Congress allocates money for wheat research

MOSES LAKE — Two congressional committees have included $1 million for research to combat a decline in the quality of the region’s wheat production.

“We are fortunate to have congressional leaders from both sides of the aisles who stepped up to support our request,” said Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG).

Hennings applauded the speed with which both the House and Senate appropriations committees approved the funding, which should be included in next year’s federal budget.

“A successful appropriations request often takes years, but we were able to move the request along within a very short time frame,” Hennings said in a press release. “We still have a lot of work to do during conference, but this is a successful start, and we are hoping for a huge victory for the wheat industry.”

Of concern is the decline in the “falling number,” a measure of wheat quality, over the last few years. According to information provided by the Washington State University Extension, the “falling number” is the amount of time a special paddle needs to fall through a batch of flour paste made from a wheat sample.

The lower the number, the more of a particular enzyme is present that indicates the wheat is of poorer quality. Any number lower than 300 indicates poorer quality wheat, and farmers take a hit when they sell their grain for export, Hennings said.

Hennings told the Columbia Basin Herald that lower “falling numbers” are caused by genetic and environmental factors, such as late-season rain and hotter summer temperatures. Research might help pinpoint both an exact cause as well solutions — such as newer breeds of wheat.

“Last year, Washington had a devastating case, especially in Whitman County,” Hennings said. “We didn’t see it much in drier counties.”

About 150,000 acres of wheat are grown in Grant County, and another 270,000 grown in Adams County, according to the most recent census of agriculture by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In addition to asking for an appropriation to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Hennings said WAWG and WSU are kicking in some money as well.

While next year’s federal budget still has a way to go, Hennings was optimistic the money for research would stay in.

“We’re hopeful we can seal the deal,” she said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.