Wheat All About It

The U.S. is no longer the world’s top wheat exporter. In 2017/2018 that rank was held by Russia. But Steve Mercer, U.S. Wheat Associates vice president for communications, believes as a result of growing world wheat consumption there will be distinct regions of the world that both the U.S. and Russia can carve out for their markets. In episode 107 entitled: U.S. Wheat Spokesman Speaks of Wheat and Wheat’s Future, listen in as Mercer handicaps the competition,  why he grows frustrated with the world’s media focus on the country called “the Bear”, and how, despite the competition, wheat’s future in the U.S. is assured.

ARS scientist Kim Campbell and WSU scientist Karen Sanguinet continue to talk about wheat during the winter in episode 105 of Wheat All About It!, the second part of an episode entitled “Dead of Winter, Alive With Life: Wheat Plants in the Cold 2”. Learn more about meristems, which drive growth both above and below ground, why Darwin considered roots to be the brain of plants, how cold kills wheat, what is electrolyte leakage and more—including why the variety Eltan, released in 1992,  is still considered the gold standard for cold tolerance. Subscribe to Wheat All About It on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Cast, Player FM and other podcast apps and never miss an episode. For those with iPhones: touch the purple podcast icon, and type “Wheat All About It” in the finder to listen quickly! Don’t have a smart phone? Listen on your computer at wagrains.org.

The chief executive officer of the Washington Grain Commission takes center stage in the aptly titled podcast: Glen Squires Lives, Breathes and Talks Wheat. Squires, who took over WGC CEO duties in 2012, has been with the grain commission for 25 years. As the world becomes more complicated, so too does the world of wheat, which has Squires juggling more issues than ever. In episode 103, you’ll hear the CEO talk about dam breaching and why the river system deserves to be defended, trade treaties ahead with the potential to both hurt and help and even an update on an old favorite, hard white wheat.  Subscribe to Wheat All About It on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Cast, Player FM and other podcast apps and never miss an episode. For those with iPhones: touch the purple podcast icon, and type “Wheat All About It” in the finder to listen quickly! Don’t have a smart phone? Listen on your computer at wagrains.org.

If your livelihood depends on wheat, then you must listen to episode 101 entitled: WSU’s Randy Fortenbery Paints a Troubling Economic Picture in Hopeful Colors. Fortenbery, who holds the Thomas B. Mick Chair in Agricultural Economics at Washington State University, addressed issues that farmers, landlords and agribusinesses care about during the Washington State Crop Improvement Association meeting on Nov. 12. In part one, Fortenbery handicaps wheat prices for the near term and a year from now, talks about the budding trade war with China and looks at the $12 billion solution USDA will provide farmers if blocked trade flow isn’t unclogged. Subscribe to Wheat All About It on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Cast, Player FM and other podcast apps and never miss an episode. For those with iPhones: touch the purple podcast icon, and type “Wheat All About It” in the finder to listen quickly! Don’t have a smart phone? Listen on your computer at wagrains.org.

Wheat is the king of Eastern Washington’s dryland field crops, but there has never been a shortage of alternative crops seeking to share its throne. For most of his career, HighLine Grain’s Howard Nelson has been evaluating alternatives to wheat, looking for the perfect rotational fit with wheat—a search he believes has netted three definite possibilities: autumn planted peas, canola and triticale. Listen in to episode 99 entitled: “Howard Nelson’s Hunt: Seeking the Elusive Eastern Washington Alternative Crop”, as he and Scott Yates, director of communications and producer relations for the Washington Grain Commission, handicap the contenders. Subscribe to Wheat All About It on Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Cast, Player FM and other podcast apps and never miss an episode. For those with iPhones: touch the purple podcast icon, and type “Wheat All About It” in the finder to listen quickly!