The increase in ending stocks reflected downward revisions in domestic utilization of 30 million bushels and export sales of 50 million bushels. Secretary Glickman will be starting the general session on Thursday February 4. The conference and exposition includes extended exposition hours to allow for more time with exhibitors and their products, informational presentations by industry leaders, and an expanded Wheat Research Forum. The Wheat Research Forum will be featuring university researchers and agribusiness professionals discussing the newest research initiatives as well as latest product developments within the wheat industry. According to USDA's Economic Research Service, almost a third of crops and livestock produced by U.S. farmers were grown or sold under contract in 1997.
Contractors are primarily processors and packers.