As the cold of winter settles in across the United States, associations that represent the interests of wheat farmers met in many states to review the last year's activities and set plans for the next year. USW officers and staff look forward to these meetings as a chance to detail the results of USW's efforts and talk to farmers. "Wheat Letter" asked them to share what they heard at some of the recent meetings.
"In both Bismarck and Grand Forks in North Dakota, farmers talked about the impacts of the Bakken oil field on labor and freight costs, the size of the Canadian crop (while agreeing that their own crop was pretty good as well), the recent wheat price decline and the current high cost of rail service that is hurting them on basis (cost to move wheat from country elevators to domestic markets or export elevators). They are interested in the export picture and clearly understand the importance of meeting our customers' needs with high quality wheat. And, as always, they greeted their guests with a warmth that more than made up for temperatures approaching minus 20 F (minus 31 C). Well, as long as we were inside!" – Alan Tracy, USW President.
"Most of the folks in Nebraska that I talked to are frustrated about not getting a farm bill done before the end of the year. Most farmers are not happy with the lack of statesmanship and leadership in the U.S. Congress. As small business operators, they are concerned that the new health care law will raise what are already high insurance rates. They are also seeing the cost of inputs like fertilizer, crop protection products and seed increase at the same time commodity prices appear to be heading down."
– Dan Hughes, USW Chairman
"The Tri-State conference of wheat farmers from Washington, Oregon and Idaho provided a chance to have many good discussions with producers and industry representatives. Biotechnology stood out to me as the major topic of interest and the program reflected that. Much of the discussion on biotech revolved around the need for educational efforts about this technology with consumers and customers. Another discussion point in one meeting was the need to get more young farmers involved in the grower organizations. It is important ensure that young producers' points of view are represented during discussions as decisions made today will impact them for a long time."
– Shannon Schlecht, USW Vice President of Policy
"I attended the Colorado Wheat Growers Association and was supposed to speak at the Wyoming Wheat Growers Association meeting, but it was cancelled because of high winds and blowing snow. In Colorado, I talked about the increase in both world supply and demand for wheat and described how USW was able to help buyers in China and Brazil turn quickly to U.S. wheat this year. Some of the farmers are concerned that federal export market development funding is at risk and that the farm bill debate might cut USW programs in our overseas markets. I explained that while trade service and technical support is pretty much on track, USW is carefully watching its budgets at the same time our competitors are preparing to invest even more in market development. In addition, there were a few questions about the impact of the wheat with an unapproved GM trait found in one field earlier this year. I was able to reassure them that the situation is isolated, that markets in Japan and Korea are open again and that USW and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) handled the situation very professionally along with Monsanto and many other organizations in the wheat supply system."
