Increasing U.S. Wheat Access to Canada
Farms.com – 07/12/2019
Four U.S. politicians are asking the federal government to do more to provide wheat farmers with increased access to the Canadian market. Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven from North Dakota, Tina Smith from Minnesota, and Steve Daines of Montana wrote a letter to Gregg Doud, America’s chief agricultural negotiator, asking him to continue working with Canada on the issue of wheat imports. “Our producers remain concerned that access to Canada’s market will continue to be inhibited based on Canada’s requirement that strictly limits the varieties of wheat that can be included in its premium classes…,” the July 8 letter says. Canada’s Variety Registration System only allows varieties that have received proper approvals to enter the country. This measure puts U.S. wheat producers at a disadvantage, said Elizabeth Westendorf, assistant director of policy with U.S. Wheat Associates. “The registration process takes about three years and looks at a lot of data that wouldn’t be relevant to imported grain,” she told Farms.com. “It’s been frustrating for our farmers because now that they can drive wheat north when prices allow, they can’t drive all of it north.” U.S. producers want the same market access in Canada that Canadian farmers have south of the border, Westendorf said.
Two Ohio Wheat Famers Leading the Nation Both Near and Far
Ohio’s Country Journal – 07/15/2019
Though Ohio is not a top state for wheat production, the state continues to be a hotbed for national leaders in agriculture. A pair of farmers in Ohio have taken their wheat expertise to the national level this year as they each are currently serving as chairs of their national organizations. Doug Goyings of Paulding and Rachael Vonderhaar of Camden are chair people of the U.S. Wheat Associates and Wheat Foods Council, respectively. They by no means selected an easy year for organization leadership in these groups as a multitude of issues face the industry nationwide, along with unique seasonal challenges here at home. “I’m a fourth-generation farmer,” said Doug Goyings, chair of the U.S. Wheat Associates. “My great-great-grandpa, he came here in 1886 — actually the farmstead where my son lives now. I followed my grandfather’s, great-grandfather’s, and my father’s steps, and I’ve grown the farm considerably since then. We’re approximately 4,500 acres now. My son works with me full time thank goodness because when I’m away doing U.S. Wheat business, I have to have somebody to work. Between my wife and my son, they do an excellent job of keeping up things when I’m gone.” A busy schedule for meetings with U.S. Wheat has coincided with a busy planting schedule, resulting in several nights without sleep.
Philippines Wheat Imports Higher at 7.2 Million MT
MSN – 07/14/2019
The Philippines is expected to post a record-high wheat importation this year at 7.2 million metric tons amid continuous increasing consumption following smaller corn output. The latest report of the United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) showed this year’s importation is 20.4 percent higher than the 2018 level of 5.98 million MT. The USDA hiked this year’s projection from the seven million MT forecasted in April. “There are expectations of stronger feed and food use in the Philippines,” USDA said. Latest import data showed wheat imports in the January to May period climbed 25 percent to 740,133 MT from 591,039 MT in the same period last year. Wheat imports for the Philippines have more than doubled over the last decade, with a large surge occurring this year boosted by reduced supplies of other grains as typhoons cut domestic corn and rice production. In fact, Southeast Asia is seen as the top wheat importing region for the first time amid a strong demand for the commodity in the Philippines and Indonesia. The ASEAN will lead global wheat importation this year and next year as demand in the region continues to trend higher based on longer-term shifts in consumption from rice to wheat as diets diversify.
Pacific Northwest Wheat Harvest Underway
Capital Press – 07/12/2019
Wheat harvest time has arrived, and farmers across much of the Pacific Northwest are beginning to get their equipment into the fields. The first field was harvested in the Lewiston, Idaho, area on July 11, said Blaine Jacobson, executive director of the Idaho Wheat Commission. The USDA says farmers have planted about 4.18 million acres of wheat, with 2.22 million in Washington, 1.22 million in Idaho and 740,000 in Oregon. More growers were expected to start harvesting around Lewiston on July 15 or 16, Jacobson said. Harvest is still a week to 10 days away in southern or eastern Idaho. The crop looks good statewide, Jacobson said. Yields are probably 10% below average due to a late spring. “We had a late cool spring but since then weather has been ideal for growing wheat,” Jacobson said. “No water issues and no triple-digit days yet, although we may get some this weekend.” He does not expect any starch damage that would be reflected in falling number tests. “Up until the last few weeks or a month ago, we thought we would be delayed,” said Blake Rowe, Oregon Wheat CEO.
Day 11, Kansas Wheat Harvest Report
Kansas Wheat Commission – 07/14/2019
The hot, dry weekend weather was just what farmers needed to make some excellent progress on wheat harvest in Kansas. Mike McClellan, who farms in Rooks County, is wrapping up his wheat harvest on Monday. Their harvest started on July 1, and they have seen good yields and test weights, but lower than average protein levels. “We’ve had a really good harvest run this year,” said McClellan. “We’re pretty happy with the yields. No complaints here.” He added, “We’re ready to wrap it up.” McClellan reports that the area is about 80-90% finished with wheat harvest. “We’ve been pleasantly surprised on some fields, and disappointed on others,” he said. Yields have ranged from 20 on a field with hail damage to 80s on his best wheat. Test weights have remained over 60 pounds per bushel, and his proteins have been lower than average, which he partially attributes to the fact that they were late getting nitrogen on because of the moisture. He said he has neighbors who have gotten as high as 12s on protein. Wheat harvest for Lisa Schemm, who farms in Wallace and Logan counties, got into full swing on July 10. They had started cutting on July 4, but rains kept them out of the fields until last week. A normal start date for them is June 25. A severe storm on June 22 hit some of their wheat and corn hard with hail.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates