You are here: / Wheat Industry News
thumbnail

Wheat Industry News

Recent news and highlights from around the U.S. wheat industry.

 

Speaking of Wheat

“This [baking certification] course is an excellent way to stimulate the bakery sector, [that is] essential for the daily lives of Brazilians, even more. We embrace this idea because it aligns with the commitment we have to strengthen and develop this industry that is so important for the country.” – Paulo Menegueli, President of the Brazilian Bakery and Confectionery Industry Association (ABIP), discussing the benefits of the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) sponsored Online Baking Certification program developed by USW Santiago. Read more here.

Rain in Eastern Australia Threatens Wheat Crop

Widespread rains in Australia’s eastern grain producing states could hurt that region’s 2022/23 wheat crop, traders and analysts told Reuters this week. “Nearly half the wheat crop, or around 6-7 million tonnes, is at risk of quality downgrades in [New South Wales],” said Ole Houe, director of advisory services at agriculture brokerage IKON Commodities in Sydney. “We could end up having large volumes of feed quality wheat on the east coast.” Read more here.

U.S. Gulf Grain Exports Slowed by Low Mississippi River

U.S. crop exports at Louisiana Gulf Coast terminals were at their lowest level in nine years for the first week of October, a period when export shipments typically accelerate, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data issued on Tuesday. Low water on southern sections of the Mississippi River closed the major shipping waterway for days last week, halting the flow of grain barges from Midwest farms to the nation’s largest grain shipping port. Read more here.

U.S. Rail Strike Back on Table?

The U.S.’s third largest railroad union rejected a deal with employers on October 10, renewing the possibility of a strike that seemed to be averted when a tentative agreement was reached in September. Wheat farmers are uniquely reliant on rail due to the large distances between production and consumption. Rail has moved more than 27 million metric tons of U.S. wheat over the last five years. The group that represents the railroads in negotiations shared disappointed that the union rejected the agreement, but emphasized the union agreed to keep working for now.

Past USW Chair Still Giving Back

Keith Kisling, who served as U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Chairman in 2004/05, and his wife Marlene recently donated a large volume of wheat from their farm that will help fund a new state-of-the-art teaching, research and Extension facility for the agricultural division of Oklahoma State University. With the gift, a faculty office in the new facility will be named in their honor. The Kisling family farms near Burlington, Okla. Read more here.

Climate Smart USDA Grant Earmarked for Idaho Wheat Growers

University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is set to receive up to $55 million to help Idaho farmers and ranchers combat climate change through agricultural practices. The five-year USDA grant will support research on building cropping systems, including for wheat, that are more resilient to climate change. The grant will directly benefit more than 100 Idaho farmers and ranchers. Research will focus on the state’s staple commodities, such as wheat, potatoes, beef, sugar and other crops.

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo, and more on LinkedIn.

/by
thumbnail

Wheat Industry News

Recent news and highlights from around the U.S. wheat industry.

Speaking of Wheat

“It is an interesting year for sure. Drought is the primary concern that HRW producers are dealing with right now as we are just beginning the wheat planting window in Kansas. We received some rain overnight, and this burst of weather has ranged from spotty to adequate in some areas. However, meaningful amounts haven’t been widespread, and has been light in the southwestern areas of Kansas.” – Justin Gilpin, CEO, Kansas Wheat, in his Sept. 23, 2022, weekly report.

South Asian Biscuit and Cake Customer Visit

This week, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Bakery Consultant Roy Chung accompanied a team of biscuit and cake bakers from South Asia on a visit to the Pacific Northwest to learn more about the U.S. soft white crop production and quality. The trip included a stop at Tri-Cities Grain’s barge loading facility in Richland, Wash. (photo above), time with the Washington Grain Commission in Spokane, Wash., and a tour of the Wheat Marketing Center, Portland, Ore., including a discussion of the Solvent Retention Capacity (SRC) analysis for use in various confectionary baked goods.

USDA: Spring Wheat Harvest 96% Complete

According to USDA, 96% of the spring wheat crop had been harvested as of Sept. 25, with Montana and South Dakota 100% complete and Minnesota 98 percent complete. The North Dakota spring wheat harvest stood at 93% complete as of Sept. 25, up slightly from 91% the previous week. Progress was anticipated to be stronger this week, with more favorable forecast of warmer temperatures and clearer days. Read more here.

Agriculture Trade Nominees Await Floor Action

The Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday cleared the way for a vote on the full Senate floor for Alexis Taylor for the position of USDA’s Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. Taylor and Doug McKalip, nominee for U.S. Trade Representative chief agricultural negotiator, await a vote by the full Senate. Read more from the U.S. Wheat Industry here.

Reuters Covers Bioceres’ HB4 Drought-Tolerant Wheat

While there is no genetically modified wheat available for commercial sale today, the Argentinian company Bioceres has developed a transgenic event for drought tolerance in wheat and is seeking approval for commercial use in many countries. The Reuters news service recently published an article that examines the challenging environment of public opinion facing introduction of a transgenic wheat like HB4. Read the Reuters article here, and public statements from USW and the National Association of Wheat Growers here.

Global Grain Stocks Could Drop to Decade-low Levels

A ratio that factors in U.S. wheat inventories compared to usage, along with wheat stockpile levels, is expected to drop to a nine-year low in 2022-23, according to Reuters’ calculations of government data. The same ratio is also predicted to hit a nine-year low for U.S. soybeans. The Reuters story, which can be read here, also explains how lagging shipments and smaller than expected harvests by major crop producing countries is fueling predictions of the tightest grain supply in years.

Open Wheat Industry Position in Idaho

The Idaho Wheat Commission is accepting applications for its Communications and Programs Manager position. With responsibilities to help develop and implement communications strategies that promote use of Idaho wheat, this position offers excellent benefits and a great place to live in the Boise, Idaho, area. Read more about the position and how to apply, here.

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo, and more on LinkedIn.

/by
thumbnail
, , , , , , , , ,

Taiwan Team Signs Letter of Intent to Purchase 69.8 Million Bushels of U.S. Wheat

USW Vice Chair Michael Peter( left) with Sen. Frank Lucas, R-Oklahoman (center) and Yi-Cheun "Tony" Shu, chair of the TFMA, after the Letter of Intent signing at the U.S. Capitol.

USW Vice Chair Michael Peters ( left) with Sen. Frank Lucas, R-Oklahoma (center) and Yi-Cheun “Tony” Shu, chair of the TFMA, after the Letter of Intent signing at the U.S. Capitol.

Representatives from the Taiwan Flour Millers Association (TFMA) signed a Letter of Intent September 14, 2022,  with U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) to purchase 1.9 million metric tons – about 69.8 million bushels – of wheat from the U.S. over the next two years, a commitment with an estimated value of $576 million.

The signing, held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., was a much-anticipated stop for the 2022 Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission, a team made up of Taiwanese government officials and representatives of some of the largest importers of U.S. grains. The group is led by Yi-Cheun “Tony” Shu, chair of the TFMA and of Formosa Oilseed Processing Co. Also participating is Dr. Ching-Cheng Huang, deputy minister of Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture.

Taiwan is the 6th largest U.S. wheat export market and the 7th largest overseas market for U.S. agricultural products. Along with its intent to purchase U.S. wheat in 2023 and 2024, the team also signed Letters of Intent with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the U.S. Grains Council (USG) to purchase soybeans and corn. The total estimated commitment in the three letters total $3.2 billion.

Michael Peters, USW Vice Chairman, signed the TFMA Letter of Intent on behalf of the U.S. wheat industry.

“American farmers place great value on the relationship between U.S. agriculture and Taiwan,” Peters, a wheat producer and cattle rancher from Okarche, Oklahoma, said during the signing ceremony. “We pride ourselves as being dependable partners who grow the highest quality agriculture products in the world. The TFMA and its members have been great trading partners who fully recognize the value of purchasing U.S. wheat.”

Among U.S. officials on hand were Senators Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, Frank Lucas, R-Oklahoma, Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. Representative Steven Chabot, R-Ohio, co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, was also present to witness the signing.

Following the visit to Washington, D.C., flour millers on the Mission headed west to get a first-hand look at U.S. wheat production and meet the people responsible for supplying high-quality wheat to Taiwan. The team is scheduled to visit wheat farmers in Kansas, Idaho and Oregon. Other scheduled stops also include the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center and the Port of Portland in Oregon.

USW also joined USSEC, USGC, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) in hosting a reception for the Mission team on September 13. The event provided leaders of the U.S. wheat and grain industry an opportunity to catch up with members of the Taiwan Goodwill Mission, which last visited the United States in 2019.

USW President Vince Peterson addresses those gathered for a reception welcoming the 2022 Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission

USW President Vince Peterson addresses those gathered for a reception welcoming the 2022 Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission

USW President Vince Peterson addressed the gathering by pointing out the long and beneficial history of cooperation between Taiwan’s flour milling industry and the U.S. wheat industry that first opened a promotional office in Taipei 56 years ago.

“Our legacy organization Western Wheat Associates established a presence in Taiwan in 1966, so we are going on six decades of working with the country’s flour millers and food industry,” Peterson said. “In that time, Taiwan has purchased more than 45 million metric tons of U.S. wheat. This partnership between TFMA, U.S. Wheat Associates and U.S. wheat producers has been on a great path, and we plan to continue on that path in the future. We truly thank the Taiwan Goodwill Mission for coming to the United States and for its ongoing preference for U.S. wheat and other agricultural products.”

/by
thumbnail

Wheat Industry News

Recent news and highlights from around the U.S. wheat industry.

Speaking of Wheat

“Our country’s reputation as the world’s most reliable wheat supplier depends heavily on functioning rail transportation and that won’t change in the future. So we welcome this tentative agreement and hope both sides continue to work together to serve shippers like the U.S. wheat industry.” — U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) President Vince Peterson in a Joint Statement with the National Association of Wheat Growers applauding a tentative labor agreement between railroads and rail union that averts a strike.

Welcome News

The Biden Administration on September 14, 2022, announced a tentative labor agreement between U.S. railroad workers and railroad companies that will avert a strike. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) applaud the agreement. The organizations issued a Joint Statement thanking the Administration and the two sides for negotiating an agreement. Read more here.

U.S. Ag Trade Negotiator Nominee Awaits Senate Approval

On September 7, 2022, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved USDA adviser Doug McKalip to be the chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, sending the nomination to the full Senate for final approval. Following the Committee’s vote, a broad group of elected officials, producers, and stakeholders voiced strong belief that the United States Senate should confirm McKalip as quickly as possible. Read more here.

Open Wheat Industry Position in Montana

The Montana Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for our Wheat and Barley Committee Executive Director position  based in Great Falls, MT. The Montana Wheat & Barley Committee (MWBC) promotes research locally and market development around the world through its USW membership and in-king contributions. More information about the open position is posted here.

Watching Wheat Weather

“World-Grain” reporter Drew Lerner recently wrote an interesting article about the impact of weather on the winter wheat crop now being sown in the Northern Hemisphere. “… After much speculation over drought in North America in 2022, the winner of the most adverse weather award in the Northern Hemisphere goes to Europe due to its summer drought and heat problems” Lerner wrote. “Nearly three years of La Niña contributed to Europe’s dry weather this year and it also contributed to dryness in the U.S. Plains and Russia’s dry finish to its warm season. September marks the beginning of meteorological autumn for the Northern Hemisphere and winter wheat and other small grain production areas may head the list of areas to watch until greater rain occurs.”

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo, and more on LinkedIn.

/by
thumbnail
, , ,

USW’s Online Baking Program Putting U.S. Wheat ‘Top of Mind’ in South America

An online training series developed by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) in the early days of the COVID pandemic continues to have success in its effort to educate South American bakers and millers about the value and quality of U.S. wheat.

Specifically, the Online Baking Certification program promotes baking methods and processes that highlight all six U.S. wheat classes. What is significant about the program is that it’s able to reach a large number of bakery and milling staff who otherwise would not be able to take part in educational workshops. The virtual format allows participants to study at their own pace before testing through a handful of modules to earn certification.

Funded by the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) – a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) program created in 2018 to help U.S. agricultural exporters enhance their work in international markets and mitigate other obstacles to trade – USW’s online trainings have made great strides toward reaching the goal of boosting awareness of U.S. wheat.

Bakers and millers in Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil have been getting a thorough introduction to U.S. wheat and are learning how they can utilize it to improve the quality of breads and other baked goods.

The goal for U.S. wheat is ambitious yet simple: Sharing ways to improve baked products made with U.S. wheat could result in increased consumption in South America, which could lead to more customers for South America’s bakeries.

It could also potentially lead to a greater demand for U.S. wheat.

Putting U.S. Wheat ‘Top of Mind’

USW's Online Baking Certification program build's upon an effort to create awareness of U.S. wheat in South America. Pictured here is an in-person workshop conducted in USW's Santiago office in 2019, prior to the COVID pandemic.

USW’s Online Baking Certification program builds upon an ongoing effort to create awareness of U.S. wheat’s value and quality in South America. Pictured here is an in-person workshop conducted in USW’s Santiago office in 2019, prior to the COVID pandemic.

Miguel Galdos, USW’s regional director in South America, says the goal of the Online Baking Certification program is to create better awareness of U.S. wheat.

“We want U.S. wheat to be top of mind for more bakers in the region, as well as for the technical staff at the milling companies,” he said. “We want to place a higher emphasis on reaching bakers

and technical people to perhaps give them a voice when it comes to wheat purchasing decisions.”

The fact that both bakers and milling staff are registering for the online course, too, is a sign that many in the industry want to take advantage of the opportunity to get experience working with U.S. wheat.

USW, the wheat industry’s export market development organization, works with wheat buyers, millers, bakers, food processors and government officials in more than 100 countries to promote the reliability and value of the six U.S. wheat classes. The new emphasis on creating awareness in South America and educate the people who work directly with wheat and wheat flour inside of bakeries is strategic.

Creating awareness – putting U.S. wheat top of mind of bakers – opens all kinds of opportunities.

“The key is that once they learn one aspect of U.S. wheat’s quality, they want to see what else there is to learn,” explained Galdos. “In this program, they must test out of one module to be able to move on to the next. Before earning the certification, they must complete a two-day practical course in person. Soon, after moving through the program, they are an expert on our product. At that point, U.S. wheat has developed a customer.”

Virtual Training has Become Commonplace

The virtual baking training includes six different modules that allow bakers and milling staff to progress at their own pace. Participants must pass a module to move on to the next, assuring they are exposed to all of U.S. wheat's positive attributes.

The Online Baking Certification program includes six different modules that allow bakers and milling staff to progress at their own pace. Participants must pass one module to move on to the next, assuring they are exposed to all of U.S. wheat’s many positive attributes.

Launched in October 2020 as an alternative to in-person training workshops during the height of the COVID pandemic, the Online Baking Certification program has grown rapidly. USW recently added a Portuguese version to the original Spanish version to attract more Brazilian participation. USW also has plans to add a master-level course in the near-future.

The current program has registered nearly 5,500 students in two years. Thanks to a partnership between U.S, Wheat Associates, the Brazilian Wheat Industry Association and the Brazilian Bakery and Confectionery Industry Association, further growth is expected.

The six South American countries targeted by USW are the six that purchase U.S. wheat.

“The biggest wheat buyer in Colombia has had 15 staff members go through the whole program and earn certification,” said Galdos. “Chile has been another active participant, so we are seeing interest from a good portion of the region. Brazil is promising. We have met with the millers and bakers’ associations and U.S. Wheat Associates is going to be recognized by those associations at an upcoming event.”

The birth of the program came by necessity after in-person trainings and workshops were eliminated because of COVID. By March 2020, USW’s staff in Santiago, Chile, were putting together educational materials to complete the online bakery course – courses featuring baking theory, video instruction and assessment platforms were assembled. USW Baking Consultant Didier Rosada played a key role in the production of baking videos for the modules, which were finished in May 2020 and then sent to selected baking staff around the region for testing.

Opportunity for a Competitive Edge

Those who have completed USW’s Online Baking Certification are reporting they gained greater knowledge of traditional baking methods that work well with U.S. wheat.

Miguel Galdos, USW regional director in South America

Miguel Galdos, USW regional director in South America

Galdos emphasized that the online courses provide U.S. wheat with an advantage over competing wheat growing and exporting countries.

One example is the value of U.S. hard red winter wheat compared to Canadian wheat.

“One thing we stress to the bakers in South America is that many of the products they are baking do not require Canadian wheat that is higher in protein but more expensive,” Galdos said. “U.S. hard red winter wheat is a better option, and the content in the online baking courses teach them why. We show them how to bake with it. The problem is that the bakers are not trained. We want more bakers in the region exposed to the value and quality of U.S. wheat and how using it can benefit their products and their businesses.”

Along with putting U.S. wheat top of mind for South American bakers, Galdos pointed out a valuable additional benefit to USW’s online baking program.

“Through this certification process we are working with bakeries, collaborating with millers, collaborating with the people who either are or could be buying and using U.S. wheat,” he said. “We are educating them and creating awareness for U.S. wheat. At the same time, we are building relationships.”

/by
thumbnail

Wheat Industry News

Recent news and highlights from around the U.S. wheat industry.

Speaking of Wheat

“Early wheat leaders … fought through the battle of the “Great Grain Robbery” by the Soviet Union and advocated for more transparency and information from USDA to help farmers and their overseas customers that helped lead to weekly commercial sales reports.” – From “A Legacy of Commitment – Great Plains Wheat Focused on Improving Quality and HRW Markets.” U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Wheat Letter, March 19, 2020.

Commercial Sales Report Delayed until Sept. 15

On Aug. 31, USDA/FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley announced the following statement: “As a result of unanticipated difficulties with the launch of the new Export Sales Reporting and Maintenance System, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service will temporarily revert to the legacy system while we work to fully resolve the issues with the new system. FAS will be unable to publish weekly export sales data on Thursday, Sept. 1 or Thursday, Sept. 8, but we expect to resume regular reporting on Thursday, Sept. 15.” Read more here.

Happy Work Anniversary!

Steve Wirsching, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Vice President and Director of the West Coast Office in Portland, Ore., marked 30 years with the organization Aug. 31, 2022. He joined USW in 1992 as Assistant Director, West Coast Office, and in 1997 became Assistant Regional Director for the South American region in Santiago, Chile. In 1998, Wirsching moved to Mexico City, as Assistant Regional Director. He was named Director of the West Coast Office in 2008, where he was promoted to Vice President in 2011. Thank you for your service, Steve!

Colorful New Tool for Flour Analysis

The Idaho Wheat Commission and the University of Idaho together purchased a near infrared spectrometer for the school’s Wheat Quality Laboratory  at U of I’s Aberdeen Research and Extension Center. School officials said the modern device will help the lab better measure quality indicators of flour samples, such as protein and moisture content.  The technology uses infrared light to analyze the composition of materials, differentiating the unique infrared colors associated with specific components. Read more here.

NGFA: Keep Snake River Dams in Place

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) representing U.S. grain handlers issued a statement following the release of a report commissioned by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray that recommends replacing the benefits of the Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) before breaching them to save endangered salmon runs. Joining U.S. wheat industry stakeholders, NGFA maintains that any action to breach the dams is not a viable option. NGFA said “the benefits of barge transportation to the agricultural value chain and the overall U.S. supply chain cannot be replaced by rail or truck transportation.” Read more here.

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo, and more on LinkedIn.

/by
thumbnail

Wheat Industry News

Recent news and highlights from around the U.S. wheat industry.

Speaking of Wheat

“We had to work on everything at once. We worked on [wheat] varieties to expand the market for Montana farmers. They not only had to have disease and sawfly resistance for certain areas, but varieties were also developed to make sure millers and bakers had the highest quality of winter wheat,” – Retired Montana State University Winter Wheat Breeder Dr. Phil Bruckner discussing his work with colleagues to develop hard red winter (HRW) wheat varieties for Montana farmers.

Happy Retirement to Wheat Breeder Phil Bruckner

Dr. Phil Bruckner, now retired Montana State University and Montana Ag Experiment Station winter wheat breeder, leaves behind a long legacy of developing strong winter wheat varieties that were popular with farmers and helped them be successful in the marketplace over the years. Bruckner began as MSU’s winter wheat breeder in 1992. He worked as breeder for 90 percent of his time and 10 percent teaching field crop production and genetics. Bruckner will always be known for the kind of cultivars that impacted Montana farmers favorably and helped them compete in export markets. Read more here.

Call for Reinvestment in Wheat as Foreign Policy Tool

Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin joined Boston University political science professor Rosella Cappella Zielinski in writing an editorial for “War On The Rocks” strongly advocating for the U.S. government to help increase the competitiveness of domestic wheat production. They suggested increased support for wheat breeding innovation, policies that reduce the cost of transporting wheat to export terminals, a renewed use of wheat in food assistance, and export credit policies that make it easier for developing countries to purchase U.S. wheat. Read “Breadbasket Diplomacy: Preserving Wheat as a Tool of American Statecraft” here.

Discovery Could Reduce Nitrogen Use in Wheat Production

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found a way to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers needed to grow cereal crops like wheat and rice. The discovery could save farmers billions of dollars annually in fertilizer costs while also benefiting the environment. The research comes out of the lab of Eduardo Blumwald, a distinguished professor of plant sciences, who worked with rice plants to find a new pathway for cereals to capture the nitrogen they need to grow. Read more here.

Legislation Supports Agricultural Conservation

The Inflation Reduction Act signed into U.S. law Aug. 15 includes nearly $8.5 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, $7 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program and $3.25 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program. USDA also received $300 million to quantify carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions from farmland. There’s money for farmers with prevented plant land to grow cover crops. Read more here.

Tractor, planter and nurse tank intended to illustrate Grain Stocks, Prospective Plantings story

Whole Wheat Dough Analysis

KPM Analytics has introduced an updated version of the Chopin Technologies “Alveolab” functional and rheological dough analyzer that analyzes whole wheat doughs for all rheological characteristics: tenacity, extensibility, elasticity and baking strength. Bakeries, milling companies, wheat breeders and grain storage facilities all my use the dough analyzer. Bakers may use the Alveolab to evaluate the quality of incoming wheat flours, test new recipes and adjust processes to provide brand-consistent products, according to Westborough-based KPM Analytics. Read more here.

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo, and more on LinkedIn.

/by
thumbnail

Wheat Industry News

Recent news and highlights from around the U.S. wheat industry.

Speaking of Wheat

“We’ve got weather issues all over the world. We’ve got La Niña still hanging around, which is impacting weather in the U.S. and South America. We have had favorable weather in Australia for record wheat crops, but they don’t have the port capacity to move a crop that large. It’s been extremely hot in Europe, and they were talking a week ago about a 5% decrease in the EU wheat crop, which may be optimistic.” – Steve Nicholson, Global Sector Strategist for Grains & Oilseeds at Rabobank, commenting on S&D fundamentals  affecting wheat and grains markets in a July 29 World Grain article.

Best Wishes to Cassidy Marn

Cassidy Marn is leaving her position as Executive Vice President of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee (MWBC) after 10 years of service. In her role, Cassidy strongly supported export market development on behalf of Montana and U.S. wheat farmers. For example, she presented Pacific Northwest hard red winter crop quality information in recorded videos for the past two marketing years. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) thanks Cassidy and wishes her all the best in her new endeavors. MWBC has named Jason Laird as its interim Executive Vice President.

Wheat Industry Standing for PNW River Transportation

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) recently noted that wheat industry representatives were on “The Business of Agriculture Podcast” to discuss the Columbia-Snake River system and its effect on wheat exports. Michelle Hennings, Executive Director for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, listed the serious problems that would result from removing dams on the Snake River. Glen Squires, CEO of the Washington Grain Commission, also shared how eliminating dams would result in an increased emissions from other methods of transportation that would be needed to move wheat to overseas markets.

A Look at Durum S&D

Northern Crops Institute logo.

In a webinar sponsored by the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) Aug. 3, North Dakota Wheat Commission Policy and Marketing Director Jim Peterson looked at global durum supply and demand. He showed stocks are relatively low and likely to remain so into 2023. He also suggested there is good demand potential given global pasta consumption and weather challenges in North Africa and Europe. And while U.S. and Canadian production potential is good, there is “still significant harvest and quality risk” before harvest. A recording of this NCI webinar is available here.

Check Out This Global Wheat Production Infographic

Online publisher Visual Capitalist has produced an interesting “infographic” showing wheat production by country between the years 2000 to 2020. The graphic is called “Which Countries Produce the Most Wheat?” and proportionately fills a circle with the percentage of wheat production by country and continent. While the basic information is familiar to those in the global wheat industry, the visual impact offers new perspective. See more graphic information from Visual Capitalist.

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo, and more on LinkedIn.

/by
thumbnail
, , , ,

Wheat Industry News

Recent news and highlights from around the U.S. wheat industry.

Speaking of Wheat

“The Russian naval blockade of Ukrainian ports has already shredded global chains of food supply. Adding insult to injury, Russia steals Ukrainian grain and bombs Ukrainian granaries. Russia is essentially playing hunger games with the world by keeping the naval blockade of Ukrainian ports with one hand and shifting the blame for it on Ukraine with the other hand.” –Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Read more here.

Best Wishes to Director of Communications Amanda Spoo

All of us at U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and across the U.S. wheat industry want to thank Amanda Spoo (above) for her work on behalf of wheat farmers over more than 7 years on the USW Communications Team. Among the many highlights of her time with USW, Amanda managed a major overhaul of www.uswheat.org and built USW’s social media into a highly effective channel to overseas customers and friends at home. More importantly, she has been a respected colleague who made our work more fun. Vice President of Communications Steve Mercer and all Amanda’s colleagues wish her well as she moves on to new opportunities back in her eastern Oregon home.

Director of Communications Position Open

USW has an opening for a Director of Communications in a hybrid work environment based in its Arlington, Virginia, Headquarters Office. The Director of Communications reports to the Vice President of Communications and helps USW fulfill its mission by working collaboratively to plan and implement producer-focused and market development communications across a range of media; by managing all digital communication touchpoints, including content creation, deployment across the website, social media, email marketing, and other media channels, and performance analysis; and other critical domestic and international communications activities. The job description and application process are posted here.

USDA/FAS Welcomes New Foreign Service Officers

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh recently administered the oath of office to 14 USDA employees who will serve American agriculture internationally as members of the Foreign Service. The diplomats begin their careers as agricultural attachés at U.S. embassies and diplomatic missions on five continents, where they will monitor and report on global agricultural production and trade, identify export opportunities, enhance food security and support U.S. foreign policy objectives. Read more here.

Middle East, North Africa Trade Team in the U.S.

Matthew Weaver of Capital Press reported trade team of flour millers from Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Oman began their tour of the U.S. last week in Idaho. “These are young flour millers, a young generation (representing) their family businesses,” said Tarik Gahi, assistant technical director for U.S. Wheat Associates in the Middle East and North Africa region, based in Casablanca, Morocco. “They are 22, 24, 25 years old, just out of the university and they are supposed to take the lead in the coming years.” The tour will allow the millers to become familiar with U.S. wheat classes, marketing and the entire wheat system compared to wheat from other origins, Gahi said. Read more here.

2022 Hard Spring Wheat and Durum Tour

The annual Wheat Quality Council Hard Spring Wheat Tour is scheduled for July 25 to 28, 2022. The tour will provide the first production estimate for the 2022 U.S. hard red spring and durum crops. Tour information and registration are posted here. Customers can follow the tour in real-time by following #wheattour22 on Twitter and keep up to date on the entire U.S. wheat harvest with the weekly USW Harvest Report.

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo, and more on LinkedIn.

/by
thumbnail

Wheat Industry News

Recent news and highlights from around the U.S. wheat industry.

Speaking of Wheat

“Virtual meetings, conferences and events have allowed USW to remain in close contact with our customers around the world during the past two years, but there’s nothing like riding in the combine with the U.S. farmer as they harvest their wheat; standing in the field of wheat rolling the wheat head between your hands to check the kernels; or breaking bread together, and we are pleased to be able to share these in-person experiences with our customers again.” – Stephanie Bryant-Erdmann, USW Assistant Regional Director, Mexican, Central American and Caribbean Region, during a recent trade team visit from Mexican flour millers to Kansas and other states. Read more here.

Happy 50th Anniversary to the Wheat Foods Council

Its members and supporters celebrated this month at its annual meeting in Charleston, S.C. In the early 1970s, wheat foods were under attack in the United States for containing a high portion of carbohydrates, which many people believed made foods fattening. In May 1972, wheat commissions from Kansas, Texas, Colorado, South Dakota and Nebraska met to create a coordinated response, resulting in the establishment of the Wheat Foods Council. Soon other state wheat commissions, along with milling, baking and other allied industry companies, joined WFC to increase its resources and expand its important efforts. Today, WFC uniquely remains an organization whose membership encompasses the entire wheat foods value chain. Read more here.

Washington Grain Commission Announces Leadership Transition

Glen Squires, CEO of the Washington Grain Commission (WGC), has announced he will retire on November 1. The WGC is pleased to announce that Casey Chumrau will be its new CEO and will begin in mid-September. Chumrau has worked in agriculture and international business for most of her career, promoting the U.S. wheat industry for over a decade. She is currently the executive director of the Idaho Wheat Commission and previously worked for U.S. Wheat Associates in its Arlington, Va., headquarters and in Santiago, Chile. Read the full release here.

Export Promotion Funding a Priority

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) recently shared its priorities as the U.S. Congress works towards reauthorizing the Farm Bill in 2023. With half of all U.S. wheat destined for export, NAWG recommends doubling the funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program administered by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) highly values its partnership with NAWG working to ensure U.S. farm families remain economically sustainable to continue meeting the growing global wheat demand.

USW to Fill Director of Communications Position

USW has an opening for a Director of Communications in a hybrid work environment based in its Arlington, Virginia, Headquarters Office. The Director of Communications reports to the Vice President of Communications and helps USW fulfill its mission by working collaboratively to plan and implement producer-focused and market development communications across a range of media; by managing all digital communication touchpoints, including content creation, deployment across the website, social media, email marketing, and other media channels, and performance analysis; and other critical domestic and international communications activities. The job description and application process are posted here.

NAWG Seeks to Hire Communications Intern

NAWG is looking to fill the newly created position of Communications Intern to assist in marketing and communications efforts. The NAWG Communications Intern’s main role is to assist the Director of Communications and Partnerships in implementing organizational communications and marketing strategies. If you, or someone you know, is interested in this opportunity and would like to learn more, find the description and application here.

Nebraska Wheat Board Job Opportunity

The Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB) is looking for a Marketing Specialist to join its team and work on behalf of Nebraska wheat farmers and the industry to communicate and coordinate NWB programs and issues. This position develops communication programs and expands outreach opportunities by managing and coordinating print, radio and television media, and leading the Board’s social media outreach, among other communication projects. Applications close July 7, 2022. Find more information here.

2022 Hard Spring Wheat and Durum Tour

The annual Wheat Quality Council Hard Spring Wheat Tour is scheduled for July 25 to 28, 2022. The tour will provide the first production estimate for the 2022 U.S. hard red spring and durum crops. Tour information and registration are posted here. Customers can follow the tour in real-time by following #wheattour22 on Twitter and keep up to date on the entire U.S. wheat harvest with the weekly USW Harvest Report

Subscribe to USW Reports

USW publishes various reports and content available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts and wheat industry news, the weekly Price Report, and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online

Visit our Facebook page for the latest updates, photos, and discussions of what is going on in the world of wheat. Also, find breaking news on Twitter, video stories on Vimeo, and more on LinkedIn.

 

/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