clip_image002Wheat is so important in today’s world. Have you ever pondered what life would be like without this crop?� It would be quite dreadful, to say the least. Think about it – no more cookies, cakes, muffins, Hotdog buns, spaghetti, Home made bread, cereals – Wow! Life would sure be different. Let’s take a quick look at Modern wheat production and consumption to better appreciate the work that goes into producing this needed grain.

To begin with I’ll first compare 2007 wheat production and consumption rate to two other crops:
(Production Rate = PR, Consumption rate =CR, Measuring unit – bushels)

Wheat US Wheat production map
PR – 1.81 Billion
CR – 2.05 Billion

Corn
PR – 10.54 Billion
CR – 11.27 Billion

Soybean
PR – 3.19 Billion
CR – 3.07 Billion

With wheat particularly, 50% is exported, 33 percent is domestically consumed, 8% is livestock feed and 4% is used for seed.

Globally, America is the third largest wheat producer with China and India taking first and second and Russia fourth. It’s interesting to note that the annual world grain production rate will need to increase by 20 to 30 percent according to an Australian food report. The reason for this prediction comes from the fact that 12 Asian countries (representing over � the World’s population) will have a meat consumption increase by the year 2020: beef� 50%, pork- 30%, chicken� 40%, and diary� 55%. Wait a minute!… Might be the words your thinking… this is meat consumption not grain. But once you realize that for every pound of Chicken on the dinner table, it took two pounds of feed (grains) to get it there, your thoughts might change.

Now, don’t be aghast! This is not the worse.

For every pound of pork 4 pounds of feed entered the pig’s digestive system and for every pound of beef a record seven pounds disappeared from the feeding trough. If you start thinking exponentially here there is a magnificent amount of grain consumption. It seems to me an Agricultural crisis is looming in the hazy future. Will the world be able to properly prepare for it? It remains to be seen.

There are many reasons we might not be ready with the continual decrease in good soil for growing the crops and apathy ruling in certain spheres.

A Southern Virginian farmer, Joel Salatin, truly understands the fearful position of U.S farm life. He clearly sees the problem, but what’s even better is that�he has proven solutions.

1. Increase organic matter, through compost piles, crop rotation, animal rotations and manure, etc.

2. Have less grain-fed animals and more grass-fed animals.

These are very general and broad, it could be said they are a summary of some of his major points. He’s written several books all on the subject of agriculture.

I believe if Americans and the rest of the world can better understand how God made this world to work there will be better farmers and more� capable individuals. We’ll be able to meet the near future crisis in global agriculture. It’s incumbent upon us to understand God’s principles and how they work into his creation. In addition we must also have purpose, for it says in the Bible: “my people perish for lack of knowledge” and also “without a vision the people perish”. If were not careful their might come a day, where there will be life without wheat. There will be no cereal, cake, or hotdog buns. Gratefully, it has not happened yet and we still have time to prepare.

It is time to prepare!!!!!!!!

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 7th, 2009 at 12:45 pm and is filed under Farming 101, On the Issues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.