Over 50 food and agriculture organizations – including NAWG – sent a letter to Congress encouraging them to pass legislation enabling the United States to negotiate more free-trade agreements. Specifically, the letter calls on congress to Pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which provides American negotiators with the authority they need to complete market access agreements while maintaining high standards for international trade. Without this authority – and the absence of the pursuit of comprehensive free trade agreements – American agriculture is falling behind global competitors.

Wheat farmers from Idaho, Montana and Nebraska were part of the USW North Asia Board Team, which has returned to the U.S. after successful visits to meet U.S. wheat customers in the Philippines, Japan and South Korea.

There’s reason for optimism, and reason for concern, as wheat farmers across Idaho prepare for another growing season. Britany Hurst Marchant, Executive Director of the Idaho Wheat Commission said on the positive side, the Gem state has received a lot of snow this water year. “Our snowpack looks pretty good, our water equivalent in that snowpack is above normal but still not super high. The good news is that we won't be in a drought and we know that we'll still be getting more snow, but we don't want to be too overly optimistic about not having any water issues going forward. This year should be great.”

Famers have many assets that need cared for on a regular basis, including mental health. With daily stressors from natural disasters and volatile markets, to labor shortages and equipment breakdowns, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of farmers and farm families are experiencing stress and mental health concerns. It is important to recognize signs of poor mental health and know how to seek help when needed.

With recent breaks in U.S. and global wheat futures and lower freight rates, the wheat market seems to have turned a corner to favor buyers after two years of volatility and risk. Despite the improved general outlook, inflationary pressures persist, influencing macroeconomic conditions both in the U.S. and for our customers overseas. For example, major runups in the U.S. dollar in the second and third quarter of 2022 impeded wheat trade. Yet even with recent strengthening, the U.S. dollar index has decreased 7% from the highs hit in September 2022, providing some relief for wheat importers.

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are disappointed that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has approved Canadian Pacific Railway’s merger with Kansas City Southern Railroad.

Last year, U.S. exports of wheat dropped to a historic low, both in the number of bushels and in the country’s share of the international market. For the first time since the U.S. Department of Agriculture Environmental Research Service began recording U.S. wheat production and exports in its Wheat Data product in 1975, the U.S. share of world wheat exports dropped below 6% of the international market. Drought was a major factor in the low yields, according to the U.S. Wheat Associates.