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Bakery Technician Sam Yap Joins U.S. Wheat Associates in Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) announces a new addition to its team in its regional Singapore Office. Sam Yap joins the organization this month as a bakery technician with a regional focus in South and Southeast Asia.

“We are excited to welcome a talented baker with valuable industry experience and insight to support customers in markets where demand for high-quality U.S. wheat continues to grow,” said Joe Sowers, USW Regional Vice President for South and Southeast Asia. “USW has a strong legacy of dependable technical service in this region led by Roy Chung. With Roy as their mentor, Sam joins Ivan Goh and Adrian Redondo in carrying on that exceptional work into the future.”

“I am excited to join the U.S. Wheat Associates team and use my skills and experience to support the increasing demand for high-quality U.S. wheat in South and Southeast Asia,” said Yap.

Portrait of Sam Yap, USW Bakery Technician

Sam Yap, Bakery Technician, U.S. Wheat Associates.

Head Baker

Nearly a decade of experience in high-end bakeries and hotels equips Yap to have an immediate impact on the region. Most recently, he spent five years at Keong Saik Bakery in Singapore, a leading traditional Chinese bakery. As head baker of the bread team, Yap was involved in all aspects of bakery production and management—experience that will help him relate to and understand the needs of U.S. wheat customers.

Yap has a diploma in culinary skills from SHATEC – Singapore and is currently working toward a diploma in applied science focused on nutrition and food science at Republic Polytechnic. In addition, Yap has completed several courses and certifications across South Asia, further developing his skills and knowledge of breads, pastries, baking with kefir probiotics, and more. In addition to his professional experience, Yap is fluent in Mandarin, Bahasa, and English.

South and Southeast Asian Wheat Exports

Major wheat markets in USW’s South and Southeast Asian region include the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. At the end of the 2023/24 marketing year, U.S. wheat commercial sales to the region totaled 4.5 million metric tons of hard red spring, soft white, hard red winter, and soft red winter wheat, representing 24% of total U.S. commercial sales.

U.S. Wheat Associates’ (USW) 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 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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USW Joins Agriculture Groups, Labor Unions in Applauding Life-Saving International Food Aid Reform in House Farm Bill Text

May 17, 2024 – U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) joins the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA), National Association of Wheat Growers, Midwest Dry Bean Coalition, USA Rice, and AFL-CIO in applauding the House Agriculture Committee for its inclusion of life-saving reforms to U.S. international food aid programs in today’s release of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. These reforms would immediately feed more people without spending any new taxpayer dollars.

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 includes a 50 percent floor for U.S. commodities and ocean shipping in Food for Peace, ensuring that at least half of the budget goes directly to the program’s mission of feeding hungry people worldwide. Through its reforms, the Act preserves a robust role for USDA and the American farmers, millers, and shippers that have reliably contributed to Food for Peace since its inception.  Additionally, it simplifies the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust release mechanism so that the program can respond efficiently and effectively to hunger crises, as intended.

“The Farm Food and National Security Act of 2024 sends a clear message that Food for Peace should be delivering as much American grown food to as many hungry people as possible,” said USW Director of Trade Policy Peter Laudeman. “This is a mission that U.S. wheat farmers are proud to support, and we look forward to seeing these important reforms carried through the farm bill process.”

USW’s partners in backing the measure also voiced strong support.

“The food aid reforms included in the House farm bill ensure that more food will go directly into the bellies of hungry people around the world. In a time of such unprecedented famine emergency, we cannot imagine a higher priority than making sure we are feeding as many people as possible,” said NAMA Vice President of Government Affairs Kim Cooper.

“American labor has long supported the Food for Peace program, and is proud to endorse these provisions in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 that ensure our nation continues its leadership in the fight against global hunger,” said Mark Clements, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

 

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Celebrating The Future of Agriculture – and Wheat Foods, From Farm to Flour – on the National Mall

The U.S. Wheat Associates, National Association of Wheat Growers, North American Millers’ Association, and American Bakers Association are joining the Celebration of Modern Agriculture on the National Mall near the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters on May 6, 7, and 8, 2024. The event will showcase the constant improvement in American agriculture from farmers, ranchers, equipment manufacturers, and input innovators on the cutting-edge of science and technology. 

NAMA, USW, NAWG, and ABA will host an exhibit that tells the story of wheat production, from field to flour to favorite wheat foods here and around the world. The exhibit will include interactive displays that tell the story of this iconic American crop and the industries it supports.

During the event, leaders from all four organizations will be available to speak with the media about their organizations’ participation in the event and how America’s wheat industry, from grower to manufacturer, is producing wholesome, sustainable staple foods to improve food security for a growing world. 

The event will be held on the National Mall in Washington, DC, near the Smithsonian Metro station, outside the USDA headquarters between the Smithsonian museums. The joint wheat industry exhibit will be located at Booth 32 near the Jefferson Drive SW and 7th St SW intersection (see map below).

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Wheat Groups Welcome New Funding for Food Assistance

ARLINGTON, Virginia — (April 18, 2024) –

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are pleased that U.S. wheat farmers can help increase global food assistance under a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding program announced today.

USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will invest $1 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funding to provide for the purchase, shipment and distribution of U.S. wheat and other commodities for USAID international food assistance programming.

“American wheat farmers are proud to step up to the plate to provide critical food resources to address global needs,” Oklahoma wheat farmer and USW Chairman Michael Peters said. “This funding will provide wheat and other commodities to address food insecurity. These additional resources will help the U.S. wheat industry, and U.S. agriculture, continue to be a reliable source of food for the world.”

USW and NAWG thank Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for releasing the new funds that will directly benefit U.S. wheat farmers and people affected by hunger in several countries. Additionally, the organizations thank Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and John Boozman (R-AR) for a letter they sent to Vilsack this past fall formally requesting additional support for food assistance.

U.S. wheat farmers have been partners in U.S. food assistance programs for more than 70 years and take pride in sharing their harvest to address critical hunger needs. Through the USDA’s Food for Progress and USAID Food for Peace programs, the American people have donated more than one million metric tons of wheat annually for the past three years.

“Additional funding for food assistance programs will help address the most urgent humanitarian needs in a generation. USW and NAWG look forward to working with USDA and other partners to ensure additional food donations generate the significant benefits where they are needed,” said NAWG President Keeff Felty. “As NAWG works with Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill, we continue to advocate for strengthening the in-kind commodity donation program and additional investments in the existing trade promotion programs.”

Members of the USW and NAWG Food Aid Working Group are proud of the wheat provided through these food aid programs and believe that commodity donation is an effective portion of the whole effort.

“Wheat makes up the largest portion of emergency food assistance managed by USAID’s Food for Peace office,” said Amanda Hoey, Chief Executive Officer, Oregon Wheat Commission and Chair of the USW Food Aid Working Group. “It is a natural demonstration of the generosity of U.S. farmers and their ability to produce an abundance of commodities that can be shared around the world.”

For more information about food security and assistance, visit the USW website here, and the NAWG website here.

 

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Ivan Goh Returning to USW as Biscuit/Bakery and Noodle Technologist

Ivan Goh returns to USW this month as a Biscuit/Bakery and Noodle Technologist in the South and Southeast Asia market. Goh has extensive experience in flour milling, bakery technical service and wheat food ingredients.

Ivan Goh returns to USW this month as a Biscuit/Bakery and Noodle Technologist in the South and Southeast Asia market. Goh has extensive experience in flour milling, bakery technical service and wheat food ingredients.

A familiar face with an extraordinary skillset returns to U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) this month as Biscuit/Bakery and Noodle Technologist in the South and Southeast Asia market.

Ivan Goh, who held the position from 2018 to 2022, has extensive experience in flour milling, bakery technical service and wheat food ingredients. He will work closely with USW staff, leading USW training courses throughout the region.

Duties to Include Running UFM Courses

USW Vice President for South and Southeast Asia Joe Sowers said Goh will take on the additional responsibility of running courses at the UFM Baking and Cooking School in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Ivan has remarkable technical abilities and is very familiar with the training programs U.S. Wheat Associates conducts,” Sowers said. “He understands the wheat foods industry in South and Southeast Asia, having experience with USW and private industry throughout the region. He is also familiar with the other markets USW works in, having collaborated with staff in our Manila, Seoul, Taipei, Beijing, Casablanca, and Latin American offices. USW’s technical specialists are more effective thanks to their global perspective. They share their skills and expertise with each other across all parts of the world. Ivan has the tools and experience to demonstrate the quality benefits of using U.S. wheat to industry partners.”

Mentored by Roy Chung

Goh earned a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology from the University of Putra Malaysia and is fluent in several languages spoken in the region. Importantly, Goh was mentored by USW Bakery Consultant Roy Chung, one of the longest serving USW staff members. In fact, Goh’s initial introduction to USW came when Chung conducted a USW baking workshop at FFM Berhad a decade ago. A year later, in 2015, Goh participated in a USW baking course Chung developed and led at the UFM Baking and Cooking School.

Goh joined USW in March 2018. He left USW and the Biscuit/Bakery and Noodle Technologist position in late 2022 and has since worked in private industry, building further on his skills and experience.

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USW Board Elects Millershaski as 2024-25 Secretary-Treasurer

ARLINGTON, Virginia – At its Jan. 26 meeting in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Board of Directors elected wheat farmer Gary Millershaski of Lakin, Kan., as Secretary-Treasurer for fiscal year 2024-25. The board also elected Clark Hamilton, of Ririe, Idaho, as Chairman; Jim Pellman, of McClusky, N.D., as Vice Chairman; and Michael Peters, ofOkarche, Okla., as Past Chairman. These elected officers will take their positions at the USW Board of Directors Annual Meeting July 9-12 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Millershaski, along with his wife Jana and their sons Jeremy and Kyler, grow hard white (HW) and hard red winter (HRW) wheat, dryland corn and milo, and manage a cow/calf operation on their farm, which was passed along from Jana’s father Earl Kleeman. Millershaski became a Kansas Wheat Commissioner in 2016 and currently serves as its chairman. He also served as a director of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers (KAWG) from 2007 to 2017 after he received a KAWG scholarship while a member of the Class VIII Kansas Agricultural & Rural Leadership (KARL) program.

Learn more about Millershaski’s experience and commitment to the U.S. wheat industry and USW in the video below.

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Feeding the World, Caring for the Land: U.S. Wheat Associates Launches ‘Stories of Stewardship’ Video Series

ARLINGTON, Virginia – The time and effort U.S. farmers put into caring for the land makes for a story that is not shared often enough. A new video series produced by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) aims to change that for overseas wheat buyers by focusing on how producers help feed the world while also acting as stewards of soil, water, and the environment.

USW’s  “Stories of Stewardship” project goes straight to the source. Five wheat farmers in five different states appear on camera, from their farms, to talk about their work to assure economic security for the next generation of farmers by leaving their land in better shape than it was when they started farming it.

A preview of the new, six-episode series can be viewed here. USW will debut the series at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Jan. 10, 2024, with a Facebook Live event at www.facebook.com/uswheat/.

“First and foremost, we are stewards of this land, so we can pass it on to the next generation.”                       Nick Jorgensen, Ideal, South Dakota.

Sustainable Production Across the U.S.

Episode 1 of Stories of Stewardship focuses on the variety of sustainable practices applied by the five farm families producing different classes of wheat across the wide range of growing conditions in the United States.

Five episodes will follow in January and February covering individual Stories of Stewardship from family farmers Tom Cannon, Blackwell, Okla., Ben and Stephanie Bowsher, Waynesfield, Ohio, Nick Jorgensen, Ideal, S.D., Art Schultheis, Colton, Wash., and Aaron Kjelland, Park River, N.D.

A Food Ingredient Produced Sustainably

“Consumers around the world want to know how their food is grown and U.S. wheat is definitely a food ingredient,” said USW Vice President of Communications Steve Mercer. “Here at home, we know U.S. farmers work every day to nourish and improve the land and produce a sustainable source of high-quality wheat. The purpose of the Stories of Stewardship series is to share this information with international buyers, millers, wheat food processors, and consumers who value the quality and reliability of U.S. wheat.”

In addition to the USW Facebook page, the Stories of Stewardship series can be seen on the USW website, Vimeo, X, and LinkedIn.

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Wheat Organizations Welcome Reopening of Border Rail Crossings

ARLINGTON, Virginia — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are pleased that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency reopened rail crossings in El Paso and Eagle Point today.

These rail corridors are essential gateways to many loyal flour millers and their wheat food customers in Mexico who rely on the interconnected U.S. and Mexican rail system for a reliable source of high-quality U.S. wheat. Even short disruptions in this system can have significant negative effects on both sides of the border.

We trust CBP will take the steps needed to avoid rail closures in the future, and we are grateful for their efforts to maintain border security and facilitate lawful trade.

 

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Closed Rail Crossings on the Mexican Border Put Crucial Wheat Exports at Risk

ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) have joined several other U.S. agricultural organizations in signing a letter encouraging U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reopen rail crossings in El Paso and Eagle Point for trade as quickly as possible.

Given the huge volume of U.S. wheat sales that move directly to Mexican customers by rail, the sudden decision on December 17 to close these two crucial rail crossings on the border has the potential to be a major disruption in this important trade relationship.

Mexico is historically the top export market for U.S. wheat with average annual commercial sales of almost 132 million bushels. A substantial volume of U.S. wheat is shipped by rail every year and it is estimated that at least 13 million bushels of wheat, valued at more than $114 million, per year moves through the rail corridors at the El Paso and Eagle Pass crossings that are now closed.

Mexican customers use rail to import U.S. wheat from as far away as the Northern Plains and loaded trains are currently waiting to move. This unexpected disruption puts those sales at risk, as well as the positive trading relationship our industry has built over decades as a reliable supplier of high-quality U.S. wheat to Mexican flour millers and their commercial bakery customers.

Like the other national agricultural organizations signing the industry letter, USW and NAWG understand the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency have significant challenges given the situation at the border, but a supply chain crisis in Mexico can, and should be, avoided by safely reopening the international crossings.

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Wheat Groups Welcome New Funding for Food Assistance and Export Market Development

ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are pleased that U.S. wheat growers now have the opportunity to increase global food assistance and expand export market access under new USDA funding programs announced Oct. 24, 2023. USW and NAWG thank Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for releasing the new funds that will directly benefit U.S. wheat farmers and their overseas customers. Additionally, we thank Senators Stabenow (D-MI) and Boozman (R-AR) for their August 28 letter to Secretary Vilsack formally requesting additional support for trade promotion and food assistance.

Food Assistance

U.S. wheat farmers have been partners in U.S. food assistance programs for more than 60 years and take pride in sharing their harvest to address critical hunger needs around the world. Through the USDA’s Food for Progress and USAID Food for Peace programs, the American people have donated more than one million metric tons of wheat annually for the past three years.

“Additional funding for food assistance programs will help address the most urgent humanitarian needs in a generation. USW and NAWG look forward to working with USDA and other partners to ensure additional food donations generate the most benefit where it is needed most,” said NAWG President Brent Cheyne. “As NAWG works with Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill, we continue to advocate for strengthening the in-kind commodity donation program and additional investments in the existing trade promotion programs.”

Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS) addresses the media while holding a U.S. Food Aid sack with and Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) during a press conference announcing the introduction of the American Farmers Feed the World Act 2023.

Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS) addresses the media with Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) during a press conference announcing the introduction of the American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023.

Export Market Development

Organizations like USW that participate in USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) export market development programs were very encouraged when the Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program was established in 2019 as part of a program to ease the effects of trade retaliation against U.S. farmers and exporters. Those funds originated from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and FAS awarded grants to almost 60 cooperating organizations to be invested by 2024.

“USW demonstrated that the additional funding helped us protect crucial wheat export sales in established markets and build a base for growth in new markets,” said USW Chairman and Oklahoma wheat farmer Michael Peters. “We appreciate the introduction of the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), and the USW team will work very hard to use it effectively. Looking ahead, global wheat trade is increasingly competitive and market development takes time and consistency. That’s why we believe that in the long-term, increases for established Farm Bill export development programs are the best way forward.”

Detailed information about USDA FAS export market development programs and funding is available at www.AgExportsCount.com.

All across its supply chain, U.S. wheat depends on the successful public-private partnership between USW’s state wheat commission members and USDA FAS export market development programs. Checkoff contributions qualify USW to apply for matching funds through programs like the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program.

Under U.S. farm legislation, Congress apportions funding for MAP, FMD and other export programs. Annual funding for MAP has not changed from $200 million since 2006 and annual FMD funding of $34.5 million has not changed since 2002, yet other countries have significantly ramped up their export promotion spending.

“Study after study has shown that these programs consistently meet their purpose to boost agricultural export volume and revenue while supporting the entire U.S. economy, and the benefits grow with additional funding,” Peters said.

For more information about the benefits of FAS export market development programs visit www.AgExportsCount.com.

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