The Wide World of Wheat from the Washington Wheat Commission
Anchor: And now from the Washington Wheat Commission comes “The wide world of wheat” grain industry headlines from around the world.
Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, the former Soviet Union’s largest grain producers have agreed to establish a pool in order to be more competitive on the world market. The announcement, made at the World Grain Forum in St. Petersberg, Russia has the potential to turn former enemies into allies.
It was predicted and now it’s true, Argentina will only plant 3.2 million hectares of wheat in 2009, the lowest on record and half the wheat acreage of two years ago. Soil moisture profiles are so poor, the final number could drop another 500,000 hectares before seeding is completed. With so little domestic production, it’s expected that Argentina will turn from the world’s fifth biggest exporter two years ago, to a net importer.
Pakistan’s wheat harvest this year should have been enough to feed its population and then some, until battles broke out between the Taliban and the government. Now, the number of Internally Displaced People who have fled the fighting is so great the U.S. is providing $26 million that will go for the purchase of wheat and other food. The money is part of a larger $110 million commitment. Some 2 million Pakistanis have reportedly been driven from their homes.
I’m Bob Hoff.
Anchor: The Washington Wheat Commission wants growers and citizens alike to understand their industry has global reach. A pebble thrown anywhere in the world of grain is felt as ripples by Washington’s 13,000 growers and their landlords.
