Ohio farmers plant fewest wheat crops in state history
Ohio farmers are following a national trend by planting the fewest acres of wheat in state history but are expected to plant a record amount of soybeans this year.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio farmers are following a national trend by planting the fewest acres of wheat in state history but are expected to plant a record amount of soybeans this year.
The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/2p3CJBs ) reports 470,000 acres of wheat have been planted in Ohio this year. That's less than half the acreage planted eight years ago. Ohio farmers are expected to plant 5 million acres of soybeans in 2017.
Wheat prices are at 10-year lows after peaking at more than $10 a bushel in 2008.
Ohio farmers say changes in food trends and foreign competition is to blame for the reduce wheat acreage.
Wheat grows in a variety of climates but is only used for human consumption. People shying away from processed foods and gluten has led to declining demand.
Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
