Wheat All About It

3.19.19  Even in the midst of a wheat market downturn, Randy Fortenbery, who holds the Thomas B. Mick chair in agricultural economics at Washington State University, finds rays of hope. Which is why episode 117 of Wheat All About It! is titled: “It Could Be Worse. It’s Not The 1980s”.  But Fortenbery doesn’t sugarcoat the current economic malaise either, noting that farm income is significantly lower than it was just four years ago. Not to mention the cost of production rose in 2018 for almost all crop inputs. In this context, Fortenbery evaluates on-going trade discussions and how they might affect the market. 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.

3.5.19 The final of three episodes from the second Falling Number Summit held in Portland Jan. 29 - 30 features Oregon State University’s wheat quality guru providing a falling number history along with a glimpse of the future in episode 115 entitled: "Falling Number Past, Falling Number Future: Time travel with OSU’s Andrew Ross". In 1984, Ross was a young Australian working on a team to devise a better method to measure alpha amylase activity than the falling numbers test. He understands farmers’ frustration with the discounts they receive but points out that bakers are highly risk averse. Although some bakers can make wheat work with a falling number score of 160 seconds, others can’t handle 270 seconds. Why? Discover how dull knives make the difference. 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.

2.19.19 In the first of a three episode special devoted to the second Falling Numbers Summit held in Portland in late January, Paul Katovich, general manager of HighLine Grain Growers based in Waterville, addresses how country elevators and farmers have been impacted by the discountable phenomenon. In episode 113 entitled: Falling Numbers Friction—Upcountry Lessons from HighLine Grain’s Paul Katovich, learn how low falling numbers has impacted the relationship between cooperatives and the farmers they serve, as well as what his company is doing to help mitigate the damage, including segregations based on both variety and location in bad falling number years. 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.

2.5.19 If you had questions after listening to episode 110 entitled: Enlightenment Right This Way: Wheat Traders Talk Trade? so did the audience at the Tri State Grain Growers Convention in November after three Northwest traders spoke about their profession and the challenges they face. In episode 111, Enlightenment Right This Way: Wheat Traders Talk Trade 2, Kurt  Haarmann of Columbia Grain International, Brian Leidl (Lee deil) of United Grain Corporation and Damon Filan of Tri Cities Grain are asked if a billion plus wheat export number still looks feasible and what they think of the USDA’s embrace of China’s wild adjustment to its corn stocks, among others. 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.

1.22.19 Jerry Robinson has given the wheat industry a lot of tough love during his partnership with it, the last 12 years as manager of the Washington State Crop Improvement Association. In episode 109 entitled: Speaking up for the Wheat Industry, On Stepping down at the WSCIA: Observations of Jerry Robinson, he remembers the conflicted past and looks toward the complicated future, which includes the recent purchase of a seed plant in Moses Lake and on-going quality discussions. Farmers in Washington lead the nation in planting certified wheat varieties . Why do the 90 percent use certified seed and what’s up with the 10 percent who don’t? 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.