When it comes to farm income on a per capita basis, Idaho is the unchallenged leader in the West, far surpassing even agricultural juggernaut California. Per capita farm income is derived by dividing a state’s total population by its total farm-gate receipts, which is the revenue farmers and ranchers receive for their commodity. Based on data released by USDA Aug. 31, Idaho’s per capita farm income number in 2022 was $5,794. To put it in simple terms, Idaho farmers and ranchers produced $5,794 worth of agricultural revenue for every Idahoan last year.

Discourse in recent days about China’s sputtering economic growth has centered on potential ramifications for the global economy and geopolitical conflict as well as whether political stability in China will endure. Signs China’s decades long economic boom may be winding down also raise important issues for global agricultural trade. Concerns have been on the rise ever since a robust economic rebound failed to materialize after China loosened its suffocating COVID-19 restrictions last December. Data last month showed no improvement in an extended real estate slump, rising unemployment, disappointing manufacturing activity amid an export lull and sluggish consumer spending.

While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 made the global milling industry cautious in making capital investments, it also emphasized the importance of wheat production and flour milling. Suppliers who participated in World Grain’s annual milling projects survey said they started seeing recovery in larger-scale projects last year and the momentum is continuing through 2023.Consumer behaviors are changing with an emerging middle class around the world made up of people who will eat more on the go while still looking for less food waste. Health and wellness will play an important role in the future, including alternative proteins

Join NAWG’s advocacy campaign to engage with legislators on increasing Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs authorized in the Farm Bill. MAP’s authorized funding has not changed since 2006 and FMD funding has remained the same since 2002. Inflation and sequestration have significantly eroded our ability to compete with other countries who are steadily investing more in their agricultural export promotion efforts. Please visit NAWG’s website to participate in the grassroots efforts to make your voice heard.

Flour milling companies from nine European countries made up a delegation that visited Washington, D.C. Sept. 24-28 to learn about the 2023 U.S. wheat crop and developments involving global markets, trade policy and emerging technologies. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) hosted the team, providing a series of presentations by USW staff and representatives of partner organizations.

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) continued a tradition of promoting the value of U.S. agricultural products together with other USDA Foreign Agricultural Service cooperator organizations by co-hosting the annual U.S. Agricultural Cooperators Conference Sept. 12 to 14, 2023, in Da Nang, Vietnam. This conference is designed as a value-added service for Southeast Asian buyers served by USW, and co-hosts U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

Donald Trump has proposed a 10% tariff on all imports and would also like the ability to impose reciprocal tariffs on any country that exceeds the 10% tariff level on imports from the U.S. Trump calls upon the ghosts of the Republican past for his policy, reminding those of us who’ve forgotten, and that would be all of us, that future president William McKinley had been responsible for a similar policy in 1890 during his time as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.