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Korean Wheat Crop Survey Trade Team Visits United States to Inform Purchasing Decisions

When making major purchasing decisions, there are a variety of factors to consider and balance. Global wheat buyers typically consider price, reliability, customer service and wheat quality, and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) makes it possible for overseas wheat buyers to review these factors with the people who develop, produce and sell U.S. wheat.

USW welcomed a trade team of four Korean executives from major flour milling companies to the United States July 16 to 23, 2017. USW collaborated with the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC), Washington Grain Commission (WGC) and the Oregon Wheat Commission (OWC) to organize and host this trade team. Funding also came from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

“Three of the team members recently took on new responsibilities for wheat purchasing, so this experience was essential to help them learn about the U.S. quality assurance system and to better understand the wheat supply chain,” said Chang Yoon Kang, USW Country Director for Korea. “They had a firsthand look at the 2017 crop, which will help them prepare their upcoming purchasing plans.”

USDA reports that in marketing year 2016/17, South Korea imported 1.13 million metric tons (MMT) of U.S. wheat, including U.S. soft white (SW), hard red winter (HRW) and hard red spring (HRS) wheat.

Kang, who led the trade team, explained that the Korean wheat foods market is developing in a way that is similar to the U.S. market. End-product flour specifications in Korea are becoming more complicated because consumers demand quality and an increasingly wide range of products.

The team began its trip in Montana, where it immediately took a broad look at the complete supply chain with visits to the Northern Ag Research Center, CHS Big Sky, EGT, LLC, and Columbia Grain. The team members also visited MWBC Director Randy Hinebauch’s farm and observed the HRS crop harvest.

Next, the team traveled to Washington for a focus on wheat breeding and research. During a visit to the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Western Wheat Quality Lab in Pullman, the team participated in a blind taste test for noodles produced with flour from various varieties and wheat classes, and provided their feedback.

“The team had an extensive discussion about how quality is determined to correlate with end-users,” said Glen Squires, WGC CEO. “The lab team explained how over time, the aggregate quality of Pacific Northwest wheat has been increasing as new varieties are released.”

The team met with three breeders: Arron Carter, Washington State University (WSU) winter wheat breeder; Mike Pumphrey, WSU spring wheat breeder; and Kim Campbell, ARS club wheat breeder. They explained the breeding process and shared what they have learned from previous experiences meeting with customers and discussing end use needs, and how they have applied that knowledge to their work.

The team also stopped by some local SW and club wheat fields.

“Korea was one of the first countries I visited as a USW board member,” said Gary Bailey, USW board member from the WGC, and a wheat farmer from St. John, Wash. “I strongly feel it is important to listen to our buyers to better understand their needs and concerns, along with what they like. I appreciate being able to meet with these customers to discuss this year’s crop with them.”

On the last leg of their trip, the team traveled to Oregon, and in Portland met with the Wheat Marketing Center (WMC), Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and Pacific Grain Exporters Association. They also visited the Columbia Export Terminal and toured some farms in the Willamette Valley.

“This trip let us see firsthand, the quality of U.S. wheat and to meet the people who grow it,” said team member Dong Bae Nam, Executive Director, Sajodongaone Company. “I came with questions about U.S. wheat production, and meeting with FGIS and learning about the wheat breeding system showed me the quality and safety of U.S. wheat. We appreciate the hospitality and opportunity to build relationships with U.S. farmers.”

USW’s mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance wheat’s profitability for U.S. wheat producers and its value for their customers.” USW activities in more than 100 countries are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the U.S.- 605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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African Wheat Buyers, U.S. Industry Learn Much From Each Other

ARLINGTON, Virginia — U.S. wheat industry representatives from four states expected to answer a lot of questions from a team of Nigerian and South African flour milling executives, but they did not expect to learn so much from their customers. Their dialogue continued as the millers observed the entire U.S. wheat supply chain on stops in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Minnesota June 18 to 29, 2017, as part of a trade team sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and wheat commissions from those states. Funding also came from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

Gerald Theus, assistant regional director with USW in Cape Town, South Africa, led the team and noted two key reasons why this was a good time to emphasize the benefits of buying U.S. wheat.

“First, the price of imported milling wheat weighs heavily on buyers in Sub-Saharan Africa, and U.S. hard red winter (HRW) and other U.S. wheat classes have become more price competitive,” Theus said. “On the other hand, the millers are concerned about protein levels and other functional measures in the new crop. After the tour, we think they understand how to minimize their price risk and still get the performance they need from this U.S. wheat crop.”

Theus said consumers in Nigeria and South Africa prefer “high-loaf” pan bread, which is best produced with flour from medium protein wheat sourced mainly from the central and southern Plains states. Mike Schulte, the executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, said it was important for breeders, farmers and the grain trade to learn more about the specific quality and consistency these millers need.

“For example, they told us their baking customers need flour that provides minimum protein and dough stability time, but they cannot get consistent supplies like that from Russia.” Schulte said. “That helped us direct the discussion at our tour stops toward how the trade handles wheat to meet different specifications, and how the inspection system provides assurance they won’t have to make big and expensive adjustments from one delivery to another with U.S. wheat.”

“I was surprised about how U.S. wheat grading and testing is so comprehensive and consistent for every load of wheat coming from the farm by truck or rail to export locations,” said Hayi Emmanuel Dauda, quality assurance manager with Nigeria’s Dangote Flour Mills. “It was also good to see how the process of blending wheat from different sources achieves consistent protein levels and test weights for the buyer.”

Hosts at the Kansas Wheat Commission, the Nebraska Wheat Board, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and the North Dakota Wheat Commission each featured research and breeding programs, supported directly by farmers in those states, that impressed the buyers.

“It was very informative to learn about the challenges of ensuring the current and future production of all the U.S. wheat classes,” said Tanya Erwee, a grain procurement executive with Premier Milling in South Africa. “The wheat breeders are doing a great job, still striving to get better yields to benefit the farmer but also to keep the quality benefits strong for millers, too.”

The team’s visit to North Dakota and the major Great Lakes grain export system added a timely opportunity to learn more about sources of U.S. hard red spring (HRS) wheat and durum.

“We wanted to show these buyers that there is a chance this year to purchase spring wheat at relatively attractive prices to blend with hard red winter wheat to meet higher protein and stability times if needed,” said Theus. “For the Nigerian millers, we also wanted to demonstrate that northern durum could be an attractive alternative this year for pasta flour.”

Nigeria’s standard pasta flour is HRW with 12 percent protein (on a 12 percent moisture basis). There are limited supplies of that specification and the large supply of durum could be an alternative, said Erica Olson, Marketing Specialist with the North Dakota Wheat Commission.

“This team was valuable for us to host as they are not our typical customer,” Olson said. “While these are smaller markets for hard red spring and durum, interest in quality is growing. It was extremely beneficial to visit with them to learn more about what their quality needs are and how we might expand export opportunities in the future.”

In North Dakota, spring wheat and durum specialists at the North Dakota State University Spring Wheat Quality Laboratory and the Northern Crops Institute briefed the team members. From Fargo, N.D., the team traveled to their final stop at the ports of Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis., for meetings with private exporters.

“I must say the experience with the farmers, breeders, traders and other experts on this trip was second to none,” said Mr. Dauda. “What we learned from each other will be very important, particularly related to meeting the potential challenges associated with getting the protein levels we need.”

“This trip helps give us the confidence that U.S. growers, breeders, grading agencies and private exporters are committed in ensuring that quality standards of all wheat classes are met when exporting to other countries,” said Ms. Erwee. “The United States is still the exporter we can trust to supply good, consistent quality wheat.”

More Information About the Nigerian and South African Wheat Markets

With U.S. prices becoming more competitive — and with effective outcomes from USW’s training and trade service activities over many years — Nigerian mills bought significantly more HRW in marketing year 2016/17 (May to June) than in the previous few years. Nigeria imported 50 percent more HRW last year, a total of about 1.6 million metric tons (MMT), or nearly 58 million bushels. Much of that went to produce bread flour. There is also a growing pasta and instant noodle market that USW helped the Nigerian industry build over the years that provides consistent demand for higher protein HRW.

South Africa is a smaller market than Nigeria, but annual per capita wheat consumption of 63 kg is the highest in the Sub-Saharan region. Though it varies widely year to year, South Africa produces about 50 percent of its annual wheat consumption of 3.5 million metric tons (MMT). Wheat breeders and flour millers there are working together to develop improved protein varieties for South African farmers so it can be blended with imported wheat.

Millers prefer imports of HRW and similar classes of German and Argentinian wheat and tend to buy more of whatever is available at the least cost. U.S. HRW was much more competitive in marketing year 2016/17. In fact, South African millers imported HRW for the first time in five years. Millers there imported the most total U.S. wheat since 2007/08.

USW’s mission is to “develop, maintain and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW activities in more than 100 countries are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.

Header Photo Caption: Flour milling executives from Nigeria and South Africa met with representatives from the wheat supply chain in Oklahoma during a trade team visit to the United States in late June, sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates and state wheat commissions from Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Minnesota.

Caption: Flour milling executives from Nigeria and South Africa met with the Kansas Wheat Commission in Manhattan, Kan., and representatives from the state wheat supply chain during a trade team visit to the United States in late June, sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates and state wheat commissions from Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Minnesota.

Caption: Flour milling executives from Nigeria and South Africa learned about the timely benefits of hard red spring wheat and durum at the Northern Crops Institute, Fargo, N.D., and in meetings with representatives from the wheat supply chain in North Dakota during a trade team visit to the United States in late June, sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates and state wheat commissions from Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Minnesota.

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the U.S.- 605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Chilean Trade Team Visits United States to Discuss U.S. Wheat Quality

Good customer service is the foundation of any successful business or industry, and for the U.S. wheat industry that means building trust, good communication and consistency in order to forge strong partnerships with overseas customers. That also means providing customers with timely, reliable crop information and demonstrating a commitment to improvement.

USW welcomed a trade team of four Chilean executives from major wheat purchasing and flour producing companies June 18 to 24. USW collaborated with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission (OWC), California Wheat Commission (CWC), Washington Grain Commission (WGC) and the Idaho Wheat Commission (IWC) to organize and host this trade team. Funding also came from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

“Chile is a sophisticated wheat food market where bakers demand specific flour quality for a wide variety of products – led by bread consumption,” said USW Marketing Manager Casey Chumrau from the USW Santiago Office. “Over the past five years, the United States was the top supplier of wheat to Chile three times, with an average of 383,000 metric tons.”

Chumrau, who led the trade team, said that when the buyers learned that the 2017 hard red winter (HRW) wheat crop will be low in protein, they were open to discuss potential adjustments to their purchases to help meet their functional needs.

The team began its trip in Oklahoma, where it immediately took a broad look at the complete supply chain with visits to grain and seed companies, a train loading facility and marketers. The team also visited the OWC Baking Laboratory, which provided an opportunity to discuss the characteristics that Chilean millers and bakers need for their competitive market.

Next, the team traveled to California, where they had the unique opportunity to meet with Nicolas Cobo Lewin, a Chilean PhD candidate at the University of California-Davis, who specializes in wheat breeding.

“Breeding was one of the main topics of interest for this team and Mr. Cobo was able to explain the process and importance of breeding in a very understandable manner,” said Chumrau.

While in California, the team also visited the Port of Stockton, a Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) grading facility and the CWC Lab.

“California wheat farmers value building strong relationships with our customers, and this was a crucial and very important opportunity for us to build those relationships with millers and wheat buyers from Chile,” said CWC Executive Director Claudia Carter.

Next, the team traveled to Washington and Idaho where the two state wheat commissions worked together to focus on the team’s interests. Chile is the largest buyer of soft white (SW) in South America, and earlier this year the WGC organized a team of wheat farmers to travel to Chile to meet with buyers.

“Having this Chilean team come to the Pacific Northwest strengthens our relationship with an important customer and allows those millers who do not yet purchase soft white wheat to gain a better understanding of what it has to offer their operations,” said Washington Grain Commission CEO Glen Squires.

Additional visits in Washington and Idaho included HighLine Grain, LLC, a 110-car rail facility; the Lewis-Clark Terminal barge loading facility; and a farm visit. During their visit to the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Wheat Quality Lab, the team met with Dr. Kim Campbell to learn more about club wheat and its potential end product applications.

One participant shared that he thought it was important to see and experience the link between wheat breeding, farm production and grain handling that results in the wheat used in the organization’s mills.

“This trip featured almost every point of the supply chain,” said Chumrau. “The team repeatedly emphasized the importance of quality and was impressed with the extensive work being done in Oklahoma, California and the Pacific Northwest to produce new varieties with the buyer in mind.”

USW’s mission is to “develop, maintain and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW activities in more than 100 countries are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the U.S.- 605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Taiwan Milling Executives See Opportunity in Visit to the Pacific Northwest

From research labs to the field to the grain elevator, each stage of the supply chain contributes to the overall quality and reliability of U.S. wheat. But in the Pacific Northwest, the major link between quality U.S. wheat and the world market is the Columbia Snake River System. When trade teams from overseas visit the United States to learn more about the U.S. wheat market, learning how the river system supports exports is a key part of their experience.

USW welcomed a trade team of four milling executives from Taiwan that spent a lot of time along the river system from June 11 to 18. USW collaborated with the Oregon Wheat Commission (OWC), Washington Grain Commission (WGC) and the Idaho Wheat Commission (IWC) to organize and host this trade team. Funding for this trade team also came from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

“On average, Taiwan is the sixth largest market for U.S. wheat. The millers on this team were interested in exploring additional options for purchasing U.S. wheat,” said Boyuan Chen, USW Country Director in the Taipei Office. “Our schedule focused on the export system and sourcing practices, as well as programs for wheat breeding and quality assurance.”

The team began its trip in Portland, OR, meeting with the USW West Coast Office and OWC for briefings on supply and demand, and crop conditions for hard red winter (HRW), soft white (SW) and hard white (HW) wheat. They continued their overview of the supply chain with tours of multiple port elevators and meetings with the USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and the Wheat Marketing Center (WMC).

Next, the team traveled to Washington and Idaho where the two state wheat commissions worked together to focus on the team’s interests. This included a visit to the USDA-ARS Western Wheat Quality Laboratory, and participation in a county field day where the team saw wheat breeding and quality improvement programs in the new wheat varieties across the test plots. The team also learned more about the value of the river system and how the 465-mile river highway is an essential lifeline that provides farmers from as far inland as the Midwest access to the global market.

“Trade teams that visit this area of the Pacific Northwest have the unique opportunity to see two land grant universities, many wheat related facilities and the river system all in close proximity,” said Blaine Jacobsen, IWC Executive Director. “This is rich farmland where farmers are utilizing the latest technology to plant and care for the wheat that will move down river and on to family tables across Taiwan and all of Asia.”

Always a highlight for visiting customers, the team also had the opportunity to visit with Washington and Idaho wheat growers.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for wheat growers to rub shoulders with their customers, and it’s a great opportunity for buyers to learn more about the crop and the supply chain in the state of Idaho,” said Bill Flory, Idaho wheat farmer and commissioner.

“Being able to ask questions and discuss wheat quality at each stage of the supply chain with the people that grow and move the crops increased the confidence in U.S. wheat for these milling executives,” said Chen. “That is a great benefit, because they are considering purchasing a larger variety of U.S. wheat, including club wheat and hard white wheat.”

USW’s mission is to “develop, maintain and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW activities in more than 100 countries are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the U.S.- 605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Mid-Size Millers Team from Japan Learn about U.S. Wheat Supply Chain

In the world wheat market, milling companies of all sizes can have an impact on wheat exports and purchasing decisions. This is certainly the case in Japan where mid-sized milling companies representing Japan’s National Cooperative of Millers provide input on the functional characteristics those millers need to meet customer demand to buyers at Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

USW welcomed a trade team of four milling executives from mid-sized companies representing the co-op to the United States May 28 to June 4. USW collaborated with the Oregon Wheat Commission (OWC), Washington Grain Commission (WGC) and the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC) to organize and host this trade team. Funding for this trade team also came from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

“Japan will be the second largest buyer of U.S. soft white (SW) and hard red spring (HRS) wheat this year, which means no matter the size of the mill, it is important that these millers are familiar with the value of U.S. wheat and the U.S. wheat marketing system,” said Steve Wirsching, USW Vice President and Director of the West Coast Office. “Japanese millers are always quality conscious and ask good questions about improving overall wheat quality and end-use functionality.”

The team began its trip in Portland, OR, meeting with the OWC, USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and the Wheat Marketing Center (WMC), to learn more about the U.S. wheat market.

Next the team traveled to Washington where the team focused on research and breeding, transportation and SW wheat crop conditions.

During a tour at a barge loading facility, the team had an impromptu opportunity to visit the nearby dam and watch a barge and tug boat go through the lock and down through to the river.

“U.S. wheat growers rely on the river system to move their wheat,” said Mary Palmer Sullivan, WGC Vice President. “The opportunity to see the system in action demonstrated its importance and why periodic closures have to happen so improvements can be made.

Palmer Sullivan shared that during a visit to the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Western Wheat Quality Lab, the team also spent time in the greenhouse, observing the wheat breeding process.

“The same traceability that we recognize as important to U.S. millennials, is maybe more important to Japanese consumers,” said Scott Yates, WGC Director of Communications and Producer Relations. “They want to know that their food was grown to the highest standard.”

While in Montana, the team shifted their focus to HRS wheat production and continued to meet with members of the supply chain. At the center of their schedule, was a farm tour with Chris Kolstad, Montana wheat farmer, who showed them his spring and winter wheat production, equipment, grain bins, and explained how the technology he uses allows his farm to be more efficient.

“The team was curious about the new varieties we seeded and I shared with them that all of our wheat varieties are tested and proven before they are commercialized for farmers to use,” said Kolstad, who current servers on the USW Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer. “Eighty percent of Montana grains are sent to foreign markets, so it is important to demonstrate the work we put in to growing quality wheat.”

Stephen Becker, MWBC Outreach Coordinator added, “We are firm believers in the strength of personal relationships with our trade partners,” he said. “These customers learn firsthand the knowledge our producers carry and the pride they have in producing a high quality crop, which is important to keep in the forefront of the minds of those who make purchasing decisions.”

Ultimately the importance of relationships between U.S. wheat farmer and overseas customers is mutual.

“I think the opportunity to meet with U.S. wheat farmers and breeders is important,” said Shinjo Oda, Odazo Flour Milling Company President. “From wheat breeding to the producer to the country elevator and to the shuttle train or barge, we have a better understanding of the overall flow of U.S. wheat industry.”

USW’s mission is to “develop, maintain and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW activities in more than 100 countries are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the U.S.- 605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Maghreb Region Trade Team Focuses on Quality and Integrity of U.S. Wheat Marketing System

Trade servicing and technical assistance are key elements of USW’s mission to help customers understand the value of U.S. wheat. In the Maghreb region of North Africa, USW works directly with end users and importers to help strengthen commercial links with U.S. export companies and help motivate North African buyers to move toward more value-driven purchasing.

To give those buyers a deeper look at U.S. wheat, USW welcomed a trade team of four from Algeria and Morocco to the United States, May 14 to 20, led by Mina El Hachimi, North Africa Administration and Programs Manager, USW Casablanca Office. USW collaborated with the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC) and the North Dakota Wheat Commission (NDWC) to organize and host this trade team. Funding for this trade team also came from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

“These activities show customers how U.S. wheat can meet both quality and quantity requirements in the most profitable manner, as well as demonstrate the benefits of blending U.S. wheat classes with local and other imported wheat for specific end products while fostering more demanding quality specifications,” said El Hachimi. “Our focus was on the unique quality and integrity of the U.S. wheat marketing system, including how wheat is graded and exported. The team was particularly interested in learning more about U.S. durum characteristics and specific uses of Dark Northern Spring (DNS) wheat as an improver wheat.”

The team began its trip in Montana with a schedule that included tours focusing on research and breeding, milling, transportation and export logistics.

“Although this is not a new market for Montana, this was a fun, unique team for us to host,” said Collin Watters, MWBC Executive Vice President. “It was eye-opening for us to learn about the specifications they are interested in for durum, and for spring and winter wheat.”

On a tour of Montana Milling in Great Falls, MT, Watters said the team was especially interested in the mill’s specialty products and in the design of the mill itself. During another stop at Northern Seed, LLC, in Fort Benton, MT, which develops new durum varieties, the team saw progress toward the color specifications that their market demands.

The team was impressed by the level of research and connectivity throughout the entire U.S. wheat industry.

“I will share information with my own colleagues about the importance U.S. wheat farmers place on research and developing their industry,” said Adil El Eulj, Administrator, IZDA.

While in North Dakota, the team met with grain trade representatives and transportation experts to learn more about sourcing options and how to tender for combination shipments with spring wheat and other commodities. They also received a crop update and market outlook to help guide their buying decisions.

“This team was especially important to us because it represents one of our largest durum markets, behind only Italy,” said Erica Olsen, NDWC Marketing Specialist. “These buyers have unique quality needs, specifically regarding high semolina color. But we also have strong competition in these markets based on logistics and cost.”

U.S. durum sales to Algeria as of May 18 in marketing year 2016/17 (June to May) are 127,913 metric tons or 4.7 million bushels versus 89,811 metric tons or 3.3 million bushels at the same time last year, and Olson reported that the customers had positive feedback on the quality consistency. She also shared that the team met with Dr. Frank Manthey, North Dakota State University (NDSU), who presented promising quality data on new durum varieties that show improvements in semolina color, which was good news for the Moroccan team members.

“I think the dialogue that took place during this visit was extremely helpful for our promotion efforts in that region and some of the most valuable we’ve had in recent years,” said Olson.

Looking back on the experience, all the team members commented on the collaboration between farmers, state commissions, universities and suppliers as “passionate and exemplary.”

“We learned that wheat producer success spanning many generations was not by chance,” said Farid Taieb Ezzraimi, Director General, Group SIM, Algeria. “It is due to the close collaboration with the universities and advanced research in the agricultural sector.”

Reda Sellami, Director General, Moony Group, added, “The cultivation of cereals in the United States is a perfect model of development with the best control and management of the production process, storage and wheat marketing.”

“The interactions these customers had while traveling on a U.S. trade team will have a great impact on buying decisions,” said El Hachimi. “The experience helps build confidence between the U.S. wheat industry and the North African importer.”

The Maghreb region of North Africa is comprised of the Atlas Mountains and the coastal plain of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. Morocco and Algeria are a part of USW’s Middle Eastern, East and North Africa (MEENA) region, directed by Regional Vice President Ian Flagg from Rotterdam, Netherlands, and supported by offices in Casablanca, Morocco, and Cairo, Egypt.

Team at the Northern Crops Institute (NCI)

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the U.S.- 605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Japanese Executive Millers Focus on Trade Issues and Quality on Annual U.S. Wheat Tour

When a new Administration takes office and appoints new leadership, new opportunities and challenges for U.S. agriculture and trade are inevitable. It becomes increasingly important for the U.S. wheat industry to continue to renew the relationships built over the years with overseas customers and clearly communicate how changes might affect them.

Every year, as a part of USW’s market development activities, several overseas teams of U.S. wheat customers are organized and invited to travel to the United States to learn firsthand about the benefits of a business relationship with the U.S. wheat industry. USW welcomed its first 2017 trade team, a group of five Japanese executive flour millers, to the United States April 18 to May 6. USW collaborated with the Oregon Wheat Commission (OWC), Washington Grain Commission (WGC), Idaho Wheat Commission (IWC) and North Dakota Wheat Commission (NDWC) to organize and host this trade team.

“The United States is the biggest wheat supplier for Japan, so it is important to maintain dialogue between representatives of Japan’s biggest wheat users and our U.S. wheat contacts,” said Mr. Masaaki Kadota, Executive Director of the Japan Flour Millers Association (JFMA). “Our focus for this trip was to exchange views on future trade issues and maintaining a stable supply of wheat to meet our needs.”

USW President Alan Tracy noted that JFMA and the U.S. wheat industry have maintained a mutually respectful relationship for many years.

“We want to thank Mr. Kadota for his friendship and many years of service,” Tracy said.

The team began its trip in Portland, OR, meeting with U.S. wheat producers from Oregon and Idaho to discuss current crop conditions. Darren Padget, OWC Chairman, outlined the pressing decisions farmers have to make that affect the wheat crop and Bill Flory, Wheat Marketing Center (WMC) Chairman, hosted the group for a tour of the WMC laboratory. The team also met with the staff at the Overseas Merchandise Inspection Company (OMIC) grain and chemical residue testing laboratories and with the Japanese grain traders.

“At our office, we discussed the overall decrease in wheat seeded area, but we also assured them that the United States has ample carryover stocks and production conditions look pretty good for states that are tributary to Pacific Northwest ports,” said Steve Wirsching, USW Vice President and Director of the USW West Coast Office.

Next, the team traveled to Washington state, where they looked at the journey wheat takes from the farm to port, visiting with USW Vice Chairman Mike Miller while touring a warehouse and rail facility. They also learned more about plant breeding innovations at the Washington State University wheat breeding program and the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Western Wheat Quality Lab in Pullman.

During the next leg of their trip to Washington, DC, the team shifted its focus to the U.S. and global wheat market situation and trade policy, including meetings with the North American Export Grain Association, National Grain and Feed Association and USDA/FAS.

The team rounded out their trip in North Dakota where they met with U.S. wheat producers and focused on wheat quality and the North Dakota State University wheat breeding programs.

“Japanese consumers seek extremely high quality, safe and secure products,” said Mr. Junji Kokuryo, General Manager, Flour Milling Department, and Officer, Showa Sangyo Co. “It is our responsibility to convey those needs and message to U.S. wheat producers and breeders.”

Erica Olson, NDWC Marketing Specialist, said the team was very interested in hearing about planting progress and crop expectations in North Dakota.

“Japan is not only one of our oldest customers and quality focused buyers, but they are often the largest importer of hard red spring wheat,” said Olson “Hosting the team gives them the opportunity to share their questions and needs with producers. In return, our producers better understand the necessity of a quality product ­— that all wheat is not created equal and that they need to produce a crop that stands out amongst the growing competition.”

In 2016, the USW Tokyo Office celebrated 60 years serving customers in Japan and since the office opened in 1956, bringing trade teams to the United States has become a tradition.

“Steady communication and transparency is the key to the U.S. wheat industry’s long term relationship with Japan,” said Wirsching. “Inviting our customers — and friends — here renews that commitment year-after-year and is an investment in both of our industries.”

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the U.S.- 605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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USW Bringing Indonesian Milling Executives to Experience U.S. Wheat Supply System

ARLINGTON, Virginia — Three top-level executives from Indonesia’s largest flour milling company will travel to North Dakota and the Pacific Northwest August 17 to 27, 2016, with U.S. Wheat Associates to learn how they can select and efficiently import different classes of U.S. wheat. The millers work for Bogasari, which operates four separate flour mills in Indonesia. These managers in quality and product development, production planning and finance will see and hear how U.S. hard red spring (HRS), hard red winter (HRW) and soft white (SW) can help them meet the needs of their growing market.

Funding for this trade team visit comes from USDA through its Foreign Agricultural Service export market development programs and from in-kind contributions from the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, the Idaho Grain Commission, the Washington Grain Commission, the Oregon Grain Commission and the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland, OR.

“USW has had success demonstrating to Indonesian mills the processing advantages of flour made from U.S. hard red spring and winter wheat for bread products,” said USW Regional Vice President Matt Weimar, who will lead the Bogasari team. “We are also promoting soft white for superior performance in cakes, cookies and other soft wheat products. This visit supports those strategies very well.”

The team will start its visit in Fargo, ND, with the North Dakota Wheat Commission, North Dakota State University and Northern Crops Institute focusing on the advantages of HRS and the on-going work to improve functional performance. Next is a visit to Greg Svenningsen’s farm in Valley City, ND, and a country elevator owned by Columbia Grain before the team flies west to Portland. The visit there and then back up-country to eastern Washington and northern Idaho provides a complete picture of the U.S. Pacific Northwest wheat supply system and a detailed look at SW advantages.

“With U.S. wheat at a price disadvantage compared to Canadian wheat the last couple years and with Australia’s strong influence with Indonesia nearby, it is important to bring top-level managers from a large mill like Bogasari that has a majority market share to the United States to put a face on our advantages,” said Weimar. “It makes a difference when the buyer meets the breeders, farmers and grain handlers who actually make U.S. wheat the world’s most reliable supply.”

USW is the industry’s market development organization working in more than 100 countries. Its mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW maintains 17 offices strategically located around the world to help wheat buyers, millers, bakers, wheat food processors and government officials understand the quality, value and reliability of all six classes of U.S. wheat. Its activities are made possible through producer checkoff dollars contributed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the United States – +1-605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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USW Market Analyst Joins Colombian Trade Team on Its U.S. Tour

For Stephanie Bryant-Erdmann, USW’s market analyst, the diversity of the wheat export market and its changes keep her job interesting. She works closely with industry partners and USW overseas staff to track the pulse of the industry, so when the opportunity to gain direct insight into customer needs and concerns by traveling with one of USW’s trade teams from Colombia — she took it.

“Trade teams provide a unique opportunity to see the interaction between U.S. exporters and their customers that normally takes place remotely,” said Bryant-Erdmann. “This face-to-face interaction helps me better understand the challenges and opportunities U.S. wheat exports face.”

With funding from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, USW collaborated with the North Dakota Wheat Commission (NDWC) and the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC) to host a trade team of five Colombian executives July 24 to 30, 2016. Colombia was the top destination for U.S. wheat in South America in marketing year 2015/16 (June to May) after importing over 670,000 metric tons (MT) from four of the six U.S. wheat classes. During their visits to North Dakota, Montana and Louisiana the team focused on renewing their familiarity with the advantages of the U.S. wheat marketing system and gaining a better understanding of the U.S. wheat industry.

“The managers on this team represent the major flour, cookie and pasta groups in Colombia. Some are experienced buyers and account for 40 percent of the country’s wheat imports in 2015,” said USW Assistant Regional Director Osvaldo Seco, who led the team. “They are directly responsible for evaluating and importing wheat for their organizations and this trip put them directly in contact with traders to better inform their purchasing decisions.”

The team started its trip in Fargo, ND, at the Northern Crops Institute where they heard from a variety of North Dakota State University durum and spring wheat researchers on breeding and quality programs, pasta production techniques and pricing strategy.

“The programs the state commissions put together were excellent. One highlight for me was the USDA-ARS Hard Spring and Durum Wheat Quality Laboratory on the NDSU campus,” said Bryant-Erdmann. “Not only did the team see the depth and breadth of the lab’s capabilities, but we also saw samples fresh from the elevators and fields awaiting analysis for the USW annual Crop Quality Report.”

The trip’s northern leg, which included Montana, put an emphasis on highlighting the supply chain with tours of farms, grain elevators, the Montana State Grain Laboratory, Pasta Montana, General Mills and Columbia Grain. They also had several opportunities to meet directly with growers.

To top off their experience, the team traveled to Destrehan, LA, to visit a FGIS field office and a Bunge export elevator; and to Reserve, LA, to visit Cargill’s Terre Haute Marine Facility.

“Gulf exports account for roughly 45 percent of all U.S. wheat export volume, and have their own, unique challenges and opportunities,” said Bryant-Erdmann. “While the Pacific Northwest handles a similar quantity of exports, the Gulf climate, origination logistics, classes of wheat and customers ensure it is an entirely different animal. This was a great experience to share with the team.”

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the U.S.- 605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Korean Wheat Crop Survey Team Taking Annual U.S. Tour

ARLINGTON, Virginia — Three executives representing Korean flour milling companies will travel through the Pacific Northwest Aug. 7 to 14, for a more in-depth look at crop production and quality of soft white (SW), hard red spring (HRS) and hard red winter (HRW) wheat. Their visit, which includes stops in Montana, Washington and Oregon, will give them the opportunity to meet with growers, breeders and exporters.

“These milling companies hold purchasing tenders for milling wheat that supply all eight mills in Korea,” said USW Country Director Chang Yoon Kang, who is leading the team. “Each of these managers have a key role in making decisions about wheat origin, class, purchase contract specifications and wheat procurement policies. It is vital that they receive timely and reliable information on the crop situation.”

With funding from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, USW collaborated with the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC), Washington Grain Commission (WGC) and Oregon Wheat Commission (OWC) to organize and host this trade team.

In calendar year 2015, South Korea imported 2.37 MMT of wheat, including 1.10 MMT U.S. SW, HRS and HRW wheat sourced from Pacific Northwest and northern plains fields. While Korean millers import most of their wheat from the United States, Canadian spring wheat is also imported to blend with U.S. classes for bread flour. Australian white wheat is preferred for Korean style noodles, but USW is working to flank that market by helping its customers introduce whole wheat products made with flour from U.S. wheat as a healthy noodle choice.

The team will start its visit in Great Falls, MT, to visit a Columbia Grain elevator and the State Grain Lab. They will also tour O’Hara Farms in Fort Benton, MT, and have dinner with MWBC commissioners. In Pullman and Spokane, WA, the team will meet with Washington State University breeders and tour the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Western Wheat Quality lab, as well as go on a tour of the HighLine Grain shuttle facility. The final leg of the trip will be to Portland, OR, where the team will learn more about the PNW supply chain from staff at the USW West Coast Office, Wheat Marketing Center, Oregon Wheat Commission, Pacific Grain Exporters Association and Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). The team will round out their trip with a farm tour in the Willamette Valley.

“The Korean consumer is sophisticated and demands a wide range of high-quality wheat products that compete effectively with more traditional rice products. Korea has grown into a very important market for U.S. wheat producers because they buy our premium wheat classes and are willing to pay more to extract that quality from our market,” said USW Vice President and West Coast Office Director Steve Wirsching. “This trade team provides a way for the millers to learn more about the upcoming harvest so they can do a better job of originating the best quality we have to offer.”

USW is the industry’s market development organization working in more than 100 countries. Its mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW activities are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 19 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

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Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the United States – +1-605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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