Wheat Prices Need Support & State Offices to Close

Wheat Prices Need Support & State Offices to Close plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Wheat prices are rallying as investors grow increasingly concerned about weather affecting production in Russia, Kazakhstan and Canada. Analysts say wet weather in Canada and dry, hot weather in Russia and Kazakhstan could delay harvests or reduce the size of this year's crops. That means U.S. producers could see more demand for their wheat as buyers look for alternatives. Craig Reeder is the vice president of the Oregon Wheat Growers League. REEDER: Anything that gives us a little bit of price support right now is more than welcome. We have a big crop coming in the soft white wheat market in the dryland areas of northeastern Oregon and we've got a very big Willamette crop coming off so any price support at this stage of the game is very, very welcome. There's a lot of carry in the market right now which means waiting to market there some incentive to do that. Washington State is trying to stop the hemorrhage of state money and to do that the first widespread shutdown of state agencies as a result of those budget shortfalls will take place Monday, July 12, 2010. Additional closures will take place: Aug. 6, Sept. 7, Oct. 11, Dec. 27. The closures will save more than $70 million in all funds in 2010–11. The temporary layoff law was passed as part of a series of measures to address an almost $12 billion shortfall during the 2009–11 budget period. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Who says the dandelion is a weed? Okay, so most everybody, but the dandelion is also a plant that has a nearly limitless array of uses. With its ability to survive in nearly any climate the dandelion has acquired a reputation as being a stubborn pest, but unbeknownst to many people dandelions have long been used for medicinal and culinary purposes. Before they became the poster child for everything a well manicured lawn should not be, the dandelion was used in medicinal tonics, lotions and rubs to cure anything from warts to digestive problems. In the kitchen dandelion greens and even the flowers are good in salads, as long as you use the tender young leaves as opposed to the older leaves, which can tend to be on the bitter side. The roots have been used as a coffee or tea substitute since man first started sipping cups of "black gold", and the dandelion's fermented flowers are said to make an extraordinary herbal wine. I really think my nephew, who makes his own delicious assortment of homemade wines should try his hand at making some dandelion wine, and I just happen to have the perfect crop available for him to harvest. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.