October 10, 2019
Falling numbers mean less dough for farmers
By Edna Sailor
First the rain fell. Then the snow fell. But more importantly, area elevators and farmers are seeing falling numbers in the grain. All are keeping a close eye on those numbers. Falling numbers are a measure that determines the quality of the grain, and also what farmers get paid. It also measures quality to the the bread and pasta industries that expect grain to be high quality all the time.
Wheat kernels contain the starch that produces a loaf of bread or a box of pasta that consumers want to be consistent with every purchase. Extreme conditions of rain and snow that farmers experienced this year degrade the level of starch and turns it to sugar. With the starch no longer available or of poor quality, that quality in a loaf of bread and box of pasta is also diminished. Bread will not rise properly and pasta will be very poor quality.
Wheat kernels contain the starch that produces a loaf of bread or a box of pasta that consumers want to be consistent with every purchase. Extreme conditions of rain and snow that farmers experienced this year degrade the level of starch and turns it to sugar. With the starch no longer available or of poor quality, that quality in a loaf of bread and box of pasta is also diminished. Bread will not rise properly and pasta will be very poor quality.
