thumbnail
, , , ,

NAWG and USW Welcome Attention on Trade Policy Risks and Opportunities

Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) appreciate the Senate Agriculture Committee holding its “Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Trade” hearing Sept. 13, 2018, focused on the Trump Administration’s trade agenda. The organizations are encouraged that Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow, as well as the members of the Administration who testified today, recognize the challenges farmers face in weathering today’s unique trade policy environment.

 

“We commend the leadership for holding this hearing and we were glad to hear the Administration witnesses acknowledge there is legitimate anxiety in farm country about the impact of retaliatory tariffs on our products,” said Jimmie Musick, NAWG President and a wheat grower from Sentinel, Okla. “We see opportunity for our members from the strong resistance to China’s unfair trade policies. We also recognize the risk to farm income continues to grow the longer this confrontation with China continues and we call on the Administration to do all it can to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible. Finally, we’re grateful to Ambassador Doud for making the grain grading disparity with Canada a top priority in NAFTA.”

 

“In our successful partnership with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, state wheat commissions and U.S. Wheat Associates have worked for many decades to develop markets in China, Mexico, Japan, Europe and dozens of other countries,” said Chris Kolstad, USW Chairman and a wheat grower from Ledger, Mont. “Wheat growers depend on export markets to support wheat prices and we want the Administration to succeed in breaking down trade barriers. We’re also glad that Ambassador Doud and Under Secretary McKinney both noted the importance of negotiating new agreements that work for our farm families and for our overseas customers.”

 

NAWG and USW look forward to final approval of the renegotiated agreement with Mexico that maintains duty free access to its crucial wheat market. The organizations are also encouraging the Administration to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership or quickly negotiate a trade agreement with Japan that keeps U.S. wheat on equal footing with competing supplies from Canada and Australia.

 

# # #

 

About NAWG
NAWG is the primary 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 22 state wheat grower organizations to benefit the wheat industry at state and national levels. 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 and the public.

 

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.” 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. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.

 

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all of its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

 

/by
thumbnail

U.S. Wheat Associates Continues Restructuring with Closing of Moscow Office

ARLINGTON, Virginia — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) announces it will close its office in Moscow, Russia, effective Oct. 1, 2018. The closure represents part of an ongoing restructuring of overseas offices designed to refocus resources toward markets with the best potential to grow U.S. wheat exports and returns for the farmers USW represents.

Based in part on the significant increase in low-priced Russian wheat exports, USW closed an office in Cairo, Egypt, in December 2017, that eliminated four staff positions. The Moscow office closing will eliminate the position of Office Director and Marketing Specialist held by Ms. Valentina Shustova since 1995.

“After working continuously with the former Soviet Union since the mid-1970’s, we opened an office in Moscow in 1992 to work more closely with the newly independent Russian government and its budding private-sector industry that imported almost three million metric tons of U.S. wheat that marketing year,” said USW President Vince Peterson. “Russian imports of U.S. wheat averaged close to 400,000 metric tons for the next ten years, most notably capped by a U.S. wheat donation program that helped shore up Russian domestic crop and economic hardships in 1998 and 1999. Since then, however, the country’s agriculture has changed to be more market oriented. As their domestic wheat production increased, our mission also shifted to monitoring this production as well as Russian wheat quality, prices and policy.”

Peterson said Shustova continued to report on domestic wheat quality and prices even as Russia gradually became a wheat exporting nation. This provided competitive perspective for U.S. wheat farmers and traders.

“With much more public information available about Russia’s wheat supply, we believe it is time to end our mission there and continue allocating more resources in markets where our export volume is growing,” said USW Vice President of Overseas Operations Mark Fowler. “Russian wheat is obviously very competitive in certain markets, but it is important to point out that our marketing and technical teams based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and Casablanca, Morocco, will continue competing for export business in the Middle East and North Africa.”

Russian-born U.S. citizen Ms. Nina Kostina was named Office Director when USW opened its Moscow office. She was replaced in March 1993 by Ms. Melanie Kowalski, also a U.S. citizen, who hired Russian national Shustova as an assistant in 1993. She has been the only USW staff in the Moscow office since 2002.

“As it was with our decision to close the Cairo office, this is a difficult choice because of Valentina’s dedicated service to U.S. Wheat Associates and the farmers we represent,” Peterson said. “She remained an active participant in the Russian grain industry and provided very relevant information and perspective on the amazing changes that have taken place there. We sincerely thank her for her commitment and we wish her the best of luck in the future.”

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.

The Russian Federation has shifted from being a net importer of wheat to become the largest single wheat exporting country in the world. This change and a strategic decision to focus available resources on importing markets with the best growth potential has prompted U.S. Wheat Associates to close its one-person office in Moscow, Russia, effective Oct. 1, 2018. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

# # #

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

/by
thumbnail
, ,

U.S. Wheat Associates Welcomes NAFTA Breakthrough and Market Development Investment

ARLINGTON, Virginia — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) believes today’s breakthrough in NAFTA negotiations with Mexico and the announcement that the trade dispute aid package for U.S. agriculture includes new funding for export market development are welcome news for U.S. wheat growers.

 

“We are glad to see progress toward a renegotiated NAFTA that builds on the opportunities the existing agreement opened with Mexico’s wheat importing flour millers. We hope it spurs negotiations with Canada to resolve outstanding issues like its discriminatory wheat grading law,” said USW Chairman Chris Kolstad, a wheat farmer from Ledger, Mont. “The new market development program will help us plan new activities that will begin repairing the cracks in our crucial, long-term trade relationships with Mexico and other countries. We appreciate that the Trump Administration supports the need for additional market development in this unique trade environment.”

 

Kolstad said U.S. Wheat Associates agrees with the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) that while it is important to hold China and other countries accountable for unfair trade practices, policies that invited retaliation and created the need to provide federal aid to farmers are not the best course.

 

“Like NAWG, we believe the long-term solution is to end the trade war and move on to negotiating new trade deals that work for farmers and for our overseas customers,” Kolstad said.

 

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.

 

# # #

 

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

/by
thumbnail

U.S. Wheat Associates Welcomes New Colleague in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Tokyo announces that Ms. Makiko Ochi has joined the staff as Program Assistant/Accountant. Ms. Ochi will replace Ms. Sadako Ishida who plans to retire in late September 2018 after many years working with USW to promote U.S. wheat exports to Japan.

 

“We are very pleased Ms. Ochi is now applying her experience as a manager at a large securities organization and as a skilled communicator to our work on behalf of U.S. wheat farmers here in Japan,” said USW Japan Country Director Wataru Utsunomiya.

 

Ms. Ochi most recently worked as a freelance drama and dance critic in Japan, Asia and Europe after eight years in management at Daiwa Institute of Research, one of Japan’s largest securities firm. She earned a bachelor’s degree in law at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.

 

Compared to Japan, no government organizations, millers or processors in any other country invest so much to produce the highest quality, most wholesome wheat foods possible for its consumers. USW and its legacy organizations, with support from state wheat commissions and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) export market development programs, have maintained an office and staff serving Japan’s sophisticated wheat milling and food industry since 1956. In turn, Japan represents a consistently strong market for high-quality U.S. soft white (SW), hard red spring (HRS) and hard red winter (HRW) wheat.

 

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 FAS.

# # #

 Makiko Ochi

 

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

/by
thumbnail
, , , ,

Wheat Organizations Continue to Support an End to Trade War as Administration Offers Help for Farmers

ARLINGTON, Virginia — The Trump Administration announced today that it would provide $12 billion to help farmers cope with the results of the current trade dispute ignited by new U.S. tariffs.

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are glad that the Administration recognizes farming as a risky business and acknowledges that farmers need help to manage the additional risk from its trade policies. However, our concerns still lie in a lengthy trade war that will cause long-term, irreparable harm to U.S. agriculture. We urge the Administration to recognize this self-inflicted damage and to end the trade war immediately as well as to work within the rules-based trading system in partnership with like-minded countries to address serious problems in the global economy.

While tariffs aren’t the answer, the wheat industry greatly appreciates the Administration’s efforts to push back on China’s unfair trade practices through dispute settlement cases at the World Trade Organization. The policies being challenged hurt U.S. farmers and have undermined trust in the rules-based trading system. President Trump understands that the farm economy is struggling and is working to improve the livelihoods of growers across the country through these efforts.

 

Agriculture needs strong trading partners, so we also encourage the Administration to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership and finalize NAFTA negotiations so that the U.S. Trade Representative can focus on new trading partners that will be as important as ever. These actions will have lasting benefits to wheat growers across the country.

To repeat, this damage is self-inflicted, so the Administration is right to take steps to address it, but the next step should be ending the trade war. We will also be closely engaged with Administration officials as the details of the announcement made today are developed.

 

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.” 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. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.

 

About NAWG
NAWG is the primary 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 state and national levels. 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 and the public.

 

# # #

 

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

/by
thumbnail

Staff Promotions in Hong Kong and Beijing

Hong Kong — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has promoted Ms. Shirley Lu to Country Director, China, and Ms. Kaiwen Wu to Market Specialist China. Ms. Lu is based in USW’s North Asia Regional Office in Hong Kong and Ms. Wu is based in the USW Beijing office. The changes follow the retirement earlier this year of long-time USW Country Director Andy Zhao

 

Shirley Lu, USW Country Director, China

Ms. Lu served as a wheat buyer and seller with a flour miller and a trading company in the People’s Republic of China before joining USW in 2012 as Market Specialist.

 

“In a previous position, Shirley was instrumental in the first private purchase of U.S. wheat in the early days of the WTO-mandated quota system,” said USW Regional Vice President Jeff Coey. “Given her knowledge of the Chinese market and the very high level of competence she has demonstrated since she joined USW, elevating Shirley to Country Director is a natural move.”

 

“Even though working in this market is very complicated, it is always about people — and working with good customers is always a pleasure,” Ms. Lu said.

 

Ms. Wu joined USW as a Receptionist in Beijing in 1996, and eventually became Office Manager.

Kaiwen Wu, USW Market Specialist, China

 

“Kaiwen’s personal efficiency and knowledge of our trade service and technical support activities has earned the respect of every customer and prospect in the Chinese milling and wheat foods industries,” Coey said. “We are certain her transition to the Marketing Specialist position will be seamless.”

 

“Over the years with U.S. Wheat Associates, I have learned that the American wheat farmers we represent are lovely people to be with,” Ms. Wu said. “That is one of the most important reasons why I have enjoyed working for them for so many years.”

 

China imported more than 61 million bushels of U.S. wheat in marketing year 2016/17 (June 1 to May 31), making it the fourth largest buyer of U.S. wheat in the world that year. USW and U.S. farmers have made a substantial investment over the years to develop a Chinese market that has great potential to buy even more U.S. wheat. Unfortunately, the exchange of tariffs and retaliation between the two countries has stopped that trade dead in its tracks.

 

USW has urged the Trump Administration to pull back from a dangerous course that puts vulnerable U.S. industries like wheat production at risk and, in a larger sense, undermines the established rules-based global trading system. However, USW will continue its market development work in China in hopes that more active trade in U.S. originated wheat will resume.

 

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 FAS.

# # #

 

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

/by
thumbnail

U.S. Wheat Associates Launches New Website

ARLINGTON, Virginia —U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Headquarters Office in Arlington, Va., introduced a new look and organization to its website, www.uswheat.org, on Monday, July 16, 2018.

“The new website emphasizes the importance of the U.S. wheat farmers we represent, their overseas customers and the reputation of U.S. wheat as an essential ingredient in hundreds of wheat foods around the world,” said USW Assistant Director of Communications Amanda Spoo. “The site is now organized to make it easier for visitors to access many of the site’s most popular sections and to improve access from mobile devices.”

“How we communicate with our customers and stakeholders needs to reflect the high quality and reliable performance of U.S. wheat and build trust in U.S. wheat farmers,” said Vice President of Communications Steve Mercer. “We believe the new site does that effectively.”

The website includes new features and information and is organized in six sections:

  • About Us introduces USW and features information about its farmer board of directors, staff and expanded information about its 17 office locations and the countries they serve.

 

  • Market and Crop Information is home to a familiar set of reports, including the popular Price Report and Charting Tool section, Harvest Reports, Crop Quality, Supply and Demand and Commercial Sales. A new “Ask the Expert” feature allows site visitors to confidentially seek answers to questions about contract specifications, wheat quality, milling and end-product uses, and flour quality.
  • Working with Buyers describes the type of activities USW conducts with its customers, the six U.S. wheat classes and their uses, wheat industry terms, as well as U.S. wheat grade and non-grade factors; a new Resources section for buyers, millers and end-product processors is also featured.
  • Who We Represent introduces the state wheat commission organizations that help fund USW activities, highlights the world class educational partners that work with USW to provide short courses and seminars, and summarizes successful activities with customers.
  • Policy is an expanded section focused on how USW and the wheat farmers it represents are working to improve market access, monitor trade agreement negotiations, promote scientifically sound regulation and support the public/private partnership between farmers and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
  • News and Events includes new features and information including a “blog” version of USW’s “Wheat Letter” newsletter, expanded information and registration for biennial marketing conferences and board meetings, and “Trigonoticias,” USW’s Spanish language newsletter.

In addition, there are newly designed pages that summarize USW’s news and information in Spanish, French, Arabic, Traditional Mandarin and Simplified Mandarin.

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.

# # #

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

/by
thumbnail

U.S. Wheat Industry Commitment to Philippines Milling Industry Returns Export Sales Increase

ARLINGTON, Virginia — Sales of U.S. hard red spring wheat got a boost recently after a delegation of four leaders from the Philippine flour milling industry traveled to Oregon, Washington D.C. and Washington state June 16 to 24, 2018.

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) sponsored the delegation with funding from USDA’s Foreign Market Development export programs and support from wheat commissions In Oregon and Washington state. The delegates met with state wheat commissions, producers and grain traders, and visited a port loading facility and a Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) dockside laboratory.

“Together, we demonstrated that these wheat buyers were likely to see basis prices increase for dark northern spring wheat with 14 percent protein,” said USW Regional Vice President Joe Sowers, who is based in Manila, Philippines, and accompanied the delegation to the United States. “With first-hand knowledge of the new crop conditions, one of the buyers purchased a total of almost 100,000 metric tons of old crop U.S. hard red winter and soft white wheat, valued at more than $30 million, during and after the visit.”

Sales of U.S. wheat to the Philippines set a record 2.7 million metric tons (MMT) in marketing year 2016/17 (June 1 to May 31). In 2017/18, however, competitively priced Canadian spring wheat displaced nearly 400,000 MT of U.S. hard red spring (HRS). Nevertheless, continued strength in overall demand pushed U.S. wheat sales to the second highest level in history, just short of 2.6 MMT.

Wheat food consumption is growing in the Philippines and U.S. wheat farmer investments in training millers and end product manufacturers has helped the country’s wheat foods industry achieve world class sophistication with a strong preference for U.S. wheat that now represents 93 percent of total milling wheat imports. The Philippines is now the third largest market in the world for U.S. wheat exports.

Sowers said this delegation included experienced leaders that want to capitalize on what they learned in part to fight for extended protection from low priced Turkish flour exports to their country.

In 2012, Turkish flour dumped at prices well below the price of unprocessed soft milling wheat cut Philippine millers out of more than 10 percent of the flour market representing more than 200,000 metric tons of lost U.S. wheat imports. After several years of legal research and hearings, including substantial support from U.S. wheat farmers and USW, in late 2014, the milling industry won government support for tariff protection from cheap Turkish flour imports. However, the anti-dumping tariffs will sunset in 2019, leaving the Philippine millers unprotected from predatory Turkish flour import prices once again.

Meetings with USW and officials in Washington, D.C., helped reassure these milling executives that they have strong U.S. support that will help them establish a strategy for winning an extension of anti-dumping tariffs on Turkish flour. That outcome will help clear the way for a substantial increase in U.S. soft white wheat exports to the Philippines.

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.

# # #

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

/by
thumbnail

African Wheat Buyers Visit U.S. Wheat Industry

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) anticipates new opportunities to export more U.S. hard red winter (HRW) wheat to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. To ensure key wheat buyers in the region get the latest information they need about HRW quality and value, USW sponsored a delegation of flour milling executives from Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Liberia to Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas June 11 to 21, 2018. Funding for the visit comes from USDA’s Foreign Market Development export programs with support from wheat commissions in those states.

The countries represented in this delegation are important markets for U.S. hard red winter (HRW) wheat, with higher import volumes in Nigeria and South Africa. The buyers first visited the Port of Corpus Christi, hosted by the Texas Wheat Producers Board. With hosts from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, they visited country elevators, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa and experienced HRW harvest on Schieber Farms near Ponca City. While in Kansas, the flour millers toured the Grain Craft Wheat Quality Lab in Wichita, the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center and IGP Institute in Manhattan and Cargill Elevator and wheat harvest near Salina.

Kansas offers a good example of the opportunity these buyers represent for HRW wheat growers. Aaron Harries, Vice President of Research and Operations at Kansas Wheat, said Nigerian flour millers continue to be extremely good customers for Kansas wheat farmers.

“About half of the Kansas wheat crop is exported every year, and Nigeria has been a top buyer in recent years,” he said. “They love the consistent quality they get in wheat from the U.S. We want to be able to grow our market share in the Sub-Saharan region and build the same relationship of trust with our buyers in South Africa.”

U.S. wheat farmers, through trade servicing and technical support by USW helped establish flour milling as a highly successful industry in the west African nation of Nigeria. Hard red winter (HRW) became the standard source of flour for pan bread and instant noodles there. Demand for soft red winter (SRW) flour for snack foods grew together with durum for quality pasta.

Nigeria remains among the top volume customers of U.S. wheat, including more than 43.2 million bushels (1.18 million metric tons) of HRW and 8.3 million bushels (226,000 metric tons) imported in marketing year 2016/17 (June to May). Unfortunately, that volume is down significantly from previous years as lower priced Russian wheat gained market share in this quality conscious but cost sensitive market.

U.S. HRW wheat remains the dominant source of flour to make instant noodles and wet pasta in Nigeria and a key ingredient as a blending wheat for pan bread flour. USW will continue to keep buyers informed about U.S. wheat quality and a long-term effort to provide regular trade service, including this annual trade team visit, as well as training and technical assistance to the major Nigerian flour milling companies.

South Africa is a smaller market than Nigeria, but annual per capita wheat consumption is the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Though it varies widely year to year, South Africa produces about 50 percent of its 3.5 MMT annual wheat consumption. Wheat breeders and flour millers are working together to develop improved protein varieties of wheat 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 the least expensive. They are also consistent SRW buyers.

U.S. HRW was much more competitive the past two marketing years. In fact, South African millers imported HRW for the first time in five years in 2016/17. USW kept up the momentum in that marketing year by bringing representatives from a prominent milling company to the United States to observe production and be even better prepared to take advantage of favorable prices this marketing year. Although their pace of imports is down, South African millers have kept HRW in their blends again this year.

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.

# # #

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

/by
thumbnail

Andres Saturno Joins U.S. Wheat Associates in South American Region

SANTIAGO — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is happy to announce that Andres Saturno has joined its staff as a Technical Specialist in its South American region. Saturno started his position July 9, 2018, and is based in USW’s Santiago office.

“We are very pleased to have Andres Saturno on board as the new Technical Specialist for the region,” said USW Regional Director Miguel Galdos. “He will be a valuable part of helping U.S. Wheat Associates carry out its mission and fulfill its commitment to increase technical assistance in the region.”

Saturno has more than 10 years of experience in the milling industry, most recently working as the head of milling production for a mill in Honduras. Prior to that role, he spent time working in various milling and engineering positions, as well as consulting and teaching. Saturno is a native of Venezuela and earned a milling engineering degree from Venezuela’s Universidad Panamericana Del Puerto.

In his role at USW, Saturno will work closely with customers in South America and their technical staff responsible for processing and analyzing U.S. wheat, to provide training, technical advice and on-going support. He will also conduct seminars and technical training to increase technical knowledge in the region and generate value to the industry.

“We are confident that Andres has the technical skills and expertise to help our customers obtain the best possible results and value from all six classes of U.S. wheat,” said Galdos.

“I want to thank everyone in the USW Santiago Office for the opportunity to be a part of this recognized organization,” said Saturno. “There are a lot of challenges and opportunities and I’m sure with this great team we are going to provide great value for U.S. wheat customers and U.S. wheat producers.”

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.

Andres Saturno

# # #

Nondiscrimination and Alternate Means of Communications
In all its programs, activities and employment, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) prohibits discrimination 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 USW 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, USW, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. USW is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

/by

Think Farm Export Programs Don’t Matter? Think Again.

GET THE REST OF THE STORY

DTN Wheat Detail
DTN Corn Detail

2008-2013 U.S. Wheat Associates. All Rights Reserved
Privacy Policy | Non-Discrimination Statement