U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are pleased that U.S. wheat growers now have the opportunity to increase global food assistance and expand export market access under new USDA funding programs announced Oct. 24, 2023. USW and NAWG thank Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for releasing the new funds that will directly benefit U.S. wheat farmers and their overseas customers.

Jumping into a farmer’s tractor is one way Rich Bupp tries to make the transition to regenerative agriculture easier. Farmers employing regenerative agriculture concentrate on improving soil health through crop rotations and less tillage. “Because I have a background in no-till, farmers starting to incorporate it will hire me to run the no-till planter so I can set it up and adjust it so it is performing in those conditions,” he said. Soil health and remediation, water management and mechanical systems are Bupp’s specialties.

Devin Fielding held up a photograph of his children when he explained why he farms, as well as the golden opportunity he sees in the University of Idaho-led Innovative Agricultural and Marketing Partnership (IAMP) program, formerly known as Climate-Smart Commodities for Idaho. The Shelley farmer and rancher acknowledged he has a dirty job requiring long hours, slim profit margins, uncertainty and risk. But Fielding recognizes farming instills a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation of natural resources, and he’s vested in making certain his kids also have the chance to work the land and learn farming values.

Research by four Cal Poly San Luis Obispo agriculture communication students found that suicide rates in agriculture are five times higher than the national average — and shockingly, even double the rate for military veterans. Among the reasons: net farm income worries (the leading cause), social isolation among farmers, pesticide-induced issues, and the ever-present stigma related to mental health issues in this country.

A year ago growers were seeing high prices as a result of the Black Sea conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as the war tightened supplies on fertilizer precursors and finished products on the global market. Drought, pricing, and supply chain issues made growers less likely to put on any additional fertilizer. While not perfect, some of these factors have improved from last fall.

USDA’s most recent Farm Sector Income Forecast dropped net farm income expectations for 2023 lower than initial February estimates to $141.3 billion, down 23% from 2022’s $183 billion. This $41.7 billion decline nearly erases the $42.9 billion increase that was forecast between 2021 and 2022 but is smaller than the $46 billion gain between 2020 and 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Russian wheat export prices continued to decline last week, amid reduced demand, analysts said. The price of 12.5%-protein Russian wheat scheduled for free-on-board (FOB) delivery in November was $225 per metric ton last week, down $5 from the week before, the IKAR agriculture consultancy reported. "Demand can only be found at this level," said IKAR head Dmitry Rylko. The Sovecon agriculture consultancy sees the price for this class of wheat at $237-241 per ton FOB, down $1 from the week before.