Northwest and national support for biotech wheat

Farm and Ranch March 2, 2009 Results of the Biotech Petition survey conducted by the National Association of Wheat Growers were announced during last week’s Commodity Classic in Texas. Wayne Hurst of Burley, Idaho, who is the new 2nd Vice President of NAWG, says they are pleased with what the survey showed. Hurst: “We felt for quite awhile that there was a lot of support out in the country side and I believe about 76% of those that responded were in favor of developing biotech wheat. So we are quite pleased with that.� Support for biotech wheat was even stronger in the Pacific Northwest with Idaho respondents at an 89 percent approval rate, Washington’s at 86 percent and responding producers in Oregon giving an 83 percent approval. National results were based on a 32 percent survey return rate, which in the PNW ranged from 33 percent to 40 percent. Hurst says the industry has been working closely with its export customers on transgenic wheat acceptance. Hurst: “I was recently in a meeting with U.S. Wheat Associates and those that represent us overseas in the Asian markets and they all responded that yes, there would be an ability to sell our wheat in their markets even if we have biotech wheat.� The documented grower support of biotech is seen as the signal to technology developers that if they invest to bring a product to market, it will accepted by producers. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.