Wheat Industry News
News and Information from Around the World Wheat Industry
Speaking of Wheat
“If I am worth anything later, I am worth something now. For wheat is wheat, even if people think it is a grass in the beginning.” – Painter Vincent van Gogh. Above, Wheatfield with Crows, 1890, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
USW Featured on “Wheat’s on Your Mind” Podcast
Vice President of Policy Dalton Henry and Director of Trade Policy Peter Laudeman discussed the implications of the HB4 drought-tolerant GM trait that USDA deregulated on Aug. 29 on the Kansas Wheat podcast “Wheat’s on Your Mind.” Discussion included, does the trait work? What are the implications for international trade? And when will HB4 wheat be grown in the United States? Listen here, or on other podcast sources.
Texas Wheat Leadership Transition
The Texas Wheat Producers Board and Association announced the appointment of Steelee Fischbacher as its Executive Director, effective Sept. 5, 2024. With over 15 years of experience with Texas Wheat, Fischbacher is well-positioned to lead the organization. Rodney Mosier, Texas Wheat Executive Vice President since 1998, was named Executive Vice President Emeritus and plans to retire in March 2025. Read more here.
Innovation in Breeding Will Boost Food Security
More than 90% of seed sector insiders surveyed by the International Seed Foundation expected innovations that breed more resilient and productive varieties of key crops within two decades. Such developments would bolster global food security in the face of the growing impacts of climate change, which was cited as the greatest challenge facing the sector by almost 45% of respondents. The survey was conducted to help inform several upcoming food and agriculture conferences. Read more here.
Wheat Improvement Drives Researcher
Dr. Jessica Rutkoski is the first wheat breeder to hold the Siemer Milling Company Professorship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her career and background on the $1 million gift from Siemer Milling Company, Teutopolis, Ill., are featured in a recent article by Jeannine Otto in AgriNews. Illinois is the leading soft red winter wheat producing state. “I really love interacting with people in the wheat industry,” Rutkoski said. “It is always enjoyable to talk to the stakeholders and anyone who is involved in wheat production.” Read more here.
In Montana, This Wheat Field Is Art
An acre of wheat designed by the artist Agnes Denes has cropped up at a new exhibition space in Montana, where agriculture is rapidly giving way to development. This revelation is a testament to a new artwork by Agnes Denes in the burgeoning mountain micropolis of Bozeman, Mont. Titled “Wheatfield — An Inspiration. The seed is in the ground,” the project hinges on an acre of wheat planted at Tinworks Art, a fledgling exhibition space in a demolished beer factory. Read more here.
Felty: Producers Face Real Consequences if Congress Fails to Pass a Farm Bill
In an opinion piece for Agri-Pulse, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) President Keeff Felty urged members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to come together and pass a bipartisan farm bill this year that strengthens the farm safety net. “Over the course of the last farm bill, wheat growers have experienced a wide range of challenges, from drought, market volatility, trade disruptions, and supply chain disruptions. By investing in crop insurance and the commodity title, lawmakers can help make these programs more effective, efficient, and responsive to natural disasters and market challenges that are outside of producers’ control. Read more here.
OSU Wheat Variety Update Includes Advice for Next Year’s Crop
Oklahoma State’s chief wheat geneticist Brett Carver appeared at several producer meetings, including serving as keynote speaker at the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association annual meeting in Enid, where he gave a recap of research results from the past year and discussed future plans for the breeding program. Read more here.
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