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. A first world country with a third world infrastructure—that's how some Australians are talking about their rail and port network which was overwhelmed by the country's biggest harvest in four years. In some cases, it has taken up to five weeks to load wheat at export, prompting some customers to look elsewhere. America has been referred to as the Great Satan by the government of Iran. If so, the country imported 15 percent of its wheat needs from the devil itself this year. A drought throughout the Middle East in 2008 has promoted large Iranian imports. Iran last imported from the U.S. shortly after the country's 1979 revolution. Cheap wheat for the poor is being promoted by India's ruling National Congress party. In advance of elections in the world's largest democracy, the party said it will offer 55 pounds of wheat a month to the poor at less than 3 cents per pound. New Zealand wheat farmers are complaining that Australian wheat is being imported by multi-national companies to make bread, overlooking locally grown wheat. Kiwi farmers say the ustralian wheat was purchased at twice the price being bid for domestic wheat at the time. 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. (If you would like the Washington Wheat Commission to continue sponsoring this program let us know. Email bhoff@aginfo.net)