Yemen a significant market for PNW wheat growers

Farm and Ranch January 5, 2010 Terrorism against the U.S. has put the spotlight on Yemen, which happens to be an important export market for Pacific Northwest wheat growers.

Mick: “Yemen has shown a preference for soft white wheat from the Pacific Northwest and has paid a premium for it in the past.”

That is Tom Mick, CEO of the Washington Grain Commission, who says that in any given year Yemen will take 11 to 13 percent of total soft white wheat exports.

Mick: “So they are a major market for us. I am really sad that this political situation has developed because it is going to limit our travel into the country. I had planned to make a trip within the next year to Yemen but I am going to put that on hold for safety reasons. But we are in constant communication with the flours mills via email and other means and they are continuing to show a preference for our wheat and I hope the political situation doesn‘t interfere with that in the future.”

Mick describes his last visit to Yemen, just eight months ago.

Mick: “Most of our contacts came to the hotel so I wouldn‘t have to drive in the streets. It‘s just a little scary out there.”

The Cairo office of U.S. Wheat Associates has representatives Mick says continue to travel into Yemen to meet with flour millers.

So far this marketing year, Yemen is the number four importer of U.S. white wheat with about 13.8 million bushels in purchases.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.