August/September - Wheat Life

WLWAWG AT WORKto the naked eye. If wheat has a poor falling number analysis,the flour can cause product problems such as sticky,doughy bread which is difficult to handle in mechanicaloperations.The Risk Management Agency (RMA) quality adjustmentdiscounts for small grains are based on Farm ServiceAgency (FSA) Commodity Credit Corporation loandiscounts. FSA has falling number price discounts establishedfor soft white, hard red spring and durum wheats.Because of efforts made by WAWG, Oregon WheatGrowers League, Idaho Grain Producers Association,National Association of Wheat Growers, FSA and RMA,falling numbers quality adjustment discounts for softwhite, hard red spring and durum were implemented.For more information about how your crop insurancecould cover falling number quality loss, contact your localagent.New faces at WAWGand Wheat LifeA lot of transitions were made in July. On the WAWGfront, not only do we have a new CEO (see page 60) butalso a new set of hands on deck on the support staff side.WAWG’s newest employee, Lincoln County native TessaWicks, joined the team as their Outreach Coordinator.Previously, Wicks worked as an administrative assistantat Ag Link. She also served as administrative coordinatorfor the Agricultural Marketing and ManagementOrganization (AMMO) in her spare time. Wicks is fromthe Reardan-Davenport area, where her family operates awheat and barley farm. They also run cattle and operatethe 231 North Event Center north of Reardan.“We are excited to have Tessa join the wheat team,” saidKara Rowe, WAWG’s affairs and outreach director. “Herexperience working with the AMMO program is invaluable.She’s also a farm girl with a passion to work hard forour farmers.”Wicks earned her Masters in agribusiness fromWashington State University in 1998. She minored in bothanimal science and business administration and graduatedwith honors. Wicks’ main responsibilities will behelping to coordinate the AMMO program and otherpublic relations projects.Also, Wheat Life’s layout designer, Trista Crossley, hasbeen promoted to editor. Crossley has worked for the magazinefor three years as a designer and has taken on moreresponsibility to manage Wheat Life’s day-to-day activities.“Trista has been a joy to work with, and I’m glad she’sready to help lead the magazine,” said Rowe. “Her commitmentto detail and design is a perfect fit for Wheat Lifeas WAWG moves into a more aggressive education andoutreach program.”Crossley worked for the City of Spokane before makingthe full-time switch to Wheat Life. She has a background inprinting and news and once published her own magazinethat featured country music writers. She and her husbandlive in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.All in a year’s work✤ July 2011WAWG officers traveled to Washington, D.C., and met withvarious delegates including Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) andher staff; staff from Sen. Maria Cantwell’s (D-Wash.) office; stafffrom Rep. Doc Hastings’ (R-Wash.) office; Rep.Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and herstaff; as well as Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.).Kingston is a member of the HouseAppropriations Committee whichdirects federal spending. The WAWG officersalso met with non-appointed officials atthe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)Fisheries Service.Leaders from the Washington Grain Commission,Washington Wheat Foundation and WAWG gathered todiscuss specifics about launching a statewide public relationscampaign.✤ August/September 2011Staff prepares for the ever-changing federal and statebudgets, monitors policy topics, writes letters to Congress andanswers media phone calls during harvest season.Numerous farm policy discussions and conference callsregarding potential Supercommittee budget and farm billproposals with NAWG.Staff prepares for annual convention.WAWG and public affairs partners launch statewide surveyto find out how the Washington state public feels about wheatgrowers and specific, farm-based topics in preparation for amultiyear public relations campaign.✤ October 2011Staff monitors and prepares for a state budget special sessioncalled by Gov. Gregoire. The state needs tofind about $2 billion to cover the current incomeshortfall. Agricultural tax exemption removal isup for discussion among state lawmakers.WAWG President Ben Barstow joins otherWashington ag groups on an advocacy trip toWashington, D.C.The WAWG board unanimously approved support toincrease the burning permit fee in order to cover the costs of12 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WLWAWG AT WORKkeeping Ecology’s burn team and officeavailable seven days per week.WAWG staff and officer team traveledto Scottsdale, Ariz., to meet withthe NationalAssociation ofWheat Growers’board of directors.Frombiotechnology tothe hurried 2012 Farm Bill status, talkswere long and strenuous.The Rail Authority and shippersthroughout the system have beenworking to gain federal funding for infrastructurerepairs to the shortline railsystem. Efforts to seek state funding forthe state-owned asset are also underway.WAWG has been communicatingwith all parties to make sure wheatfarmers’ interests are considered in theplanning process.✤ November 2011WAWG membership sets resolutionsat the annual meeting.WAWG helps host a successful annualconvention with fellow grower organizationsin Idaho and Oregon.✤ December 2011Representing thousands of wheatfarmers in the state, the WashingtonGrain Alliance took a firm stand againstthe Occupy protesting that shut downthe West Coast ports.WAWG leadership undergoes mediatraining and begins outreach to statemedia outlets to spread proactive familyfarm messagesGov. Gregoire sat down with WAWGand all Washington agriculture sectorsto hear ideas and to discuss a compromiseto fix the financial stability of thestate.✤ January 2012WAWG staff and officer team traveledto Washington, D.C., to educate statecongressional delegates and variousagency staff including the USDAand EPA. The crew also attended theNAWG/U.S. Wheat winter meeting.✤ February 2012About 20 WAWG members traveledto Olympia to meet with more than 50legislators, legislative staff and agencypersonnel. WAWG members focusedon opposing the pesticide applicationbuffer and notice bill, protectingagricultural tax exemptions, protectingagricultural research at WashingtonState University (WSU) and advocatingfor PCC Railway rehabilitation funding.WAWG and its fellow ag friends werea b l e to derail a proposed approachto labeling food productscontaining geneticallymodified organisms,or GMOs.WAWG and itsnational affiliateshelped to block theplanned developmentof a nationwide wirelessnetwork by communications companyLightSquared because of concerns thatit cannot be fixed to coexist with globalpositioning systems (GPS).✤ March 2012WAWG officers and staff traveledto Nashville, Tenn., for the NationalAssociation of Wheat Growers’ annualmeeting at the Commodity Classic.Brett Blankenship of Washtucna waselected as NAWG’s secretary/treasurer.Farmers from Washington, Idaho andOregon worked to engage fellow wheatstates on the importance of monitoringthe NOAA BiOp and EndangeredSpecies Act situation in relation topesticide use in farm country.Farmers enjoy free trade with SouthKorea because of efforts from WAWG,its national and state agricultural partnersand Congress.WAWG leadership helps set goals forNAWG future policy and strategic plan.✤ April 2012WAWG works with National AgStatistics Service to better understandgrower fatigue and potential solutionsfor future surveys.WAWG helps host an airquality tour for agencypersonnel in FranklinCounty to showcase theproactive steps for areafarmers.Volunteers from WAWGparticipate in the 2012CROP Hunger Walkin Spokane to benefitworld and localfood banks.The state Legislature was able tobreak the gridlock and pass a bipartisanbudget. For the most part, Washington’sagricultural interests fared well due tocontinued work by WAWG and other agstakeholder groups.An effort by WAWG andmultiple grain industrystakeholders to get somestate funding for shortlinerail improvementswas successful. The groupwas able to secure $4 million for “SpeedImprovements for Short Line Rail forAgricultural Exports.”✤ May 2012In preparation for millions of acrespotentially coming out of CRP inupcoming years, members of WAWG’sexecutive officer team met with otherkey decision makers to brainstorm possibletools available for farmers.A group of WAWG volunteers connectedwith Spokane families at theFamily Fun Day at River Park Square. Theevent coincided with the Junior LilacParade in downtown Spokane. The goalwas to educate urban residents aboutwheat and Washington’s family farms.WAWG hosted a public meeting withthe EPA to review requirements of fuelcontainment.WAWG hosted a meeting betweenfarmers from Grant and Douglascounties and the state Department ofNatural Resources (DNR) to talk aboutthe handling of grain coming off statetrust lands.WAWG hosted a successfulLegislative tour in Spokane County.In a huge victory for U.S. wheatfarmers, the U.S. and Colombia officiallyimplemented a free trade agreement(FTA) first signed in 2006. WAWG andother wheat states have been advocatingits implementation for years.WAWG leadership met andtalked with multiple congressionaldelegates in both theHouse and Senate for swift passageof a 2012 Farm Bill beforethe Sept. 30 expiration of thecurrent policy.WAWG leadershipand membershipsubmitted inputto the Washington GrainCommission regarding14 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

esearch priorities at WSU and otherpublic universitiesWAWG partnered withthe Washington PotatoCommission to increasethe effectiveness and efficiencyof the statewidepublic relations campaign.✤ June 2012WAWG President Eric Maier traveledto Washington, D.C., to meet withWashington’s Congressional delegationregarding the current Farm Billnegotiations. Maier also attended aWheat Industry Biotechnology Councilmeeting to better understand whereindustry partners, food companies andother stakeholders sit in the controversialGMO debate.WAWG partnered with theAgricultural Marketing andManagement Organization (AMMO).AMMO hosts a series of farm managementtraining programs specificallydesigned for farm families. The goalis to provide farmers with the toolsneeded to become more profitable intheir farming business.WAWG staff launched increased effectivenessof social media and websitecampaigns.WAWG interacted with Senate delegatesand staff to help pass a beneficialSenate version of a farm bill.WAWG partnered with the U.S.Farmers & Ranchers Alliance and theCenter for Food Integrity to increase theawareness of America’s farming familiesthroughout the state and nation.Rhino ® RC Flails Shred Crop MaterialsWhile Evenly Distributing Your ResidueNEW Rhino RC 125Units Now In Stock• Rhino ® RC Flails are designed to provide maximum shredding of crop materialwhile evenly distributing the residue.• They are available in 12’, 15’, 18’, 20’, and 25’ widths.• Drivetrain features a Cat 5 or 6 main driveline and a 207 HP gearbox.• High blade tip speeds and dual “re-cutter” bars provide excellent shredding.• The resulting mulch helps speed decomposition while providing ground cover.DIESEL & MACHINE, INC.227 20th St. North, Lewiston, ID 83501Call Today! 208-743-7171Servis & Rhino are registered trademark of Alamo Group, Inc. © 2005 Alamo Group, Inc. www.servis-rhino.comWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 15

POLICY MATTERSOne-year Farm Bill extensionpossible on House floorBased on a recent NAWG reportAs the agronomic and political impacts of the nation’sgrowing drought came into clearer focus, HouseRepublican leaders recently shifted course toward possibleconsideration of a one-year extension of current farm programs.By the time this article is delivered to farm familiesthroughout the Pacific Northwest, no doubt the path willhave changed again as Congress readies for the Augustrecess.At a House Agriculture Committee Members meetingrecently, Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.)pitched the extension idea, which would also include anextension of disaster relief programs, especially vital forlivestock producers who cannot buy crop insurance anddo not participate in Title I.A day later, Republican leaders were whipping votesand planning for floor consideration.Lucas, who has the unenviable job of convincing hisleadership to bring any farm legislation to the floor, toldmembers of the press that an extension was possible andeven logical with drought effects worsening by the day.His Democratic counterpart, Ranking Member CollinPeterson (D-Minn.), and Senate Agriculture CommitteeChairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), first voicedopposition to an extension. However, if Stabenow seeks tomove a bill to conference committee following a successfulHouse vote, the way could be paved for Congress to pass afull farm bill before current law expires on Sept. 30.Questions about the potential plan abound. It’s not yetclear how direct payments, which were eliminated in bothHouse Committee- and Senate-passed versions of the bill,will be treated under a possible extension.The effect of an extension on the law’s baseline—whichhas already been reduced dramatically in recent years andcould take another hit with coming sequestration cuts in2013—is unknown.Another concern is how members in both chambers willreact to a hopeful but unconventional path toward farmbill passage.The National Association of Wheat Grower’s prioritycontinues to be achievement of a new, five-year farm billbefore current law expires this fall. A short-term extensiondoesn’t give farmers the certainty that they needand would likely not incorporate reforms that have beenessential to gaining support for new farm and food policyin both chambers.State committees hold worksession on pesticide driftThe Washington State House of RepresentativesAgriculture and Natural Resources Committee and Laborand Workforce Development Committee recently held ajoint work session on pesticide drift.The committees heard testimony on pesticide driftregulations, current incident case studies and stakeholder16 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

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WLPOLICY MATTERSinput. They heard from representatives of the WashingtonState Departments of Agriculture, Health and Labor andIndustries. They also heard from Columbia Legal Services,a farm worker, Friends of Farms and Forests and theWashington Horticulture Association (apples).During the 2012 Legislative session, a bill designed toset spray buffers and notification requirements on farmerswas sponsored by 20 Representatives in the House, and itwas referred to the Committee on Labor and WorkforceDevelopment. The bill stemmed from concerns for protectingworkers and other community members from pesticidedrift.The bill proposed that a person may not apply anypesticide by airplane, air-blast sprayer, fumigation or anyother application method that poses a substantial risk ofpesticide drift within half a mile of a childcare facility, aresidence, school or any natural person who is outdoors,unless the person applying the pesticides has reasonablyconcluded that no natural persons are present outdoors atthe time of the application. The proposed bill also required24-hour notice before spraying. This bill would havesignificantly halted agricultural spraying throughout thestate. The bill was stopped in committee, but the potentialof it resurfacing in some form concerns state agriculturalgroups. WAWG will continue to monitor the issue.Attacks on foreign marketingprograms keep comingBy NAWGThe Market Access Program (MAP) came under attackagain recently in the Senate, with Sen. Tom Coburn(R-Okla.) attempting to eliminate funding for the exportmarket development program at a Senate FinanceCommittee meeting.Two amendments preparedby Coburn related to the MAPprogram were ruled nongermaneand ultimately werenot considered. Still, the effortshowed the continual attemptsby some members to endmarket development programsthat are proven to be effective,efficient policies with excellentreturns to farmers and theeconomy.MAP and a sister program, the Foreign MarketDevelopment (FMD) program, are regular targets of certainmembers who don’t appreciate their positive impactson farmers’ incomes and the U.S. economy.Both programs are authorized in the Farm Bill, whichis currently up for renewal, with MAP receiving $200 millionannually and FMD receiving $34.5 million annually.They are managed by USDA’s Foreign AgriculturalService, which awards matching funds to nonprofit U.S.agricultural trade associations and other groups promotingthe sales of U.S. commodities overseas. To be eligiblefor the funding, farmersmust contribute up to a100 percent match andrecipient organizationsmust annually submitpromotion plans forreview and approval.A recent report onthe program from IHSGlobal Insights, done atUSDA’s request, showedthat MAP and FMD haveboosted agriculturalexports by $6.1 billion,supporting up to 50,000 jobs.A 2009 study done atthe Cornell UniversityCommodity PromotionResearch Program showedthat for every $1 invested byproducers and the federalgovernment between 2002and 2009, $115 returned tothe U.S. economy.The study also showed MAP and FMD provide a $35-to-$1 return on investment and have reduced U.S. domesticfarm safety net payments an estimated $54 millionbecause of the higher prices that come with more overseassales.For the wheat industry, which uses the programs to supportU.S. Wheat Associates’ work around the world, thereturn on investment on MAP and FMD is even larger.A 2009 study done at the Cornell University CommodityPromotion Research Program showed that for every $1 investedby producers and the federal government between2002 and 2009, $115 returned to the U.S. economy.The Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association (OWGA),which represents wheat producers in Coburn’s home state,responded to his efforts this week with blunt rejection.“The Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association is very concernedabout Sen. Tom Coburn’s attack on Oklahoma agricultureand the Oklahoma economy through his repeatedproposals to cut funding for the Market Access Program,including amendments prepared for consideration by theSenate Finance Committee recently,” said OWGA PastPresident and wheat farmer Jimmie Musick in a statement.“Though today’s amendments were ruled out of order,we know that in his quest to cut the federal budget, he willagain attack this highly successful program that brings18 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

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WLPOLICY MATTERSjobs and dollars back to his own constituentsand the U.S. economy.“The Oklahoma Wheat GrowersAssociation and its farmer-memberssupport efforts to cut the federalbudget, but strongly oppose takingan axe to a program that has beenproven to have a positive net effecton our economy.”NAWG and its state wheat growerassociation members are strong supportersof both MAP and FMD andwill continue to work to ensure theyare fully funded and produce themaximum possible benefit for U.S.farmers and taxpayers.States implementnew federaltransportation lawsStates are now underway inimplementing new federal transportationrules. Last month PresidentObama signed into law a two-yearreauthorization of surface transportationprograms, Moving Aheadfor Progress in the 21st Century, orMAP-21 (public law number 112-141),which authorizes federal highwayprograms. It includes severalimportant provisions including theFarmers’ Freedom Act (H.R. 2414),extending federally subsidizedstudent loan interest at 3.4 percent, aManley Crop Insurance AgencyFor outstanding product knowledge and a detail oriented agency ...Call Ann Q. Manley or Matt Manley1-888-786-7730All Types of Federally Funded Insurance Including The New Combo PolicyManley Crop Insurance Agency424 Wine Country Road, Suite 2Prosser, WA 99350(509) 786-7730AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDERGuidelines on CRP takeout optionsRecently the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) releasedmaterials to help farmers review Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)takeout options. Landowners with expiring CRP contracts have variousoptions for managing the land. First and foremost, however, there is nofederal farm program available through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) orNRCS to help cover costs to convert CRP to crop production.If you choose not to re-enroll in CRP, or your bid to re-enroll is not accepted,your options will vary from returning the land to crop production,livestock production or wildlife management. If you wish to return yourland to CRP, you may make modifications to improve your chances of gettingthe land accepted back into the program.The materials from NRCS can be foundon the Wheat Life website atwww.wheatlife.org.CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAMPREPARED INCOOPERATION WITH:United States Department of AgricultureNatural Resources Conservation ServiceEXPIRING CONTRACTOPTIONS FOR CRPUSDA Farm ServiceAgency (FSA)USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS)Spokane Conservation District (SCD)Washington Association ofConservation Districts (WACD)Washington Office of FarmlandPreservationWashington Departmentof Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)Washington State UniversityExtension - Steve Van VleetLANDOWNERS WITH EXPIRING CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM(CRP) CONTRACTS FACE A VARIETY OF ALTERNATIVES FOR MANAGINGTHE LAND.If you choose not to re-enroll in CRP, or your bid to re-enroll is not accepted,your options will vary from returning the land to crop production tomanaging it for wildlife. If you wish to return your land to CRP, you maymake modifications to improve your chances of getting the land acceptedback into the program.This information sheet reviews some of your options, the considerationsrelated to each and contacts for additional information. The options are notall-inclusive but focus on the most likely alternatives. You may even chooseto separate the acreage and adopt more than one alternative.Your choice will depend on your circumstances, expectations and goals.It is important to consider several factors including soil productivity andlimitations, management and past yields, commodity prices, conversionand renovation costs and other required investments.Whatever you decide, resources are available to help you realize yourobjectives. The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), your localconservation district, and extension office can provide technical assistance.CONSIDERATIONSUSDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.CONSIDERATIONSEXPIRING CONTRACT OPTIONS FOR CRP 2012-13OPTION #1: CROP PRODUCTION Cropping suitability: Does slope steepness, low productivity or erosivesoils make part or all of the land better suited for a different option?profitable than CRP payments.will increase. Crop prices and potential yields: Crop production may be more Input costs: Labor, equipment, management, and other input costs Conversion costs: Existing CRP vegetation will need to be destroyed bytillage, fire or chemical methods. Residual weed problems can be anissue. Higher than normal nitrogen rates may be required for two yearsafter conversion.your costs to convert CRP to crop production. There is NO Federal farm program through NRCS or FSA to help cover Equipment availability: Do you still have equipment for cropproduction, will you need to lease or purchase equipment or hirean operator? Conservation compliance: Highly Erodible Land (HEL) will require anew conservation plan. Decisions for the level of residue minimumsleft on the soil surface during critical wind and water erosion periods ofthe year will depend on field widths and number of tillage operationsand their timing. Being out of compliance could affect any future USDAfinancial assistance.EXPIRING CONTRACT OPTIONS FOR CRP 2012-13OPTION #2: LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION Livestock prices: Forage production is influenced by climate,management and market demands. Input costs: Labor, equipment, management, animal supplements,and other input costs will depend on grazing economics. Conversion costs: Using expiring CRP grass stands for hay or foragemay include the cost of adding fencing and water improvements ifthe land is to be grazed. Cost-share may be available through theEnvironmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), but the grazing planwould require a portion of your existing grazing acres to be deferredor rested. Environmental benefits: Leaving expiring CRP in grass and/orshrubs/trees gives continued protection from erosion. Bird nestingseason may be an issue for grazing. Good grazing management willbe required to maintain productivity and species composition. Management flexibility: Land may be used as either hay or forage.PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLEEnvironmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) is a voluntaryprogram that provides financial and technical assistance to treatresource concerns. Offered through the NRCS.Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary conservation programthat emphasizes support for working grazing operations, enhancementof plant and animal biodiversity, and protection of grassland underthreat of conversion to other uses. Offered through NRCS and FSA.WSU Extension can provide technical assistance for grazingmanagement.The NRCS Field Office Technical Guide can provide more informationthrough the Eastern Washington Range and Pasture SeedingsTechnical Note 101.Additional materials are offered through the Pullman Plant MaterialsCenter on Pasture Grazing Management. Environmental costs: Perennial vegetation provides the greatestbenefits for soil health and wildlife habitat. Soil erosion andcompaction may be reduced with use of no-till, direct seed orminimum tillage. Financial assistance to adopt these practices maybe available through conservation districts. Threatened andendangered species considerations may apply. Maintaining grassbuffers along roads and drainages may increase your eligibility forNRCS conservation programs. Maintaining base acres: Base acres are important for some FSAprogram payments. If your base acres were reduced at the time yourCRP contract was signed, they may be restored. Check with yourFSA office.PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLESpokane County Conservation District Direct Seed Loans provide low-interestloans for no-till and direct seed equipment, including tractors and combines.The program is available in 18 counties in eastern Washington and Idaho.PNW Conservation Tillage Handbook STEEP (Book): STEEP (Solutions ToEnvironmental and Economic Problems) is a cooperative Pacific Northwestresearch and educational program on conservation tillage systems throughthe University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Washington State University,and USDA-Agricultural Research Service.CONTACTSNatural Resources Conservation ServiceWashington State OfficePhone: (509) 323-2900Web: www.wa.nrcs.usda.govCounty office locator: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=WAWashington Association of Conservation DistrictsWeb: http://www.wadistricts.org/Steve Van Vleet, WSU ExtensionUSDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.509-397-6290 or svanvleet@wsu.eduFarm Service AgencyWashington State OfficePhone: (509) 323-3000Web: www.fsa.usda.gov/waCounty office locator: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=wa&agency=fsaWSU ExtensionCounty office locator: http://extension.wsu.edu/locations/Pages/default.aspxCrop production may be more profitable thanCRP payments.CONTACTSNatural Resources Conservation ServiceWashington State OfficePhone: (509) 323-2900Web: www.wa.nrcs.usda.govCounty office locator: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=WASpokane Conservation DistrictPhone: (509) 535-7274Web: http://sccd.org/Washington Association of Conservation DistrictsWeb: http://www.wadistricts.org/PNW STEEP - PNW Direct Seed AssociationWeb: http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu/authors/index.htmFarm Service AgencyWashington State OfficePhone: (509) 323-3000Web: www.fsa.usda.gov/waCounty office locator: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=wa&agency=fsaLOOKING FORPROPERTIESFarmland, hunting and recreationalWE HAVE properties, BUYERSpasture and/or timberland.USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.Converting your CRP land for hay or forage is anviable alternative to crop production.United States Department of AgricultureNatural Resources Conservation ServiceFor Farmland, Pasture, Timberland and HuntingSales & Purchasesand Recreational properties, 20 to 20,000 Acres!–20 to 20,000 acre properties–Call Greg SchusterSpokane WA509-993-2545realtordad@aol.comCall Greg SchusterSpokane WA509-993-2545realtordad@aol.comUnited States Department of AgricultureNatural Resources Conservation Service20 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

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WLPOLICY MATTERSfive-year reauthorization of the National Flood InsuranceProgram and streamlining of agencies’ environmentalreview process.WAWG is in the process of monitoring how this transportationbill will be implemented within Washingtonstate. H.R. 2414 clarifies agricultural hours of serviceprovisions and continues the farm vehicle exemptionfrom federal commercial driver’s license requirements.Federally, a covered farm vehicle, including the individualoperating that vehicle, shall be exempt from the following:(1) Any requirement relating to commercial driver’slicenses established under chapter 313 of title 49,United States Code.(2) Any requirement relating to drug testing establishedunder chapter 313 of title 49, United States Code.(3) Any requirement relating to medical certificatesestablished under chapter 313 of title 49, United StatesCode.(4) Any requirement relating to hours of service establishedunder:(A) subchapter III of chapter 311 of title 49, UnitedStates Code; or(B) chapter 315 of title 49, United States Code.Federal transportation funding to a state may not be terminated,limited or otherwise interfered with as a result ofthe state exempting a covered farm vehicle, including theNOAA makesmoney availableto help deal withtsunami debrisBy Columbia Basin Fishand Wildlife News BulletinNOAA recently announcedthat $250,000 in grants has beenmade available through its marinedebris program to five states impactedby debris from the March2011 Japanese tsunami.Alaska, Washington, Oregon,California and Hawaii will receiveup to $50,000 each to use towardmarine debris removal efforts.“We continue to actively workwith the states and other federalagencies to address the challengesassociated with tsunami debris,”said Nancy Wallace, director of NOAA’s marine debrisprogram. “We are pleased to be able to contributefunds to support states’ efforts to respond to andremove marine debris, including disposal fees, cleanupsupplies and dumpster rentals. We remain dedicatedto continuing our work with the states and others to addresscontingency planning, monitoring and research.”NOAA and other federal agencies have been assistingthe West Coast states in planning how to handlephoto COURTESY WashINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF EcolOGYThe Japanese consulate in Seattle confirmed that this boat, which washed ashore at Washington’sCape Disappointment State Park in June, is debris from the 2011 tsunami.above-normal amounts of marine debris. Federal partnershipefforts also include collecting and sharing data,assessing the debris and mitigating risk to navigationalsafety.The Japanese government estimated that the tsunamiswept about 5 million tons of debris into the PacificOcean and that about 70 percent sank shortly after.The remaining 1.5 million tons dispersed far acrossthe North Pacific Ocean in an area roughly three timesthe size of the lower 48 states.22 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

Rotate into canola this fall,for a profitable alternative to wheat.Construction of the Warden CrusherCanola oil has emerged internationally as the healthiest of allcommonly used cooking oils. And with growing global demand, canolacommodity prices have been very strong, providing farmers with aprofitable cropping alternative to wheat.With our new expeller-pressed canola crushing plant (the largest in NorthAmerica) opening in Warden, WA, Pacific Coast Canola provides farmerswith a significant local market opportunity. We are buying canola today.See your local elevator now to learn more about the latest highperforming winter canola varieties.pacificcoastcanola.com10610A-PPC-Ad-WheatLife.indd 17/18/12 3:13 PMWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 23

WLPOLICY MATTERSindividual operating that vehicle, from any state requirementrelating to the operation of that vehicle.The exemptions, however, do not apply with respect toa covered farm vehicle transporting hazardous materialsthat require a placard.In the legislation, covered farm vehicles means a motorvehicle that:(A) is traveling;(i) in the State in which the vehicle is registered; or(ii) in a State other than the State in which thevehicle is registered;(B) is operated by:(i) a farm owner;(ii) a ranch owner;(iii) a farm operator;(iv) a ranch operator; or(v) an employee or family member of an individualspecified in clauses (i) through (iv);(C) is transporting:(i) agricultural commodities;(ii) livestock; or(iii) machinery or supplies to or from a farm orranch;(D) except as provided in paragraph (2), is not used inthe operations of a for-hire motor carrier; and(E) is equipped with a special license plate or otherdesignation by the state in which the vehicle is registeredto allow for identification of the vehicle as afarm vehicle by law enforcement personnel.In this section, the term “covered farm vehicle” includesa motor vehicle:(A) operated pursuant to a crop share farm leaseagreement;(B) owned by a tenant with respect to that agreement;and(C) transporting the landlord’s portion of the crops underthat agreement.MAP-21 also provided maritime provisions that ensureharbor maintenance operations and maintenance fundsare being utilized properly.The bill fails to give guidance on states’ ability to increasetruck weights which NAWG and others were seekingas well as freight rail provisions that are important tothe grain industry.Custom Seeding • New & Used Drills • Call For More Details44 ft. Drill w/12” Spacing kkmasterseeder@gmail.comKevin Kleinwww.seedmaster.caSales & Service RepEdwall, Wash.509-650-7307 509-236-2460Combine Leveling SystemsTHE RIGHT FIT FORYOUR FARMINGOPERATIONIncreased hillside grain savingsDecreased separator hoursIncreased productivityImproved sample qualityHillco Technologies, Inc.1010 1st Avenue Nezperce, Idahowww.hillcotechnologies.com 800.937.246124 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

EASTERN OREGON FARMSUmatilla County, Pendleton, OR2835.21 acres, rare find winter cattle ranch with 577 acres of wheatground planted to grass. Winter feed source of 120 irrigated acres, 40acres of sub-land, 2 older homes. Great fishing for steelhead, salmonand trout. Good hunting for deer, turkey, pheasant, chukar, huns.Good water fowl hunting for ducks and geese.$1,650,000 #WL02210Lake County, Fort Rock, OR5,957 total deeded acres of which 744 ac circle irrigation with balancein rangeland. Includes 15,000 acres of BLM. 3 homes - 1 new, shop,livestock facilities, hay shed and other amenities.$5,500,000.00 #WL02211Umatilla County, Pilot Rock, OR1998 (+/-) acres of mountain, pasture and timberland. Has cabin withpond and trees for a relaxed setting. Used as summer grazing unit.Great views and recreation. Live stream with springs and ponds.Good hunting for big game deer and elk, with upland birds.$1,200,000 #WL01511Union County, Elgin, ORNE Oregon mountain and timber tract that borders Grande RondeRiver. 477+ acres that has merchantable timber with recent cruise.Very private with great views. LOP tags for hunting. Big gamehunting, fishing on river. Salmon, steelhead, trout.$550,000.00 #WL03511Gilliam County, Arlington, ORLocated in Gilliam County, the Blalock Canyon Farm contains 195total acres of which 140 acres are irrigated. Contains 3 Zimmaticpivots and 2 wheelines. Includes main residence, guest quarters,horse/livestock barn, shop and hay barn. Water is provided fromagricultural well with 250 HP motor. $685,000 #WL00912www.whitneylandcompany.comServing Farmers For Over 80 Years➥ Custom Herbicide/Fertilizer Applications – Min.-Till to Conventional➥ Custom No-Till Seeding➥ Grain Sales – Truck & Barge Grain ShippingWinter 2012 Seed Varieties On Hand➥ Zerpha ➥ Skiles ➥ WB 528➥ CF102 ➥ Club Wheat: CaraNote: Special seed requests are gladly accepted and handled,depending upon availability of the variety.WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 25

WLPOLICY MATTERSWheat supplies should beat the droughtBy Casey ChumrauU.S. Wheat Associates Market AnalystDespite the worst drought since 1956, the U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that U.S.wheat farmers will produce a larger crop than last yearand will stand ready once again to supply high qualitywheat to the world.In its monthly World AgriculturalSupply and Demand Estimates(WASDE) released July 11, USDA loweredits 2012/13 U.S. wheat productionestimate for the second straight monthto 60.5 million metric tons (mmt).However, that is still 12 percent greaterthan last year’s production, and 2 percentabove the five-year average.A larger hard red winter (HRW)crop accounts for much of the totalincrease. In its first by-class estimatesof the year, USDA estimated HRW productionup 32 percent from last year to28.1 mmt. The July WASDE indicatesHRW production is on pace to becomethe largest crop since 2008/09, exceedingthe five-year average by 10 percent.As of July 15, 80 percent of the HRW crop is in the bins,ahead of the worst of the drought in most places.USDA also expects hard red spring (HRS) wheatproduction to rebound in 2012/13, despite the lowestplanted area since 1983/84. USDA forecasts HRS productionat 11.8 mmt, up 9 percent from last year but 13percent below the five-year average.Greater yields in North Dakota, which producesabout half of all HRS, will help offset the reduced acreage.USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service(NASS) expects North Dakota’s HRS yields will average40 bushels per acre, up from 30.5 bushels per acrein 2011/12. Most of the spring wheat production area isnorth of where other spring-related crops are sufferingfrom heat and drought. Virtually all of the U.S. HRScrop has headed, and USDA’s latest conditions reportshows that 65 percent of the crop in good to excellentcondition with 27 percent in fair condition as of July 15.After a year with the lowest durum production since1988/89, U.S. production including Desert Durum® (virtuallyall of which is irrigated) will increase 62 percentin 2012/13 to 2.23 mmt according to USDA. Estimatedharvested acreage in the top durum producing state,North Dakota, for 2012/13 now stands at nearly doublethe 2011/12 number, and yields are expected to improvefrom 25.5 bushels per acre to 31.0 bushels per acre, accordingto NASS.USDA expects both soft red winter (SRW) and whitewheat production to fall following above-average cropslast year. SRW production will fall an estimated 6percent from 2011/12 to 11.7 mmt but remain 4 percentabove the five-year average of 11.2 mmt. White wheatproduction will fall 18 percent from the 15-year high of8.53 mmt reached in 2011/12 to 7.03 mmt this year. If realized,white wheat would fall just below the five-yearaverage of 7.08 mmt.Although the U.S. wheat production outlook is positive,world weather conditions are affecting prices.Uncertainty about Black Sea wheat conditions and arapidly declining U.S. corn crop have helped drivewheat futures sharply higher at a time when pricesnormally decline. Since June 1, the benchmark CBOTSeptember SRW contract gained 40 percent, KCBT(HRW) increased 37 percent and MGEX (HRS) gained33 percent.As the corn crop declines, global wheat feeding willlikely increase. Some analysts also predict quite a bit ofvolatility in this “weather market” and suggest that themarket will not stabilize until the final impact of thedrought becomes clear, probably by late August or earlySeptember.26 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

COLLABORATIONWE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHERPictured (left to right): Michael Pumphrey (WSU), Kim Campbell(USDA/ARS), Valerie Pantone (Syngenta), Jeff Koscelny (Monsanto),Ric Wesselman (Syngenta), Ed Driskill (AgriPro Seed/Syngenta),John Moffat (AgriPro Seed/Syngenta), Jean-Bruno Beaufume(LimaGrain Cereals), Jim Peterson (LimaGrain Cereals), KevinHodges (WestBred/Monsanto), Kristen Schneider (Westbred/Monsanto), Scott Madden (Westbred/Monsanto), Aaron Carter(WSU), Juliet Marshall (U of I ), Dale Clark (WestBred/Monsanto),Tony Gambiana (WestBred/Monsanto), Deven See (USDA/ARS).The Washington State Crop ImprovementAssociation, in cooperation with industry leaders,helps to ensure our work is focused and efficient.The excellent variety of high quality seed grainscultivars available for your farms exists becauseof the work of dozens of entities coordinatedthrough the WSCIA.Always Plant Certified Seed!WASHINGTON STATE CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION1610 N.E. Eastgate Blvd. Suite 610 Pullman WA 99163Phone: 509-334-0461 Fax: 509-334-6809 www.washingtoncrop.com

Pay a little now or pay a lot later.If agricultural tax exemptions are cut, Washington’s farmers will seea substantial drop in income. The numbers speak for themselves:Fuel tax:Fuel is taxed at $0.375/gallon to the state alone.There are also local and federal taxes applied,which are not included in this estimate.Number of Gallons Estimated Tax5,000 $1,87510,000 $3,75020,000 $7,500B&O tax:Estimated to be based on the manufacturersrate of $0.00484/gross dollar.Gross Revenue Estimated Tax$1,000,000 $4,840$5,000,000 $24,200Sales tax on fertilizers,pesticides and inputs:State sales tax is $0.065/dollar.Cost of product Estimated Tax$100,000 $6,500$250,000 $16,250$500,000 $32,500$1,000,000 $65,000Sales tax on equipmentand repairs:State sales tax is $0.065/dollarCost of Product Estimated Tax$100,000 $6,500$250,000 $16,250$500,000 $32,500$1,000,000 $65,000$2,000,000 $130,000Join active growers working to re-elect wheat-friendly legislators.It’s better to invest a few thousand dollars in a campaign occasionally,than pay tens of thousands of dollars in taxes every year.Which would you rather do?Rural Washington has always had less representation in the state legislature than the urban areas of Seattle and Spokane.In recent years, however, rural areas have also been losing district seats. Years ago, Eastern Washington held 18of the state’s 49 legislative districts. Today, that number is down to 11. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican,the point is simple. There are fewer rural voices in today’s legislature, and farm-friendly candidates are few and farbetween. We need to make sure those friendly candidates stay in office. That takes money.In October 2011, the bipartisan Wheat Industry Council PAC was formed to protect the interests of Washingtonstate wheat farmers by supporting farm-friendly political candidates through political donations. This is a functionoutside of WAWG, and a mission that WAWG cannot perform. Active, committed growers have pledged their ownmoney to make contributions to elected officials from all parts of the state and all political parties who have historicallydemonstrated support for the wheat industry’s goals and objectives. Handing out cookies by themselves won’tcut it anymore. Make a difference!Make checks payable to the Wheat Industry Council, P.O. Box 184, Ritzville, Wash., 99169 • www.wheatPAC.comTaking the voice of wheat to the heart of state government.

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WLFEATURElocallygrownjustpickedfarmfreshsweet corngeneticallyengineeredThe casefor labelingin CaliforniaBy Trista Crossley30 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

FEATURE WLGMO foods: to label or not to label?That’s the fight playing out across the country.In the past year, more than 20 states have consideredpassing legislation that would require GMO labeling,although as of yet, only Alaska requires it on geneticallyengineered fish. The fight is often portrayed as the littleguys against the giant corporations, each side backing uptheir argument with studies and research. Millions of dollarshave been spent, and bitter words tossed out as bothsides try to make their point.In Washington state, bills introduced by Senator MarilynChase (D-Shoreline) and Representative Cary Condotta(R-Wenatchee) didn’t make it out of committee, but willlikely appear again in the next session. For now, however,all eyes are focused on California’s Nov. 6 election, wherevoters will decide the fate of Proposition 37, California’sRight to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act.If Prop. 37 passes, it could have sweeping repercussionsacross the country. California is the world’s eighth largesteconomy and is often a driving force of change, especiallywhen it comes to food.Prop. 37, if passed, would require any processed foodsold in California that might contain GMO ingredientsto be labeled as such. In addition, any food that containsGMO ingredients would not be able to be marketed as“natural,” “naturally made,” “naturally grown” or “allnatural.”There are some exemptions, however.Food derived from an animal that hasnot been genetically modified itself,even though it might have been fed geneticallymodified food, will not need tobe labeled. Alcohol is exempt, as is foodthat has been prepared for immediateconsumption, such as in a restaurant.Opponents to the bill say that if itpasses, it will unfairly hurt Californiafarmers, food producers and grocersand would increase food costs forCalifornia families. They also claim thatthe bill would open up farmers and foodproducers to lawsuits and fines based onlittle or no proof of damages.No matter what happens inNovember, the fight for GMO labelingdoesn’t appear likely to die down. In anWAWG resolutionon GMO labelingWe support voluntary labelingof food products, provided itis consistent with U.S. law andinternational trade agreementsand is truthful and not misleading.We oppose governmentmandatedlabeling of wheatproducts in both the U.S. andinternational markets basedupon the presence or absenceof biotechnologically-derivedtraits that do not differ significantlyfrom their conventionalcounterpart.effort to understand the pro-labeling side of the movement,Wheat Life magazine talked to Stacy Malkan, mediadirector for the California Right To Know campaign.Give us a little bit of background on CaliforniaProposition 37.We filed the initiative last year. Within a 10-week period,we were able to gather almost one million signatures fromregistered voters. It was a true grassroots action. It pointsto the overwhelming support and energy behind the ideathat we have the right to know what is in our food.Polls consistently show that about 90 percent of peoplefrom all demographics and political persuasions wantgenetically engineered food to be labeled. Also, this typeof labeling is standard procedure in most of the rest of theindustrialized world. More than 40 countries currentlyrequire labels.GMOs have not been shown to be dangerous. Whyare they being targeted, and why is this such aheated debate?Food certainly inspires a lot of passion. It is a core partof our experience. We consume it, and it becomes a part ofus.People are demanding a transparency in our food system.These are foods that are being genetically engineered,and we are being told that they aresafe. The government does not requirefood safety tests, and there are a growingnumber of studies showing thatGMO foods can cause health problems.Labeling is also important when we aretalking about allergies and those kind ofeffects. It is important to identify foodsthat might be causing allergies.Can you explain your statementthat the government does not requirefood safety tests?The FDA policy on GMOs (written in1992 and still in effect) is based on theidea that genetic modification is basicallythe same as regular plant breedingand therefore no safety testing is necessary.WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 31

WLFEATUREHow do you respond to beingcalled “anti-science” or“anti-biotech”?I think that the science is notthere proving the safety of geneticallyengineered foods. The onusis on the company that if they aregoing to be changing the geneticcode of our food, they should beproving that the food is safe, andthat isn’t the case. Our federalpolicy is based on politics notscience. The FDA has been takingthe stand that GMO foods are thesame as conventionally producedfoods, and we don’t think that isthe case.The United Nations food standardsorganization, which is consideredthe global science-basedstandards for food, says GMOsare different from conventionallybred foods and that safety testingshould be required.Many people take medicinethat has been geneticallymodified, yet we don’t hearanything about those beinglabeled.The food that all of us eat every day is the biggest priorityfor labeling.What about the argument that the world needsGMO food to ensure a stable food supply?There isn’t any evidence that GMO foods have actuallyincreased the food yield. Most of the crops have been engineeredto protect against insects or to allow farmers to usepesticides on them, not to increase yield.Why is this happening at the state level rather thanthe national level? And do you think other statesare going to follow suit?People have been frustrated at the federal level. Thereis huge pressure on the FDA to update outdated policy tolabel GMOs. More than a million people submitted commentsto the FDA supporting a petition to label geneticallyengineered food, and the FDA still hasn’t taken action. InCalifornia, we are taking it directly to the voters, and wethink that is how we will get this done.Certainly some states are going to adopt labeling. ManyResources:www.carighttoknow.orgwww. justlabelit.orghttp://gmofreewashington.com/wordpress/www.labelgmos.orgwww.noprop37.comhttp://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:_Mandatory_labeling_of_genetically_modified_foodshttp://www.nal.usda.gov/research-and-technology/biotechnologyhttp://www.fda.gov/Food/default.htmhttp://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtmlhttp://www.biofortified.org/http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/testimony/ucm115032.htmother states are looking at passingsimilar legislation and will goforward if California passes theinitiative. The federal governmentis eventually going to have to act.The people are going to demand it.What exactly will companieshave to do to label their productsto meet the law?The law says the label has to beon the front or back of the packageand requires processed foodlabels to say “partial producedwith genetic engineering.” Forwhole foods, such as corn, therewould be a sign on the store shelf.We are expecting that companieswill just add the words to the nutritionlabel or ingredient list. Thefood labels already list caloriesand fat information; consumerswill also see that ingredients maybe genetically engineered.Doesn’t the organic label,by default, mean non-GMO?And what about voluntarylabeling?Not everyone has access toorganic food or can afford it, and everyone has the right toknow what is in their food. I don’t expect that most companieswould voluntarily label their food.Is this just a way to drive up sales of organic foods?That doesn’t make a lot of sense because people can buyorganic foods now. Will there be a big monetary gain fororganics? Or for anybody not using GMO ingredients? Ican’t say, but that is the way a free market is supposed towork. You give people the information, and they make thedecision of what to buy. I think that is particularly importantin food.What about pushing a GMO-free label instead?That’s also an effort that has been gaining a lot of momentumin the U.S. It is another tool in the toolbox, and Ithink both strategies are good.Who will bear the cost of GMO labeling?The law is very easy to comply with. It gives companies18 months to change their labels, and they typicallychange labels in that time anyway. We anticipate therewould be no cost to the consumer. We are only talking32 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WLFEATUREabout adding a few words to existinglabels, and there is no data or logicalargument to make that those costswould be passed on to consumers.People want this information,and they have a right to know.Companies have to label food correctlyfor fat content and caloric informationanyway. We think it is thesame with genetically engineeredfood.How would the law be enforcedor monitored?It falls in the realm of theCalifornia Department of PublicHealth to decide how the initiativewill be handled, but we think isjust a very straightforward thing.Companies are already labelingso much information, we don’t seemuch need for enforcement. If companiesdon’t know the source of theiringredients, and I would argue thatthey should, the law allows them tosay it “may” contain GMO food. Ibelieve all companies should knowwhere their ingredients come from.If the law passes, do you thinkwe will see farmers growing lessGMO crops?That could be the case, but wedon’t know. Certainly farmers areseeing some problems with GMOs,for example, the super weeds thatare now Roundup resistant. Nowthe biotech and chemical companiesare pushing for a new round ofGMO crops to resist those weeds.What is the end game here? Theysaid it wasn’t going to happen withRoundup and it did. These companiesare involved with things theydon’t understand the consequencesof.Editor’s note: Wondering what theother side has to say about GMO labeling?So do we. In the October issue ofWheat Life, we’ll be asking the opponentsof Prop. 37 to explain their side of thedebate.Connell Grain GrowersUnsurpassed service and product knowledge!Connell Office: 800-572-5932 Moses Lake Office: 509-765-3898VARIETIESSWW: WB528, WB523, WB456, Xerpha, Eltan, ORCF 102,Stephens, Legion and many others.HRW: Farnum, Bauermeister, Buchanan, Eddy, Norwest553, Paladin, Declo. NEW: WB Tuscon, WB Rimrockand Whetstone!Connell Grain Grower’s brandnew, state of the art, seedconditioning facility.• This plant will clean WHEAT SEEDONLY!• ON DEMAND TREATING: You nowhave the option of applying any treat atany rate that best fits your needs.• Located just NW of Connell, Wash., atthe intersection of Paradise Road andWarehouse Road.34 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

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FEATURE WLDrawing COURTESY OF GlOBAl CROP DIVERSITY TRUSTing efforts, loss and change of habitats, climate change,environmental degradation, shift in food preferences,decreased demand for local produce, natural disasters andeven human conflict.Reports of crop diversity loss seem to grow increasinglyurgent. On one end of the spectrum, sources claim theearth is under threat because thousands of native plantspecies are extinct or are threatened by extinction. Onthe other side, some refute these sources as doomsdayers,claiming there is a shift in bio-diversity, rather than a loss.Regardless, a sense of pressure to preserve current speciesand varieties seems warranted. The solution is genebanks,or seedbanks as some call them. Peter Bretting,Ph.D., a senior national program leader for the U.S.Agriculture Research Service (ARS), points out that theterm “genebank” is a more accurate description becauseof their work to preserve and distribute the world’s livingbiological resources, called germplasm. This includesseeds, roots, bulbs and cuttings. Genebank curators are aunique bunch. There are no degrees for this specific field;curators are a cross between biologists, farmers, scientistsand possibly even librarians.Cary Fowler is the executivedirector of the GlobalCrop Diversity Trust whichfunds the Svalbard GlobalSeed Vault—called theNoah’s Ark of seeds—locatedon the Norwegian islandof Spitsbergen. The collectioncurrently houses seedsof more than two millionfood plants, both domesticand wild, but no GMOs.Seeds are kept in freezersThe Svalbard Global Seed Vault—calledthe Noah’s Ark of seeds—is located on theNorwegian island of Spitsbergen.Mari Tefre/SvalBARD GlOBAl SEED VaultWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 37

WLFEATUREThe NPGS Curators Workshop and Plant Germplasm Operations Committee Meeting in Spokane on June 5, 2012.at minus 10 to minus 20 degrees C to slow spoilage andextend lifespan. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault functionssimilarly to a safe-deposit box, with seeds accessible onlyto the country that provides them. It acts as a backup forcountries unable to store their own collections.Bretting distinguishedthe SvalbardGlobal Seed Vaultfrom genebanksthroughout theworld. A genebankhas an open exchange,receivingand sending germplasmupon request.On the other hand,when seeds go into avault, they are maintainedthere until theowner needs them toaddress an emergency, but are otherwise left untouched.The seeds are never tested for viability, so it is up to theowners to determine when to replenish stores. “We in theARS are very supportive of the Svalbard Seed Vault. Bothtypes of facilities are important, but they have somewhatdifferent roles.”In the U.S., the National Plant Germplasm System(NPGS) was organized in an effort to preserve the geneticdiversity of plants. It is cooperatively run by federal, stateand private organizations. One of its largest facilities is theNational Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in FortCollins, Colo., which houses one of the “largest and mostdiverse seed banks in the world,” according to Bretting.It is located on the campus of Colorado State Universityand is the backup for the nation’s system of genebanks.Because of continualadditions and distributions,the numberof seeds in individualcollectionsfluctuates. Viabilityis measured on aregular basis for thegermplasm collectionsof NPGS, acostly and time-consumingendeavor.Dr. David Dierig,research leader andgeneticist for theNPGS facility in Fort Collins, discussed involvement withSvalbard’s operation and the U.S. genebanks. “We do havethe largest presence of germplasm...in Svalbard, so thebiggest part of their collection is from us. The differenceis that we’re a managed genebank, and so we’re continuallytesting our collection for viability. They’re more of adooms-day [facility] as they themselves say, whereas we’rean active genebank. We want to see our material distributedand used [rather than just stored].”(From left) Supervisory Agronomist Harold Bockelman, Senior National Program Leader Peter K.Bretting,0 Ph.D., and Supervisory Research Geneticist Jinguo Hu.Anticipating the vulnerability of global genetic unifor-38 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

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WLFEATUREWhen it rains, it poursMother Nature dumps a bucketful of water on a Lind farm,but neighbors and volunteers show up in droves to help clean upPhoto COURTESY OF Michelle FODE SMIThVolunteers remove some of the mud from around Debbie and Jerry Knodel’s home.Dryland wheat farmers are always hoping for rain, but in the early morninghours of July 16, Debbie and Jerry Knodel got a little more than theybargained for.“We had this very unusual storm come through our area,” recalled DebbieKnodel. “It had been raining and lightning starting about 1:30 in the morning. Itwas raining pretty good, so I got up to close the windows. I looked out and sawthis wall of water coming through our farm towards our house.”Knodel figures that the storm was centered over their property, a 100-year old,4th generation farm located between Lind and Ralston, and that they receivedfour to six inches of rain in a very short time.“Our soil is very soft and very fine,” she said. “When it rains so profusely likeit did in such a short amount of time, it just runs off.“I was in a panic because it was heading straight for our house, and we knewit was going to go into our basement,” Knodel said. “We ran downstairs andtried to stop it. It was coming in through the windows. I tried to use beachtowels, but it was futile effort. It was very scary. Now, every day I look out mykitchen window, all I see is mud. I keep seeing this wall of water coming, like anocean wave.”The Knodel’s home sits in a draw with their farmland on the hills aroundthem. The storm water ran down into the draw, depositing six inches to a footof mud and straw over their farm and yard, flooding their basement and shop.They lost trees from a windbreak, lost some of their summer fallow and havedamaged crops down in the draw. According to Knodel, mud and filth came torest on approximately 30 acres of flatland. In addition, the storm washedout several county roads.The next morning, the Knodels gotin their pickup and started surveyingthe damage.“At that point in time, you arekind of in shock,” Knodel said.“There were a few other farmersin the area that had some damage,but not as bad. We came back to thehouse around 8 or 9 a.m., and that’swhen neighbors started showing up.By the end of the morning, we probablyhad 20 or 30 people here withshovels and food and coolers full ofwater and Gatorade.”The next morning brought morepeople out to help with the cleanupeffort. Ryan Kuch, leader of thelocal Mennonite Church DisasterService, organized a group of volunteersto help the Knodels cleanout their shop. The group, whichhas regularly traveled down Southafter Hurricane Katrina to volunteerand clean up, hasn’t had to use theirexpertise locally before, said Knodel.“They really felt in their heartsthat this was something theywanted to do. Ryan organized that,”Knodel said. “Women brought food,so we were able to feed everybody,provide everyone with an eveningmeal. So at the end of the day, wegathered together. That was verysoul comforting to have everybodysit down together and sharea meal. We were able to extend ourgratitude.”“My job is to fire up the troops,”said Kuch.Kuch estimated that his volunteersalone took out 15 to 20 loads of mud.44 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

FEATURE WLWorking together, the group of people wereable to get the shop cleaned up and everythingmoved back in.“Every person I called simply said ‘what timeand what should I bring?’” said Kuch. “I didn’thave to work very hard at gathering volunteers.That’s a big deal, because this is our busy time,and everyone is behind schedule because of thecrazy weather we’ve had.”“Words don’t seem like enough at a time likethis,” said Knodel. “The magnitude of peoplethat showed up? And then we heard that Ryanwas putting together a work party? I’ll tell you,we could not have done this alone; it was toovast. There is still so much yet that we aren’tgoing to get to because of harvest. Everyone is inthe same boat. Everyone that was here is an areafarmer working hard to get ready for harvest,and they took the time to be here with us.“That is the beauty of a small town where youknow most everyone, and people just show upto do what they can.”Knodel said that despite the damage, it couldhave been a lot worse. The fence that surroundedtheir home rerouted much of the waterand held back a lot of debris. If their basementwindows had broken, the entire basementwould have flooded. And the whole incidentreaffirmed that fact that people really care andcan be counted on to provide help and support.Knodel also said she was extremely grateful thatin all the cleanup commotion, nobody was hurt.Knodel suspects that the current damage isonly part of the effects of the flooding.“It will take years for the ground to rebuilditself, and some places, that will never happen,”she said, explaining that the rain washed awayenough soil to expose bedrock in places, aswell as creating big gullies through the fields.“We are fearful that there will be areas that wewon’t be able to plant in, that those areas won’tproduce any wheat.”Knodel said that in the 100-year history ofthe farm, they’ve never seen anything like whathappened in the storm. “I’m hoping we can goanother 100 years and not have something happenlike this. We’ve seen some very devastatingacts of Mother Nature, and it is a helpless feeling.You don’t have any control. But the blessingout of all this was that we had a wonderfuloutpouring from neighbors and friends.”Photo COURTESY OF lOIS GUSTBesides depositing a lot of mud and debris at the Knodel’s home, the storm also washedout Thiel Road.Photo COURTESY OF lOIS GUSTAnthony Alcocer (front) and Randy Franz were only some of the volunteers who spentthe day mucking out the Knodels’ shop. In the background are Barb Franz and MichelleSlate, with Bryce Stephenson driving the tractor.The Knodel’s yard.Photo COURTESY OF lOIS GUSTWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 45

Throughout July, Eastern Washingtonexperienced many lightning stormsincluding this one over a wheat field nearSpangle. Photo by Ryan Rowe

WL PROFILESKevin Hodges, WestBredSowing seeds of success in the Pacific NorthwestBy Kevin GaffneyWhen farmers plan for each upcoming crop, one of the many important decisionsthat must be made is which wheat varieties to plant. Even if all the otherfactors work in the farmer’s favor, having the wrong variety planted can bequite costly.One valuable source of information and advice is usually their local seedwarehouse managers. Researchers from regional land-grant universities likeWashington State University can also provide valuable input. Another source ofrecommendations is the private seed companies that are commercializing manyexciting new wheat varieties for the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region.One of those companies is WestBred, a unit of Monsanto. Their PNW regionCommercial Manager is Kevin Hodges.A Montana native who grew up on a dryland wheat farm, Hodges has wheatgenes flowing through his veins. Hodges joined the WestBred team in 2006. AnIdaho resident, he received his education at Montana State University-Northern.Hodges took time from his busy schedule of meetings and field trials to visitabout WestBred and the PNW wheat seed industry.WestBred began as a small research and development company for cerealgrains in the mid-1970s. It grewand underwent various ownershipchanges over the years, operatingfrom facilities in Montana andArizona. Eventually, it became oneof the premier developers of qualitycereal grain germplasm in thewestern U.S.That success did not go unnoticed.WestBred was acquired byMonsanto in 2009. They currentlyhave germplasm for all major wheatclasses, including hard red winter,hard red spring, soft red winter,durum, soft white winter, soft whitespring, hard white winter and hardwhite spring varieties. WestBredvarieties go to market through anetwork of more than 100 seed companieswho license, produce and sellWestBred germplasm throughoutthe U.S.“There have been some excitingdevelopments since wejoined Monsanto,” noted Hodges.“Utilizing increased breedinginvestments, we have come out withsome high quality new varietiesdesigned to increase yields for ourspecific agronomic region here in thePNW.”Wheat represented a compellingadjacent space for Monsantowhen it acquired WestBred in 2009.Monsanto was able to apply technologyand experience it had fromother core crops in a large-acre,global crop eager for innovation.“We are currently using advancedbreeding tools that were not readilyavailable to us before,” continuedHodges. “Another advantage isthe direct access to advancementsbeing made in other crops, such assoybeans and corn. This has helpedus to better focus our cereal grainsefforts while broadening our knowledgeand tool base. This will help usto develop varieties with improved48 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

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WLPROFILESKevin Hodges (left) of WestBred provides details about a new Clearfield seed wheat variety at a recent field trials event near Ritzville. Looking on is PaulPorter, seed division manager for AgVentures NW, one of the sponsors of the event.yields and fewer problems with diseases and pests.“WestBred was a good fit for Monsanto because of theelite wheat germplasm that had already been developedand commercialized,” said Hodges. “The elite seeds developedthrough our continued breeding efforts will serve asthe germplasm foundation in which new biotechnologytraits will be introduced in the next decade. Our effortswill focus mainly on yield and stress traits. We are alsoworking on opportunities to incorporate agronomic traitslike disease resistance and herbicide tolerance. It will be amultifaceted approach as we move forward.”Hodges noted that improving on end-use quality traitsthrough biotechnology tools is not the main focus at thistime. This is because there are so many varied uses for thedifferent classes of wheat, depending upon where it is soldand what food products will be produced. With this said,the quality characteristics of WestBred germplasm continueto be a high profile selection criteria in the breedingprogram.It is no secret in the industry that biotechnology inwheat has been a controversial subject. While biotechcrops have become routine in soybeans and corn, therehas been no such development in wheat. Hodges believesthese products will be developed for wheat, but only on atimetable that the industry is comfortable with.“We continue to be encouraged by the support theindustry and growers are showing for new technologiesin wheat, including biotechnology, and we remain committedto ongoing dialogue with the wheat industry andfarmers to support the successful introduction of newtechnologies thoughtfully. We believe in a collaborativeapproach. I think there may be some huge benefits biotechnologycan bring to the wheat industry in the future.There have been huge yield increases and other benefitsin corn, soybeans and cotton. I’d like to see wheat reapsimilar potential benefits eventually.”Hodges is excited about some new offerings WestBred islaunching this fall.WB-Junction is a new soft white winter variety withearly maturity designed to replace or complement WB-528,a variety that has been very popular. WB-Junction hasshown improved yield and test weight in field trials. It hasvery good foliar disease resistance.WB-1070CL is a new soft white winter Clearfield variety.It has good tolerance to current foliar diseases and hasearly maturity. It will be best suited to northern Oregonand southern Washington areas.WB-Arrowhead is a new hard red winter variety thatis planned to replace Rimrock and Eddy. It has shownimproved protein levels, good winter hardiness and snow50 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

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By Tom ZwainzThere’s an old saying that a person should never talkabout politics, sex, religion or money. When it comes toEastern Washington farmers, I’d add one more: What sortof tillage he uses on his farm.We farmers are a polite bunch, and while none of usare likely to stand nose-to-nose arguing over the advantagesor disadvantages of our individual agronomicpractices, you can be sure we have strong opinions aboutwhat each of us can accomplish on our farms. And weshould. We are the experts on the particular acreageunder our control. In Eastern Washington where a multitudeof micro-climates are separated by a myriad of soiltypes, it especially makes sense to defer to the farmerwho has, in many cases, a lifetime of knowledge abouthis land.Recently, there were several news stories about erosionin Spokane and Whitman counties polluting riversand streams, with the implication being that unlessit’s controlled, enforcement action by the WashingtonDepartment of Ecology is possible. Anybody who knowsme knows I am not a fan of regulation. I already spendhours at my computer complying with government-mandatedpaperwork. For those of you who aren’t farmers inthe 21st Century and can’t imagine what I’m complainingabout, picture doing your taxes every month. It getsold in a hurry. And, of course, it costs money.Although regulations are a part of any enterprise, findme another businessman whose livelihood depends asmuch upon an undependable partner as mine does. I amspeaking, of course, of Mother Nature. There are years Ido everything right on my farm and a downpour at aninopportune moment, an Arctic blast following a warmwinter zephyr or a pest with an appetite, erases myefforts.Don’t get me wrong, I’m not arguing all regulations arebad. The 1985 Farm Bill which set conservation standardsand gave the Natural Resources Conservation Serviceteeth to enforce those standards, marked a turning pointin reducing erosion. But as important as that Farm Billwas in setting the bar, you can’t ignore the progressivefarmers from the 1960s and 1970s, working in their shopsand experimenting in their fields, who helped designequipment which allowed us to rise to the occasion.I am among those who have dramatically changed myfarming practices. In 1983, as a 26 year old returning tofarm, I used a chisel plow to create a mulch till under theconservation practice then in vogue. To passersby, myfields were a uniform expanse of rich soil, beautiful, butvulnerable to anything nature could throw at it. Today,I direct seed my entire farm using a John Deere 10-inchhoe drill which represents the latest evolution of the tinkeringfarmers in the Northwest began more than fourdecades ago. From the road, the fields of standing stubblemay not look that pretty, but on a fairly consistent basis,the bottom line of my profit and loss statement is lovelyto behold.That’s not to say I urge everyone to embrace directseeding. First, it’s expensive to make the transition.Second, it works better under some conditions thanothers. Third, it comes with its own set of problems,mostly diseases and pests. And fourth, a farmer must betruly committed to making the change. It can’t just be aregulation a bureaucrat in some climate-controlled officedecides to issue.The problem with news is that controversy and conflictis the bread and butter of the media. As a result, thepublic is continually presented with scenarios pittingone side against another rather than solutions that makesense. This holds true when the topic is agriculture, too.Ecology attacks; farmers react. Meanwhile, the progresswe have made as a society—and as an industry—isactively ignored.And we have made progress. Lots of it. Thanks to newequipment, new chemicals, various incentives and spaceagetechnologies, erosion in Eastern Washington in 2012is a shadow of its former self. Certainly, we cannot claimvictory, but if you ask me, some recognition is in order.Life, however, is not about resting on our laurels. Wemust always work to do better. But as a farmer with aprickly partner, let me be the first to say that incentives,not regulations, are the answer. Carrots are not just aboutmotivating us to do the right thing, they are about helpingus innovate the answers to the challenges we face.There’s an old saying we farmers are fond of usingabout leaving the land better than we found it. It is morethan a catchy sound bite. It accurately sums up ourgenuine feeling of attachment toward the resource thatprovides us our livelihood. Regardless of the tillage practicea particular farmer currently employs, there shouldbe no doubt that all of us are constantly thinking abouthow we can do better.WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 55

WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONInfection detectionIt’s called Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV), but the disease,which is vectored by aphids, also attacks winter wheat fields,and some growers in the Kahlotus area have the most severeinfection Kim Garland Campbell has ever seen. Campbell,geneticist and club wheat breeder for the Agricultural ResearchService of the U.S. Department of Agriculture based in Pullman,said bird cherry oat aphids which carry the disease, migrate towheat fields from the Columbia Basin after sweet corn primarily,but also feed corn, dries down and is harvested in the fall.The field Campbell observed was completely infected even though the farmer used aninsecticide in his fall seed treatment. The disease might be indicated by a yellowing offlag leaves from the tip down, sometimes with red streaks, but significant yield lossesare possible even without visible symptoms in some varieties. Her own plots in theregion are about three to five inches shorter than normal, and she expects to take a 50percent yield hit in many cases. Campbell said growers who deep furrow plant beforeSept. 1 and who border irrigated acreage (although BYDV was also widespread this yearin Douglas County), need to include an insecticide treatment with their seed treatment,and they should use a higher-than-minimum labeled rate. “I think the main reason weare seeing more BYDV is because of the increase of corn in the basin as well as recentwet weather which is creating more insect pests in general,” Campbell said. “The problemwith BYDV is that you don’t know you have a problem until the following spring,and you can’t do anything about it at that point. The only treatments for it are laterplanting and insecticide.” Because she doesn’t see the problem going away, Campbell isbreeding for resistance to BYDV as part of her program using marker-assisted selectionand will be testing selected lines in the field over the next two years.Marketingthe futureJoe Anderson, a commissioneron the Idaho WheatCommission, had a point whenhe said that a lot of growers’money has been spent ondeveloping new varieties, butthere has been little or no followthrough to promote them.Although he was speakingfor Idaho, thecomplaintcould alsobe made inWashington.Marketingis not thestrength ofthe land-grantuniversitysystem, butthat deficiency is made up forin spades by private companiesthat understand research withoutmarketing is like a car withoutfuel. Growers in all threeNorthwest states can expect tobe the guinea pigs for marketingcampaigns that privatecompanies roll out as competitionamong the players heatsup. Limagrain, a Europeancooperative that recentlyopened a breeding facility inWalla Walla, has entered into anonexclusive agreement to developand market some wheatvarieties for the University ofIdaho under the trade name,Varsity Idaho. Anderson saidhis commission doesn’t reallycare where growers buy theirvarieties. Any wheat grower, hesaid, is paying more attentionto whether a variety worksthan which company or institutiondeveloped it.56 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONWLWGC REVIEWThe label fableDid you know the first genetically engineered crop trait received approval 170 daysafter it was submitted to the government? Did you know that such approvals nowroutinely take up to five years and cost millions of dollars simply to satisfy the regulatoryrequirements? Anti-GMO advocates might not have stopped companiesfrom pursuing the technology, but there isno doubt they have slowed progress. Thelatest effort to give companies heartburnare citizen initiatives, like the one whichjust recently made the ballot in California,to have foods made with biotech ingredients(70 percent of the processedfood on grocery-store shelves) labeled.This, despite the lack of evidence anyonehas ever been harmed by a GMO-basedfood. Various companies including theusual suspect—Monsanto—are opposedto the labeling and have helped createthe website STOPCostlyFoodLabeling.com. Many of the arguments oppose theimposition of a patchwork quilt of labelinglaws, though if California voters approve,you have to expect many food companieswill adopt their labeling law nationwide. The question no one has been willing toanswer is why labeling foods as containing genetically engineered crops is such abad idea? No one has been sickened by them, which is more than you can say of awhole host of foods that don’t contain GMOs including hamburger, eggs, spinach,lettuce, peanut butter, juice, the list goes on. Although it’s estimated only a smallpercentage of Americans would change their buying habits if foods were labeled,even 5 percent of lost sales is millions, perhaps billions of dollars to food manufacturers.That, and the possibility said manufacturers would demand non-GMOfoodstuffs to avoid being “labeled,” is why labeling is such a controversial idea.Supply chain handcuffsEnvironmental organizations along with state and federal agencies may tryto steer wheat farmers toward a particular agronomic practice, but theirclout is limited. Enter Walmart. The firm, based in Bentonville, Ark., aimsto do for wheat farmers what it has done for other segments of its supplychain: get its branded flour and wheat products from the field to shelf moreefficiently using less carbon. The company believes it can use its muscle toencourage farmers to adapt more progressive techniques, in the processallowing Walmart to sell its branded flour as a sustainable product. It’s likelythe effort will include the company promoting precision farming and directseeding to reduce soil erosion and maintain land quality. The wheat initiativeis part of an effort by Walmart to eliminate 20 million tons of greenhouse gasemissions from its global supply chain by the end of 2015, the equivalent oftaking 4 million cars off the road.Be carefulout thereEveryone has heard of the canaryin the coal mine, but what aboutthe tadpole in the pond? RichRelyea, a University of Pittsburghprofessor of biological sciences, hasbeen studying the effects of variouspesticides on amphibians for 15 years.Among other things, he has reportedhow glyphosate can kill large proportionsof some frog species. Lately,however, he’s been investigating howsublethal doses of the chemical altersthe morphological characteristics oftadpoles. Essentially, the exposurecauses the tadpoles to grow largertails, usually a reaction to the presenceof predators caused by activationof stress hormones. Relyea, whogrew up on a farm, doesn’t considerhimself anti-pesticide, but he believesmore attention needs to be focusedon chemicals’ side effects. Herbicidesare not designed to affect animals,but scientists are learning that theycan have a wide range of surprisingeffects by altering how hormoneswork in the bodies of animals. Thisis important because amphibiansnot only serve as a barometer of theecosystem’s health, but also as an indicatorof potential dangers to otherspecies in the food chain, includinghumans, he said.Billionsand billionsGrowers in the U.S. are expected toproduce 60.8 million tons of wheatthis year. That’s 2.2 billion bushels.Or, if you prefer, 134 billion pounds.Worldwide, 650 million tons of wheatis grown yearly. That’s...oh, nevermind.58 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WGC REVIEW WLOf mice and menCan mice help explain the evolution of red and white wheat as defined bytheir outer seed coat? Craig Morris, director of the Western Wheat QualityLab, thinks experiments he’s conducted showing that mice much prefer whitewheat to red wheat are part of the answer. A paper Morris authored goes intomice preference in detail. Bottom line? Mice preferred white wheat to red byfive to one. Morris said when you come right down to it, there’s absolutely noreason for red wheat to be red. Although it can’t be proven scientifically, he believesit’s possible red wheat became popular because mice preferred the classless than white wheat. In other words, when it came time for that early farmerfrom the Fertile Crescent to plant, there was simply more of the red-coatedwheat left in his granary than the white-coated stuff. Or as Morris put it in hispaper, “A clear preference for soft white over hard wheat may have implicationsin the historical commensal (beneficial) context of mouse and man.”Bad backs rejoiceThe 100-pound bag of flour has been a mainstay of the baking industry. Notanymore. ConAgra Mills recently announced it is doing away with the large bagsas part of its commitment to employee safety. It wasn’t clear how large the smallerbags will be, only that they will provide customers a more manageable productthat will reduce the risk of injury associated with moving heavy objects.Investing internallyInfrastructure is hardly a sexy topic, but it is ultimately what allowsthe nation—any nation—to prosper. And the U.S. is way behindon infrastructure spending, directing just 1.6 percent of its GrossDomestic Product toward projects that make the country moreefficient while reducing the potential of catastrophic failures. (The2011 replacement of lock gates at three dams on the Columbia-Snake River System was an infrastructure improvement with a nearly$50 million price tag). Infrastructure spending in the U.S. ranks the country24th out of 124 nations. Although that doesn’t put us in the back of the pack, we’renot in the lead, either. Although 66 percent of Americans believe funding transportationinfrastructure is either extremely or very important, 71 percent don’t wantto increase gas taxes to pay for it.Priorities, prioritiesAccording to statistics from the emergency disasters database, deaths caused byflooding, drought, heat waves and storms—including the effects of global warming—accountedfor 27,000 deaths per year from 1990 to 2007. Meanwhile, lack ofaccess to clean drinking water and sanitation kills almost three million people annually.Two million more die inhaling smoke from inefficient and dirty fuels such asdried animal dung. Another million die from the effects of outdoor air pollution. Inother words, for every global warming related death, at least 210 people die fromgood old fashion air and water pollution.Bucking the trendBASF has moved its research facilityto the U.S., and Monsanto has pulledout of many of its European locationsbecause of anti-GMO fervor inEurope. Bayer CropScience, however,is not following along, recently announcingthe establishment of theEuropean Wheat Breeding Center inGatersleben, Germany. The facility,which will employ 40 people, willinclude greenhouses and laboratories.Bayer, which boasts the missionstatement “Science for a betterlife,” invests $894 million worldwidein research and development ofcrop protection agents and seeds.It expects to increase that to morethan $1 billion by 2015, the sameyear its first new wheat varieties maybecome available. The company isalso developing a regional breedingstation for wheat in Lincoln, Neb. It isbeing headed by former Idaho wheatbreeder Ed Souza.What? Speak up.I can’t hear you!There are more voters over 65 thanare ages 18 to 29. That probably accountsfor the fact that sales of hearingaids are growing faster than salesof iPods.WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 59

EPORTS RWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONSquires to lead WGC into futureWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONBy Scott A. YatesThe more you learn about Glen Squires’ early life, hiseducation and work experience, the more you understandwhy the Washington Grain Commission (WGC)hired him to serve as the organization’s chief executiveofficer.Squires, whohas been with theWGC 19 years,grew up the sixthof seven childrenof Boyd andViola. Althoughhis father workedfull time asa printer inCenterville, Utah,he moonlightedas a farmer growingeverythingfrom hard redwheat and hayto apples andcherries.Unlike manyinvolved in thewheat industry’sexecutive or scientificpositionstoday, Squiresdidn’t learn aboutseeders, harrowsand cultivators from photographs in a book. He experiencedthem—and the hard work that accompanies theiruse—first hand.Cleaning wheat seed, bucking hay and raising livestockhelped mold Squires’ work ethic while impartinga sincere appreciation for those who help feed others.In high school, he helped start an FFA chapter whichsubsequently raised funds for a greenhouse studentsbuilt themselves. During his youth, he was also activelyinvolved in Boy Scouting, a pursuit he has continued asan adult leader for the last 33 years. He currently helpstrain other leaders in adventure and character developmentfor young people.After high school graduation Squires attended a communitycollege, earning an associate degree in transportation.That led to a job at a trucking company where hequickly rose to operations manager, supervising dozensof workers in five states. Along the way, he even hada stint as a long-haul driver himself, remembering thetriple trailers he pulled as “wiggle wagons” for the waythe third trailer swayed.While at the trucking firm, Squires married Charlotte,his wife of 29 years. The pair has five children. Only one,14-year-old Silvan who Squires refers to as a “duck farmer”for the birds he raises to sell eggs, remains at home.As much as Squires enjoyed his transportation job,he yearned to get back into agriculture. Although his60 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WGC REPORTS WLboss offered to let him continue towork while he went to school, hefelt he needed a clean break. So,with then two children and a wife,he quit his job and went to UtahState University full time. Threetough years later, he graduatedwith a double major in agriculturalbusiness and business administrationwith an emphasis in foodmarketing.He looked for work and quicklyconcluded he needed a master’sdegree to qualify for the type ofjob he was seeking. Several schoolspursued him, but it was a numberof calls from a professor atWashington State University thatcolored Squires crimson and madehim a Cougar.Ken Casavant, an agriculturaleconomist with a specialty in internationaltrade and transportation,became a mentor and good friend.Not only did he provide Squiresa great assistantship, he directedhim toward a thesis project thathighlighted his attention to detailwithin a Northwest policy issuethat had international tradeimplications.That thesis looked at the tradecompetition between the U.S. andCanadian pulse industries. Shortlybefore his graduation, he wascalled upon to testify before theInternational Trade Commission(ITC) in Washington, D.C., as partof an investigation into unfairCanadian practices. When hereturned to Pullman, his classmatescouldn’t comprehend how he couldbe so relaxed prior to his thesisdefense.“They didn’t understand that Idefended my thesis before the ITC.After that, what’s to be nervousabout?” he said.With his master’s degree in agriculturaleconomics with an emphasisin international trade, Squiresrenewed his job search. In themeantime, Casavant assigned himto a project funded by what was then the Washington Wheat Commission(WWC) looking into the influx of feed wheat coming into the state fromCanada. One thing led to another. Tom Mick, the CEO of the WWC, thought itwas time to have someone on staff with Squires’ talents. He was hired in 1993as director of project management and evaluation. The title was later changedto analyst and then to vice president.Tom Zwainz, chairman of the WGC, praised Squires, calling him essentialfor the smooth running of the organization.“We interviewed four individuals, and while each had the capacity to do thejob, Glen was the only one who brought the attention to detail and the visionrequired to lead the WGC into the changed world of wheat farming we willface in the future. His selection as CEO is recognition of his abilities in dealingwith the state regulations the WGC operates under, as well as the commission’sdesire to see an even closer working relationship with the WashingtonAssociation of Wheat Growers (WAWG),” he said.Under the current organizational structure, Squires will be responsible forWGC and WAWG staff and serve as leadership for both organizations. For hispart, Squires said although the WGC and WAWG have different responsibilities,it is imperative they work together for the betterment of the industry as awhole.“WAWG has an effective board and committee structure with growerscontributing their time and energy to issues that affect the industry, assistedby excellent staff. The WGC has a highly qualified board and excellent staffas well. I think in today’s market, there is an opportunity for an enhancedrole for the growers’ association to address the issues that arise out of wheatproduction such as regulation and state and federal farm policy.“There is also the opportunity for an expanded role at the commission inthe marketing arena. Wheat export competition is stiffer now than it has everbeen, and international companies really don’t care where their grain comesfrom. That’s why we at the commission have to care,” he said. “And we do.”WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 61

WLWGC REPORTSFrom Peshawar to PullmanWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONHard red spring, soft whitewinter will be focus of Dow’sNorthwest wheat breederIn a traditional culture likePakistan, Maqsood Rehman’s fatherdictated the direction of his son’scareer. As a good student with aninclination toward the sciences, theelder Rehman felt there could be nohigher calling than medicine for hissixth-born child. So, it was towardthat goal young Rehman beganstudying early in high school. Butthere was a hiccup. Out of 25,000students competing for 500 placesin the medical school, Rehman’sscore fell 25 points below the numberto achieve a merit scholarship.His father, a government employeefor a telecommunications company,with 10 children and a wife tosupport, didn’t have the resourcesto pay his son’s way to medicalschool. Suddenly, Rehman foundhimself free to pursue whateverprofession interested him withoutparental expectations. Which, tomake a long story short, is how the36 year old from Peshawar came tofind himself working in Pullman asDow AgroSciences’ (DAS) first U.S.-based wheat breeder.Rehman’s calling has followed anevolutionary arc. His undergraduatedegree in Pakistan focused onchemistry related to human nutritionand food sciences. Wantingto come to the U.S. to continue hisstudies, a friend told him abouthis brother-in-law’s good experienceat the University of Idaho (UI).Rehman applied, was accepted andfound a mentor in Bob Zemetra,who was then UI’s winter wheatbreeder and is now Oregon StateIt’s a bit incongruous to find corn growing in Dow AgroSciences wheat greenhouse outside ofPullman, but Maqsood Rehman’s goal is to use the plants to develop double haploids, which hebelieves can shave five years off the release timetable of new varieties.62 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WGC REPORTS WLUniversity’s wheat breeder.Although Rehman helped Zemetra inthe field during busy times of the year,he primarily spent his time in the lab.His master’s degree investigated geneflow from herbicide resistant (glyphosate)wheat to the weed goatgrass. WhenZemetra offered him a Ph.D. position, itwas pursuing the same project, but withmore objectives. He enjoyed the work andhis peripheral involvement in agriculture,but as a young academic, he also understoodit was important to be practicalwhen it came to funding and all-importantresearch assistantships.“I ended up with Bob because he hada project, but I was more of a lab rat. Atthe time, I didn’t know if I wanted to be abreeder,” Rehman said.Then came the epiphany. Part of theprocess of Rehman earning his Ph.D.involved reviewing everything he hadlearned during his academic career. Fromhis chemistry background to his workin genetics to planting and harvestingwith Zemetra, he suddenly realized thediversity of his experience pointed in onedirection.“I wanted to be a plant breeder,” hesaid.It would be a few more years, however,before he would become a wheat breeder.First, he accepted a post doctorate positionat Columbia University working onthe evolutionary genetics of canola. Then,Monsanto hired him as a soybean breederbased in Oxford, Ind. He was there forfive years when DAS called. He returnedto the Northwest last January.“It was a brilliant opportunity for me,”he said.DAS purchased Cal Konzak’sNorthwest Plant Breeders facility locatedwithin sight of Washington StateUniversity’s dairy facility and not farfrom its hog operation. Konzak, who hadserved as a spring wheat breeder at WSU,built the facility upon his retirement andworked extensively on first generationClearfield varieties. He wound down(Above) Dow AgroSciences islocated in a facility originally builtby Washington State Universitywheat breeder Cal Konzak after heretired. Rehman said the NorthwestPlant Breeder’s operation is theperfect setup for breeding whichwill concentrate on developingnew hard red spring and soft whitevarieties, without ruling out anyclasses grown in the Northwest.(Left) In an otherwise Spartan office,Rehman makes room for artwork byhis eight-year-old daughter, Safia.his involvement about eight years ago, and his greenhouses and officespace had been on the market for some time when DAS scooped it up.The day Scott Yates, director of communications for the WashingtonGrain Commission, came to interview Rehman, the facility was in ahubbub. New flooring was being installed in the office and lab space,and all the furniture and equipment was being moved out. After a fewphotos, Rehman and Yates departed for a coffee shop in Pullman.WGC: You don’t have a lot of direct experience in wheat breeding.Does your experience outside the discipline help or hinder?Rehman: From the beginning of my experiences at UI, I have beenrubbing up against wheat breeding, although at first I didn’t realizehow complicated it could be. Certainly, working with Monsanto insoybean breeding imparted a tremendous amount of knowledge. Selfpollinatingcrops like soybean and wheat are pretty similar in that themethods and technology don’t change much. Gaining experience insoybean breeding gave me a tremendous amount of knowledge in whatI need to do in order to have genetic gain in wheat.WGC: What classes of wheat do you plan to focus on?WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 63

WLWGC REPORTSWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONMackenzie Ellison, a research biologist at the Pullman facility, plants a winter crossing block in the greenhouse. Rehman has germplasm obtained fromuniversities as part of plant material transfer agreements, germplasm that was part of Konzak’s research program and germplasm from backgrounddeveloped by Dow AgroSciences.Rehman: My major focus will be on hard red springand soft white winter wheat. But that doesn’t mean wewill be limited. Ultimately, our efforts will be drivenby what farmers want. If farmers want more hard redspring, we will focus more effort on that class. We arealso looking into hard whites, although right now, farmersare anxious about planting the class because thelogistics aren’t there. I believe once the big players put astrategy in place and convince millers and grain handlersto accept it, farmers will plant it, and the acreage forhard whites will improve. In my opinion, there needs tobe a good business plan for hard white wheat that isn’tthere yet.WGC: WSU recently started a double haploid program.Other private companies are also using the technology.What about you?Rehman: It is a great technology, especially for winterwheat, as a way to go for a fast breeding cycle. It canreduce the time to release by as much as five years. It isa challenge, however, because the efficiency—that is, thenumber of double haploids you can produce in a year—is pretty low, less than 10 percent. Most of the maizeby wheat embryos don’t germinate, and when they do,many don’t make it to double. It takes a lot of effort, spaceand people. That said, we have good space in the greenhouseand growth chambers so it won’t be very hard forme to get started.WGC: Dow’s the new boy on the block in theNorthwest. Where are you getting the germplasm tocross with?Rehman: First, we got a tremendous amount ofgermplasm as part of the purchase of Northwest PlantBreeders, really amazing germplasm that I’m now inthe process of testing for disease resistance and quality.We also have the opportunity to make material transferagreements with universities, as we have done withboth UI and WSU. Finally, we have access to germplasmfrom Hyland Seeds, a subsidiary of DAS that is based inCanada. As you know, Dow is basically a chemical company,and DAS is a subsidiary. It has great germplasm forcorn and soybean and pretty good for cotton. They arealso working on many other crops, but are just now steppinginto wheat. I’m obliged to be one of the pioneers inwheat breeding for them. We are the guinea pigs.WGC: When do you expect to release your firstvariety?Rehman: In four or five years, hopefully.WGC: What about GMOs? Will you be using geneticengineering as part of your breeding program?Rehman: If there is an interest, yes. With our trait64 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WGC REPORTS WLdiscovery capabilities, DAS will continue to evaluateutilizing this technology in wheat as with other crops. Inaddition, DAS will continue to monitor the regulatoryand public affairs position on GM wheat. We are optimisticwe will see more acceptance in the future.WGC: What does that mean: “If there is an interest”?Rehman: The biggest challenge is public acceptance.I personally think there are a lot of opportunities forGMOs. The major issue is resistance at the public level.I personally believe the future is in genetic engineering.Who is going to feed nine billion people? And thenthere’s the challenge we face in terms of global climatechange. Under the circumstances, I think GMOs aregoing to play a major role in wheat. Right now, however,my whole program is completely conventional, and myrole is to exploit the germplasm we have from Konzak’sprogram and the germplasm that is publicly available. Tobe honest, I don’t know what Dow’s plans are for geneticallymodified wheat, but I know we certainly have thetechnology, and if it comes to the point that geneticallymodified wheat is needed, I’m pretty sure Dow will beone of the players.WGC: Konzak was one of the pioneers in using mutagenesisto breed non-GMO herbicide resistant wheat.Will you be pursuing mutagenesis?Rehman: DAS will focus on the best way to achieveproduct or breeding goals. We do have capabilities to domutagenesis, and if it makes sense in the future to utilizethis tool, we will. Today, I don’t plan on doing any mutagenesisin Pullman.WGC: What’s your philosophy on quality?Rehman: Farmers want yield. That’s why Stephens,which was released in 1977, is still on the market.Evidently, it has some sort of quality that is being used,and there have been no complaints. The same is true forXerpha, because for farmers, quality doesn’t matter asmuch as yield. Quality will be an important factor in mybreeding efforts, but you can’t ignore yield.WGC: What is your staffing in Pullman?Rehman: Thomas Koehler is the associate breeder.He used to work for Bob Zemetra. Mackenzie Ellison,who also worked with Bob, is research biologist, andShari Hopkins is the office professional. My goal is todefinitely expand the group. I would like to have fivefull-time technicians working for me, with one dedicatedto double haploid duty only.WGC: Why did Dow choose the Northwest?Rehman: The area of Washington, Idaho and Oregonis a big region where wheat is the major crop. Specificallychoosing Pullman is because of the presence of theUniversity of Idaho and Washington State University.There’s a large breeding community here. Plus, thereis another factor: Pacific Northwest farmers plant a lotof certified seed. From a business perspective, Dow feltthere was an opportunity to locate here.WGC: My experience of the breeding community isthat they are extremely competitive and are not exactlygoing to aid their competitors. Your thoughts?Rehman: In my opinion, it’s good to have a healthycompetition. Certainly, it’s good for the wheat crop.Really, everybody knows everybody in the wheat communityhere. I have personal connections to many. Ofcourse, there’s Bob Zemetra at Oregon and (ARS breederand geneticist) Kim Campbell was on my Ph.D. committee.(WSU winter wheat breeder) Arron Carter was doinghis masters at UI while I was doing my Ph.D. There’s agreat opportunity, in my opinion, for all the wheat breedersfrom across the different private and public organizationsto sit down and talk. It’s not about ego or rivalry orcompetition. It’s about knowledge, especially knowledgeof our unique environment.WGC: Corn acres are expanding. Kansas now growsmore corn than wheat. Are you worried about the futureof wheat?Rehman: At an industrial level, wheat has beenignored. I think it is great news for the crop that thebig players—Bayer, Monsanto, Syngenta, Limagrainand now Dow—are investing in the crop. As someonewho has worked in the corporate environment, I knowthese organizations have state-of-the-art technology thatcan certainly benefit genetic gain for wheat in the nearfuture. Dow might be the newest player in the U.S., but Iassure you they are serious and have the technology andthe resources to make a difference.WGC: Why now?Rehman: Dow already has a presence here in termsof chemistry, and when you combine the genetics of thecrop with the chemistry, it is just a good business deal.I think one of the major reasons Dow entered into thewheat business is because of the global demand and thehuge business opportunity that represents. And it wasn’tjust Dow that ignored wheat for 40 years.WGC: You mentioned five private companies. Thatbrings to mind the phrase: winners and losers.Rehman: In a test plot, there is always a winner,something that gives you an edge or is unique. But itcomes down to the business team to market it, and theywill always have something to market. One way or another,it works out for everybody. This is not the first timeall these companies have been in the market together.WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 65

WLWGC REPORTSA tour to rememberWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSION“I’d ski it, but I wouldn’t farm it,” is how oneOklahoma farmer reacted to passing a steep hillside coveredin wheat not far from Randy Suess’ Colfax farm.Two busloads of farmers and their spouses from adozen wheat-growing states across the nation madesimilar comments during a 12-hour tour of the Palousethat Suess, who has served as chairman of U.S. WheatAssociates (USW) for the last year, organized followingthe group’s summer board meeting. Held at theDavenport Hotel in Spokane July 6-8, the meetingcovered a range of export-oriented topics includingbiotechnology, phytosanitary requirements, the future ofthe hard white wheat class, quality concerns and targetsand strategies for communicating the wheat farmers’message.For many of those who attended the meeting, however,it was the tour of the Palouse—a place most had heardabout, but never seen—that was the highlight of theirtrip west. Thanks to the support of sponsors like TheMcGregor Co., Northwest Farm Credit Services, BayerCrop Science, BNSF and Syngenta, Suess was not onlyable to introduce the “flatlanders” to the region’s uniquefarming environment, he also gave them a close-up viewof Northwest river issues.Jay Reuben of PNW Farmers Cooperative talked aboutthe river system as an essential transportation corridor,and Ben Feider of the Corps of Engineers explained damoperations and the success story behind juvenile fishpassage. The importance of the Snake River as a multiusecorridor was driven home by a jet boat ride whichincluded being locked through the Lower Granite Dam.Suess, who turned over his chairmanship of USW atthe conclusion of the summer meeting, was pleased byhow well the four days went.“People were amazed by the Davenport Hotel. Thestaff was excellent, the meals were superb, and the fact itwas in the center of downtown was enjoyed by all. Thetour was the cherry on top of the sundae. I had been worryingabout 100 degree temperatures, but cloudy weathersaved us from the worst,” he said. “All in all, it was aheck of a way to end my tenure as USW chairman.”The summer board meeting of U.S. Wheat Associates held in Spokane covered anarray of serious subjects, but once the meetings were over, it was a fun-for-all event.There was the Hawaiian-themed dinner that saw Tom Mick, recently retired fromthe Washington Grain Commission, share a laugh with Alan Tracy, president of USW.There was a tour of the Palouse which introduced a large contingent from Oklahoma(above) and 70 others to the Snake River and included a jet boat ride through thelock at Lower Granite Dam.66 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WGC REPORTS WLWith Randy Suess, chairman of USW, standing by his side and Steve Mercer, director ofcommunications at USW, taking a photograph, Alex McGregor, president of The McGregorCo., provided participants on the Palouse tour a history of the region from the top ofSteptoe Butte.The trip to the top of Steptoe Butte was not without a hiccup. The driver cut a cornertoo close and damaged a tire. Never fear; Suess was on his phone to Les Schwab, and areplacement tire was mounted while participants got a first-hand look at Suess’ farmingoperation.Josh and Julia Debes used the backdrop of the Palouseto take a photograph on their phone from the top ofSteptoe Butte. Julia is the communication specialist withUSW and a farm girl from Kansas. Josh is a captain in theAir Force who plans to return to farming when he leavesthe service.WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSION(Above) You might think wheat farmers would yawnupon seeing another combine, but most farmers don’thave the hydraulic leveling system that makes farmingin the Palouse so unique, and photographs of Suess’machine were a must. (Left) At the end of a long dayof touring, farmers and their wives queued up at thePalouse Falls Brewing Co. in Pullman to irrigate theirparched throats.WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 67

WLWGC REPORTSQuality firstWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONlab TOUR DEEPENS INDUSTRY UNDERSTANDING OF whEATBy Scott A. YatesIndividuals involved in the wheat industry may thinkthey know a fair bit about the crop they grow, marketor bake with, but a five-hour tour of the Western WheatQuality Lab (WWQL) convinces most of them that whiletheir knowledge is broad, it’s also pretty shallow.Growers who have taken part in the Washington GrainCommission-sponsored WWQL tour since the eventbegan in 2000, understand the feeling of discovery thatoccurs when one of the lab’s researchers focuses on theirobscure, but vital area of expertise. Phrases like polyphenoloxidase (PPO), which refers to a genetic trait that letswheat noodles remain a vibrant color rather than turndull grey or flour swell volume which promotes superiorudon noodle properties, are as important to today’swheat industry as yield or disease resistance.You might expect that individuals involved in specificend use, marketing or baking activities have a leg upover farmers who concentrate on agronomic details ofthe crop. But a tour organized this year for the industry’sancillary personnel revealed there is no such thing as aRenaissance man (or woman). When it comes to wheat,there is always more to know.Marvin Clinesmith, assistant manager at AlmiraFarmers Warehouse Co. and a participant in the GatewayMilling effort which seeks to add value to the club wheatgrown in his area, said he was impressed by the sophisticationof the research being conducted at the WWQL.He was especially interested in the tests which allowscientists to weed out unacceptable wheat crosses longbefore they clog up the breeding pipeline.“I found the genetic marker information and howresearchers can associate certain markers with specificWhen it comes to noodles, color is an extremely important component of why buyers purchase various wheat classes. Shelle Lenssen, a technician atthe Western Wheat Quality Lab shows (from left) Todd Bodeau and Aimee McKay of Gateway Milling and Fred Fleming of Shepherd’s Grain how variouswheats perform in a color test.68 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WGC REPORTS WLWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSION(Top) Charles Gross, a member of the Hutterian Brethren who grows forShepherd’s Grain, and Kelly Blume, a marketing specialist with the companyin Boise, look on as WWQL technician Janet Luna holds out a small vialcontaining a strand of wheat DNA. In the background, Brian Beecher, an ARSresearch chemist, looks on. (Above) Under the direction of technician ShelleLenssen, Todd Bodeau of Gateway Milling prepares a wheat sample formixing. (Left) Doug Engle, food technologist at the WWQL discusses millingtechniques with Marvin Clinesmith, assistant manager at Almira FarmersWarehouse Co., during one of the stops on the WWQL tour.WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 69

WLWGC REPORTSWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONByung-Kee Baik, an associate professor in cereal chemistry, explains the finer points of wheat qualityto (from left) Mitch Sorenson of Gateway Milling, Karl Kupers of Shepherd’s Grain and Jim House ofFranz Bakery in Spokane.traits that are either productive for the farmer or address quality concernsfascinating,” he said. “It was a great experience.”For Jim House, branch manager of Franz Bakery in Spokane, the discoverythat an establishment like the WWQL exists was an eye opener.“I think it will be a good training tool for the people who work for our company,especially as it addressed the issues growers face with the grain theygrow as well as why we use the grain we use,” he said.Although House has been involved in the bread industry for years, he didn’treally appreciate the importance of the six different classes of wheat grown inthe U.S. nor what determined those classes. He also didn’t understand howweather affects grain and how an arid climate can create protein in the hardclasses.“The knowledge I gained won’t specifically change the way I do business,but we field a lot of questions at the retail level dealing with schools andrestaurants. I certainly feel more informed, and that will help me do my jobbetter,” he said.Austin Allen who works for Rhizoterra, an agri-consulting firm based inMontana, said understanding how quality is rated and measured will providehim a better set of tools to help farmers understand exactly what they need toobtain from their crop.“The biggest thing for me was learning what types of wheat classes and varietiesthere are and their properties, as well as the chemistry behind the teststo look at grain quality,” he said.Debbie Danekas, Northwest regional marketing manager for Shepherd’sGrain, said she can imagine using the WWQL as a resource to help her answerpotential customers’ questions.“All the information that is there is something I could definitely benefitfrom,” she said. “I was aware ofthe types of wheat varieties thatare available, but not the qualitiesof the varieties. Wheat quality ishuge,” she said. “I know I’ll be talkingmore about the Western WheatQuality Lab and the extensiveprogram they have.”Mel Darbyshire, head baker atGrand Central Baking in Seattle,agreed with Danekas that while theinformation presented during thetour was valuable, what may trumpthe experience itself are the relationshipsestablished with WWQLresearchers.“Being able to shoot someone anemail to ask something specific isreally valuable to the end user,” shesaid.One area she would like moreinformation on is the differencebetween a protein number andprotein quality.“Getting mills to talk about thequality of protein as much as thequantity of protein is an importantelement for us,” she said.Doug Engle, food technologist atthe WWQL, helped organize thetour for the industry personnel. Hesaid the tone of the group differedfrom growers’ tours which havebeen coming to the lab for the lastdozen years.“We got more questions fromthe industry side. People who haveworked with wheat and flour knowfrom a baking sense what wheatdoes, but from a scientific sense,they don’t know why it does whatit does. There were lots of conversationsand interest in wheat qualityand testing and the genetics behindit,” he said, adding that it was difficultto get the groups to move onfrom one stop to the next.Engle said he’s already thinkingabout how to improve industryparticipation in the future, includingthe possibility of conductingexperimental baking sessions.70 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WGC REPORTS WLStructureTendernessCrumb15ColorRise6350ºBuilding a better sponge cake testBy Byung-Kee BaikA sweet-flavored confectionserved in Japan, Koreaand other Asian countries,sponge cakes are commonlycreated from three ingredients:flour, eggs and sugar.No leavening agents areused.Of the ingredients, flouris arguably the most criticalcomponent. That’s becausethe finer the flour particle,the better the quality of the produced sponge cake. Andfine flour is made from the softest soft white and clubwheat varieties grown in Eastern Washington. That’swhy it’s so important to have an accurate and rapid testthat can determine how wheat lines in the breedingpipeline will perform in sponge cakes.For the last two years, the Washington GrainCommission has supported my study, “The Sponge CakeBaking Test Improvement Project.” The goal of the researchis to replace the time-consuming, repetitive job ofbaking hundreds of sponge cakes a year with a processthat requires less human involvement while still providingreliable data on the end-use quality potential of softwhite and club wheat breeding lines.The current sponge cake baking test was developed by20Japanese researchers and adopted as an accepted standardby the U.S. in the 1970s. Since then, it has served asthe ultimate end-use quality test not just for soft whiteand club wheat destined for Japan, but for many otherAsian countries. The complicated test requires extensivebaking skills and experience to conduct. And this createsa hurdle to meet the demands of breeding programswhich are turning out an increasing number of advancedsoft white and club wheat lines.For those who are unfamiliar with the Japanesesponge cake, the American angel food cake is a variation.Egg whites for the angel food cake and whole eggsfor the Japanese sponge cake are whipped with sugar tocreate a well-aerated structure called a sponge. The light,creamy sponge is then gently folded with flour withminimum breakage of foam to create a batter, and thenit’s baked into cake. The volume of sponge cake comesfrom the denatured egg protein foam and the expansionof air bubbles. Tender and sweet, the confection meltsaway in your mouth without leaving a trace.To achieve this level of tenderness requires creamylightegg foam and super fine, pure flour containingminimum protein and no bran particles. Scientists mustbecome experienced in culinary skills to prepare thecreamy, smooth egg foam of just the right density andthen blend it gently with the wheat flour with minimumbreakage of the foam.Sponge cake quality parameters such as volume,WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 71

WLWGC REPORTSWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONVolume of sponge cake made from flour fractionsof different particle size separated by sievingCake Volume (mL)1600140012001000800600> 88 m 55-88 m < 55 mSC std flour Eltan ORCF102 Cara Darwin SilverUse of dry egg powder or frozen eggin replacement of fresh eggs in sponge cake baking testcrumb grain fineness and texturerespond sensitively to small changesin wheat flour characteristics. As aresult, any soft wheat flour that performswell for making sponge cakeeasily satisfies the end-use needs forother confectionery products. Thisexplains why sponge cake baking iswidely accepted as the primary standard-qualitytest of soft white wheatdestined for many Asian markets.Our goal throughout the spongecake project, has been to simplify thecurrent baking test procedure whileincreasing reliability and boostingthroughput. In the improved procedure,egg foam is whipped withoutadditional heat input and with aone-time water addition. Using thisapproach, we were able to develop acontinuous, mechanized sponge cakebaking test procedure in contrast tothe conventional batch procedure.Our successful effort means theWestern Wheat Quality Lab of theAgricultural Research Service andWashington State University’s WheatQuality Program will implement thenew sponge cake baking test procedureto evaluate soft white and clubwheat breeding lines starting thiscrop year.The new procedure yielded compa-Sponge Cake Volume (mL)140012001000800600Sponge Cake Std. Brundage 96Bz6m060-1001Fresh EggDry Egg Powder140012001000800600Sponge Cake Std.ID599Fresh EggID9364901AID644Frozen Egg72 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

WGC REPORTS WL(Above) The box containing a sponge cake conjures up Paris, but in all likelihood, theproduct inside was made from soft white wheat from the Northwest. (Top right) The textureof a sponge cake can be considered just as important as the taste. (Right) KitchenAid mixerspurchased for use in the improved sponge cake baking.rable volume and crumb structure of sponge cake to thecurrent standard. The simplicity of the new procedureover the conventional approach also means there is noneed for extensive training or experience. With the newprocedure, we will be able to test an increased number ofsoft white and club wheat breeding lines for their spongecake baking potential.Further improvement of the procedure is possible. Forinstance, we tested the possibility of replacing fresh eggswith dried egg powder and or frozen eggs. Even thoughthe use of dried egg powder resulted in a decrease insponge cake volume, clear differentiation of wheat floursof different sponge cake baking potential was possible.Frozen eggs, meanwhile, perform quite similarly to fresheggs in making sponge cake. We believe using driedegg powder or frozen eggs in sponge cake baking willfurther simplify the testing procedure and also eliminatequality variation that may occur when using fresh eggs.We further investigated the development of a nonbakingtest of soft white and club wheat for sponge cakebaking using a measurement of flow viscosity of theflour-water batter as a predictor of quality. This quicktest revealed a significant relationship with sponge cakevolume, which could be used as an effective and reliablescreening test of early generation breeding lines.Why some soft white and club wheat flours performbetter in sponge cake baking than others is largely afunction of flour particle size. This clearly demonstrateshow crucial low grain hardness is in breeding soft andclub wheat varieties. The lower the grain hardness of thewheat is, the finer the flour particle, and thus the betterthe quality of the sponge cake.The starch property of wheat flour is another aspect requiringattention. Our study has shown the starch foundin partial waxy or waxy wheat negatively affects spongecake quality due to its relatively low amylose (one oftwo components of starch) content. Presently, there areseveral soft white varieties of partial waxy traits suchas Altruas, Whit and Cataldo in production. Althoughthere has been no concern expressed over sponge cakebaking performance, further study may be necessary toknow at exactly what level low starch amylose content isacceptable.For now, however, the new testing procedure forsponge cakes simplifies the process and increases efficiencywhile allowing breeders to know as quickly aspossible whether the lines they are advancing providethe moist, tender texture and light taste so important toour Asian customers.WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 73

WIDE WORLD OF WHEATWASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSION“It is time for us to take Nigeria to where it is supposedto be. Somehow, we have been busy chasing oil wealth, butturning to agriculture will make us realize our full potential,”said Nigerian Minister of Water Resources Sarah Ochekpe.A country of 140 million people, Nigeria has 74 millionhectares of arable land, less than half of it is being farmed.Although the large African nation has been a phenomenalcustomer of U.S. wheat for the last several years, taking3.2 million metric tons (mmt) in 2011/12, the drain on thecountry’s treasury has not gone unnoticed. Cassava, a rootcrop, is being touted as the alternative to wheat. The governmentrecently awarded contracts for the construction of18 cassava flour processors capable of producing 1.3 mmtof cassava flour to be mixed in a blend of up to 40 percentwith wheat flour. The government, meanwhile, is extollingthe health benefits of cassava as opposed to wheat. “Whitewheat bread is actually bad for health. By including cassavaflour in bread, we will be improving the health benefitof bread we eat,” said Ignatius Onimawa, president of theNutrition Society of Nigeria.Growers in Canada who looked forward to the demiseof the Canadian Wheat Board, believing its absence wouldallow them to obtain higher prices for their product, maybe in for a shock. A European pasta company executive ispredicting the price of durum will decline with the end ofthe CWB monopoly. Under the single-desk system, the CWBcontrolled all of the stocks coming out of Western Canada,or half of the export supply of durum worldwide. The endof the monopoly, said Emilio Ferrari, head buyer for Barillapasta, will mean more sellers competing for his business.Seven hundred miles of rail used to transport grain fromWestern Australia’s wheat belt to ports on the coastare slated to be closed in 2014. The government has decidedit is no longer cost effective to continue operating the line,opting for road haulage instead. But an opposition spokesmansaid the move will put more pressure on road networksin the wheat belt itself and in the Perth metropolitan area.“It’s a whole lot easier if the government had put the moneyinto them, and we’ve stressed all along that it would becheaper to fix up the railway line than to fix up the roads. Infact, it would probably cost a quarter of what they wouldhave to put into the roads,” said Bill Cowan, the WesternAustralia Farmers transport spokesman.Forty-two percent of India’s children are malnourished,and yet millions of tons of wheat are rotting. Some arecalling the predicament a national embarrassment and arepointing to a law passed in the 1980s stipulating that 100percent of the annual wheat and rice crop must be packedin jute bags (gunny sacks) as part of the reason. The law waspassed to secure the jobs of 250,000 jute factory workersand five million Indian farmers who grow the tall jute plantagainst competition from cheaper plastic sacking. AgingBritish-era jute manufacturing machinery and labor strikeshave made it hard for the industry to keep up with India’swheat crop, which has risen 82 percent since 1990 to 90.8mmt in 2012. Although the government promised to modernizeits wheat procurement system this year, the lack ofjute bags has caused the entire process to fall apart.France won’trepeat as theworld’s secondlargestwheatexporter after theU.S. this year. Thecountry’s exportsare being hit witha double whammy. First, aspring drought curbed supplies,but exports are also decliningon competition from Russiaand Ukraine, especially intoEgypt. The main non-EU destinationfor French soft wheat this yearwill be Algeria with 3.3 mmt andMorocco with 1.5 mmt. Deliveries toEgypt are expected to slump to 400,000tons from 2.3 mmt in 2010/11.Researchers in Denmark are studyingwhether ozone can replace traditionalinsecticides used against insectsin stored grain. Lise Stengard Hansenat the Department of Agroecology atAarhus University, is investigating theeffectiveness of using ozone in gas-tightsilos against insects in various stages ofdevelopment. Although ozone rapidlydecays into oxygen and becomes harmless,by itself, it is a hazardous gas. It does not,however, appear to have any adverse effects on grain orthe environment. Unlike pesticides, ozone can be producedon-site by means of an electrical high voltage process anda special machine. Although a low rate of ozone (25 ppm)is necessary to kill adult insects, a much higher dose (135ppm) is required to kill the insect stages that live inside grainkernels.NICARAGUAARGENTINA74 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

BRITAINDENMARKFRANCEBRITAINDENMARKSAUDI ARABIAIRANCHINAFRANCEINDIANIGERIAIRANCHINAOfficials from the Indian state of Madhya Pradeshare looking at a visit by a delegation from Iranas a “God-send opportunity.” The Iranians werechecking on wheat quality. Madhya Pradeshhad a phenomenal harvest, but a lack of storagemeans a huge stock is laying in the open. Iran,which is under sanctions for its nuclear program,needs the wheat not only to feed its people, butto feed its livestock.China will import its first organic wheat froma Wyoming farm this fall. The 20,000-30,000bushels of wheat will be turned into high-endbaby food. Clint Jessen, who farms 18,000acres, said he believes his operation was chosenbecause of its large size and the fact the Chinesewanted to certify just one large farm, rather thana number of smaller ones. Last year, Chineseorganic food sales reached $472 million, butthe country only imported $20 million worthin 2009, the last year for which data is available.Chinese standards for organic food aresimilar to U.S. rules: no prohibited pesticides, nogenetically modified organisms and no syntheticfertilizers.There’s nothing quite like a government imposingexport controls over an agricultural commodityto bring out farmers’ fighting spirit.Argentina is the world’s sixth-largestwheat exporter and a key supplier to Brazil. Butfarmers are planting less wheat due to complaintsabout the government’s export quotasystem, set this year at 6 mmt. In the past, thegovernment had authorized smaller quantities,seeking to guarantee cheap and plentifulsupplies in the local market. Farmers say the gov-NIGERIASAUDI ARABIAernment action has depressed wheat prices so they’ve begun plantingINDIAmore barley and canola. They also recently staged a one-week, nationwidehalt to grain sales to protest higher taxes. “Something is going verywrong in Argentina’s farms, which is why we’re sending this wake-upcall,” said Eduardo Buzzi, head of the Argentine Agrarian Federation.AUSTRALIA“We’re in bad shape, and things are getting worse.” It’s expected farmerswill plant 9.4 million acres of wheat this year, which is a 17 percentdecrease from last year.Saudi ARABIA, which abandoned efforts in 2008 to becomewheat self-sufficient because the effort was draining its aquifers, hasbeen importing hard wheat, but announced recently it may begin importingsoft wheat. The country is studying consumer demand to assessthe need for soft wheat which is suited for products like cookies. “Someof the industries in Saudi Arabia need soft wheat,” said Waleed el-Khereiji,director general of the Grain Silos & Flour Mills Organization. “We aredoing a study of the demand for soft wheat in Saudi Arabia, and accordingto that, we will gradually import soft wheat. The biggest suppliersof wheat to Saudi Arabia last year were the EU (mostly Germany), 36percent; Canada, 26 percent; U.S., 14 percent; and Australia, 12 percent.A group of environmentalists in Britain with the name “Take theFlour Back” attempted to gain access to a field of wheat geneticallyengineered to deter aphids, but were turned away by police. The experimentalcrop produces a chemical scent aphids don’t like. The goal ofthe research is to see if a strategy can be devised which avoids the useof pesticides. The Take Back the Flour contingent said the open-air trialposes a serious threat of contamination to the local environment andthe U.K. wheat industry. Although their effort to rip the crop out was unsuccessful,anti-GM protesters did the next best thing. They took downthe Rothamsted Research Institute website from Sunday afternoon untilMonday morning.Nicaragua is on the receiving end of 100,000 tons of wheat comingin the form of humanitarian aid from Russia. The donation, which isworth about $35 million, will be milled and turned into bread with thehelp of specialists from Cuba who have experience in manufacturingflour and baking bread from Russian wheat. Nicaragua is the largestcountry in the Central American isthmus.WASHINGTON GRAIN COMMISSIONAUSTRALIAWHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 75

WLFEATURELaCrosse, Wash.By Trista CrossleyLike many rural towns in Eastern Washington, LaCrosse had fallen on hard times. A town that onceboasted of having more than 30 businesses, including a law firm, several billiard parlors, a theater, acar dealership and a café, was now down to just a handful. Then in 2009 the final straws fell: the onlygrocery store in town closed, followed by the bank in 2011.For most people, driving 30 miles one way to get to a full-service grocery store is unthinkable. For thepeople who live in LaCrosse, it became a part of life. Throw a steadily declining population into the mix,and the town seemed destined to slowly fade away.Then the nonprofit group LaCrosse Community Pride (LCP) stepped in, determined to bring life backto this small farming town nestled in the green and gold hills of the Palouse, 50 miles west of Pullmanoff of Hwy 26. Their first goal? Get a bank and grocery store back in town. Now, after several years ofwork, they are close to achieving those goals. Sterling Bank opened its doors for business in July, andrestoration work is almost done on the building across the street that will house the grocery store.“All of us have a real commitment and love for LaCrosse and the history there,” said RandyMyklebust, one of the LCP board members. “There are a lot of roots that go way back.”The LCP came together in early 2010, and is made up of 11 people from around the region. They wereThe Little Town That CouldUsing donations, grants and volunteer work, the LaCrosse Community Pride group gutted the old mercantile building, updated the plumbing and electricalsystems and installed new windows. Eventually, stained glass will be installed along the front of the building, in the top row of windows. Besides a grocerystore, the building will house the local library branch, a community center, a high school business incubator and several medical offices.76 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

FEATURE WLoriginally going to restore a different building,a former hardware store, but that structureburned down. According to Myklebust,a suggestion was made to restore the oldmercantile building instead and turn it into acenterpiece of the community. That building,built in 1915, was designed by William Swain,a Pullman architect who also designed brickbuildings in Hooper and Pullman. In fact,Myklebust’s grandfather owned the mercantilestore at one time. The building wassubsequently purchased by area residentsAlex McGregor and Judy Harder and donatedto the LCP.“I had some pictures, and we decided togo back as close to the original period as wecould,” Myklebust said. “The focus of thebuilding is going to be a grocery store, withmost of the space going there. But we willalso have a community center, a public library,DECA, which is a high school businessincubator, and a chiropractor. We are hopingto get a physician or a nurse practitioner inthere as well.”The restoration work has been fundedby donations, grants and volunteer work.The building was gutted and re-insulated.Plumbing and electrical systems were upgraded,windows were replaced and the roofwas repaired. The entire community pitchedin, preparing meals for clean-up crews, haulingaway garbage and purchasing tiles to helpfund the work. And have they found anythinginteresting?“No bodies or money, but there are alwaysissues,” Myklebust laughed. He pointed outthat none of the progress would have beenpossible without the community’s support. “Ithink the community is catching the vision ofnot only what LaCrosse used to be, but whatLaCrosse can be.”Another LCP board member and LaCrosseresident, Lois Startin, agreed.“I grew up here, and so I wanted to giveback to the community,” she said. “In order toSeventy years ago, the LaCrosse mercantile was more than just agrocery store as shown in these 1931 photos. Randy Myklebust’sgrandfather, T. A. Myklebust, owned the mercantile store formore than 20 years. In addition, T.A. Myklebust also served asthe mayor and postmaster of LaCrosse in that same time period.Photos courtesy of the Myklebust family.WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012 77

WLFEATURE(Right) On the right side of thebuilding will be the open areacommunity center and the localbranch of the Whitman Countylibrary (large opening in theback). The alcove looking outon the community center spacewill be for DECA, a high schoolbusiness incubator. The doorin the far back leads to storage.(Bottom) The left side of thebuilding will house the grocerystore. In the background is thestore’s original lift used to movegoods and people from one floorto another.keep the older community here and bring inkids, we have to have a grocery store.”Carol Audet said she got involved in theLCP after watching the town slowly shutdown. “This community took me in andhelped me raise my family. This store wasa place for people to meet and talk. It wasmore than just a grocery store.”While there is still some work to be doneon the building, the group is searching forsomeone to come in and take over runningthe grocery store. They point to the advantagesof living in a rural community that hasa top-rated educational system.“What do we have that cities don’t?” askedStartin at a recent LCP board meeting. “Noshootings, no stabbings, no murders.”“People don’t slip through the crackshere,” said Scooter Lyle, another LCP boardmember. “We take care of each other.”School Superintendent Gary Wargo, also aLCP board member, said one of the reasonsthat 100 percent of their kids graduate highschool is because the class size is small andteachers are able to provide lots of individualizedattention to kids who need it. Goodteachers, he said, tend to stay instead of leavingafter a few years. Wargo also feels thatrestoring the grocery store and the adjoining78 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

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WLFEATUREcommunity space is important to theyouth in the community.“It will give them a place to comeon a night when there is no football orbasketball game. Right now, they can’twalk downtown to get a soda. Those arethings that city people take for granted.”“I’ve talked to a number of youngpeople, and they would love to comeback to LaCrosse if there is an opportunityhere,” said Myklebust. “What weare trying to do is create those opportunities.I think that small towns are oneof the greatest untapped resources thatwe have. We just need to create opportunitiesfor young families to come backand experience that small town life.”“We want to see this community stay strong,” said LCPboard member Alex McGregor. “Ag and rural communitiesare places where handshakes still matter.”The LCP is also trying to get the agricultural communityinvolved in restoring LaCrosse. They’ve startedthe Great Grain Exchange, a program where farmers candonate grain to the group to help fund the mercantilebuilding restoration as well as future projects. For morePhoto COURTESY OF lOIS STARTINThe mercantile building last housed LaCrosse’s only grocery store. That store closed in 2009, leavingresidents a 60-mile drive to the nearest full-service grocery store.information on the Great Grain Exchange call Jeff Andrusat (509) 549-3264, Randy Myklebust at (509) 758-7221 orTedd Nealey at (509) 657-3396. For more information on theLCP, contact Lois Startin at (509) 549-3543 or mail them atLaCrosse Community Pride, P.O. Box 321, LaCrosse, WA,99143.“This is not only the restoration of a grocery store,but the entire town. It is a constellation of things,” saidMyklebust. “Small towns are dying across the Palouse.We’ve decided that we aren’t going to let that happen toLaCrosse.”The original plan was to restore the hardware store. Unfortunately, that building burned down during Memorial Day weekend in 2009.80 WHEAT LIFE AUG/SEPT 2012

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WLFEATUREA Sacred HarvestBy Jenaleigh FlonesOn a stifling summer’s day in the middle of a wheatfield, the most effective way to cool down is to stop thecombine, sidestep to the back where the cooler is filledwith grape soda and choose the can suspended in themost ice. Perspiration beading down the side of the cantransfers into the hot epidermal cells of your eager handas you lift the can to your lips. The sound of Uncle Bob’svoice over the P.A. system means that it’s time to hurryback into the cab, because the grain truck is coming, andit’s time to watch the transfer. These are the golden days,literally; the wheat is that beautiful glowing color. The skyis the best thing you’ve laid eyes on since a cool glass ofwater, because it’s the only thing for miles reminiscent ofthe idea of cool.While Papa Daryll talks to Uncle Bob, and the P.A.system fuzzes in and out, I try to sneak a tape change.Papa loves Hank Williams; I love Lefty Frizzell. We arealways at an impasse, but Papa doesn’t seem to notice themusic, and if there’s anything better than watching thegrain transfer, it’s watching it to the soundtrack of fiddlesand barroom pianos and that twang Lefty’s got so good.I’m hard pressed to think of a place I’d rather be...until Isee the brown lunch sack in Uncle Bob’s truck. It’s heat,hard work and hunger going hand in hand, the trifecta ofa harvest day, which makes food delicious. I think aboutthat correlation and salivate (it mixes in with the sweat onmy face so probably no one will notice). The wheat grain ispouring ferociously out of the long, green arm of the combineinto the back of the grain truck, and then suddenly,it stops. I know to wait for the final sputters of reluctant

Your wheatlife...Send us photosof your wheat life!Email pictures to editor@wawg.org.Please include location of picture, namesof all people appearing in the picture and agesof all children.Adam Stahl, 2 1/2, waves at his father, Herb,from amidst the winter wheat near Stanfield, Ore.Herb Stahl photoThe Pinkerton wheat harvest in August 2011.John Clark photo

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