Shepherd's Grain contracting for barley
Fleming: “And part of this is to diversify our normal cropping program and guarantee the farmer a base price for what he can receive. And we are looking at $170 a ton F.O.B the farm next year. If you go into anybody else no one is guaranteeing the farmer this price, but with the price of wheat and everything skyrocketing it really becomes a commitment by the farmer to want to get into Shepherd‘s Grain. And this is what is allowing this next level of farm entry to Shepherd‘s Grain is to get into this barley program.” Fleming says they are looking to contract for 15-thousand tons of production initially. Fleming: “So this is just strictly a starter program with Beef Northwest and Shepherd‘s Grain. This will be going into their feed program they have running right now.” Fleming was at Spokane Ag Expo where growers were signing up at the Shepherd’s Grain booth. Washington wheat grower Nicole Berg-Tobin has been given the National Association of Conservation Districts/Natural Resources Conservation Service Olin Sims Conservation Leadership Award. Berg-Tobin, of the Benton Conservation District, was recognized for her superior service to the conservation community in promoting and leading conservation on private lands. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ?
Washington Ag Today February 7, 2011 Shepherd’s Grain, an alliance of family farms that has been growing wheat in a sustainable system and marketing it, is looking to add barley. Fred Fleming, co-founder of Shepherd’s Grain, says they were approached by Beef Northwest to see if the group can get some barley grown in a sustainable natural manner.
