The value of crop insurance was illustrated recently in the far southeastern corner of Idaho, where a wave of sudden hail and rain storms pounded some fields of wheat that were ready for harvest. Farmer Cory Kress peered out the windshield of his combine Aug. 5 as ominous storm clouds gathered. Kress estimated his area received 2.5 inches of rain from several storms the week of Aug. 7. The average rainfall in his area is about 15 inches a year.

The livelihoods of thousands of farmers would be put at risk if the four lower Snake River dams are breached, a new study says. The study from the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association examined the economic, environmental and social justice impacts associated with breaching the dams, long targeted by environmental groups and tribes seeking endangered salmon recovery. Twelve counties — six in Washington, five in Idaho and one in Oregon — would be directly impacted by removal of the dams, according to the report, issued Aug. 13. About 7,644 farms in the affected area generate approximately $2 billion in annual sales.

This summer’s wheat harvest is finally coming to a close in Kansas after weeks of delays, and it’s the smallest crop for the state since 1966. Farmers were up against weather-related challenges this year. Wheat needs a lot of moisture when it’s planted in the fall and actively growing in the spring. However, in the summer, it needs to be dry for harvesting. This year, the weather did opposite of what was needed.

Chicago wheat rose around 2% on Monday as global supply concerns intensified, spurred by fears of an escalation of attacks on Black Sea shipping after a Ukrainian strike on a Russian tanker. “Wheat is being supported by increased risks from the Black Sea war with the Ukrainian attack on a Russian merchant ship over the weekend following the attack on Novorossiysk on Friday,” said Matt Ammermann, StoneX commodity risk manager.

There is a strong likelihood that the Canada durum crop especially, and possibly the U.S. durum crop, may not produce enough durum to meet the demands of the countries that normally import durum for their pasta needs. In the July 12 Crop Production report, USDA said durum production in 2023 was forecast at 54 million bushels (mb), down 9.9 mb, or 16%, from 64 mb in 2022.

Ukraine has become entirely dependent on alternative European Union routes for its grain exports after Russia last month exited a year-long deal that had allowed them to be shipped safely via its Black Sea ports.This has exacerbated Brussels' efforts to find a balance between helping Ukraine with the demand of five eastern EU member states to protect their own markets by extending a ban on domestic sales of Ukrainian grain till at least the end of 2023.

Join NAWG’s advocacy campaign to engage with legislators on increasing Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs authorized in the Farm Bill. MAP’s authorized funding has not changed since 2006 and FMD funding has remained the same since 2002. Inflation and sequestration have significantly eroded our ability to compete with other countries who are steadily investing more in their agricultural export promotion efforts. Please visit NAWG’s website to participate in the grassroots efforts to make your voice heard.