University of Idaho Extension is involved in a project, “Women Farmers on the Rise in the U.S. and Idaho: Understanding and Supporting Women Farm Operators,” exploring gender bias and how it has shaped polices, creating barriers that have disadvantaged female farmers, especially relating to their access to land and USDA programs.

Wheat prices "probably won't be quite as good" in 2023 as they were last year, a top grain economist says. "We won't see last year's prices, we'll be several dollars short of that," said Randy Fortenbery. "We can't be thinking we're going to see 2022 wheat prices probably, unless there's some other shock that's not being anticipated." Soft white wheat ranged from $8.45 to $8.55 per bushel on the Portland market as of Feb. 8.

In prepared remarks at a Senate Farm Bill hearing last week, Alexis Taylor, USDA’s Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, explained that, with a population of 1.4 billion and a middle class the size of the entire United States, the PRC [People’s Republic of China] is the largest market for U.S. agricultural exports. Despite tension in 2018-2019 with China, American agriculture has proven to once again how effectively it can compete on a more level playing field.

Since June 2007, the average daily price change for wheat has been 10 cents per day. The biggest daily increase was 96 cents. The largest daily decrease was 91 cents. Prices may be volatile, but prices still tend to follow patterns and cycles. Information on expected supply and demand still determines price. What makes tomorrow’s price different from today’s price is “new” supply and demand information.

In an updated forecast released on Feb. 3, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated 2022 wheat production at a record 794 million tonnes, due to upward revisions in Australia and Russia, while overall grains production was pegged at 2.76 million tonnes, a 1.7% decline over the 2021 output.

The U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) board of directors elected new officers for the organization’s 2023/24 (July to June) fiscal year at their meeting Feb. 3, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

The 2023 Direct Seed Workshop will feature podcaster and Twitter personality Peter Johnson, "Wheat Pete" from Canada. Join us as we chat about harvesting, risk management and marketing strategies for producers. Register early and save some greens.