Weekly Update for
May 16

On May 16, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) launched a Farm Bill advocacy campaign. The purpose of this campaign is to urge members of Congress to include NAWG priorities in the Farm Bill ahead of the House Committee on Agriculture’s scheduled markup on May 23. Learn more and get involved below:

From May 14 to 15, NAWG CEO Chandler Goule attended the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Agricultural Economic Summit in Omaha Nebraska. The theme of this year’s program was “Agricultural Prospects and Energy Demand.” With the goal of fostering discussion on how agricultural markets are being shaped by global demand for energy, the summit featured opportunities for attendees to provide diverse perspectives. The event also had several keynote presentations and panel sessions.

On May 15, House Agriculture Ranking Member David Scott and Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow released the below statement following a meeting with House Agriculture Committee Democrats and Democratic Leader Speaker Hakeem Jeffries. “House and Senate Democrats remain committed to passing a strong, bipartisan farm bill that strengthens the farm and family safety nets and invests in our rural communities. America’s farmers, families, workers, and rural communities deserve the certainty of a five-year Farm Bill, and everyone knows it must be bipartisan to pass. House Republicans are undermining this goal by proposing policies that split the broad, bipartisan coalition that has always been the foundation of a successful farm bill. We need a farm bill that holds the coalition together and upholds the historic tradition of providing food assistance to our most vulnerable Americans while keeping our commitment to our farmers battling the effects of the climate crisis every day. Democrats remain ready and willing to work with Republicans on a truly bipartisan farm bill to keep farmers farming, families fed, and rural communities strong.”

The outlook for 2024/25 U.S. wheat is for larger supplies, modestly higher domestic use, increased exports, and higher stocks. Supplies are projected up 6 percent from 2023/24 on larger carry-in stocks and production. All wheat production is projected at 1,858 million bushels, up 3 percent from last year on higher harvested acreage and yields. The all wheat yield is projected at 48.9 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushels. The first 2024 NASS survey-based winter wheat production forecast of 1,278 million bushels is up 2 percent from 2023 on increased Hard Red Winter and White Winter production more than offsetting lower Soft Red Winter production. Total 2024/25 domestic use is projected up 1 percent, primarily on higher feed and residual use. Exports are projected at 775 million bushels, up 55 million from the revised 2023/24 exports, which remain at a 52-year low. Increased U.S. exportable supplies and more competitive prices are expected to result in higher exports. Projected 2024/25 ending stocks are 11 percent above last year at 766 million bushels, the highest level in four years. The projected 2024/25 season-average farm price (SAFP) is $6.00 per bushel, down $1.10 from last year’s SAFP on higher stocks and lower projected U.S. corn prices.  The global wheat outlook for 2024/25 is for slightly lower supplies, increased consumption, modestly higher trade, and reduced stocks.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) requests comments and will hold public hearings to inform objectives and strategies that advance U.S. supply chain resilience in trade negotiations, enforcement, and other initiatives. Submit written comments or request to testify at the public hearings via regulations.gov, following instructions provided in the Federal Register Notices below:

On May 14, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai released the following statement concerning the statutory review of the tariff actions in the Section 301 investigation of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation: “After thorough review of the statutory report on Section 301 tariffs, and having considered my advice, President Biden is directing me to take further action to encourage the elimination of the People’s Republic of China’s unfair technology transfer-related policies and practices that continue to burden U.S. commerce and harm American workers and businesses,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai.

On May 15, The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the Congressional District Profiles and Rankings from the 2022 Census of Agriculture. This summary presents data by congressional district from the 118th Congress that includes land, farms, market value of agricultural products sold, rankings and producer characteristics. “These profiles present local data in a fast and easy-to-read format, allowing producers and all data users to quickly view and evaluate information,” said NASS Acting Administrator Joseph Parsons. “Congressional District Profiles and Rankings from the ag census are only available every five years. Providing ag census information at a congressional district level, in addition to state, county and nationwide data, allows data users to compare districts to each other, shows the value of agriculture in a district, and informs policy makers.”

The National Wheat Yield Contest winter wheat deadline was May 15. There are a record number of entries this year, thank you to all our partners and participants! See the chart for entry history. Reasons for the increase include new contest website, press coverage, new contest partners, more states promoting the contest. There are 33 states with entries!  That is also a record.  The next step for these winter wheat growers is to save a 10 lb. sample of wheat at harvest-time and get their yield data entered into the website as soon as they would like, but before October 1.

Spring wheat growers are encouraged to enter the National Wheat Yield Contest on the new website, www.wheatcontest.org, anytime up until August 1. Growers will need to create an account on the new site and then put in their entries. There is a new pilot category for growers in MN, MT, ND, and SD. Enter today!