03/03/08 Biotech wheat prospects

"If we could get some biotech traits in wheat like corn and soybeans it would help us on our input costs." That statement was made by Matt Gellings, the president of the Idaho Grain Producers Association at the just completed Commodity Classic in Nashville. GELLINGS "We could get those yields up, cut some chemicals out you know, it would just really, really help us and so we're really encouraged that the wheat industry is moving ahead with our biotech." Gellings says its probably six to seven years before a trait is developed for the wheat industry acceptance. But that's only the first step for biotech wheat. GELLINGS "You know we have to make sure that the customers who we're selling out wheat too will accept that and we're working very hard on that but with the high prices like this if we had some genetically modified wheat or biotech wheat out there boy they'd be buying it right now." Gellings says with the tight supply and demand market of today biotech wheat is the future and he's glad to see the industry starting to move in that direction. Like all other farmers he's enjoying great commodity prices but paying more than ever for fuel and fertilizers. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott