McGregor: Wheat Growers Looking For Consistent Assessment

Outside of low prices, high falling numbers was one of the biggest stories for the wheat industry last year.  Many including Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers are calling for the test to be tweaked, and improved, to ensure growers are not hurt when trying to ship their crop overseas.  Alex McGregor, President of Colfax-based McGregor Company says the original Falling Numbers test was developed over 50 years ago, and it needs to be brought into the 21^st century.

“An assessment process that gives prompt results, so people know where they stand and can segregate the grain.  And I would like to see a measuring stick that is consistent.”

McGregor said the Northwest wheat industry cannot wait for someone else to fix the Falling Number problem.

“Grab this and run with it, and I’m very encouraged by the efforts of our state commission, association, Washington State Department of Agriculture and our land grant schools and USDA working together.  Together, we're getting things done.”

McGregor added above all, growers an industry experts cannot let the issue of high Falling Numbers fall on to the “backburner” in 2017.

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