U.S. Wheat Builds Latin American Trade Relationships

U.S. wheat farmers and customers from Latin America and the Caribbean strengthened trade relationships during the 2026 Latin American and Caribbean Buyers Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. More than 140 representatives from 14 countries attended the late-July event, including 12 U.S. wheat farmers. The conference brought together producers, exporters, importers, millers, and technical specialists to discuss wheat markets, trade, and logistics. U.S. Wheat Associates President and CEO Mike Spier says building relationships remains critical to the industry’s success. “The relationships built and partnerships strengthened through events like the LABC are a cornerstone of our industry’s success,” Spier said. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley also emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between U.S. wheat producers and international customers. “You will always have FAS as a partner in your trade endeavors,” Whitley told attendees. The conference also covered global supply and demand, price risk, trade policy, and transportation.

Klobuchar Vows To Keep Working On Farm Bill

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar says she remains committed to working with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman to advance a new Farm Bill, despite last week’s committee vote failing to move the legislation forward. Klobuchar, the committee’s ranking Democrat, pointed to provisions she supports, including permanent, year-round E15 sales, an issue she has championed for years. She also noted the committee approved several additional bipartisan amendments she supports. However, Klobuchar continues to push for a two-year delay in a requirement that states and counties share more of the cost of providing SNAP benefits. She says the one-year delay offered in the bill does not put states on equal footing, particularly because states with higher SNAP error rates could avoid costs that other states would face. Klobuchar says she wants to continue negotiations with Boozman, noting the committee remains open for further discussions on the legislation.

Missouri River Runoff Remains Well Below Average

July runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, totaled two million acre-feet, or 61 percent of average, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Runoff was below normal to well below normal in the Fort Peck, Garrison, and Oahe (oh-AH-hee) reaches, while conditions were better farther downstream. John Remus, chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, says warmer, drier weather and limited mountain snowpack have contributed to weak inflows. The basin’s 2026 runoff forecast remains at 15.4 million acre-feet, or 60 percent of average. If realized, it would rank as the 11th-lowest runoff in the period of record. About 80 percent of the basin remains abnormally dry or in drought, with conditions expected to persist or expand across the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Iowa. Meanwhile, reservoir storage continues to decline. The Corps expects the winter release from Gavin’s Point Dam to remain at a minimum of 12,000 cubic feet per second.

USDA Extends Disaster Relief Application Deadline

USDA is giving farmers more time and flexibility to apply for Supplemental Disaster Relief Program assistance covering qualifying losses from 2023 and 2024. The Farm Service Agency has extended the deadline for both Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications to September 30, 2026. USDA is also allowing producers who experienced quality-related discounts to use verifiable documentation to demonstrate losses caused by natural disasters. Farmers can now use a quality-loss percentage when a crop’s final use differs from its intended use. FSA Administrator Bill Beam says the changes will reduce the burden on producers and help more eligible farmers access assistance. SDRP provides more than $16 billion in disaster relief for producers who experienced revenue, quality, or production losses involving crops, trees, bushes, or vines. Stage 1 is for producers with indemnified losses based on crop insurance or NAP data. Stage 2 covers non-indemnified, uncovered, and quality losses. Eligible producers may receive payments under both stages for 2023, 2024, or both years.

Black Sea Attacks Threaten Global Grain Supplies

Escalating attacks on Black Sea ports and commercial vessels are disrupting grain exports from Russia and Ukraine, raising concerns about global supplies and agricultural markets. The Black Sea is a major shipping route for wheat, corn, oil, and other commodities. Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter, while Ukraine is also a major agricultural supplier. Ukraine reported 67 strikes on port facilities and dozens of attacks on vessels during July. The disruptions are already threatening Ukraine’s agricultural exports. Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry estimates the country could export about 29.6 million tons of agricultural products during the 2026-27 marketing year, down more than half from an earlier forecast of 64.4 million tons. Wheat exports could fall 53 percent to 8.3 million tons. Reduced Black Sea shipments could tighten global grain supplies and potentially provide support for U.S. wheat and other crop prices. For American producers, the situation is another reminder that geopolitical conflicts can quickly reshape global commodity markets and export competition.

Feed Industry Reviews Proposed Changes To Ingredient Safety Rules

The American Feed Industry Association is reviewing proposed FDA changes to the regulatory framework for ingredients considered Generally Recognized as Safe, or GRAS. AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman says the organization supports efforts to strengthen ingredient oversight while maintaining a safe animal food supply and encouraging innovation. Cullman says the FDA must have sufficient resources and tools to review animal food ingredients efficiently if changes are made to the GRAS framework. “For years, the animal food industry has worked closely with the FDA to strengthen the animal food ingredient review pathways,” Cullman said. AFIA says it is evaluating how the proposal could affect ingredient approvals, innovation, and feed safety. The organization plans to submit comments to FDA, focusing on resources and process improvements needed to make the system work effectively. For livestock producers, changes to the ingredient review process could affect the availability and development of new feed ingredients and technologies.

Wednesday Watch List

Markets

On Wednesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will lead off the day with the July Consumer Price Index report at 7:30 a.m. CDT. However, the Ag trade will center around the release of USDA's August World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) and Crop Production reports out at 11 a.m. CDT.

Weather

Clusters of thunderstorms are ongoing Wednesday morning across portions of Nebraska, Iowa, and from Indiana to Kentucky and western Ohio. This is all due to the extremely active pattern across the Corn Belt which will continue to see these clusters develop and move eastward Wednesday. Additional storms will likely form out in the Plains Wednesday afternoon and evening and continue east overnight as well. Heavy downpours and strong winds are possible in the clusters.