Wheat Troubles

Wheat Troubles

Wheat Troubles. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

By now you have heard that some genetically modified wheat was found in an Oregon wheat field. That has begun a bit of a firestorm across the northwest and now internationally as both Japan and South Korea have suspended some shipments of wheat. But at this point there are too many questions and virtually no answers. What kind of effect could this have on the market? Well, Japan is the second largest importer of U.S. wheat. South Korea imported some 2.4 million tons last year so the effect on the market could be significant. How could this have happened? The wheat was part of a test done years ago by Monsanto who pulled the plug on this 9 years ago. Monsanto claims they have no idea how this wheat made its way into the Oregon field. It was only discovered after the farmer sent in samples to be tested and an investigation is currently underway by USDA-APHIS. The Director for Oregon’s Department of Agriculture, Katy Coba has been working with the USDA and released this statement last week.

COBA: There are many questions at this time, and I am hopeful that the investigation will find the answers quickly. In the meantime, the Oregon Department of Agriculture will do all it can to work with our important wheat industry to keep export markets open.

A Kansas wheat farmer has filed suit against Monsanto alleging that he and other wheat farmers are being financially harmed by this issue. More lawsuits are in the works. Bottom line for this issue is that we just don’t know anything. Officials are investigating and when there is something to report, we will pass it along.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network. 

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