As the holiday season and the end of year approaches and markets tend to slow, spring wheat prices have also slowed slightly.

The Ukrainian port of Odesa was not operating on Sunday after the latest Russian attack on the region's energy system, Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said, but added that grains traders were not expected to suspend exports. Two other ports - Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi - authorised to export grains from Ukraine under a deal between Russia and Ukraine were partially operating, he said. "Chornomorsk port is now operating at about 80% of capacity," Solsky told Reuters in a phone call.

Based on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ukraine is now expected to export 4.2 million tonnes of grain in the next four months, up from 1.8 million tonnes in a previous estimate, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

A coalition of U.S. farm and food industry groups recently expressed support for a bipartisan Congressional agreement that, in part, maintains navigational access to the Lower Snake River Dams. The Agricultural Transportation Working Group noted that the Water Resources Development Act* (WRDA) of 2022 helps protect U.S. agriculture’s dependence on comprehensive transportation system including inland waterways and ports.

Some have a basic understanding of the flour milling process. Some have absolutely no idea how wheat from a farm ends up as flour destined for a baker’s oven.

Idaho Wheat Commissioners and Staff met with U.S Wheat colleagues on both islands and sat with millers and bakers who purchase Idaho Wheat to talk about quality and expectations. Commissioner Cory Kress shared his thoughts on the experience.

All of us worry from time to time. Farming can be a very rewarding yet worrisome occupation because of its intense busy seasons and many stressors outside of our control, like weather and markets.