Recent news and highlights from around the wheat industry.

Quote of the Week: “Obviously we hope that the trade environment improves soon but in the meantime, these funds will allow USW to increase marketing efforts and work on expanding markets in our key customer regions. Some of our largest, highest value markets took decades to build and we need to preserve those relationships to the best of our ability, while exploring new market opportunities…” — Bruce Freitag, a wheat farmer from North Dakota and Chairman of the North Dakota Wheat Commission, discussing new funding for export market development awarded by USDA. Read the full release here.

Two Changes to Official Falling Number Determination for Wheat. The USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) plans changes to the Falling Number test to reduce inconsistency and variability in test results. Changes are a result of research work undertaken after farmers encountered a significant falling number problem in parts of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) in 2016 and increased efforts to reduce inconsistent results across FGIS lab locations. Learn more here. 

Minnesota Wheat Accepting Applications for Executive Director. The Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council (MWRPC) and the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG) are seeking candidates to succeed long-time Executive Director Dave Torgerson. After serving the two organizations and Minnesota wheat growers for over 30 years, Torgerson will retire on March 31, 2019. Click here for more information.

Buhler-KSU Milling Short Courses. The IGP Institute offers milling courses this spring at its campus in Manhattan, Kan., including: The Buhler-KSU Expert Milling course, offered in English March 4 to 8, 2019, and in Spanish March 11 to 15, 2019; the Buhler-KSU Executive Milling course, offered in English May 20 to 24, 2019. Click here to register for these courses.

Pasta Production and Technology Course. The Northern Crops Institute is hosting a Pasta Production and Technology Course April 30 to May 2, 2019, at its facilities in Fargo, ND. This course introduces participants to the fundamental and applied aspects of pasta production and quality. Click here to learn more and register.

Subscribe to USW Reports. USW publishes a variety of reports and content that are available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts, the weekly Price Report and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online. Visit our page at https://www.facebook.com/uswheat for the latest updates, photos and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter at www.twitter.com/uswheatassoc and video stories at https://www.youtube.com/uswheatassociates.

Recent news and highlights from around the wheat industry.

Quote of the Week: “I really think [spring] wheat acres will see a resurgence because of the value of wheat in the rotation. In Minnesota and North Dakota, spring wheat is a premier, quality crop.” – Dave Torgerson, Executive Director, Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council and Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers.

Torgerson to Retire. Dave Torgerson has announced he will retire as Executive Director of the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council and the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers on March 31, 2019. Dave began his service to wheat growers in June 1987 as a Marketing Specialist and accepted the Executive Director position in 1990. Thank you, Dave, for your service to the U.S. wheat industry. All of us at USW wish you and your family all the best in a long and happy retirement.

2019 National Wheat Yield Contest. The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) is now accepting grower enrollment for the 2019 National Wheat Yield Contest. The Contest includes winter wheat and spring wheat primary categories and dryland and irrigated subcategories. NFW is accepting winter wheat entries between April and May 15, 2019, and spring wheat entries between June 15 and Aug. 1, 2019. Learn more here.

Birth Defects Prevention Month. Enriched grain foods supply iron and folic acid that significantly lower the risk of some birth defects. The Food Fortification Initiative estimated in 2017 that 86 countries require wheat flour, maize and/or rice fortification and that 50,270 brain and spine birth defects were prevented due to flour fortified with folic acid — an average of 137 healthier babies every day! Throughout January, The Wheat Foods Council and the Grains Foods Foundation are featuring several resources including a fact sheet and infographic for promotional use.

Buhler-KSU Milling Short Courses. The IGP Institute offers milling courses this spring at its campus in Manhattan, Kan., including: The Buhler-KSU Expert Milling course, offered in English March 4 to 8, 2019, and in Spanish March 11 to 15, 2019; the Buhler-KSU Executive Milling course, offered in English May 20 to 24, 2019. Click here to register for these courses.

Pasta Production and Technology Course. The Northern Crops Institute is hosting a Pasta Production and Technology Course April 30 to May 2, 2019, at its facilities in Fargo, ND. This course introduces participants to the fundamental and applied aspects of pasta production and quality. Click here to learn more and register.

Sincere Condolences to Ambassador Gregg Doud, Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and his family on the death of his mother, JoAnn Doud, following a tragic fall at the Doud family farm in Kansas. Amb. Doud is a former USW colleague who served as Market Analyst and Assistant Director of the West Coast Office.

Subscribe to USW Reports. USW publishes a variety of reports and content that are available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts, the weekly Price Report and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online. Visit our page at https://www.facebook.com/uswheat for the latest updates, photos and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter at www.twitter.com/uswheatassoc and video stories at https://www.youtube.com/uswheatassociates.

Recent news and highlights from around the wheat industry.

Quote of the Week: “After a rocky start, I’m just proud to turn a partisan bill into a bipartisan bill. That’s the way Congress is supposed to work.”

— House Agriculture ranking member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) following passage of H.R.2, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the Farm Bill, by a vote of 369 to 47; the legislation now awaits President Trump’s signature. The Farm Bill includes renewed funding for export market development programs.

USDA Announces 2019 Trade Missions. USDA will sponsor trade missions in 2019 to Taiwan, Colombia, Vietnam, Kenya, Mexico, United Kingdom and Canada. “Agricultural trade missions offer phenomenal opportunities for U.S. exporters to explore new markets and forge relationships with potential customers,” said Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney. Click here to keep up to date on plans for USDA’s 2019 trade missions.

Planted Wheat Acres Down in Kansas. Wheat acres in Kansas will likely be lower than last year, possibly reaching 100-year lows in the state. Record precipitation throughout the state in October and below average temperatures in November helped add needed soil moisture, but also kept farmers out of the fields during fall harvest and wheat drilling time. Click here to read the full story.

Congratulations. We are fortunate to have devoted, loyal colleagues at USW. This month Program Manager and Secretary Ms. Heydy Langbroek, from the USW Rotterdam Office, is celebrating 20 years. Thank you, Heydy, for your service to our organization, to U.S. wheat farmers and to our customers around the world.

IGP Milling Courses. The IGP Institute will host an Introduction to Flour Milling course Jan. 14 to 18, 2019. No milling experience or theory is required for this course. For more information, follow this link. To register, click here.  In March, the IGP Institute will offer its Buhler-KSU Expert Milling courses in English and Spanish. For more information on the training, follow this link. To register for the English offering, click here. For registration to course Spanish offering, click here.

Thrive Through Change. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture recently sponsored a seminar about how to be resilient in the face of change, featuring Australia’s Denis Hoiberg. Hosted at the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, N.D., Hoiberg’s presentation is now posted online, compliments of Minnesota Farmers Union.

Wheat Marketing Center Activities. Over the next few months, the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland, Ore., has an active schedule of events including workshops for wheat growers, courses on laminated dough and an end-product collaborative event with USW. For more information, visit WMC’s informative website at https://www.wmcinc.org/.

Subscribe to USW Reports. USW publishes a variety of reports and content that are available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts, the weekly Price Report and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online. Visit our page at https://www.facebook.com/uswheat for the latest updates, photos and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter at www.twitter.com/uswheatassoc and video stories at https://www.youtube.com/uswheatassociates.

Recent news and highlights from around the wheat industry.

Quote of the Week: “Farming is a challenging occupation, and I want to thank all of you and the thousands of farmers that you represent for staying the course.” – Chris Kolstad, USW Chairman and Montana wheat farmer

Thanksgiving. The USW Headquarters Office in Arlington, Va., and West Coast Office in Portland, Ore., will be closed Nov. 22 to 23 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Congratulations to Milling and Baking Technologist Tarik Gahi and his wife Sabrine who gave birth to a baby girl named Ayda on Nov. 2. We are very happy for our colleague and his family based in Casablanca, Morocco!

Commitment to Science-Based Regulations. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) recently welcomed the proactive, coordinated action by 13 countries, including the United States, in signing onto the International Statement on Agricultural Applications of Precision Biotechnology. The statement reiterates an international commitment to the fair, science-based treatment of evolving plant breeding methods, like gene editing, around the world. “This is a strong showing of support by governments around the world in recognition of the necessity of continued evolution in plant breeding, and the critical role that it will play in ensuring a more sustainable and secure global food production system,” said ASTA President & CEO Andrew LaVigne. The statement was released Nov. 2 in Geneva at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

Scholarship Awarded. The 2018 National Wheat Foundation (NFW) and U.S. Wheat Associates Scholarship was awarded to Matthew Winterholler, a senior majoring in agricultural communications at Texas Tech University, during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) convention Nov. 7. The scholarship is one of several awarded by the NAFB Foundation. NFW and USW donated funds for the scholarship to recognize the 75th anniversary of NAFB and U.S. farm broadcasters serving wheat growers around the country.

Washington Grower Breaks 200 Bushels Per Acre. Last week the National Wheat announced the winners of its 2018 National Wheat Yield Contest. Washington State wheat grower Phillip Gross topped the 200 bu/ac level for the first time ever in the contest and took top yield honors for the third year in a row. The contest recognizes winners in two primary competition categories: winter wheat and spring wheat, and two subcategories: dryland and irrigated with entries required to meet standard or better grade factors. Read more by clicking here.

A Project to Extend the Shelf Life and Improve the Flavor of whole wheat products was announced Nov. 6 as part of a new collaboration between U.S.-based Ardent Mills and Arcadia Biosciences Inc. The project relies on Arcadia’s patented “extended shelf life” wheat trait technology developed through traditional plant breeding. According to Arcadia and Ardent Mills, flour milled from that wheat oxidizes more slowly, extending its storage life, reducing waste and improving the taste by minimizing the bitterness some consumers associate with whole wheat products. Read more by clicking here.

National Wheat Foundation Scholarship. The National Wheat Foundation’s Jerry Minore Scholarship honors high school and college students pursuing an agricultural career. “The purpose of the Jerry Minore Scholarship is to help students who are passionate about agriculture at school and at home,” said National Wheat Foundation Chairman Wayne Hurst. “Our students are the future. They will go on to educate the next generation about wheat, agriculture and their role in society.” The application deadline is Dec. 1, 2018. Click here to learn more and apply.

Subscribe to USW Reports. USW publishes a variety of reports and content that are available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts, the weekly Price Report and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online. Visit our page at https://www.facebook.com/uswheat for the latest updates, photos and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter at www.twitter.com/uswheatassoc and video stories at https://www.youtube.com/uswheatassociates.

Recent news and highlights from around the wheat industry.

Quote of the Week: “Things have changed (and) it is going to take a while to dry out. Probably going to limit wheat planting increases as harvest delays will keep some fields from being double cropped back into wheat as previously intended. Good moisture out west will have corn acres up this spring. But, for the wheat in the ground that wasn’t under water, it looks pretty darn good.” — Justin Gilpin, Kansas Wheat CEO, describing the effects of recent heavy rain and cold in the Southern Plains on potential wheat planted area.

National Wheat Foundation Scholarship. The National Wheat Foundation’s Jerry Minore Scholarship honors high school and college students pursuing an agricultural career. “The purpose of the Jerry Minore Scholarship is to help students who are passionate about agriculture at school and at home,” said National Wheat Foundation Chairman Wayne Hurst. “Our students are the future. They will go on to educate the next generation about wheat, agriculture and their role in society.” The application deadline is Dec. 1, 2018. Click here to learn more and apply.

U.S. to Start New Trade Negotiations. At the direction of President Trump, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified Congress on Oct. 16 that the Administration intends to negotiate three separate trade agreements with Japan, the European Union and the United Kingdom. “Today’s announcement is an important milestone … we are committed to concluding these negotiations with timely and substantive results for American workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses.” Read more here.

Borlaug CAST Communications Award. Marty Matlock, Executive Director of the University of Arkansas Resiliency Center and winner of the 2018 Borlaug CAST (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology) Communication Award was honored Oct. 17 during annual World Food Prize events in Des Moines, Iowa. Recipients of CAST’s annual award are science or agricultural experts who demonstrate an ability to communicate through written material, public presentations, and various forms of media. Matlock said he was inspired by the late Dr. Norman Borlaug and paid tribute to his legacy by emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary efforts and social connections to help feed the world. Read more here.

Celebrating World Pasta Day, Oct. 25. 2018 marks the 20th Anniversary of World Pasta Day, organized by the International Pasta Organization (IPO) and celebrated this year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a gathering that will include pasta makers, industry members, scientists, media and other opinion leaders. The event will focus on pasta as a global food, its health benefits, great taste and social significance. For more information about the event and how you can celebrate World Pasta Day, visit https://2018.worldpastaday.org/.

Changes to USW Price Report. Due to increased demand for higher protein U.S. soft white (SW) wheat and the low average protein levels of the 2018/19 crop, the USW Price Report will change this week to show min 9.5 protein premiums (currently about a 20 cent per bushel premium to max 10.5 SW prices) and no longer show an unspecified protein level. Unspecified protein SW has priced equal to max 10.5 SW for the last several months. USW will continue to monitor market conditions and make changes to the report as necessary.

Subscribe to USW Reports. USW publishes a variety of reports and content that are available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts, the weekly Price Report and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online. Visit our page at https://www.facebook.com/uswheat for the latest updates, photos and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter at www.twitter.com/uswheatassoc and video stories at https://www.youtube.com/uswheatassociates.