The Wide World of Wheat from the Washington Wheat Commission

Anchor: And now from the Washington Wheat Commission comes “The Wide World of Wheat� grain industry headlines from around the world. Reader Two Canadian Railroads made too much money hauling grain in 2008 and have to pay it back. Canadian National Railway exceeded its cap by $26 million and Canadian Pacific Railway exceeded its cap by $34 million. CP and CN overestimated the money needed to maintain Canada’s federally owned fleet of grain hauling cars. China’s State Council will “decisively prevent a slump in grain production,� by increasing subsidies to farmers and raising minimum grain purchase prices while cutting taxes, according to a statement posted on its web site. The state council added the unemployment situation for farm workers in China is serious. A warehouse inspector in the Punjab of India was arrested for illegally selling 124 wheat bags to a businessman. The offender was caught red handed as the wheat bags were being loaded on a truck. Ukraine will overtake Argentina in 2009 to become the world’s fifth largest wheat exporting nation. The U.S. is the No. 1 exporter followed by Canada, Russia and Australia. I’m Bob Hoff. Anchor: The Washington Wheat Commission wants growers and citizens alike to understand their industry has global reach. A pebble thrown anywhere in the world of grain is felt as ripples by Washington’s 13,000 growers and their landlords.