Over 600 people were in attendance at the Prairie Grains Conference held in Grand Forks in December.

Daren Coppack, CEO, National Association of Wheat Growers discusses biotech wheat with conference attendees. “There’s nothing like $8 and $9 wheat to focus attention on wheat prices and a lot of the food companies, millers and bakers that we’ve talked to understand that in order for wheat to be able to be available to them domestically, it has to be competitive for farmers,” explained Coppock. “If we don’t reverse the competitive hole that we’re in now and make wheat more competitive, get new efficient technology into it, they’re going to have a harder and harder time finding wheat

Meteorologist Leon Osborne says farmers here can expect a normal growing season next year. Speaking at the Prairie Grains Conference, the University of North Dakota professor warned a cold, snowy winter is coming. “We’re looking at probably four to five major storms; moisture content may be a bit lower in the snow just because of the colder temperatures.” As the region moves into the spring season, Osborne predicts a normal year. “All indicators are saying that this is about as bland a year, weather-wise,that we will see through the growing season.”

Congratulations to Earl Mallinger, Oslo, MN, winner of HDTV door prize. Presenting the TV to Earl is Bryan Hest, Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers.

Cheryl Schmura, CHS Vice President for Crop Nutrients, shared the good, the bad and the ugly facts about the fertilizer outlook for 2009. “Seven world scale U.S. phosphate facilities have closed since 1999. The production that has left the U.S. is not likely to come back.”

NCTC Farm Business Management instructors Mike Lockhart and Randy Zimmerman provided cost of production numbers for major crops.

Participants in the Wheat Quality and Baking session await their turn to examine different flours, bread dough, and loaves.

Northern Crops Institute Lab Manager Staci Lee helps Hallock, MN farmer Ron Anderson with his baking, while Garner Eeg, Greenbush, MN, tries to weigh just the right amount of dough for a perfect bread loaf.

Melissa Petry, Ada, MN and Verdell Olson, Fertile, MN work to test the elasticity of different bread dough samples.