Agriculture Secretary Edward Schafer says the world has never been less secure about the near-term future of wheat.

Schafer told the International Food Aid Conference meeting in Kansas City on Wednesday that global wheat stocks are at a historic 30-year low. U.S. wheat stocks are at unprecedented 60-year low.

Against this background is the emergence of the highly virulent African stem rust that is spreading quickly.

Schafer said that 75% of U.S. wheat acres are planted to varieties that are highly susceptible to that disease.