Midsummer Crop Diagnostic Clinics Offered near Mead
Agribusiness professionals and crop producers will take a close-up look at field conditions, research and techniques at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's midsummer Crop Management Diagnostic Clinics July 17-18.
The UNL Extension clinics begin each day with 7:30 a.m. registration at the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead and start at 8 a.m. Participants will meet at the August N. Christenson Research and Education Building. Participants can attend one or both of the clinics as subject matter will be different each day.
Keith Glewen, UNL extension educator said, "Benefits of the crop management and diagnostic clinics include one-on-one attention, on-site plot demonstrations, interaction with other participants, discussions about cutting edge research and an opportunity to earn continuing education credits through Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program."
The July clinics feature national corn specialist from Purdue University who also happens to be a native Nebraskan, Bob Nielsen. Glewen said, having the opportunity to have Nielsen share his experience and knowledge of corn production live in a cornfield, for many participants will be a once in lifetime educational experience.
Topics on July 17 include: Corn Crop Canopy, Light Interception, and Grain Yield; Corn Silage, An Efficient and Economical Use of Corn Residue; Update on Nematodes of Corn and Soybean; Crop Water Use; Making the Most of a Herbicide Application and Feeding a Growing Population in a Shrinking World: A Plant Biosecurity-Food Security Challenge. Six Certified Crop Adviser credits (crop management – 1.5, pest management – 3.0, soil and water management – 1.0, and nutrient management – .5) have been applied for and are pending approval for this clinic.
July 18 clinic topics include: Sex in the Corn Field: What Really Goes On Out There?; Evaluating Efficacy of Tank Mixing Herbicides for Hard-to-Control Weeds in Corn; Feedlot Manure and Holding Pond Effluent: N Availability and Environmental Issues; Understanding the Benefits and Limitations of Current Pesticide Application Field Equipment; Crop Scene Investigation (CSI); and Atrazine in Surface/Groundwater. Six Certified Crop Adviser credits (crop management – 1.5, pest management – 3.5, and nutrient management – 1.0) have been applied for and are pending approval for this clinic.
Early registration is recommended to reserve a seat and resource materials. Cost for one clinic is $160 for those registering one week in advance and $210 after. Cost for both clinics is $280 one week in advance and $320 after.
For more information or to register, contact the ARDC CMDC Programs, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE 68033, call 800-529-8030, fax 402-624-8010, e-mail cdunbar2@unl.edu or visit the Web at http://ardc.unl.edu/training.shtml.
A special clinic focusing on physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and water will also be held on Aug. 28. August clinic topics include: Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil and Water….The Cornerstone of the Human Race; Cover Crops for Improving the Soil; Infiltration Test and Organic Matter; Soil Temp., Electrical Conductivity, pH, N and P tests; Irrigation and Soil Water; Using Solvita Respiration Tests and N Flush; Soil Profile and Positioning of Landscape; and Management Considerations to Improve the Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil. 7.5 Certified Crop Adviser credits (nutrient management – 2.5 and water management – 5.5) have been applied for and are pending approval for this clinic.
DELEGATES SELECTED TO ATTEND THE 42nd ANNUAL NAYI
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture today announced the selection of 194 Nebraska high school juniors and seniors to attend the 42nd annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) this year from July 8-12 on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus.
“The delegates to this year’s NAYI are one of the largest groups of delegates in the history of the Institute. It is very encouraging to see so many youth want to learn more about the agricultural industry,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “NAYI is designed to educate youth about agriculture, how to get involved in the agricultural industry, as well as about the numerous career opportunities available to them in the future. The week also will provide the delegates an opportunity to network with industry leaders, top-notch speakers, and agricultural representatives.”
NAYI Participants (First Name, Last Name, Hometown)
Mr. Kyle Essink Adams
Mr. Conner Kozisek Ainsworth
Mr. Chase Dye Alliance
Brandie Jansen Alma
Mr. Calvin Webster Alma
Ms. Paige Dexter Amelia
Ms. Carly Fangman Ashland
Ms. Kendall Riecken Ashland
Ms. Katie Richards Ashland
Ms. Autumn Lemmer Atkinson
Mr. Cole Gibbons Atkinson
Ms. Jessica Thiele Atkinson
Mr. Tyler Coburn Atkinson
Ms. Morgan Pelster Bartlett
Ms. Sarah Wollenburg Beatrice
Ms. Sarah Herzinger Beemer
Ms. Erin Blum Benedict
Ms. Victoria Talcott Bennet
Mr. Dillon Hilger Bennington
Ms. Savannah High Bertrand
Mr. Tyler Dahlgren Bertrand
Ms. Haley Bledsoe Blair
Ms. Emily Bledsoe Blair
Ms. Bailey Schlueter Blair
Ms. Amelia Petska Blue Hill
Ms. Jenelle Kesterson Bridgeport
Mr. Brandon Nichols Bridgeport
Ms. McKayla Obermiller Cairo
Mr. Joel Schardt Carleton
Ms. Jocelyn Kuncl Cedar Rapids
Ms. Ally Kennedy Cedar Rapids
Ms. Brittney Jefferson Central City
Mr. Mitch Herbig Central City
Ms. Mollie Maresh Central City
Ms. Sarah Gramlich Ceresco
Mr. Devin Mitchell Chadron
Ms. Jennifer Young Chambers
Ms. Blair Hartman Champion
Ms. Melissa VanDerslice Columbus
Mr. Tyler Block Cozad
Ms. Courtney L. Brown Cozad
Ms. Shelby Tachovsky Crete
Ms. Regan Garey Curtis
Ms. Shaylee Schroeder Curtis
Mr. Riley D. Garey Curtis
Ms. Shaylee Truax Davey
Ms. Brittany Hilfiker David City
Ms. Amanda Clymer David City
Ms. Cara Felber Deweese
Ms. Shelby Cammack DeWitt
Ms. Sara Hubbard Dickens
Mr. Clay Bogert Dix
Ms. Dana Eikmeier Dodge
Ms. Kaydee Caldwell Edgar
Mr. Abe Dush Elba
Ms. Marisa Sell Elba
Mr. Clayton Dana Elm Creek
Ms. Mikaila Smith Elwood
Mr. William Jack Eustis
Mr. Matthew Tomjack Ewing
Mr. Calvin DeVries Fairfield
Mr. Caleb Schlick Fairfield
Ms. Erika Schwartz Fairmont
Ms. Amanda Dvoracek Farwell
Mr. Benjamin Rice Firth
Mr. Chandler Maly Fremont
Ms. Morgan Zumpfe Friend
Ms. Krystal Bialas Fullerton
Ms. Amanda Fetrow Fullerton
Mr. Connor Rees Garland
Ms. Kora Schott Gibbon
Ms. Abbigail Mazour Gothenburg
Ms. Madison Costello Gothenburg
Ms. Kelsey Kuhlman Gothenburg
Ms. Bailey Gibbens Gothenburg
Ms. Jessica Schmidt Gothenburg
Ms. Baylee Laub Grand Island
Ms. Jessica Buettner Grand Island
Ms. DeAnna Hanner Gretna
Ms. Caylee Lorenz Gretna
Ms. Jackee Pomajzl Hallam
Ms. Kimberly Johnson Hampton
Ms. Taylor Cooper Hayes Center
Ms. Sarah Cox Hayes Center
Ms. Andrea Wach Hayes Center
Ms. Kerbie Large Hayes Center
Mr. Jonah S. Vonderfecht Hebron
Mr. Joey Geisler Hooper
Mr. Jared Roberts Hooper
Ms. Betty Cech Howells
Mr. Eric Wemhoff Humphrey
Ms. Maranda Kegley Kearney
Ms. Maire Walsch Kearney
Ms. Amanda Lambrecht Kennard
Ms. Shelby Andersen Lakeside
Ms. Haley Rogers Lexington
Ms. Olivia Freriks Lincoln
Mr. Alex Carlson Loomis
Mr. Colt Johannsen Louisville
Ms. Julia Bray Lyons
Ms. Heidi Miller Lyons
Ms. Rebecca Cornelius Madrid
Mr. Brandon Sieck Martell
Ms. Logan Sieck Martell
Ms. Corissa Brown Maywood
Ms. McKenzie Crowe Mc Cook
Ms. Sydney Pfeifer Mc Cook
Mr. Morgan Schilling McCook
Ms. Alecia Mertz McCool Junction
Mr. Daniel Bauer McCool Junction
Ms. Rena Garretson Monroe
Ms. Emily Glasshoff Murdock
Mr. Sam Glasshoff Murdock
Ms. Devanne Martin Murray
Ms. Elizabeth Rice Murray
Mr. Clayton Henne Nehawka
Ms. Sarah Morton Nehawka
Mr. Levi Schroer Nelson
Ms. Toni Rasmussen Newman Grove
Mr. Brandon Groseth North Platte
Mr. Henry Thomas Aufdenkamp North Platte
Mr. Landon Swedburg North Platte
Ms. Michelle Henry North Platte
Ms. Mattie McCabe O Neill
Mr. Jacob Goldfuss O Neill
Mr. Grant Uehling Oakland
Mr. Tucker Baily Omaha
Mr. Nathan Gotschall O'Neill
Ms. Taylor Hornickel Ord
Mr. Dusty Staab Ord
Ms. Elizabeth Todsen Ord
Ms. Breanna Johnson Osceola
Ms. Jordan Paine Oxford
Ms. Elizabeth Forbes Palmer
Mr. Shawn McDonald Phillips
Ms. Lexy Nuesch Pierce
Ms. Kristin Jindra Pilger
Ms. Jenna Martin Pleasanton
Ms. Breanna Zimmer Pleasanton
Ms. Rebekah Lamberson Prague
Mr. Justin Korth Randolph
Ms. Sarah Teichmeier Ravenna
Ms. Michaela Urwiller Ravenna
Mr. Paul Bauer Ravenna
Ms. Morgan Cuttlers Raymond
Mr. Zachary Settje Raymond
Mr. Kris Rasmussen Riverdale
Mr. Bryan Wietjes Riverdale
Mr. Eric Rasmussen Riverdale
Mr. Dane Hansen Sargent
Mr. Tyler Brabec Schuyler
Ms. Rachel Thompson Scotia
Ms. Nicole R. Cargill Scotia
Ms. Chrisinda Scheideler Scotia
Ms. Megan Behlen Seward
Mr. John Bohaty Seward
Ms. Brooke Tempel Seward
Ms. Alicia Dierberger Seward
Ms. Kasey Heath Seward
Ms. Courtney Libra-Catlin Shelton
Ms. Maggie Louthan Smithfield
Mr. Tyler Haun Spencer
Mr. Kyle Finney Springfield
Ms. Emily Long Springfield
Ms. Kelsey Scheer St Paul
Mr. Ryan Sommerhalder Steinauer
Ms. Shelby Paxton Stuart
Ms. Rachel Ibach Sumner
Ms. Miranda Pierce Sumner
Ms. Kate Likens Swanton
Chang Jean Taiwan
Ms. Tang Hsin Taiwan
Liang-Cheng Jui Taiwan
Mr. Dillon Bieck Trumbull
Mr. Craig Hruska Ulysses
Mr. Logan Paasch Valley
Ms. Kylie Knigge Verdigre
Ms. Kelsey Knigge Verdigre
Ms. Alexandria Lundvall Wallace
Ms. Katelyn Rae Melton Wallace
Mr. Taylor Neilson Wallace
Ms. Jaclyn Nelson Wallace
Ms. Alexandra Cunningham Wausa
Ms. Abigayle Applebee Waverly
Ms. Caitlin Davis Waverly
Ms. Anna Wilkens Waverly
Ms. Michaela Horn Weeping Water
Mr. Chrisopher Watterman West Point
Ms. Kary Stanek Weston
Mr. Kory Wagner Winnetoon
Mr. Michael Liermann Wisner
Ms. CaLee Thomsen Wolbach
Ms. Devin Coffey York
Ms. Callie Rathjen York
During the five-day Institute, the delegates will participate in agriculture policy discussions, agricultural career explorations, and group discussions. Motivational speakers, a farm management program, and a media experience will help the delegates develop leadership potential, strengthen their pride in Nebraska’s agricultural industry and enable them to help tell the story of agriculture.
Since its inception in 1971, NAYI has reached over 5,000 youths from across Nebraska. The Institute is the longest-running agricultural youth institute of its kind in the nation. Delegates are able to attend the Institute free of charge because of the generous donations of numerous agricultural businesses, commodity groups and agricultural organizations.
NAYI is coordinated by the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council (NAYC), which is comprised of 19 college-age men and women selected by NDA. Gavin Kenny of Amherst and Haley Harthoorn of Ainsworth are serving as the head counselors for the NAYC this year and are responsible for the day‑to‑day planning of the Institute.
For up-to-date information about NAYI, please join them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NebraskaAgYouthInstitute.
NDA ROLLS OUT 2013 SENIOR FARMERS’ MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM
With farmers’ market season in full swing, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s (NDA) Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is back. The program, in its 13th year provides low-income senior citizens with coupons that can be exchanged for fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey from NDA certified produce vendors.
NDA received a $219,973 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for this year’s program. The funds are used to reimburse farmers for the coupons they accept.
“Each year this program assists more than 5,000 low-income senior citizens across the state to obtain fresh, locally grown products to enrich their diets,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “This program also will benefit the over 460 growers who have been certified to accept the coupons, because it’s an opportunity to increase their marketshare.”
The SFMNP was established as a pilot program in 2000, and re-authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.
Coupons are available to low-income seniors, during the month of June, from their local senior centers. A map identifying the locations of Nebraska’s farmers’ markets, roadside stands and U-pick operations is available online at www.ourbesttoyou.nebraska.gov or by calling 800‑422‑6692. Coupons can be redeemed at NDA-certified produce vendors only. Those vendors must display a NDA-certified stall sign.
Nebraska's SFMNP is a joint effort between NDA, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Medicaid and Long-Term Care – State Unit on Aging, Nebraska DHHS Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Nebraska Area Agencies on Aging, and Nebraska senior centers.
Low-income seniors interested in more information about SFMNP coupons should contact the Nebraska DHHS Medicaid and Long-Term Care – State Unit on Aging at 800‑942-7830.
How to Grow Beef Demand
New study results identify most promising opportunities
Price, food safety and product quality are the most important demand drivers on which the beef industry should focus to have the most compelling effects on beef demand in the long term. Other key drivers include health, nutrition, social aspects and sustainability.
So concludes “Beef Demand: Recent Determinants and Future Drivers,” a newly released study commissioned by the Beef Checkoff Program to summarize the current knowledge of consumer demand for beef and identify the best opportunities for the industry to influence demand positively.
“Consumer demand for beef is one of the most important and widely discussed, yet poorly understood, concepts affecting the beef and cattle industry,” the report notes. “It is imperative that the beef industry recognize what drives consumer demand, what expectations are for the future, and assess the industry’s ability to adjust practices to target evolving consumer preferences or to influence important demand determinants.”
Authors of the report include Dr. Ted Schroeder, professor of livestock marketing, and Dr. Glynn Tonsor, associate professor of livestock marketing, both at Kansas State University, in addition to Dr. James Mintert, assistant director of Extension for Agriculture and Natural Resources at Purdue University, who prepared the report at the request of the checkoff.
“The information gathered and analyzed for this comprehensive report is almost invaluable to the beef industry, in general, and to the Beef Checkoff Program, in particular,” said cattleman Ted Greidanus, a member of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and chairman of the Joint Evaluation Committee that commissioned the research for the checkoff.
“Not only does it have the ability to help more producers understand the true meaning of strong beef demand – which has the potential to improve their bottom lines – but it provides a detailed road map for checkoff leaders in identifying how to leverage every checkoff dollar to its most effective and meaningful degree possible,” Greidanus said. “Members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and directors of the Federation of State Beef Councils will be asked to use the information in this report in making decisions about how to invest checkoff dollars in Fiscal Year 2014 and beyond.”
Understanding beef demand
While recognizing that understanding beef demand and how to affect it is a daunting task, the report’s authors note that it also is critical to the industry’s long-term viability.
One very important point in developing strategies to grow beef demand will be clarification about the role of per capita consumption in beef demand. Per capita consumption is, in effect, per capita availability of beef, so it offers little information regarding beef demand when considered independently of prices, the economists note. Demand, on the other hand, effectively refers to the quantity of beef that consumers will purchase at one given price, with all other factors held constant. (Chapter 5 of the report explains beef demand concepts in detail.)
“While it is tempting to focus on market share, per capita consumption, or other product volume flows to monitor demand, this can be very misleading,” Dr. Tonsor said. “Demand can only be accurately measured by assessing the combination of price and quantity. Demand is a key component of economic signals (prices) sent throughout the entire supply chain. ”
Given the state of the cattle industry’s supply, that understanding of beef demand vs. consumption is particularly critical.
“As the industry is entering a period of declining per capita supplies (and hence consumption), these clarifications are important,” the report notes. “It is entirely possible for per capita consumption to decline and beef demand to increase. In fact, this is what the industry experienced the past two years. That is, per capita beef consumption fell in 2011 and 2012 relative to prior-year volumes … (while) beef demand increased.”
Looking forward to the next three years, USDA projections include falling per capita beef consumption in the U.S. until 2015, at which time increases are projected following cow-herd expansion. If per capita consumption falls as expected, demand could still continue upward if consumers continue to be willing to pay higher prices for beef. (Chapter 6 of the report provides a related summary of the macroeconomic environment in which the beef industry operates.)
What is important to consumers?
The research identifies seven broad attributes as particularly consequential demand factors that the beef industry, through the Beef Checkoff Program, likely could influence. These became the central focus of the determinant study: beef price; food safety; product quality; health; nutrition; social aspects; and sustainability.
Price, food safety, and product quality rose to the top of all other attributes – both for ground beef and steak. Because the checkoff cannot control price, the researchers identified food safety and product quality the two key attributes that the checkoff can and should influence.
“There are a multitude of things, in addition to demand strength, that influence beef prices,” said Dr. Mintert, “including things that affect cattle and beef supplies – such as feed costs, land costs, energy prices, new technologies, beef packaging and processing costs, and interest rates – all of which are beyond the control of individual producers or the beef industry as a whole.”
With that in mind, the research gathered and ranked issues affecting beef purchases, both according to consumer responses and industry researcher responses, and found general agreement between the two. Food safety, product quality and form, and price were the three highest-ranking factors in both consumer and expert assessments, whereas social aspects and sustainability were ranked lowest, with nutrition and health ranked between the two. (Chapter 3 of the report summarizes consumer input about beef purchases.)
Consumers indicated similar rankings for ground-beef and steak purchasing decisions. On average, safety, freshness, taste and health were most often selected as “most important” factors, while convenience, origin/traceability, and environmental impact were most frequently identified as “least important” factors in their beef-buying process.
What can the checkoff do?
From the milieu of research, data, and surveys of producers, consumers, economists, meat scientists and other industry experts, the researchers prepared five key recommendations for checkoff leaders to consider in making decisions about how to invest checkoff dollars, as summarized on page 15 of the summary report:
- First and foremost, continue to invest in food-safety enhancement and assurances. Consumers demand it, and there is considerable opportunity to positively improve beef demand in the future.
- The industry needs high-quality products that offer consistently excellent flavor, color, tenderness, juiciness, etc… and that is offered to consumers in forms they prefer/demand. While development of new products is an important dimension of this, consistency and integrity of product labels is another important component. The checkoff’s recent participation in updating Uniform Retail Meat Identity Standards (URMIS) names for red meat sold at retail is a perfect example of astute response to consumer demands for consistent and recognizable names of cuts at the meat case, the report notes.
- Price has been for a long time, and remains, an important driver of consumer purchase decisions. But beef experts indicate that they see little opportunity during the next 10 years for the industry to influence beef prices significantly, especially relative to competing protein prices. Consequently, their recommendation on this front is that the industry work to embrace efficiency-enhancing technology development and adoption that does not negatively impact, and ideally enhances, product quality and safety attributes.”
- Give continued industry attention to health and nutritional aspects of beef. Beef’s advantages with respect to protein content … and perhaps iron and zinc, appear to be opportunities for the industry to continue to develop and promote with consumers. This suggests an opportunity to target younger shoppers with specific positive health and nutritional messages.
- Social and sustainability issues – including consumer skepticism about production technology, perceptions that technologies degrade product quality, safety, nutrition, concerns about animal handling, etc… – should not be ignored, as the industry must be vigilant and prepared when these issues arise. Investments to address social and sustainability issues likely will have a lower demand-enhancement payoff than investments in other key areas, though responding to these issues might remain a ‘cost of doing business.’
“Many important demand determinants provide opportunities and challenges for both individual firms and the collective industry,” Dr. Schroeder said. “Producers and individual firms are encouraged to take special note of the role they can play in advancing beef demand. Furthermore, industry representatives managing increasingly tight checkoff budgets can use recommendations of this study to help prioritize demand-enhancement investments.”
“Beef Demand: Recent Determinants and Future Drivers” is available on the MyBeefCheckoff.com website at this link, under the “Evaluation” link on the left side of the page, or directly at Demand Determinants 2013.
Tuberculosis Identified in Texas-Origin Beef Cow
Laboratory testing has identified tuberculosis in a beef cow in south central North Dakota.
"The National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA, has reported that initial tests of the animal were positive for TB," said Dr. Susan Keller, state veterinarian. "Results of additional testing should be available in six to eight weeks."
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Melvin Leland, president of the State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), emphasized that the incident poses no immediate health risk to the general public, since the cow has been removed from the herd and destroyed.
They said the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the BOAH will work with USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services to complete all necessary testing to ensure the safety of the state's livestock industry.
The State Health Department is being kept informed of the matter.
Keller said the animal was identified as a result of a trace-out investigation in Texas. An investigation is ongoing in North Dakota.
CWT Assists with 1.6 Million Pounds of Cheese Export Sales
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted seven requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) to sell 1.612 million pounds (731 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia. The product will be delivered June through October 2013.
Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 60.812 million pounds of cheese, 51.727 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 31 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.690 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. That is more than USDA’s projected increase in milk marketings for all of 2013.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by helping to maintain inventories of cheese and butter at desirable levels. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.
CWT will pay export assistance to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
Korean Team to Survey Wheat Crops in Montana and Oregon
Every summer, members of a crop survey team from South Korea traverse the Pacific Northwest for a firsthand look at the new wheat harvest. This year’s team was scheduled months before USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced May 29 that it had identified an unapproved, genetically modified, glyphosate-resistant trait in volunteer wheat in a single Oregon field. But, the timing of the Korea Crop Survey Team’s travel June 16 to 22 to Montana and Oregon provides a great opportunity to reinforce the safety, quality and reliability of the U.S. wheat on which South Korea’s millers, bakers and food processors have come to rely.
Three representatives from three of South Korea’s largest flour mills will meet with wheat researchers, tour grain elevators and export terminals and visit with farmers who are preparing to harvest their soft white (SW), hard red spring (HRS) and hard red winter (HRW) wheat crops. USW collaborated with the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee and the Oregon Wheat Commission to organize this year’s tour.
“We appreciate the opportunity to bring together our Korean customers with the farmers who are dedicated to growing the highest quality wheat possible each year,” said Dr. Woojoon Park, senior marketing specialist in the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Seoul Office, who will accompany the team. “Team members will see firsthand the region’s incredible investment in grain research, marketing and transportation and take advantage of the opportunity to frankly discuss mutual concerns with farmers waiting to harvest their 2013 crop.”
USW is aware that private wheat buyers in Korea have temporarily suspended purchases of U.S. SW wheat, pending official decisions from Korea’s Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS). MFDS did announce last week that it had collected and tested 40 samples of wheat and five samples of flour milled from wheat that had been shipped/imported from Oregon, and that all tests showed that no unapproved recombinant wheat has been identified to date.
The United States currently supplies about 40 percent of South Korea’s wheat imports, competing with Canada and Australia in this sophisticated market. In the 2012/13 marketing year, South Korea imported 1.41 million metric tons (51.8 million bushels) of U.S. wheat.
Welcome to the KTIC Agriculture Information blog!!! Check back here for the latest in ag news and information, from local events to international happenings and government reports that affect your operation. Please email with suggestions! -Chad Moyer, Farm Director, KTIC Radio
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