U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) have joined several other U.S. agricultural organizations in signing a letter encouraging U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reopen rail crossings in El Paso and Eagle Point for trade as quickly as possible. Given the huge volume of U.S. wheat sales that move directly to Mexican customers by rail, the sudden decision on December 17 to close these two crucial rail crossings on the border has the potential to be a major disruption in this important trade relationship.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year starting Dec. 18, 2023. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024.

Idaho's net farm income will likely decrease next year, and producers “are going to see a little bit of a margin crunch,” a University of Idaho Extension farm business management specialist told a recent UI Ag Outlook forum. Inflation and higher interest rates remain concerns, as do consumer demand and geopolitical unrest, Brett Wilder said. Receipts on livestock will likely moderate, Wilder said, but ag exports continue to show strength. Idaho net farm income was about $2 billion in 2021, and reached a record high $4.2 billion in 2022 as commodity price increases outpaced gains in the cost of inputs

The USDA says the deal struck by the federal government and plaintiffs in a lawsuit over Snake River dam operations will provide "near-term stability." “This agreement will help provide near-term stability for communities that depend on the Columbia River System for agriculture and transportation," a USDA spokesperson told the Capital Press. "The alternative was the significant uncertainty brought about by protracted litigation that could’ve resulted in a ruling very adverse to agriculture and rural communities in the region."

IWC Executive Director Britany Hurst Marchant, and Commissioners Joe Anderson and Cliff Tacke, walked a figurative mile in the shoes of their end-use customers this month during a flour milling short course at the IGP Institute at Kansas State University. The IGP Institute organizes this course annually as a deep dive into milling and baking processes. This year’s course, conducted December 11-13, 2023, was designed to give wheat growers and industry personnel training in the basic principles of flour milling and a greater understanding of the relationship between wheat quality and flour performance. Wheat farmers, grain trade representatives, and state and national wheat organizations also participated.

The winter holidays always seem to be full of positive and cheerful references. “Merry Christmas” and carols marking this season as “the most wonderful time of the year” are just a few examples of joyful greetings disseminated around this time. While many people look forward to time off from work and eggnog-filled festivities with family and friends, the sad reality is that ‘tis NOT the season to be jolly for everyone. The Christmas season can be associated with stress, sadness, loneliness and other challenges. Despite the whirlwind of angst-ridden local and global affairs, the good news is that help is available.

The drought-hit Panama Canal’s transit limits and high fees are driving bulk grain shippers of US crops from the Gulf Coast to Asia into longer routes with higher freight costs to avoid being backed up at one of the world’s main maritime trade routes, Reuters reported, citing traders and industry analysts. The higher costs are coming during peak shipping for US corn and soy suppliers. Ships moving crops have faced wait times of up to three weeks to pass through the canal as container vessels and others that sail on more regular schedules are scooping up the few transit slots available.