Chappell farmer elected Plains Grains chairman

Local farmer and Nebraska Wheat Board District 3 Director Larry Flohr of Chappell was recently named chairman of Plains Grains Inc.

Flohr is a certified wheat and millet seed dealer and corporation president of V&F Farms near Chappell. He has served as the District 3 director for the Nebraska Wheat Board since 2007. He also serves on the board of Frenchman Valley Co-op.

PGI is a nonprofit organization that provides quality characteristics and production data on hard red winter (HRW) wheat production from 12 states to foreign and domestic millers and grain purchasers. The organization serves the states of Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming and is guided by a board of directors who represent each state. Approximately 98 percent of the wheat raised in Nebraska is HRW wheat.

"I'm excited to work with the other members of the board to continue supporting the work of Plains Grains," Flohr said. "The work they do provides the data that verifies our claims that the US consistently provides some of the highest quality wheat in the world."

Plains Grains, Inc. is dedicated to providing the link between producers of HRW wheat, grain companies, and foreign and domestic flour millers to benefit all segments of the wheat industry. By conducting an annual quality survey, PGI is able to take wheat samples from grain sheds in the 12 respective states to be evaluated for composition, kernel characteristics, milling yield and flour, dough and baking properties.

The Nebraska Wheat Board administers check-off of 0.4 percent of net value of wheat marketed in Nebraska at the point of first sale. The board invests the funds in programs of international and domestic market development and improvement, policy development, research, promotion, and education.