Russian Wheat - A Curveball for US Elevators

Sep 20, 2023

After some rainy days, the sun's finally shining on the US wheat fields, especially in the Midwest. Our farmers have rolled up their sleeves and produced the largest soft red winter wheat in nearly ten years. And guess what? This is the wheat that goes into making delicious treats like pastries.

But there’s a catch. Enter Russia, with its super low-cost wheat exports. Their declining currency and vast wheat supplies have put them in the global spotlight, making things tricky for our US wheat elevators. They're scratching their heads, wondering about profits in this scenario.

And the ripple effects globally. Countries from Argentina to Australia are grappling with reduced wheat due to tough weather conditions. Plus, the Russia-Ukraine tension adds more uncertainty to the mix.

Experts are buzzing with predictions. As global wheat stocks tighten and Russian wheat keeps pouring in, we might see prices shoot up. And our bakers? They have a challenge on their hands, trying to mix the right wheat types for that perfect loaf of bread.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.