09/25/08 Endowed Chair in Wheat Industry Economics for WSU

Washington Ag September 25, 2008 The Washington Wheat Commission is moving ahead with providing Washington State University with two-million dollars to create an Endowed Chair in Wheat Industry Economics. The only caveat is that the Wheat Commission finds the person appointed to the Chair acceptable to the wheat industry. WSU's timetable is to initiate a search this fall with an individual being appointed and on board in July of 2009. Dan Bernardo, Dean of WSU's College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences says the chair will conduct research and outreach on current economic issues facing the wheat industry. Bernardo: "For example one that just came up inside was the movement of speculators out of grain markets. Well what is the long term impact of that? How will that differ across the U.S. in terms of how it impacts various grain commodities. How will this farm bill affect producers." The Chair would also provide policy testimony when requested by state or national legislative bodies. Dean Bernardo says the expectation is that the individual filling the Chair would establish WSU as the national leader in wheat industry economics within three years of arrival I'm Bob Hoff.