Milling Journal - Q2 2008 - (Page 48) Large Soft Wheat Crop Expected NAMA’s forecast committee predicts near-record spring wheat crop. The North American Millers’ Association’s (NAMA) panel of soft wheat analysts lifted millers’ spirits with the promise of a monster spring wheat crop at NAMA’s 2008 Division Meetings, March 15-18 in Palm Coast, FL. Soft red. The panel predicted 2008 soft red winter wheat crop production of 534,422,410 bushels, 53.9% larger than last year’s crop of 353,050,000 bushels. With wheat prices seeing record highs and wheat stocks at record low levels, all panel members predicted very low abandonment. At last year’s meeting, the panel predicted wheat in marginal areas would be torn out in favor of planting corn in the spring. That won’t be the case this year. Soft white. The 2008 soft white wheat forecast is projected to rise 22.9% from last year, for a total of 209,512,000 bushels. For 2007, production was 170,342,000 bushels. New York is the only state that is projected to decrease soft white production. Panel member Shawn Blume explained this points to a shifting of acreage from soft white to soft red wheat. He said a price premium for soft red is likely the reasoning behind the shift. Panel Members • Connie Barr, vice president of customer service for Siemer Milling Co. and chairwoman for the Soft Wheat Crop Report and Forecast Panel; reporting on IL, KY, MO. • Grover Van Hoose, grain buyer for The Mennel Milling Co.; reporting on IN, MI, OH, WI, WV. • Shawn Blume, soft wheat merchandiser for the Lansing Grain Co.; reporting on DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA. • Pat Rogers, vice president of sales for Horizon Milling; reporting on NC, SC, VA, ID, OR, WA. • John Bartels, commodity merchandiser for ConAgra Mills; reporting on AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, OK, TN, TX. 48 Second Quarter 2008 Response No. 481 MILLING JOURNAL http://www.eriez.com http://www.eriez.com
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