Milling & Baking News - February 27, 2018 - 8

Late News

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27

Continued from Page 1

U.S.D.A. FORECASTS WHEAT
AREA UP HALF-MILLION ACRES
The U.S.D.A. forecast area
planted to all-wheat this year
at 46.5 million acres, up a halfmillion acres from 2017. With
the winter wheat planted area
estimated at a 109-year-low
32.6 million acres, the increase
in all-wheat acres was tied to
expectations of a planted area
for spring wheat and durum at
13.9 million acres compared with
13.3 million acres in 2017.

Soft red winter wheat
planted area for 2018 was
estimated at 5.98 million
acres compared with 5.73
million acres in 2017.

Trusted since 1886. Today, Mennel is made up of 6
state-of-the-art flour mills; 10 country grain elevators;
2 trucking companies; a bakery mix facility;
a popcorn facility; among other businesses.
Mennel Headquarters * 319 S Vine St. * Fostoria, OH
800-688-8151 * mennel.com
8 / February 27, 2018

Milling & Baking News

sales in 2017 were) primarily
due to good performance of the
snacks category strategic brands
in the U.S. and the bread category in Canada," the company
said. Exchange rate shifts and
the addition of East Balt Bakeries also helped. Negatives were
private label and frozen product
categories. During the year, the
company took a one-time noncash charge of 706 million pesos
($38 million) "arising from the
enactment of the Tax Cuts and
Jobs Act in the U.S."

U.S.D.A. forecasts
smaller corn crop
WASHINGTON - The U.S.
Department of Agriculture at
its annual Agricultural Outlook
Forum projected 2018 corn
production at 14,390 million
bus, down 1.5% from 2017 and
down 5% from a record 15,148
million bus in 2016. Planted area
was forecast at 90 million acres,
down 200,000 acres from 2017;
harvested area was forecast at
82.7 million acres, unchanged;
and average yield was forecast
at 174 bus per acre, down 2.6
bus from a record 176.6 bus in
2017. Corn used for ethanol in
2018-19 was forecast at a record
5,650 million bus, up 2.3% from
2017-18 and equal to 39% of the
2018 crop. Corn carryover on
Sept. 1, 2019, was projected at
2,272 million bus, down 3.4%
from 2018.

U.S.D.A. sees lower
soybean production
WASHINGTON - The U.S.
Department of Agriculture at
its annual Agricultural Outlook
Forum projected 2018 soybean
production at 4,320 million bus,
down 1.6% from record outturn
of 4,392 million bus in 2017.
Planted area was forecast at
90 million acres, down 100,000
acres from 2017; harvested area
was forecast at 89.1 million
acres, down 400,000 acres; and
average yield was forecast at
48.5 bus per acre, down 0.6 bu
from 2017 and down 3.5 bus

from a record 52 bus in 2016.
Total supply in 2018-19 was
forecast at a record 4,875 million
bus due to large carry-in stocks.
Soybean carryover on Sept. 1,
2019, was forecast at 460 million
bus, down 13% from 2018.

Naked enters nutrition
bar category
CHICAGO - Naked, a nearly
35-year-old brand known for
its juices and smoothies, is expanding into
the food category
with the launch of
Naked Fruit, Nut &
Veggie Bars. Naked
said the new bars are
"packed with premium ingredients,
including real fruits
and
vegetables."
The bars are available in three varieties: Blue Machine, Green Machine and Red Machine. Each
1.41-oz package contains five
fruits and vegetables and 160
calories per bar. The bars contain no preservatives, are NonGMO Project verified and are
considered excellent sources of
vitamins A, C, E and iron.

Industry gathers for
W.Q.C. meeting
KANSAS CITY - About 140
flour millers, grain merchants,
wheat growers, plant breeders and bakers made their way
through wintry weather to the
Wheat Quality Council annual
meeting Feb. 20-22 in Kansas City. Meetings showcased
quality testing and communication between parts of the
wheat chain. "We have good
testing programs in place and
good cooperation with the
plant breeders to get access
to elite varieties and get them
tested," said Dave Green, executive vice-president of the
W.Q.C. "This morning was a
way of resetting all of that for
next year: What we're going to
do, what kind of a year we've
had, and I think the program is
on pretty sound footing." MBN
bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com

http://www.mennel.com https://twitter.com/mennelmilling?lang=en https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mennel-milling-company/ https://www.facebook.com/MennelMilling/ http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.world-grain.com

Milling & Baking News - February 27, 2018

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