuck with the U.S.-initiated TPP are seeing tariff reductions in Japan that the United States isn’t. Montana wheat producers expect their 2019 trade losses in Japan to hit $150 million. More than 70 percent of Montana wheat is exported, most of it to Japan. But tariff reductions offered to Canada and Australia have put Montana wheat sales at a disadvantage. “I think we are making headway and we’re in a situation where we if we don’t make headway quickly, people will lose market share and never get those customers back,” Lighthizer said at the livestreamed hearing. “It’s a serious thing that Japanese are fully engaged. They understand what needs to be done. We’ve been quite clear about it and my hope is in the next few months we’ll have an agreement on this.”
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Trump Looks to G-20 for Trade Progress on China, Japan
Agri-Pulse– 06/19/2019
The Trump administration is eyeing next week’s Group of 20 summit in Japan to jump-start negotiations with China and make continued progress toward a deal with the Japanese to reduce barriers to beef, pork and other U.S. farm commodities. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced on Twitter that he would have an “extended meeting” with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G-20, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told the Senate Finance Committee that U.S. and Japanese officials would resume discussions on an agricultural trade deal. The next few weeks also could be critical for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement: Lighthizer said he hopes to make “substantial progress” in discussions with House Democrats to address their concerns about the USMCA. “I believe we’re on track.” He didn’t say when the trade pact’s implementing legislation would actually be submitted to Congress for approval.
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Winter Wheat Production Forecast Up Slightly
AgriNews – 06/18/2019 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s June 11 crop production report was overshadowed by some big changes in the agency’s new supply and demand estimates, but did provide an update on wheat. As is typically the case, corn and soybean production projections are not included in the June crop production report estimates. Those will be in the August report. USDA forecasts winter wheat production at 1.27 billion bushels, up less than 1% from the May 1 forecast and 8% higher than 2018. As of June 1, the U.S. yield is forecast at 50.5 bushels per acre, up 0.2 bushel from last month and 2.6 bushels above last year’s average yield of 47.9 bushels per acre. If realized, the 2019 U.S. winter wheat yield will be the second highest on record. Hard red winter production, at 794 million bushels, is 2% higher than last month’s estimate. Soft red winter of 258 million bushels is down 2% from the May forecast. White winter, at 222 million bushels, is 1% lower than last month. Of the white winter production, 22.4 million bushels are hard white and 199 million bushels are soft white.
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Crop Progress Report June 18, 2019
North Dakota Wheat Commission – 06/18/2019 The spring wheat crop continues to develop at a pace slightly behind average. Most of the crop – about 95 percent – has now emerged, compared to 97 percent on average. Emergence remains furthest behind in Montana where 89 percent has emerged. Some of the earliest planted wheat is now heading out. On a national basis, 2 percent of the spring wheat crop has headed, compared to 12 percent on average. In Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota, only one percent or less has headed and in South Dakota about 5 percent has headed. Moisture conditions in the southern part of the growing area remain adequate to surplus, but the northern portion of North Dakota is classified as being abnormally dry or in a moderate drought. Some precipitation fell over the weekend, but some areas missed out and more will be needed. Weather conditions during the current week have been cooler than normal. Even with some of the growing season challenges, about 77 percent of the U.S. spring wheat crop is rated in good to excellent condition. The condition ratings did drop about 4 percentage points from last week due to a fairly large decline in the Montana crop ratings. In North Dakota, 83 percent is rated in good to excellent condition.
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Source: USW Associates