Wheat Industry News

Nov 15, 2023

U.S. Winter Wheat Conditions

U.S. winter wheat conditions showed incremental improvement over the same time in 2022 according to USDA’s Nov. 7 report. Winter wheat rated good to excellent was at 50%, up from last week and 20 percentage points over 2022. Ratings are based on grower surveys and other measurements. Read more here.

$5 Billion Investment in Rural America

The Biden Administration has announced over $5 billion in funding for Rural America. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said it includes $1.7 billion for conservation. “It’s the single largest investment in any one year of conservation in the history of our conservation programs and a significant portion of it is $1 billion in regional conservation partnership program opportunities in 35 states. It’s funded from the Inflation Reduction Act which itself is a record level of investment in climate-smart agriculture,” said Vilsack. Read more here.

St. Lawrence Seaway Strike Ends

Union workers ratified a labor contract with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and shipping activity in the Port of Duluth has resumed. The 7-day strike shut down the entire St. Lawrence Seaway system and multiple ships were loaded out of Duluth and unable to leave. Read more here.

United Grain to Purchase Pendleton Flour Mill

United Grain Corp. (UGC) announced this week it will acquire Grain Craft’s Pendleton, Ore., grain elevator, more than 19,000 square feet of warehouse and accompanying property. The sale follows a fire last year that destroyed Grain Craft’s flour mill on that property. UGC says the Pendleton acquisition will support UGC’s McNary River Terminal by acting as a wheat satellite and positioning the company for growth in existing and new product lines. Read more here.

USDA Funds Help Advance Wheat Breeding

Montana State University professor Andreas Fischer is using funding from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to fill what he calls a “foundational gap” in plant science knowledge. The work could ultimately help develop new wheat and barley seed varieties to be more specialized towards their end use, a plant breeding benefit for farmers and their customers.

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Video: AJ Armstrong Takes the Helm as Manitoba Seed Growers President

The Manitoba Seed Growers Association (MSGA) held its first annual SeedLink Conference in Brandon last week, where a new president was appointed to take the helm of the organization.

A.J. Armstrong of Armstrong Seeds in Boissevain took the gavel from Past-President Tom Greaves. In a sit-down interview, Armstrong shared insights into his personal journey within the seed industry. Born into a family deeply rooted in seed cultivation, he took the reins of the family business in 2003, building on a legacy initiated by his father in 1980.

Regulatory modernization emerged as a significant focus of the conversation. While acknowledging the complexities of the process, Armstrong expressed optimism about the potential benefits for seed growers once the regulatory framework is finalized.

Discussing the dynamics of working with family in a business setting, he stressed the importance of open communication.

Operating with a streamlined team that includes his mom as the bookkeeper, his father as the “gopher” handling specific tasks, and a dedicated employee for day-to-day operations, the Armstrong family has successfully navigated the intricate balance of personal and professional relationships.

Open discussions about roles, responsibilities, and business plans contribute significantly to the smooth functioning of a family-operated seed business,” he said.

SeedLink is a new event; the decision to explore a return to a two-day annual meeting format sparked enthusiasm among industry partners, including key players and sponsors like SeCan, FP Genetics, Canterra Seeds, and numerous others.