From U.S. Wheat Associates U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is excited to hear that the Trump Administration and the Japanese government are taking formal steps toward trade negotiations. The announcement today to “further expand trade and investment between the United States and Japan in a mutually beneficial manner” has the potential to eliminate a dangerous vulnerability for U.S. wheat farmers. Over ... Read More »

From the Capital Press With $6.9 billion in agricultural exports to South Korea hanging in the balance, U.S. producers got reassurance on Monday that a renegotiated trade agreement with the Asian nation would not harm exports. While commodity groups were confident with an agreement in principle reached in March, signing of the revised U.S-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement — ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.7 days suitable for field work last week. Pasture and range conditions were reported at 23 percent very poor, 35 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 19 percent good and 1 percent excellent. A low temperature of 27 degrees F was reported in the northeast region, while a high temperature of 84 degrees F was reported in the ... Read More »

An updated Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) was signed today by President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-In. The KORUS amendments include several revamped customs guidelines, provisions to prevent Korean discrimination against U.S. pharmaceutical exports, and a doubling of the amount of cars — from 25,000 to 50,000 — the U.S. can export to South Korea without being ... Read More »

Editorial from the Capital Press This week, reporters from the Capital Press tried to put a dollar figure to the impact of retaliatory tariffs placed on U.S. agriculture products to farmers and rancher in the West. It’s an elusive number, but it appears to be in the neighborhood of $4.1 billion over the next year. That’s a significant number in ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Washington grain elevators say they’re finding success blending wheat to make sure it meets the industry standard for the falling numbers test. HighLine Grain Growers is blending some carryover crop from 2017 to achieve the industry standard falling number score of 300, CEO Paul Katovich said. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the Capital Press The wheels are beginning to turn on trade moves that will benefit U.S. farmers, but some major concerns remain, the head of an agricultural trade organization says. The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing Sept. 13, focused on the Trump administration’s trade agenda. Brian Kuehl, executive director of Farmers For Free Trade, said he is cautiously ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.8 days suitable for field work last week. Pasture and range conditions were reported at 25 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 25 percent fair and 19 percent good. A low temperature of 34 degrees F was reported in the northeast and central regions, while a high temperature of 82 degrees F was reported in the ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Desperation in farm country due to low commodity prices and retaliatory tariffs by U.S. trade partners was the central theme of last week’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on trade. The committee questioned Ted McKinney, USDA undersecretary for trade, and Gregg Doud, chief agricultural negotiator, on what is being done to resolve trade disputes and forge new ... Read More »

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) appreciate the Senate Agriculture Committee holding a hearing on “Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Trade” Sept. 13, 2018, focused on the Trump Administration’s trade agenda. The organizations are encouraged that Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow, as well as the members of the administration who testified today, recognize the ... Read More »