Weekly Update for
April 13

Join NAWG’s advocacy campaign to engage with legislators on increasing Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs authorized in the Farm Bill. MAP’s authorized funding has not changed since 2006 and FMD funding has remained the same since 2002, so inflation and sequestration have significantly eroded the ability to compete with other countries who are steadily investing more in their agricultural export promotion efforts. Please visit NAWG’s website to participate in the grassroots efforts to make your voice heard.

On Wednesday 12, 2023 the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI-MU) will host the annual Abner W. Womack Agricultural Outlook Conference. The annual conference provides a public forum to present FAPRI-MU’s baseline outlooks for agricultural production, prices, and consumption for the next nine years. The outlook for 2023 suggests a decline in farm income from 2022 levels but remaining above the 10-year average. Input prices for row crops increased sharply in the spring of 2022, which raised total operating expenses. The conference will cover topics such as U.S. and Missouri farm income, U.S. beef consumption, the effect of temperature and precipitation stress on the transportation system, climate-smart commodities in Missouri, and the financial performance of conservation practices at the farm level. Additionally, Ukrainian scholar and consultant Svitlana Synkovska will offer a global perspective on how Russia's war in Ukraine has affected agricultural production in the country and how Ukrainian producers have adapted.

On Tuesday, the U.S wheat is in for a slightly higher supply, reduced domestic use, unchanged exports, and increased ending stocks this month for 2022/2023. Supplies are raised 5 million bushels on higher imports and domestic use is lowered 25 million bushels on reduced feed and residual use, which is decreased to 55 million. Wheat exports remain at 775 million bushels but there are counterbalanced by-class changes for White and Hard Red Spring exports. The global wheat outlook for 2022/23 is for increased supplies, higher consumption, and reduced trade and stocks. The global wheat outlook for 2022/23 is for increased supplies, higher consumption, and reduced trade and stocks. Supplies are raised 0.7 million tons to 1,061.1 million, primarily on higher beginning stocks for Syria and increased production for Ethiopia. Global consumption is increased 2.9 million tons to 796.1 million, mainly on higher food, seed, and industrial use for India, and increased feed and residual use for China and the EU. World trade is lowered 1.2 million tons to 212.7 million on reduced exports by the EU, Argentina, and Brazil more than offsetting increases for Russia and Ukraine. China’s wheat imports are raised 2.0 million tons to 12.0 million, which would be the highest imports for China since 1995/96.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR.) announced that the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research will hold a hearing titled “SNAP and Other Nutrition Assistance in the Farm Bill.” next week, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 3:30 pm, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Mike Braun (R-IN) will chair this hearing.

Last week, President Biden vetoed a resolution that would have disapproved the revised definition of "Waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. The President argued that the 2023 revised definition provides clear rules for protecting water quality and public health, while also supporting infrastructure, economic investments, and agriculture. He stated that the resolution would leave Americans without a clear definition, causing uncertainty and threatening economic growth, particularly in agriculture and downstream communities. “Farmers would be left wondering whether artificially irrigated areas remain excluded or not. Construction crews would be left wondering whether their waterfilled gravel pits remain excluded or not. The resolution would also negatively affect tens of millions of United States households that depend on healthy wetlands and streams,” said President Biden.

Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture John Boozeman (R-AR) praised the Office of the United States Trade Representative for filing a second counter-notification with the World Trade Organization to hold India accountable for its trade-distorting practices. The counter notification reveals that India's rice and wheat subsidies are much higher than what they claim, causing a negative impact on American rice and wheat farmers. Boozman has been pushing for the administration to initiate the WTO litigation process against India's blatant violations since December 2021. Australia, Canada, Paraguay, Thailand, and Ukraine have joined the U.S. in filing the counter-notification. “American rice and wheat farmers have been seriously impacted by India's egregious over-subsidization of rice and wheat. This is a far cry from the level playing field our farmers were promised and deserve. I applaud Ambassador Tai and the nations who joined us in the effort for continuing to bring truth to light. This is further evidence that we need to pursue a formal case against India’s blatant violations with the WTO,” Boozman said.

Entering the National Wheat Yield contest is easier than ever! There is one deadline for Winter wheat (May 15) and one for Spring wheat (August 1). The cost per entry is $100. Many of our partners offer vouchers that will pay for your entry fee. Everything is online at www.yieldcontest.wheatfoundation.org. Enter now to be included in our early entry drawing. We have winners in both yield and % over county average yield, so everyone has a chance to win a national placing. Twenty-four national winners will receive a trip to the next Commodity Classic, in Houston, TX. Get your entries in today!

Carl Schwinke is a new director of the National Wheat Foundation and the Vice President of Grain Supply for Siemer Milling Company. Take a look at this preview for a great episode 'How America Works': Working with Wheat - YouTube and learn more about the wheat milling process. Also, check out Flour 101 on the Siemer Milling website to learn more about how flour is made. flour 101 - Siemer Milling Company Thank you, Siemer Milling Company for being an advocate for the wheat industry and thank you, Carl Schwinke, for volunteering to serve on the Foundation’s Board!

Spring is an incredibly busy time of year for wheat growers. Between keeping up with crop protection applications and preparing for harvest to making plans for winter wheat planting, growers cannot fall short on protecting the crops in the field. To help growers through their busy season, FMC has developed a list of crop protection tools to manage wheat concerns and showcase valuable information including product benefits, use rates, application timing and PHI.