Blacksea Wheat

[ianben]

Whilst visiting Italy with BCE recently a local miller (who usually buys English biscuit wheats each year) was bemoaning the fact that Canadian wheat was simply just not available, and he was having to replace it with strong S French corrective wheats. This same miller was however also buying v.cheap Black Sea wheat essentially as a filler for many of his flours (he blends over 20 different types) purely on price.

Did you read the piece in Crops about Black Sea wheat? Average farm size of 10000ac, 80% of this years crop made milling quality, was being sold for around £14/t leaving a good profit for the grower! Can any U.K. grower compete with that even with IACS?

Couple of pieces from UK press.

Will this Italian miller ever buy UK or Canadian wheat again?

[melvill]

Iaben can you give us a Web link to the article you referred to?

LM

[d_mcbain]

When you were in Italy, did anyone mention Italgrani? They were the exclusive marketing agents for the CWB in the Mediterranean until they went bankrupt in about 1999 after a fruad scandle. Since then Con Agra Canada, Toepher and Louis Dryfus have been marketing for the CWB. Con Agra Canada opened an office in Naples in Feb. 2000, the same office Italgrani had been in with some of the same people. Most of this is on the Con Agra Canada web site.

[ianben]

Sorry if I have misled you. I have not been to Italy. Just from postings in UK http://www.fwi.co.uk/forums

Trying to get some information regarding future exports from FSU.

Have we taught them new agronomy etc? Is it weather or currency driven?
Basically is it here to stay?

Hear Canadians have been giving advice and assitance in Ukraine. I know it is home to some of you

Would appreciate your opinions

[bmj182]

Saskatchewan's agriculture minister
Clay Serby is of Ukranian heritage.
They have sent bull semen,
agronomists, seed, technical help
,etc. to the Ukraine. Several farmers
from the Ukraine attended courses
at the University of Saskatchewan.
I guess these people have it rough
but still I don't like seeing my gov't
finance more competition.
I din't think policy should be decided
by the minister's origin! You don't
see Sask. sending aid to
Scotland(me), Ireland, or England, o
thats right we don't have to because
they have their act together!