09/23/08 North Korea could be destination for high protein soft white

Farm and Ranch September 23, 2008 Initial quality analysis shows average protein in this year's Pacific Northwest soft white wheat crop is 11.2 percent, about seven-tenths above average. White club, which usually has lower protein than soft white, is actually higher this year at 11.4 percent. U.S. Wheat Associates says it is working with northwest wheat commissions to identify markets where higher protein soft white would best fit. Washington Grain Alliance CEO Tom Mick says there are markets in Middle East and Indian sub-continent, but he is most excited about the potential of North Korea, which he says appears destined for another severe famine. Mick: "Looks like it could be devastating. The U.N. and the United States have hinted that they would supply food, mainly grains, to offset this potential hunger that they are going to experience. Soft white wheat with high protein is ideally suited for the North Korean market so we are making contact with the non-governmental agencies who handle food aid distribution and telling them about this opportunity. We have our fingers crossed and maybe we can get rid of a lot of our high protein in this market." Earlier this year the U.S. did donate some soft white wheat to North Korea. John Oades of U.S. Wheat Associates in Portland says soft white wheat buyers who want low protein are still being encouraged to spec for it in their tenders and the market has offered some premiums for it. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.