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High Quality Wheat for Every Need Detailed in 2024 U.S. Crop Quality Report

2024 U.S. Wheat Crop Quality Report Cover

2024 U.S. Wheat Crop Quality Report Cover

As a key part of its commitment to transparency and trade service, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has produced the 2024 U.S. Crop Quality Report that includes grade, flour, dough, and baking data for five of six U.S. wheat classes. The report provides essential, objective information to help buyers get the wheat they need at the best value possible.

The report is now available for download in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. Arabic and Chinese language versions will be available through local USW offices and on the USW website when translations are complete.

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service export market development programs and USW’s state wheat commission members provided funding for the 2024 report.

Comprehensive Data

To produce the annual report, USW compiles comprehensive data from analysis of hundreds of samples conducted during and after harvest by partner organizations and laboratories. USW also shares more detailed, regional reports for all six U.S. wheat classes and Desert Durum®  on its website, as well as additional information on sample and collection methods, solvent retention capacity (SRC) recommendations, standard deviation tables and more.

“After the past few challenging years, my colleagues and the farmers we represent are glad to say that there is good production and quality news about U.S. wheat supplies” said USW President Vince Peterson. “The 2024 report shows the larger new crop offers our customers the milling and baking qualities needed to produce the highest quality wheat foods, and greater opportunity to thrive in the coming year.”

Crop Quality Seminars Underway

USW will also share quality information in person through its annual series of Crop Quality Seminars. This year, seven teams of USW representatives, farmers, and wheat quality experts will conduct the seminars across Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

USW produced this short video to provide more information about the 2024 U.S. Crop Quality Report and USW Crop Quality Seminars.

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U.S. Wheat Associates Statement on USDA Approval of HB4® Drought-Tolerant Wheat Trait

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its thorough, science-based process resulting in the deregulation of the HB4® drought-tolerant trait from Bioceres Crop Solutions announced on August 27, 2024. The farmer leaders of USW are confident that the HB4® trait has the potential to deliver significant producer and consumer benefits.

Although USDA’s ruling clears the regulatory pathway for cultivation of HB4® wheat in the United States, there are several additional steps needed before those benefits are realized and HB4® is grown commercially in the United States. These include the need to conduct closed-system field trials prior to commercialization. USW will continue monitoring Bioceres’ commercialization plans to ensure careful stewardship and alignment with the “Wheat Industry Principles for Biotechnology Commercialization” developed jointly with the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG).

“Wherever wheat is grown in the world, drought takes its toll on yields and quality, so an innovation like HB4 holds a lot of interest for growers like me,” said USW Past Chairman and Okarche, Okla., wheat grower Michael Peters. “With global demand for wheat hitting new records almost every year, there is concern about variable production.

Photo of Michael Peters on his farm in Oklahoma.

Michael Peters on his farm near Okarche, Okla. Photo By Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman.

A drought-tolerant trait offers more stable, sustainable production. At the same time, it is important that customers who have specific purchase preferences understand the industry supports their ability to purchase the type of wheat they want. That remains our policy after more than 16 years.”

In line with the principles for commercialization, USW and NAWG support for HB4® and any transgenic wheat commercialization is linked to the technology company receiving regulatory approval in major importing countries that represent at least five percent of average U.S. wheat export volume.

In addition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepting the safety of the HB4® trait in 2022, Bioceres has received regulatory approval for food and feed use in Nigeria, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, and South Africa, and has applied for approval in several other countries. Farmers are currently growing wheat with the HB4® trait in Argentina and Brazil. Bioceres also plans field trials in Australia with the intent to gain regulatory approval for cultivation there.

“A drought-tolerant trait offers more stable and sustainable production. At the same time, it is important that customers who may be concerned about introducing transgenic wheat into U.S. supplies understand the industry supports their ability to purchase the type of wheat they want. That remains our policy after more than 16 years.” – Michael Peters

“Our organization has established a productive dialogue with Bioceres, and we appreciate that the company understands the importance of our joint wheat industry principles,” said USW Director of Trade Policy Peter Laudeman. “I have travelled with growers to Argentina to see HB4 wheat in the field and they were impressed by its performance. We believe the trait represents good science with positive potential to improve food security in a more sustainable way.”

Peter Laudeman Thumbnail Portrait

Peter Laudeman, USW Director of Trade Policy.

Laudeman noted that beyond the announcement of the competed regulatory review, it will still take years for Bioceres to complete the additional steps needed to successfully commercialize wheat with the HB4® trait in the United States.

“There is still a lot of ground to cover with this technology and our organization will stay actively engaged in the process on behalf of our farmers and overseas customers,” Laudeman said, “We appreciate the commitment that Bioceres is making to working with its wheat industry partners to ensure robust stewardship of this technology prior to commercial release.”

More information about Bioceres, HB4®, and U.S. wheat organization positions on transgenic wheat commercialization is available at:

A broadcast version of this statement is available here.

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Joint Statement – Wheat Industry Applauds U.S. Senate Confirmation of Alexis Taylor

The National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) welcome the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Alexis Taylor to serve as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs. Earlier today, the Senate confirmed Taylor by a voice vote.

“NAWG applauds the confirmation of Alexis Taylor to this key role, and I personally congratulate her for this historic appointment,” said NAWG CEO Chandler Goule. “I have worked with Alexis for over 15 years, and I know the agriculture industry will benefit immensely from her expertise. She is a widely recognized leader on agriculture policy and has the domestic and international experience to help navigate U.S. agriculture through growing global changes and help expand markets for U.S. agricultural products. We appreciate the Senate’s bipartisan support of Alexis and look forward to working with her.”

“Global markets for food and agricultural products like milling wheat are growing, so finally having Ms. Taylor in this position will help re-establish the United States as a leading export market participant,” said USW President Vince Peterson. “After serving as Agriculture Director in Oregon she understands just how important it is to maintain a strong promotional effort in export markets. We look forward to working with her to build overseas markets for U.S. wheat.”

The Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs mission area plays a crucial role in developing and implementing USDA’s trade policy, oversees and facilitates foreign market access, and promotion opportunities for U.S. agriculture. The wheat industry looks forward to working with Alexis Taylor to advocate for U.S. wheat farmers and American agriculture.

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About U.S. Wheat Associates. 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 in more than 100 countries. Its activities are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 17 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.

About the National Association of Wheat Growers. NAWG is the primary policy representative in Washington D.C. for wheat growers, working to ensure a better future for America’s growers, the industry, and the general public. NAWG works with a team of 20 state wheat grower organizations to benefit the wheat industry at the national level. From their offices in the Wheat Growers Building on Capitol Hill, NAWG’s staff members are in constant contact with state association representatives, NAWG grower leaders, Members of Congress, Congressional staff members, Administration officials, and the public

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News Release – Wheat Industry Rail Shippers Welcome STB Rulings on Rate Disputes

New U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) rulings provide more streamlined processes for rail rate disputes and may benefit agricultural shippers. The STB established a voluntary arbitration program and an entirely new procedure for rate challenges, known as Final Offer Rate Review (FORR).

U.S. wheat farmers and the grain trade rely heavily on rail to transport wheat to export terminals by rail, but rates for hauling wheat are often higher than for other crops. The U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Transportation Working Group is pleased that the STB recognizes rail shippers need new and innovative ways to engage railroads on rate concerns.

New Ways to Challenge Rates

“These rulings are a welcome sign that rail customers like wheat farmers are being heard. The voluntary arbitration program and the FORR process are intended to help give smaller shippers greater ability to challenge rail rates,” said Charlie Vogel, TWG chairman and executive director of the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council. “Under these programs, the railroads can agree to binding arbitration or allow the STB to review a dispute and determine a final reasonable rate.”

STB Chairman Martin Oberman noted that the Board has been looking for ways to make smaller rail disputes “accessible, reasonable, and less time-consuming.” However, he added that “the Board’s prior efforts to provide rate review methods suitable for smaller disputes have been rarely used by shippers. I am optimistic that this time the Board’s efforts will achieve this long-desired goal.”

For more information visit https://www.uswheat.org/wheatletter/wheat-industry-helps-build-awareness-of-rail-shipping-challenges.

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New Film Features the Dependable People Who Maintain U.S. Wheat Export Reliability

ARLINGTON, Virginia — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has created a new film titled “Wholesome: The Journey of U.S. Wheat” that shows how the dependable people along the export supply system maintain the U.S. wheat export reliability and its wholesome character. USW will premiere the film at 1:00 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, on its Facebook page at this link: https://bit.ly/WholesomePremiere. 

“In our organization’s mission to promote U.S. wheat exports, our representatives focus on the consistently high quality of our supplies,” said USW Vice President of Communications Steve Mercer. “Through this film, the people at every step of the journey to export tell their own stories about how they thoughtfully produce new varieties, care for the land and the crop, and handle the wheat responsively to ensure it meets customer needs. This is an educational program that makes the stunning beauty of the land and the emotional attachment of these dependable people to the industry a key part of the story.”

The 25-minute film was produced in cooperation with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and Federal Grain Inspection Service, state wheat commissions, local elevators and export elevators. It will be available to 13 overseas USW offices for use at seminars, courses and trade events and serve as the foundation of new messages informing world wheat buyers and users about U.S. wheat export reliability and quality throughout 2021.

“In 2020, we celebrated our 40th year operating as U.S. Wheat Associates by telling our authentic story—that behind the world’s most reliable supply of wheat are the world’s most dependable people,” Mercer said. “Functional quality is a crucial part of that reliability and the people play such an important role in maintaining quality, we wanted them to help remind our customers about why U.S. wheat is so valuable.”

USW will also produce individual short subject programs covering chapters featured in the film. Each of these programs will be available for viewing later this year on the USW website, www.uswheat.org, and on the organization’s Vimeo page at https://vimeo.com/uswheatassociates.

U.S. Wheat Associates’ (USW) 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 17 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. USW maintains 15 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 U.S. wheat classes. For more information, visit www.uswheat.org.

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