NAWG NEWS
NAWG Launches Drought Awareness Campaign
This week, NAWG launched a social media campaign highlighting the severe drought that is impacting farmers in the West and High Plains. NAWG and its growers are posting images of wheat crops, articles relating to the drought, and drought monitoring resources. We would love your help spreading awareness of the drought. You can retweet and share our social media posts and even tag NAWG in your own crop pictures. To get started, follow NAWG’s social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook, plus follow our NEW accounts on LinkedIn and Instagram.
NAWG Vice President Talks About Drought
NAWG’s Vice President, Nicole Berg, talked with NM News Network this week about the drought in the PNW. “See how the wheat head is curled like that?” Berg asks. “And then you break into it, you might have some berries down here, but this will be empty. There is no wheat inside the wheat head. It’s a sad situation. It’s farming though. You know, thank goodness for crop insurance.” Read the full story here.
GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY NEWS
Weekly U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) Update
Much of the western continental United States experienced below-normal average temperatures this week. Above-normal precipitation in the West was limited to the high elevations. However, improvements were only warranted in western Montana and northern parts of New Mexico, where the heaviest precipitation fell. Elsewhere in the West, degradations were warranted due to declining snowpack, stream flows, and soil moisture. Heavy rains in the Southern Plains resulted in continued improvements across Texas this week. Heavy rains also fell across western portions of the High Plains Region, warranting improvements from western Nebraska and Kansas westward to the Front Range. From the eastern High Plains Region to the Great Lakes, improvement and degradations were observed based on where the heaviest precipitation fell. To view the U.S. map and regional reports, visit the website here.
Nomination Hearing of Janie Simms Hipp
Today, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing for the nomination of Janie Simms Hipp to be General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) noted during the hearing that the Senate Agriculture Committee will likely vote on Ms. Hipp’s nomination shortly after the Senate comes back from the Memorial Day recess. Live video of the hearing is available here.
ERS Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade
U.S. Agricultural Exports in the Fiscal Year 2021 Forecast Up $7.0 Billion to Record $164.0 Billion; Imports at $141.8 Billion…. Wheat exports are forecast at $6.9 billion, unchanged from the previous forecast. Unit values have surged higher due to dry growing conditions in some Northern Hemisphere wheat areas and rising corn prices. However, this is offset by a lower export volume forecast. Tighter U.S. wheat supplies and uncompetitive prices, relative to other major exporters, are expected to limit prospects for new-crop wheat exports. Read the report here.
USDA Releases of Agriculture Announces Key Staff Appointments
On Tuesday, the USDA announced the names of individuals who will hold senior staff positions in Washington, D.C. Kim Peyser was named Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration. Kim Peyser was named Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration. Katie Zenk was named Chief of Staff for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. For more details, read the press release here.
Join the 2021 Sustainability Agronomy Conference Virtual Event & Conservation in Action Tour Series
The Sustainable Agronomy Conference will provide Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs), Agri-Sales Professionals, and growers with the opportunity to fully understand and implement sustainable agronomy in the field. Learn the drivers, economics, agronomics, environmental benefits, and implementation techniques of sustainable crop production. Economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainable agronomy will be considered. Join July 20 & 27, August 3, 10, 17, & 24 for free! For more information and details to register, visit the website here.
NATIONAL WHEAT FOUNDATION NEWS
Enter the Spring Wheat 2021 National Wheat Yield Contest
National Yield Contest winter wheat entries are in, there are 252 dryland entries and 73 irrigated entries! A huge THANK YOU to all our sponsors: WestBred, BASF, John Deere, Ardent Mills, AgriMaxx, Grain Craft, Michigan Wheat, Croplan, Miller Milling, and Nutrien. Spring Wheat entries are accepted until August 1. Get your entry in by June 15 for the early entry cost of $100. The wheat contest is administered entirely online, and growers can register at yieldcontest.wheatfoundation.
Source: