A confidential mediation document released today by four members of Congress outlines steps the federal government will take to mitigate the breaching of the lower Snake River dams, but appears to make those steps contingent on Congress authorizing removal of the dams. The document was released by Reps. Dan Newhouse, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Cliff Bentz and Russ Fulcher, who have sent a letter to President Biden seeking clarifications on the document's meaning.

Third generation farmer, Cliff Tacke, has jumped into the political side of farming by becoming Idaho Wheat Commissioner for District 2. “Wheat has been one of my mainstays in my farming career,” explained Tacke. “I haven’t been politically active, [but] now that I’m retired, I thought I could pull my weight a little bit.” Appointed to serve a five-year term position in early July by Governor Brad Little, Tacke represents wheat growers from Adams, Boise, Clearwater, Gem, Idaho, Lewis, Nez Perce, Payette, Valley, and Washington counties. Representing such a large group is a great responsibility that also comes with some bragging rights.

A month-long effort that had U.S. wheat farmers and industry experts presenting the 2023 Crop Quality Report to customers in more than two dozen countries is winding down with a collective sense of accomplishment. It is believed at least one attendance record was set this year. Cory Kress, Idaho Wheat commissioner was among those who particpated in the annual series of U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Crop Quality Seminars, which provided crucial information to customers and provided an opportunity for wheat buyers to interact and create a dialogue about the quality of the wheat crop.

The issue of agricultural stress is very much real and, sadly, affects farmers from around the world. Crop failures can shatter rural communities and cut off income for multigenerational families, leaving them to pick up the pieces. This cycle of uncertainty makes mental health so important in the industry. Just ask Marshal Sewell, founder of Mind Your Melon. His organization prioritizes the wellbeing of farmers by offering guides to overcoming adversity and building a healthy lifestyle. From nutritional and fitness tips to community resources, he encourages people to make proactive choices to cope with the daily stresses of agriculture.

The US Department of Agriculture on Nov. 7 projected area planted to soybeans to expand in 2024, but wheat and corn planting areas were forecast to decline. The forecasts were contained in early-release tables from the USDA Agricultural Projections to 2033 report, which will be issued in February 2024. The USDA forecast area planted to all wheat for harvest in 2024 at 48 million acres, down 1.2 million acres from 49.6 million acres in 2023. The 2024 forecast compared with 46.4 million acres as the recent five-year average planted area.

United States grain producers are still the world’s most productive and can compete with anyone in the world, but world prices are set by many factors including drought, the war in Ukraine, logistic hiccups, Argentina’s economic woes, the Brazilian harvest, and even petroleum prices. On the positive side, input prices have fallen significantly and margins are up for soybean producers. Those were some of the messages emerging from a recent Harvest Report given by experts at Rabobank, the global agricultural bank with headquarters in the Netherlands.

The fall of the yen this year has had little effect on Japan's wheat imports from the U.S., but it's another matter for meat. The value of the U.S. dollar rose by more than 30% compared to the yen between March 1, 2022, and Nov. 1 of this year, going from 115 to 150 yen. In this country, wheat imports are ordered by the government three or four months in advance depending on demand, Japan Flour Millers Association Executive Director Yasuo Sasaki said.