Ukraine

Over the weekend, the United Nations Secretary-General announced an extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.  The announcement came at the last minute as the agreement was set to expire.  The Initiative facilitates the safe navigation for the exports of grain and related foodstuffs and fertilizers, including ammonia, from designated Ukrainian seaports.  During ...

It’s been a downward week for oil prices, with prices dropping roughly $10 per barrel in the past seven days.  West Texas Crude was trading in the mid-$60 range in Monday’s action.  Patrick DeHaan with GasBuddy said last week, oil investors were concerned about the health of the U.S. economy.  He noted that conc...

Oil prices continue to soften, not on news from China, not because of the on-going war in Ukraine, but concerns over the U.S. economy.  Patrick DeHaan with GasBuddy said investors are concerned about everything from Wall Street to Main Street.   “...

On Thursday, Klamath Falls-area farmer Brent Cheyne was elected President of the National Association of Wheat Growers.  Cheyne farms with his son Rodney where they raise wheat, barley, oats, alfalfa and Angus cattle.  In 2011, Cheyne began his time with the Oregon Wheat Growers League as the president before accepting the position of NAWG Secretary in 2015.   "It is an ...

Global food costs moved lower again for the 11th consecutive month.  The Financial Post says while consumers are still spending more for food, prices are at their lowest level in the last 17 months.  The UN Food and Agricultural Organization’s Food Price Index dropped 0.6% in February,...

It’s been just a little over a year since Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine and started a war that many thought would only last days or weeks—but has lasted now for 12 months.   "Quite honestly I would not be surprised 12 months from now if we're still talking about it," noted Karl Setzer, Commodity Risk Analyst with AgriVisor.  When the Russian in...

The Ag economist for the Washington State Department of Agriculture says 2023 is shaping up to be a good year for the farm economy across the Evergreen state.  Madi Roy says the Washington farm economy is fairly stable right now, but many are proceeding with caution.  One of ...

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started just over a year ago, has impacted food security and increased food inflation, according to U.S. National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby.   “Putin has weaponized food. He's weaponized...

U.S. and European Union counterparts met late last week to discuss transatlantic agriculture and food sustainability.   “It's an ongoing conversation and I think the most important thing here is that you need to keep talking to one another you need to keep searching for that elusive sweet spot that you find every once in a while that allows you to take a step forward,” said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsac

The White House announced actions intended to hold Russia accountable for invading Ukraine.  U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said as part of that effort, President Biden announced additional tariff increases on a variety of goods from Russia worth approximately $2.8 bi...