Following unprecedented export success due to a worldwide shortage of wheat in 2008, exports of U.S. wheat dropped in 2009. Responding to the short crop of 2008, however, several private agriculture technology companies announced plans to begin developing new wheat varieties and technologies. Meanwhile, two important agricultural advocacy efforts were logged by the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and Kansas Wheat Commission.

These are just a few notable wheat industry events occurring in 2009.

Export Demand Decreases: The record high wheat prices of 2008 prompted the world's farmers to grow more wheat.

In nearly every country, it was a banner year for wheat production, resulting in increased competition for export business.

Total U.S. wheat exports decreased from 35 million metric tons to 29 million metric tons, while the market for U.S. Hard Red Winter wheat fell from about 14 million metric tons to 12.2 million metric tons.

The marketing strategy by U.S. Wheat Associates centered on delivering a message that the U.S. is the world's foremost supplier of consistent quality wheat.

Nigeria Remains Top Customer: The African country of Nigeria imported nearly 80 million bushels of Hard Red Winter wheat in the 2008-09 marketing year, enabling it to retain its status as the leading market for this class of wheat.

Kansas Wheat hosted three international trade teams in 2009, giving important customers from Chile, Nigeria and South Africa an opportunity to meet farmers, learn about wheat quality and wheat marketing.

Festival of Breads is a Success: In June, eight women from throughout the nation gathered in Wichita for the inaugural National Festival of Breads. Contestants marveled at the Harvest Tour, in which they learned how wheat is grown, harvested, stored and milled. Dianna Wara, Washington, Illinois, earned the grand prize, but all contestants emerged as winners by participating in what will become an every-other-year tradition.

Harvest Exceeds Expectations: The Kansas wheat harvest totaled 369.9 million bushels, an average yield of 42 bushels per acre.

That's a dramatic improvement upon the 356 million bushel crop harvested in 2008.

Meanwhile, a worldwide surplus of wheat drove cash prices down from the historic highs experienced in 2008.

Fairgoers Rave Over State Fair Exhibit: With an annual audience of more than 300,000 people, the Kansas State Fair is the perfect opportunity to showcase how wheat is grown, harvested and made into food.

Kansas Wheat's new State Fair Exhibit in the Pride of Kansas Building was a hands-on display in which fairgoers could gain a "Farm-to-Fork" appreciation for wheat and its impact on the state.

During the 10-day Fair, thousands of Kansans toured the Kansas Wheat Exhibit, awestruck that one bushel of wheat can make more than 140 cinnamon rolls, or 45 loaves of bread.

New Innovations Coming to Wheat: Monsanto, one of the world's largest agriculture biotech companies, bought WestBred in August, promising to invest heavily in traditional and biotech wheat variety research and development.

Monsanto is one of three companies making big plans for the future of wheat: Limagrain, a French cooperative, has bought wheat breeding companies in strategic locations around the world and, in collaboration with an Australian research organization, is currently working on developing a genetically modified wheat that could be available to the marketplace in as few as five years. Meanwhile, Syngenta, a large crop protection company, is researching genetically modified wheat lines that prevent fungal diseases.