Wheat All About It

9.18.18 Even a vacation has it’s bad days, but mostly holidays are experiences that recharge a person’s batteries to return to the grind of the workaday world. For WGC Commissioner Mike Carstensen, however, farming is, “A Vacation Everyday.” In episode 91 of Wheat All About It!, Scott Yates joined Carstensen in his combine in late August as he finished an excellent 2018 harvest. Listen in as the pair talk about his farm, his challenges and his take on political events in the world. iPhones have dedicated podcast apps (purple icon). Press and type Wheat All About It in the finder to start listening.

9.4.18 If you think club wheat’s distinctive head is what makes it special to the Japanese and other countries that specify it in their tenders, think again! In episode 89, Fascinating Things II: A Conversation With Craig Morris, director of the Western Wheat Quality Lab, you’ll discover how breeders and cereal chemists have used club wheat to insert all manner of quality attributes. In this episode, Morris also talks about the history of the WWQL—which is celebrating an anniversary this year—and what a million dollars in funding for new equipment has meant for the facility. Subscribe on iTunes or other podcast apps or go to wagrains.org to access Wheat All About It. Connect your smart phone by Wi-Fi or a four bar cellular link for quick downloads which can be listened to later in the tractor, truck, combine or easy chair.

8.21.18 Entitled “Same Falling Number Discount, but Different Animal”, episode 87 of Wheat All About It! explores the mechanisms of Late Maturity Alpha Amylase called LMA and Pre-harvest sprout, and why one is not as troublesome in end use products as the other. Nevertheless, farmers are being discounted as if they are the same. J.P. Ral, a French researcher working for an Australian agency, delves into the secrets of LMA which is caused by a cold temperature shock rather than rain at harvest. Ral was recently at Washington State University bringing researchers up to speed on the phenomenon which is considered the No. 1 issue for Australian wheat breeders. Subscribe on iTunes or other podcast apps or go to wagrains.org to access Wheat All About It. Connect your smart phone by Wi-Fi or a four bar cellular link for quick downloads which can be listened to later in the tractor, truck, combine or easy chair.

8.7.18 In episode 85 of Wheat All About It! entitled: “Bond, Jennifer Bond, Licensed to Count for the USDA-ERS”, meet the PhD trained economist who is responsible for the wheat and pulse data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Bond puts a voice and a personality to the impersonal numbers that establish wheat and pulse planting, harvesting and consumption patterns around the world. The best part of her job? When major market moves have been anticipated correctly. As for private analysts who suggest USDA games the system, Bond says nothing could be further from the truth. Subscribe on iTunes and other podcast apps or go to wagrains.org to access Wheat All About It. Connect your smart phone by Wi-Fi or a four bar cellular link for quick downloads which can be listened to later in the tractor, truck, combine or easy chair.

7.24.18 “WSU’s Spring Wheat Breeding Philosopher, Mike Pumphrey” is the title of episode 83, the first of a two part podcast that presents the breeder as more than just another data driven scientist. Listen in to find out what Pumphrey means by “breeding brain”, why he’s not interested in offers from private companies and whether he believes the climate is changing and what he’s doing about it, among other things. Subscribe on iTunes and other available podcast apps or go to wagrains.org to access Wheat All About It. Connect by Wifi or a four bar cellular link for quick downloads which can be listened to later in the tractor, truck, combine or easy chair.