Wheat: what is really going on?

[InHisName]

Read yesterday on another board that we have sold our surplus wheat reserves. (300 + billion tons a few years ago) Read in a Nat'l Geographic a couple months ago of world wide food shortages, wheat included, and heard this morning on the NW ag report (radio) of the same thing. Does someone know of the wheat situation? Should we be putting some away for the future, or is that just a sales pitch? Maybe I'm just hearing that stuff in the news and it's been there all along.
Another wheat question, what is hard red spring wheat used for? Getting a ton of it, it is field cleaned. Will end up costing around $7 per 50 lbs- (offering it to folks at cost who come to a preparadness fair)

[Wisconsin Ann]

There was a significant wheat shortage last year (2008) because of drought in Australia and drought/disease in other countries. That has affected prices a LOT over the last year. Haven't found anything confirming the selling of surplus wheat reserves tho....wouldn't surprise me considering what else has been sold off lately

bah. I'm starting to get discouraged with the way the country is going. that's not good

eta: forgot your question about hard red...it's what bread flour is made from. High gluten. makes better bread.

[Tracy Rimmer]

I live in the middle of grain country in western Canada. Two years ago, we had a bumper, early crop. Last year, the harvest was less than expected, and this year, well -- with a late frost that killed off a lot, and rain and cool temperatures all summer, this year's crop isn't going to be very good. Grain prices are going to be high this year, and grain is going to be of lesser quality.

The fact of the matter is that current harvest levels cannot support a rising global population, and haven't been able to for a couple of years now. We're nearing seven billion people on the planet, and with the changing climate, crops are not going to be as reliable in years past.

I'd be setting some by if I were you. I do, and I have a feeling that we're going to be glad of it in the next couple of years.

[InHisName]

Thanks! Will be saving some of that wheat, then. Will try to look up the links to the wheat info and post later-

[Callieslamb]

I would get wheat now while it is lower in price. Last year, many people decided they needed to store some wheat - they paid dearly for that wheat that is now $7 for 50 lbs. I am not sure what field cleaned is? Will it be full of chat?

[Tobster]

InHisName, wheat prices are low. That may explain the sell of surplus wheat you mentioned in your post. If supply is high, prices on the futures market will be in decline. Both the September and December contract are at 2 year lows. This time of year is a good indicator on the harvest. Most of the grains and meats trade on either the CBOT or CME ( Chicago Board of Trade . . . Chicago Mercantile Exchange ) more seem to be moving to the CME, you can track the end of day prices at their websites. Prices will reflect supply. Price moves will be based on seasonal climate expectations.

[Spinner]

Originally Posted by InHisName

Read yesterday on another board that we have sold our surplus wheat reserves. (300 + billion tons a few years ago) Read in a Nat'l Geographic a couple months ago of world wide food shortages, wheat included, and heard this morning on the NW ag report (radio) of the same thing. Does someone know of the wheat situation? Should we be putting some away for the future, or is that just a sales pitch? Maybe I'm just hearing that stuff in the news and it's been there all along.
Another wheat question, what is hard red spring wheat used for? Getting a ton of it, it is field cleaned. Will end up costing around $7 per 50 lbs- (offering it to folks at cost who come to a preparadness fair)

In years past we had a law that the gov had to maintain a storehouse of foods for every citizen. I forget exactly when, but a few years back, they eliminated that law and disposed of the food.

Remember when they used to give the poor cheese, powdered milk, cans of meat, peanut butter, butter, beans, etc every 3 months? I think they called it commodities or something like that. That was the rotation of the storehouse supplies. When those giveaways ended, that was when the law was changed. Today I think they have less that a days food provisions in stock for every American.

One bad enough harvest and the daily grocery shoppers are toast! THAT is when the gov will start going house to house to confiscate food. They will be of the opinion that 1000 people eating for a day is better than 1 person eating for 1000 days (is the majority of your preps properly hidden?)

[7.62mmFMJ]

I have been watching farm report programs for the grain belt. Many farmers are getting out of wheat due to the low price.

Looking ahead, it would seem that the price is the primary indicator of shortage. As of now there is no apparent shortage.

Wheat is cheap and it keeps for a very long time if properly stored. Buy it and store it.

I also grew a test plot this year and it worked well. A few tweeks and I will be growing my own wheat for my own use.

Hard red wheat is used for breads. White wheat is used for cakes and pastries.

[uyk7]

Some countries are banning the export of food also. India is one that comes to mind but I read there are others. I think the problem in some countries is drought.


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[InHisName]

thank you for the info- DH is on his way home with over 3000 lbs (that is what the kid put into the pickup), "field cleaned" (that is what they call it at the elevator) hard red spring wheat. Will see what that means in a couple hours. How to clean it? an article from Countryside mag had a story of some folks using a fan and 2 5 gallon buckets- hmmmmm....... Well, can't beat the price- have to pay around $28 per 50 lbs if it is perfect. I hope my bread making friends are going to be excited about this as I am........ If anyone has experience with cleaning their own wheat, advice is welcome

[7.62mmFMJ]

It comes out of the combine pretty clean.

Spread a tarp. Pour the wheat from one bucket to another during a windy day. Or use a fan.

Freeze the wheat to kill any bugs.

[StephanieH]

Originally Posted by 7.62mmFMJ

It comes out of the combine pretty clean.

Spread a tarp. Pour the wheat from one bucket to another during a windy day. Or use a fan.

Freeze the wheat to kill any bugs.

That is what my friend does with hers. We both bought some at the same time. I haven't used mine but she has.

[Explorer]

Originally Posted by uyk7

Some countries are banning the export of food also. India is one that comes to mind but I read there are others. I think the problem in some countries is drought.


.

They better hurry.

August 29, 2009: A corn shortage in Mexico means a tortilla shortage will follow, and the tortilla is a staple food, particularly for Mexico's numerous poor. In 1994 the Zapatista rebels in Chiapas protested many government policies, but one of their complaints included a rise in the price of tortillas due to an impending reduction in price subsidies. In 2007, rising corn prices contributed to left-wing agitation in Oaxaca state. Now the government is considering importing more corn. What is described as “the worst drought in six to seven decades” has damaged agriculture in northern and central Mexico, and the Mexican corn crop has withered. The US Department of Agriculture estimates Mexico will import nine million metric tons of corn from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010.

[GrannyCarol]

Hard wheat is the kind used for bread - it is high protein and high gluten. Soft wheats are better for pastries and pancakes. All purpose flour is usually a combination. I'd grab, clean and store the wheat myself!

[zito]

Thanks for the explanations on white vs. red wheat for which type of baking to use them for, etc. Now, is there any difference in usage between "spring" and "winter" etc? Thanks very much.

[GrannyCarol]

Originally Posted by zito

Thanks for the explanations on white vs. red wheat for which type of baking to use them for, etc. Now, is there any difference in usage between "spring" and "winter" etc? Thanks very much.

Spring wheat is planted in the spring for fall harvest, winter wheat is planted in the fall for the next year's harvest. Shouldn't affect the usage, just how they grow it and that depends on the type of wheat and the climate. Where I live a lot of winter wheat is planted and the land is cropped every other year because it is dry land (non irrigated, semi desert) wheat country.

You'll get red and white wheat, that's a distinction of color and, I believe, of taste. I use hard red wheat for my breads, that's the hard wheat berries locally available. I love it. I can get soft white organic whole wheat flour, its great and I use it for pancakes, etc. I haven't had a chance to try hard white and I'm not so sure if there is a soft red.

[manygoatsnmore]

Dang, InHisName, I wish you weren't on the opposite corner of the state - I'd love to get about 500# at that price, and the preparedness fair sounds like fun, too! It's at least an 8 hr drive from here, though. What's the date for the fair?

eta: I think I could possibly talk myself into a road trip if the date is on my days off. I'd love to meet you and some of the other HT members that might be there.

[Betho]

Originally Posted by InHisName

thank you for the info- DH is on his way home with over 3000 lbs (that is what the kid put into the pickup), "field cleaned" (that is what they call it at the elevator) hard red spring wheat. Will see what that means in a couple hours. How to clean it? an article from Countryside mag had a story of some folks using a fan and 2 5 gallon buckets- hmmmmm....... Well, can't beat the price- have to pay around $28 per 50 lbs if it is perfect. I hope my bread making friends are going to be excited about this as I am........ If anyone has experience with cleaning their own wheat, advice is welcome

Hey IHN where do you guys pick this stuff up? I'm in Spokane, my folks are in Addy and I know my Dad has been thinking about stocking up on wheat. You can PM me if you want too

[GrannyCarol]

Originally Posted by Betho

Hey IHN where do you guys pick this stuff up? I'm in Spokane, my folks are in Addy and I know my Dad has been thinking about stocking up on wheat. You can PM me if you want too

Yes, me too! I live about 90 miles out of Spokane, my grown kids live in Spokane. In fact, they are in the Valley.

[texican]

I don't believe the govt. ever bought food and put it in storage, for a 'just in case' scenario. Not it's job. What they did do, was to purchase commodities on the open market to prop up the commodities prices. It did help the farmers to a point... the program costs several times what the end product should've cost... the govt folks realized it was cheaper to just pay farmers subsidies and to pay the entitlement folks a little extra in their foodstamps each month. I had a chance to try some of that govt. cheese back in the 80's. Some nasty stuff.... it'd be a tossup between it and yesterdays roadkill. Realized right then that it took a special kind of person that could actually enjoy that rancid cheese... maybe some brain damage? or a bad case of DGAS... dont give a (hey this is a family forum).

I didn't trust the govt or anyone else, 30 years ago, to take care of me, anymore than I do right now. Even if they did store food for citizens, I daresay the food would go to the entitlement class first, the metropolitan and urbanites second, and us folks in flyover country might get some chaff that blew away. Heck, when was the last time a bunch of farmers or country folks went on a looting and pillaging rampage??? Got to keep the people that are potentially dangerous pacified...