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 After suffering a devastating drought in 2008, Turkey's wheat crop is expected to rise 12percent to about 20 million metric tons in 2009. Rain and snow levels have been good in the Middle East's largest exporter of wheat and the government has given out 290 million dollars in loans to help farmers install drip-irrigation systems. The record wheat production achieved in Russia in 2008 should not be repeated in 2009. Heading into the spring growing season, fields are much drier than a year ago. That dryness is coupled with fears of freeze damage as the crop breaks dormancy. Australia's 2009/2010 wheat crop could be even better than last year's. Analysts from the Commonweath Bank of Australia are forecasting a 22 million metric ton crop following favorable rains. Italy is seeding less wheat and more oilseeds this year. Soft wheat area is expected to decrease by almost 9 percent and durum wheat area by 3 percent. Soybean and sunflower seeded areas are expected to increase by 32 percent and 29 percent respectively. 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.