Scouts on this year’s Hard Red Spring Wheat and Durum Tour will likely see combines running as both winter and spring wheat are maturing early this year. “Some people are going to see things they’ve never seen before on this tour,” said Ben Handcock, executive director of the Wheat Quality Council. “The crop is running a good three weeks ahead of schedule.”

The wheat harvest is underway in South Dakota. Producers will harvest nearly 100 million bushels of wheat this year and from planting all the way to the bin the economic activity that is generated is significant. Michelle Rook has the story.

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association endorses the federal government’s decision to cover all Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) wind-up costs associated with the end of the CWB monopoly....The Wheat Growers had argued that the costs of winding up the CWB monopoly should fall to the people of Canada, given that it was the federal government that imposed the monopoly in 1943.

By Casey Chumrau, USW Market Analyst

Despite the worst drought since 1956, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that U.S. wheat farmers will produce a larger crop than last year and will stand ready once again to supply high quality wheat to the world. In its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) released July 11, USDA lowered its 2012/13 U.S. wheat production estimate for the second straight month to 60.5 million metric tons (MMT). However, that is still 12 percent greater than last year’s production and 2 percent above the five-year average.
 

Although winter wheat harvest is mostly complete there will be residue removal decisions made with other small grains and particularly with drought stressed corn and other crops. What are we losing with residue removal?

To provide the most current information and resources to the state's crop and livestock producers, SDSU Extension will host Drought Updates at SDSU Extension Regional Centers throughout the state on Monday July 23. "The drought is worsening day by day and has reached the critical point where South Dakota's crop and livestock producers will need to make significant management decisions to address its challenges," said Rosie Nold, Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Director for SDSU Extension. "SDSU Extension is here to provide information and key resources."

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is helping build record export sales and sustainable demand for U.S. wheat in South Asia by helping milling and baking customers grow their businesses, USW Regional Vice President Mike Spier said in a presentation to the USW Board of Directors in Spokane, WA.

“In southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, wheat consumption is rising rapidly because incomes are improving and tastes are shifting from rice to wheat foods," Spier said. “That is opening markets for baked goods, biscuits, cakes and other foods that need more types of higher quality flour and per capita annual wheat consumption is growing.”
 

The U.S. Wheat Associates’ (USW’s)and National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) joint committees on trade and biotechnology policy met over the weekend in Spokane, Wash., in association with USW’s summer meeting there. The two committees include members from both organizations who work to develop priorities and resolutions that are forwarded to both boards of directors for approval.

USW Director of Policy Shannon Schlecht and USW Chairman Darrell Davis discussed trade policy issues during the USW Summer meeting.

WASHINGTON (DTN) -- The House Agriculture Committee passed its version of the farm bill shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday morning after a protracted day debating 100 amendments to the bill and keeping together a fragile coalition among committee members by outright rejecting any amendments that increased spending.  The next step for the Federal Agricultural Reform and Risk Management Act would ideally be a full debate on the House floor in the coming weeks if House leaders are willing to move the legislation.

A statement from National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) President Erik Younggren, who farms wheat, sugar beets and soybeans near Hallock, Minn., on the House Agriculture Committee’s approval of 2012 Farm Bill language: