96 Washington Wheat Facts, Revised 1999, Washington Wheat Commision

Washington Wheat Facts
by Washington Wheat Commision, Revised 1999

Profile of a Typical Washington Wheat Farmer

Male, 53 years old (10.5% of all Washington farms are operated by women.)
Married, with children
Has farmed for more than 17 years
A full or part owner of the property in production
Lives on the farm
Operates as an individual (64.8% are sole proprietors; 16.3% are in partnerships; 17.6% are family corporations; 1.3% are other types of corporations, trusts, estates, etc.)
Likely has a college degree or training beyond high school
Proficient in business skills (bookkeeping, inventory control, marketing, personnel, management, etc.), natural resource management, agronomy, soil science, chemistry and biology.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census (1992)

From Field to Market
During harvest, wheat is taken from the field to on-farm storage or nearby commercial grain elevators by farmer-owned grain trucks. After the wheat is sold, semi-trucks with trailers are often used to transfer the wheat to regional rail or barge-loading facilities. Over 60 percent of Washington's wheat exports are shipped by barge from ports situated along the 400-mile Snake-Columbia river system to terminals located in the Portland/Vancouver area. About 36 percent of the wheat is transported by rail to coastal grain terminals, often in 26- or 52-car unit trains. From these seaport terminals, grain is loaded onto ocean freighters and exported to nations around the world.

Only about 10% of Washington-grown soft white wheat is consumed in the U.S.
Most of it -- 85% to 90% -- is exported.

About 50 percent of the wheat grown in the U.S. each year is exported. High-volume sales of U.S. wheat are a leading U.S. agricultural export, totaling over one billion bushels and approximately $4 billion each year. Wheat exports benefit not only farmers but the general economy as well. In fact, agricultural exports are one of only a few export products that have a positive balance of trade.

Major importers of Northwest-Grown Soft White Wheat

Country	1997/98 (bushels)	5 Year Avg. (bushels)
Pakistan	81,990,000	67,240,000
Japan	34,320,000	37,380,000
Philippines	24,120,000	24,340,000
South Korea	21,670,000	23,650,000
Yemen	21,130,000	18,530,000
Egypt	4,770,000	27,200,000
Taiwan	4,220,000	4,410,000
Bangladesh	2,330,000	13,090,000
Sri Lanka	1,930,000	8,890,000

Total Northwest soft white wheat exports for 1997/98 = 202,000,000 bushels
Source: USDA/FAS

Exports are Vital to Washington Wheat Farmers
Washington is one of the nation's largest wheat-exporting states, with up to 90% of the state's production exported each year. As a result of aggressive promotional programs supported by Washington wheat producers, countries which have traditionally relied on a rice diet, such as Japan, Korea and Taiwan, are now consuming products made from soft white wheat. In other parts of the world, Pacific Northwest soft white wheat is preferred for the production of native flatbreads. Washington wheat exports depend on the ability of the industry to provide a consistently high quality product that meets the specifications of a variety of wheat customers. Through strategic research and marketing programs, the Washington wheat industry will continue to be a leader in world wheat exports.

Leading Wheat Export States -- 1997

Washington	$380,100,000
Kansas	$498,200,000
North Dakota	$458,700,000
Arkansas	$238,100,000
Montana	$234,900,000
Idaho	$233,100,000
Ohio	$192,900,000
Missouri	$177,200,000
South Dakota	$174,600,000
Oklahoma	$162,800,000

Source: Wheat Export Trade Education Committee (1997/98)

1997/98 Exports of Major Wheat Producing Countries

Country	Exports (metric tons)	% of World Trade
United States	28,100,000	27.9%
Canada	21,300,000	21.2%
European Union^*	15,500,000	15.4%
Australia	15,500,000	15.4%
Argentina	9,400,000	9.4%

^* Includes France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal
Source: USDA/FAS

Top Wheat Producing Nations -- 1997

Country	Bushels
China	4,530,000,000
India	2,545,000,000
United States	2,526,000,000
Russia	1,623,000,000
France	1,249,000,000
Canada	892,000,000
Germany	729,000,000
Australia	681,000,000
Ukraine	676,000,000
Pakistan	611,000,000

Source: USDA/FAS

Washington is the Major U.S. Producer of Soft White Wheat
Though Washington farmers grow four classes of wheat, soft white wheat accounts for over 85 percent of total production. Two distinct types are grown: club and common. Club wheats have shorter, more compact heads than common types. The two are often marketed as a mixture called Western White, one of the world's most popular wheat mixes, available only from the Pacific Northwest.

Washington also Produces Hard Wheats
The hard wheat classes grown in Washington are hard red winter, hard red spring and hard white wheat (in limited production). the variety of classes grown in Washington provides wheat buyers with the options they need to produce a wide variety of quality wheat products.

Different Wheats for Different Products
Each class of wheat has different characteristics, such as protein content, bran coat color, and milling and baking qualities. These characteristics determine the best end-uses for each type of wheat. "Soft" and "hard" refer to the density of the kernel.
Hard Red Winter, Hard Red Spring: Yeast breads, hard rolls, and bagels.
Soft White, Soft Red Winter: Pastries, pancakes, cakes, cookies, crackers, flat breads, and cereals.
Hard White: Yeast breads and Asian noodles.
Durum: Pasta

80-90% of Washington Wheat Farms Rely Totally on Rainfall for Moisture.
They are called dryland farms. The remaining farms are irrigated. Rainfall in eastern Washington varies from as low as 8-12 inches per year in some regions to as high as 22-24 inches per year in others. In low rainfall areas, farmers plant only about half of their land each year. The remaining half is left idle to collect moisture for next year's crop. This practice is called summer fallow rotation and is used on over half of Washington wheat farms. In regions with higher rainfall, and on irrigated farms, the land is planted yearly (annual cropping).

Winter and Spring Wheat
Most wheat grown in Washington is winter wheat, which is planted in the fall and harvested the following summer. A faster-maturing wheat can be planted in the early spring and harvested the same summer. Winter wheat generally yields better than spring-planted varieties.

Washington Crop % Grown Avg. Yield/Acre
Winter Wheat 85.7% 67.0 bushels
Spring Wheat 14.3% 54.0 bushels
Source: Washington Agricultural Statistics Service (1997)

Washington Crop	% Grown	Avg. Yield/Acre
Winter Wheat	85.7%	67.0 bushels
Spring Wheat	14.3%	54.0 bushels

Washington Wheat Acreage Planted by Class

	1997	1998
Soft White - Common	80.9%	81.3%
Soft White - Club	7.1%	7.3%
Hard Red Winter	7.3%	7.0%
Hard Red Spring	4.7%	4.4%

Source: Washington Agricultural Statistics Service (1998)

U.S. Wheat Production by class -- 1997

Soft White	13.3%
Soft Red Winter	19.1%
Hard Red Winter	44.%
Hard Red Spring	19.8%
Durum	3.4%

Wheat is Washington's Number One Field Crop
Most of the state's wheat is produced in 14 central and eastern Washington counties over a wide range of soil types and growing conditions. In 1997, approximately 2.6 million acres of wheat were planted, producing more than 168 million bushes of wheat.

Wheat is Washington's Number 1 Agricultural Export

	Millions $	Rank
Aircraft	18,115	1
Forest Products	3,304	2
High Tech	3,178	3
Wheat	878^*	4
Seafood	540	5
Apples	466	6

^* Includes pass-through from other wheat states.
Source: Washington Council on International Trade (1997)

Washington's Leading Farm Products

Wheat	$602,700,000
Apples	$822,800,000
Milk	$732,400,000
Cattle & Calves	$456,600,000
Potatoes	$432,000,000
Hay	$395,000,000
Forest Products, Farm	$260,000,000
Nursery/Greenhouse Prod.	$250,000,000
All others	$1,644,500,000
Total	$5,605,000,000

Source: Washington Agricultural Statistics Service (1997)

How Washington Ranks Nationally (1997)

Washington consistently ranks as one of the nation's leading wheat-producing states. Due to a combination of favorable climate, rich soils, and progressive growers, Washington's average yield is significantly higher than the national average.

Rank State Production (bushels) Acres Harvested (acres) Avg. Yield (bu/acre)
1 Kansas 506,000,000 11,000,000 46.0
2 North Dakota 267,695,000 11,025,000 24.3
3 Montana 185,630,000 5,930,000 31.3
4 Oaklahoma 178,200,000 5,400,000 33.0
5 Washington 168,080,000 2,595,000 64.8
U.S. Total 2,526,552,000 63,577,000 39.7
Source: Washington Agricultural Statistics Service (1997)

Rank	State	Production (bushels)	Acres Harvested (acres)	Avg. Yield (bu/acre)
1	Kansas	506,000,000	11,000,000	46.0
2	North Dakota	267,695,000	11,025,000	24.3
3	Montana	185,630,000	5,930,000	31.3
4	Oaklahoma	178,200,000	5,400,000	33.0
5	Washington	168,080,000	2,595,000	64.8
	U.S. Total	2,526,552,000	63,577,000	39.7

Washington Wheat Farmers are Top Producers

Production	168.1 million bushels
Acreage	2,595 million acres
Average Yield	64.8 bushels / acre
Crop Value	$602.7 million
Number of Farms	5,032*

Source: Washington Agricultural Statistics Service
*U.S. Department of Commerce, Census of Agriculture (1997)

1997 Wheat Production by County

Due to variations in rainfall and other growing conditions, yields per acre vary widely from one region to another, from as little as 25 bushels per acre to as high as 100 bushels per acre on individual dryland farms. Several counties in Washington have consistently ranked among the top wheat-producing counties in the nation, with Whitman County ranking number one every year since at least 1978.

County Production (bushels) Acres Harvested Yield (bu/acre)
Whitman 36,305,700 502,100 72.3
Lincoln 25,306 377,200 67.1
Adams 20,000,000 313,700 63.8
Grant 17,650,000 230,300 76.6
Walla Walla 17,236,700 228,500 75.4
Douglas 10,300,000 230,500 44.7
Columbia 7,435,600 103,800 71.6
Spokane 7,118,100 114,000 62.4
Franklin 7,407,000 118,300 68.2
Garfield 5,950,000 87,200 68.2
Benton 5,345,000 130,600 40.9
Yakima 2,960,000 47,100 62.8
Klickitat 1,700,000 50,300 33.8
Asotin 1,241,900 24,400 50.9
All Others 2,124,900 37,000
State Total 168,080,000 2,595,000
Source: Washington Agricultural Statistics Service (1997)

County	Production (bushels)	Acres Harvested	Yield (bu/acre)
Whitman	36,305,700	502,100	72.3
Lincoln	25,306	377,200	67.1
Adams	20,000,000	313,700	63.8
Grant	17,650,000	230,300	76.6
Walla Walla	17,236,700	228,500	75.4
Douglas	10,300,000	230,500	44.7
Columbia	7,435,600	103,800	71.6
Spokane	7,118,100	114,000	62.4
Franklin	7,407,000	118,300	68.2
Garfield	5,950,000	87,200	68.2
Benton	5,345,000	130,600	40.9
Yakima	2,960,000	47,100	62.8
Klickitat	1,700,000	50,300	33.8
Asotin	1,241,900	24,400	50.9
All Others	2,124,900	37,000
State Total	168,080,000	2,595,000

Revenue for the State of Washington
Wheat farmers help fuel the economies of the food processing, transportation, wholesale and retail sectors, creating revenue and jobs for Washington State. When the ripple effect of wheat dollars used to purchase and services is taken into account, wheat productions contributes approximately:

$1.18 billion to total state output
$537 million to gross state income
$83 million in state and local taxes

Source: Washington State University

Washington Wheat Production History
Superior wheat varieties, improved farm management and fertility practices, and better protection against pests have helped Washington farmers steadily increase wheat production over time. Previous drops in productivity were largely the result of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a voluntary land retirement program implemented by the federal government to protect valuable soil resources.

The First Wheat Crop in the Northwest
was Planted in 1825 at Fort Vancouver, Washington
As the western territories expanded, wheat production increased and markets for Northwest wheat grew steadily. By the late 1800s, the Columbia-Basin, including the vast regions of tributaries and drainage areas in eastern Washington, became the center of wheat production for the Northwest, as it has remained. the completion of the transcontinental railroad lines to the Pacific Northwest in 1883-1884 facilitated the transport of wheat to the coastal ports for export. today, the Pacific Northwest is the principal white wheat producing area in the U.S. and a major supplier for both national and international markets.

Production Costs For Selected Items
Washington wheat prices have changed very little over time, especially compared to the costs of farming inputs which have doubled, tripled, even quadrupled since the 1970s.

	1977	1987	1997
Diesel Fuel (bulk, per gallon)	$0.45	$0.69	$1.04
Aqua Ammonia (Per ton)	$66.25	$89.10	$110.00
Combine (large capacity)	$51,400	$75,650	$111,000

1987, 1997 Machinery prices for U.S. only
1987, 1997 fertilizer price for Northwest U.S. (WA, OR, ID)
1987, 1997 fuel price for U.S. Pacific region (WA, OR, CA)
1977 fertilizer and machinery prices for U.S. Pacific region (WA, OR, CA)
1977 fuel price for WA

Wheat is the Staff of Life
With its health-giving nutrients, delicious flavor and versatility, wheat makes a contribution to the human diet every day, all over the world. Wheat foods, such as bread, pasta, and cereal are low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates, which provide long-lasting energy. They are also excellent sources of important vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, the B vitamins, iron and zinc, and folic acid. And that's not all! Wheat foods are a good source of soluble and insoluble fiber. No wonder the U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that consumers enjoy 6 to 11 servings of grain foods each and every day.
Don't desert dessert! The flours ground from soft white wheat grown in Washington make light, tender cakes, cookies, and pastries. You can have your cake and eat right too, if you plan your "just desserts" as part of an overall balance meal plan. When you base your diet on plenty of low-fat grains, fruits and vegetables, you can afford to indulge in your favorite treats -- so enjoy!

Wheat Shipping Capacities

Farm Truck	7.5-15 tons	250-500 bushels
Semi-Truck & Trailer	40 tons	1,333 bushels
Railcar	100 tons	3,333 bushels
Barge	3,000 tons	100,000 bushels
Ocean Freighter	25,000-55,000 metric tons	918,500-2,020,700 bushels

Organizations Important to Washington Wheat

Washington Wheat Commission (WWC)
The WWC is an official state agency created by wheat producers in 1958 to fund industry self-help programs through a small assessment on each bushel of wheat sold. The seven members of the WWC (five producers and two representatives of allied industries) allocate these funds to research, market development, and information programs designed to enhance the production and marketing of Washington wheat.
Address: 907 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: (509) 456-2481
E-mail:wwc@wwcspokane.com
Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG)
The WAWG is an association of wheat producers working together to better Washington's wheat industry. WAWG is active in legislative matters at the state and national levels. Working with producer volunteers, WAWG also helps administer wheat industry programs funded by the WWC. Wheat growers are kept informed on industry matters through a weekly newsletter and monthly magazine, Wheat Life.
Address: 109 E. First, Ritzville, WA 99169
Phone: (509) 659-0610
E-mail: wheat@agritel.net
Website: users.agritel.net/~wheat/
National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG)
The NAWG is a national producer organization representing 22 wheat-growing states, including Washington. Based in Washington, D.C., NAWG is particularly active in lobbying for strong U.S. wheat and agricultural policies.
Address: 415 Second St. NE, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: (202) 547-7800
E-mail: wheatworld@wheatworld.org
Website: www.wheatworld.org
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW)
An international market development organization, USW promotes the overseas interest of U.S. wheat producers. Funded in part by its member states, including Washington, USW conducts market promotion programs in more than 130 countries worldwide.
Address: 1620 I St. NW, Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: (202) 463-0999
E-mail: info@uswheat.org
Website: www.uswheat.org
Wheat Export Trade Education Committee (WETEC)
WETEC is a permanent standing committee of NAWG, sponsored by 17 state wheat commissions to educate the industry and members of Congress on trade issues facing the wheat industry. WETEC monitors, analyzes and disseminates international trade information about administrative and legislative decisions influencing wheat exports.
Address: 415 Second Street NE, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: (202) 547-2004
E-mail: wetec@erols.com
Wheat Marketing Center (WMC)
Located in Portland, the WMC facilitates the sale of U.S. wheat to foreign buyers. Research is conducted on the potential utilization of U.S. wheats in foods consumed worldwide. In addition, international food technicians work with U.S. wheats at the WMC to develop quality protocols and experiment with wheat blends for their products.
Address: 1200 NW Naito Parkway, Suite 230
Phone: (503) 295-0823
Website: wheatmarketing@compuserve.com
Wheat Foods Council (WFC)
The WFC is an industry-wide partnership dedicated to increasing the domestic consumption of wheat-based foods. Members from all segments of the industry, including producers, millers, bakers, and end use product manufacturers, work to build demand for wheat foods through information, education and promotion programs.
Address: 19841 S. Parker Rd. Suite 105, Parker, CO 80134
Phone: (309) 840-8787
E-mail: wfc@wheatfoods.org
Website: www.wheatfoods.org
Washington State University (WSU)
As Washington's land-grant university, WSU is responsible for most of the state's wheat research. Comprehensive research programs, funded by the WWC, the state legislature, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are conducted at facilities in Pullman, Lind, and other parts of the state. WSU also operates the Cooperative Extension Service, which provides a broad range of agricultural information programs for state residents.
Address: Pullman, WA 99164

Wheat Measures

bushel	60 pounds
metric ton	2,204.6 pounds	36.74 bushels
short ton	2,000.0 pounds	33.33 bushels
acres	43,560 square feet
hectare	107,593.2 square feet	2.47 acres

Washington Wheat Commision
Washington Wheat Facts
Pamphlet - Revised 1999

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