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.

About half Idaho's wheat and the wheat grown in the United States is exported. Who is eating the wheat you grow? How are our trade relationships overseas? What do you need to know on your farm to make sure the wheat gets to the buyer, miller, and baker?

The Idaho Wheat Commission will be hearing presentations regarding research projects to be funded by Idaho wheat grower dollars. These research reviews are open to Idaho growers. Please contact wheat@idahowheat.org or call us at 208.334.2353 for more information