This article is my last one covering marketing basics before we put everything together to develop a marketing plan. Unfortunately, it covers a difficult subject that is hard to cover in a short article. First, what is a minimum pricing contract (MPC)? It is a marketing tool that combines a…
A major goal of the annual convention is to provide growers with updates and educational opportunities through the breakout sessions. Here’s a short summary of some of those sessions. Dams update Adam Ratliff, director of the Center for Sustainability and Working Rivers, spoke about recent developments surrounding the lower Snake…
Last month, more than 40 growers attended a workshop at the William A. Grant Water and Environmental Center in Walla Walla, Wash., focused on the Endangered Species Act and pesticide labels. Attendees participated in activities designed to encourage conversation and generate information to inform the national conversation around pesticide labeling. Participants…
In early October, when Wheat Life spoke to Arlan Suderman, it was too early for him to know exactly what he’ll be talking about at the convention later this month. In fact, depending on world headlines, he might be putting the pieces together at the very last minute so growers…
Washington grain growers will be cultivating solutions to yield success at the annual 2025 convention Nov. 17-19 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The convention offers growers the opportunity to hear state and national policy updates, listen to nationally known keynote speakers, participate in educational breakout sessions,…
The title of this article is one of those catch phrases that you may have heard over the years. It relays the fact that to make money trading commodities, you will make money as long as your trades align with the trend: selling short in a downtrend and being long…
Understanding where our food comes from is something every person should know — and something every child should be taught. That’s the heart of the mission behind Washington Ag in the Classroom (WAIC), a program I’m honored to be a part of. My name is Alisha Klein, and I serve…
I was asked if I would write an article explaining the basis relationship between soft white wheat (SWH) and CBOT wheat futures, so here we go! I felt that this relationship could be best explained if I compared/contrasted the hard red winter wheat (HRW) KCBOT basis relationship with the SWH…
At the 2025 Wheat College, Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson had a wide-ranging discussion with growers that covered growing top wheat by using grower-collected data, factors that impact wheat yields, and how to counter the public perception of agriculture. Johnson is a former wheat specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,…
The Wilbur-Creston and Odessa school districts are putting the finishing touches on a new curriculum that gives students a leg up in today’s agricultural industry. Students got a taste of the training on offer at a precision ag field day in May at Weismil Farms north of Odessa. The idea…
