When we think about a man in midlife, we may see them as independent and can take care of themselves. And yet men in the middle years—between the ages of 35 and 64—have a suicide rate that is more than double the national average, says psychiatrist Jeff Sung. What’s more, many men at risk of suicide will not seek conventional mental health treatment. So we need to figure out what works for men. And we need to change the life trajectory of men who are at risk of suicide.

Whole grains are different from refined grains in that they contain all three parts of a grain kernel: the starchy endosperm, which provides carbohydrates, protein and some B vitamins and minerals; the germ, rich in healthy fats and vitamins; and the bran, a concentrated source of fiber, minerals and B vitamins. When we eat whole grains, the fiber and healthy fats slow digestion, resulting in smaller spikes and dips in blood sugar. Fiber can also reduce blood cholesterol levels, support a healthy gut and lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Russian wheat export prices continued to decline last week following a drop in global markets, while shipments also fell amidst challenging weather conditions, analysts said. The informal restriction of the export price by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture also remains one of the influencing factors, they said. The price of 12.5% protein Russian wheat scheduled for free-on-board (FOB) delivery in the second half of February to the first half of March was $238 per metric ton, down $4 from the previous week, the IKAR agriculture consultancy reported.

Ukraine has managed to boost its Black Sea grain exports to a level not seen since before Russia's invasion, although the Red Sea shipping crisis poses a new challenge to its crucial agricultural trade.Kyiv's unexpected success in replacing a UN-backed Black Sea export deal with its own shipping scheme has brought relief for Ukrainian farmers and importing countries while representing a naval breakthrough for Ukraine's military as a land counteroffensive has stalled.

Grain shipments increasingly are being diverted away from the Suez Canal because of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by Iranian-backed Houthi militia based in Yemen, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said on a social media platform on Jan. 18. The WTO said on X (formerly Twitter) that wheat shipments via the Suez Canal plunged to 500,000 tonnes in the first half of January, almost 40% lower year-on-year. “Available data points to surging volume of re-routed vessels to avoid the Suez Canal in the past two weeks, albeit with no major impact on total deliveries to Asia or Eastern Africa,” the WTO noted. The Suez Canal, which connects the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, is the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.

Breads made with U.S. wheat caught the attention of the U.S. Ambassador to Chile during September’s Espacio Food and Service trade show in Santiago. It set in motion a series of discussions that led to Amb. Bernadette Meehan touring a top Chilean flour mill arranged by the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) South American regional team The bread Meehan raved about at the show was baked in the USW wheat flour and baking laboratory on the campus of Universidad Mayor.

Looking ahead to a contentious political year, the American Farm Bureau Federation plans to insist lawmakers don’t leave key agricultural policies on the back burner any longer. “We need to get even louder,” said Zippy Duvall, AFBF’s president, told members during the group’s annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. After postponing action on a new farm bill in 2023, Congress must now make complex decisions about crop insurance, conservation programs and food assistance amid the tumult of a national presidential election.To ensure lawmakers keep their eye on the ball despite these distractions, the nation’s largest agriculture organization will need farmers to continue demanding the legislation be a priority,