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USW’s 40th Year Celebration: A Foundation for the Future

By Steve Mercer, USW Vice President of Communications

Throughout 2020, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) marked its 40th year by recognizing and celebrating the people who produce the wheat and their enduring partnerships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the world’s wheat buyers and wheat food processors.

Our communications effort this year has focused on re-telling the USW story—that behind the world’s most reliable supply of wheat are the world’s most dependable people. That despite the different roles or distances, all the people in our story share an unspoken connection through USW and through our shared values of growth, hard work and family. We invite you to revisit our “Stories from the Wheat Farm” featured this year:

The Next Generation in Kansas
Loving the Work in Ohio
Committed to Stewardship in Washington
Living with Purpose in North Dakota
A Passion for the Land in Oklahoma
Committed to Wheat Quality in Oregon
Embracing the Agricultural Lifestyle in Montana

Throughout the year, we gathered historical information about how previous generations of U.S. farm families organized, invested their time, talent and treasure and reached out to the federal government to build overseas markets for their wheat. Those stories are now archived on our website at:

Western Wheat Associates Develops Asian Markets
Great Plains Wheat Focused on Improving Quality and HRW Markets
Evolution of a Public-Private Partnership
The U.S. Wheat Export Public-Private Partnership Today
NAWG – USW Lead the Way Through Issues Affecting Wheat Farmers
Federal Agency Helps Keep the Wheat Moving

We have emphasized past and present connections between our farmers and customers through our Wheat Letter blog and in Facebook and Twitter posts.

Celebrating Farmer Commitment and Global Partnerships in USW’s 40th Year
U.S. Wheat Farmers and Their Overseas Customers Share Unique Connections
Taiwan Flour Millers Share a Long History with U.S. Wheat Farmers – Part One
Taiwan Flour Millers Share a Long History with U.S. Wheat Farmers – Part Two
National Milling Federations Congratulates U.S. Wheat Associates on 40 Years
Retired Washington Wheat Farmer Reflects on Traveling with U.S. Wheat Associates as Chairman
Nisshin Flour Milling, Inc., Congratulates U.S. Wheat Associates on 40 Years
U.S. Wheat Customers Share History, Values and More with U.S. Wheat Farmers
U.S. Wheat Farmers and Former Staff Have Formed Strong Bonds with U.S. Wheat Customers

In this anniversary year, USW put a spotlight on USW’s 17 state wheat commission members that work closely with our organization and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Those organizations and the rest of the efficient U.S. supply chain share in the challenges and rewards of wheat trade. You can read more by searching “Dependable People” at www.uswheat.org.

The legacy and these partnerships provide advantages USW believes no other wheat exporting country can provide. In many ways, the stories we shared this year built and sustain the culture of the USW organization. They underpin what the U.S. wheat “brand” stands for in the world wheat marketplace: Dependable People, Reliable Wheat.

As we look back on this special year for our organization, we hope that it will serve as a resource and inspiration as USW colleagues continue working in the new year, and for many more years, to help create even greater success for U.S. farmers and their overseas customers.

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U.S. Wheat Export Basis to Remain High Until March 2021

By Claire Hutchins, USW Market Analyst

Since June, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has carefully tracked the relationship between limited export elevation capacity and high U.S. wheat export basis values. Significantly greater Chinese demand for U.S. agricultural products has limited export elevation availability, causing an increase in wheat export basis values for October 2020 through February 2021 deliveries. However, the anticipation of seasonally reduced Chinese demand for U.S. agricultural goods could pressure U.S. wheat export basis levels for March 2021 and forward delivery periods.

The United States has sold historic levels of soybeans, corn and wheat to China for delivery in 2020/21 following the Phase 1 Trade agreement between both countries. As of Nov. 26, soybean sales to China at 29.7 million metric tons (MMT) are more than three times greater than this time last year and are nearly double the 5-year average. Corn sales to China at 11.2 MMT are magnitudes greater than late November last year and the 5-year average. Total wheat sales to China at 2.06 MMT are more than ten times greater than this time last year and are nearly five times greater than the 5-year average.

Source: USDA FAS Commercial Sales data

 

“January, February and the beginning of March are at capacity; we can’t add a lot more business for those months,” said one industry contact. “If anyone were to sell anything for those delivery periods, it would raise elevation costs substantially more.”

Though wheat export basis levels are projected to remain high through early March 2021 as traders work to execute the large volume of existing commodity sales, industry contacts currently predict a sizeable decrease in U.S. wheat forward export basis values if China’s demand for U.S. corn subsides and if Chinese buyers shift to importing Brazilian soybeans.

According to Trade Data Monitor (TDM), most Chinese soybean imports usually come from the United States between October and February and from Brazil between March and September. On average, soybeans from Brazil jump from 46 to 83 percent of China’s total imports between February and March. Traders anticipate this seasonal trend will continue in 2021, which could increase U.S. wheat export elevation availability in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and Gulf and could decrease wheat export basis levels from those regions.

Source: Trade Data Monitor, Chinese soybean import data from 2015 to 2019

 

The latest USW Price Report indicates the trade has assumed Chinese demand will slow in the first three months of 2021. The current export basis delivery values for PNW hard red winter (HRW) 11.5 protein show a 5 percent inverse between February and April deliveries.

Source: USW Price Report data as of Dec. 4

 

The report also shows a 10 percent inverse between February and April export basis levels for PNW hard red spring (HRS) 14.0 percent protein.

 

“April forward is when export basis really lightens up and we become more competitive,” said one trader, “there’s strong interest in U.S. spring wheat for that period.”

Source: USW Price Report data as of Dec. 4

 

While Gulf HRW and soft red winter (SRW) export basis values are forecast to remain relatively stable over the first few months of 2021, the Gulf HRS 14.0 percent protein export basis forecast currently shows a 16 percent inverse between February and April deliveries.

Source: USW Price Report data as of Dec. 4

USW does not have a crystal ball, but we do expect downward pressure on most U.S. wheat export basis values between February and April 2021, as long as China’s import demand for U.S. corn and soybeans slows down and inland logistics continue operating smoothly. USW will continue to monitor trade and logistical developments in the coming months and will communicate anticipated basis changes to our customers.

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The Passing of Nelson Denlinger, Key Player in USW’s Exposure of AWB Fraud

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) recently learned that Nelson C. Denlinger, who led trade policy work for USW from 1981 to 2006, passed away in September 2020. A native of Lancaster, Penn., Nelson had an interesting career first as a history teacher at the Choate School in Connecticut. In 1965, he joined the Neighborhood Youth Corps and USAID in Washington, D.C. He eventually joined former Sen. Hubert Humphrey’s staff and later became staff director of the Senate Agriculture Committee before joining USW.

Nelson C. Denlinger

USW asked former President Alan Tracy to share some memories of Nelson and his work.

“Nelson never tried to bring attention to himself, but he knew agricultural policy and was most effective behind the scene, representing farmer interests. He was a friend to all at USW and will be sorely missed.

“With our organization, Nelson did a great service to U.S. wheat farmers. He, along with other USW colleagues, was instrumental in discovering the bribery of Iraq and fraud of the United Nations (U.N.) Oil for Food Program by the Australian Wheat Board (AWB). It was Nelson who acquired AWB wheat contracts registered with the U.N. under that program, and it was his analysis of those contracts that demonstrated to us at USW that AWB gained status as Iraq’s only wheat supplier in return for overcharging the U.N. program and kicking back huge sums to the Saddam Hussein regime, violating program rules and Australian bribery laws.

“While USW was loudly criticized from many quarters for making that accusation public, and AWB denied it for nearly four more years, it eventually led to a U.N. investigation by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker that showed AWB made payments over several years that were channeled to the Hussein regime. That in turn led to an Australian Royal Commission investigation that ultimately found AWB payed about 290 million Australian dollars of bogus “transportation fees.” As a result, AWB lost its monopoly over Australian grain marketing and, thus, its ability to administratively set export prices that undercut American farmers in world wheat markets. I don’t think that would have happened without Nelson’s work and the dogged persistence of USW colleagues thereafter.”

All of us at USW extend our sincerest sympathies to Nelson’s widow Ruth and his other family members.

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U.S. Wheat Farmers and Former Staff Have Formed Strong Bonds with U.S. Wheat Customers

Behind the world’s most reliable supply of wheat are the world’s most dependable people. Those people, from U.S. Wheat Associates staff to the state wheat commissions and U.S. wheat farm families to the many hands along the U.S. supply chain, represent an industry that is always changing. But many of the overseas customers USW works with overseas can also say the same. Despite the different roles or distances between us, all of the people in our story share an unspoken connection, not only through U.S. wheat but through our shared values of growth, hard work and family.

These connections are a part of our story.

JOE ANDERSON

Idaho Wheat Farmer
USW Board of Directors

“[Former] Idaho Wheat Commission (IWC) Executive Director Blaine Jacobson thinks I have a knack for building rapport with trade teams. One of those USW teams visiting our farm in July 2018 included Kevin Widjaja with Cerestar Flour Mills from Indonesia. We showed how we select varieties and maintain wheat quality. Then on a USW Board Team in February 2019 I reconnected with Kevin at Cerestar’s mill near Jakarta. It was great to build a lasting relationship with this wheat buyer in a country that is importing more wheat every year.”

JASON SCOTT
Maryland Wheat Farmer
2016-17 USW Chairman

In 2019, Andres Cabrerizio with Alicorp came to our farm in a trade delegation from Peru. Later that year I was in Lima as part of the USW Crop Quality team and visited Andres at his office where we enjoyed some of Alicorp’s branded cookies. We both look forward to the next chance to meet. I think that the customers really appreciate farmers getting out to their mills and offices around the world. The relationships you build, putting a name and face on the wheat that they are purchasing, are so important.

BOB DRYNAN
Great Plains Wheat 1974-1980
California Wheat Commission 1982-1993
Wheat Marketing Center 1993-1999

“U.S. Wheat Associates and its legacy organizations have matured over the years. I was the first foreign based flour miller to join the ranks and I brought the buyers’ point of view into the equation. Since that time focusing on the buyers’ needs has had a big impact on wheat breeding goals, marketing approaches and even marketing methods and export procedures to a far more customer-oriented outlook.”

RON MAAS
Retired Nebraska Wheat Farmer
Nebraska Wheat Board staff

“In addition to farming with my son in Nebraska, I spent 28 years representing the U.S. wheat industry in Japan and the Philippines. It would require a sizeable book to share all the memories and advances in trade servicing that I witnessed on the staff of Western Wheat Associates. For example, I was present at a post-event social gathering when Japanese officials agreed to open their market to hard red winter wheat in addition to Western White and Dark Northern Spring, demonstrating the importance of developing close relationships that USW representatives continue to do today.”

TOM STROSCHEIN
Retired Idaho Wheat Farmer

“The relationships I made with overseas buyers were important to support U.S. wheat export promotion. One year, I was at a golf outing hosted by the Idaho Wheat Commission for visiting Korean flour millers when a fox stole the one of the delegate’s ball! They had fun teasing him about that. So, when I knew I would see that miller in Korea on a trade mission, I brought him a stuffed fox with a golf ball in its mouth. He said it was one of the nicest gifts he’d ever received and kept it displayed in his office.”

Discover more stories about the connection between U.S. wheat farmers and their customers.

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U.S. Wheat Customers Share History, Values and More with U.S. Wheat Farmers

Behind the world’s most reliable supply of wheat are the world’s most dependable people. Those people, from U.S. Wheat Associates staff to the state wheat commissions and U.S. wheat farm families to the many hands along the U.S. supply chain, represent an industry that is always changing. But many of the overseas customers USW works with overseas can also say the same. Despite the different roles or distances between us, all of the people in our story share an unspoken connection, not only through U.S. wheat but through our shared values of growth, hard work and family.

These connections are a part of our story.

MARIA FERNANDA RODRIGUEZ PAZ
Business Development Manager, Molinos Modernos, Guatemala

“Molinos Modernos is part of the Food Products division of Corporación Multi Inversiones, a fourth-generation family enterprise present in several Latin American countries with more than 90 years of history. Our corporate values are embodied in the acronym REIR, which in Spanish means “to laugh”, and also stands for Responsibility, Excellence, Integrity and Respect, reminding us daily of the importance of “always being happy at work” as our founder Juan Bautista Gutierrez (Don Juanito) used to say. We believe in the value of the family as a fundamental pillar and in our brand driving belief of “filling the world with wellness” through our products. Over the last 20 years, our personnel have been a part of several trips to the United States with USW, have hosted USW staff and have participated in specialized baking courses for our staff and clients. All these activities have impacted Molinos Modernos’ performance. We know and fully believe that the strategic alliance relationship with U.S. Wheat Associates is vital for the growth and development of our company and industry in the coming years.”

USW Baking Consultant Didier Rosada at the Cedecap, Molinos Modernos Guatemala’s training center, in a baking seminar for the Guatemalan baking industry.

GERMAN ZAPATA
Corporative Purchasing Manager, Grupo Nutresa
Colombia

“Grupo Nutresa sends U.S. Wheat Associates a very special greeting in the celebration of the 40th anniversary. Our staff has participated in USW trade missions, where all learning has been invaluable in the application of our products, and we participate in the Latin America Buyers Conference every two years, where we receive timely information for decision making and can share with experts. We’ve collaborated several times to produce crackers and other cookies with soft white wheat, and USW has also helped us work through several trade issues and to communicate the importance of importing U.S. wheat to the National Government of Colombia, benefiting the entire milling industry.”

Grupo Nutresa staff participating in a USW trade delegation to the United States in 2012.

CRISTOBAL BORDA
President of the Board, San Cristobal Mill
Chile

“Molinera San Cristobal S.A. is a large family that works in harmony and respect among its employees. Our history dates back to 1916 so we can proudly say that we have completed ‘a century of milling tradition.’ Today we have five wheat mills and a wheat storage plant. We know from experience that in order to develop a flour of excellence it is essential to have wheat of excellence. Our many visits to the United States with U.S. Wheat Associates have allowed us to learn from farmers, their seriousness and dedication to achieve the best possible wheat. One of the most outstanding activities has been the USW Chilean Trade Delegation Tour in 2009.”

USW Trade Delegation from Chile visits United Harvest Export facility in 2009.

ZHUBO LIN
Chairman, Xiamen Mingsui Grains & Oils Trading Co., Ltd.
China

“I started my wheat business with my wife in 1999 with 210 sacks of U.S. soft red winter wheat. From that time on, we have had close ties to U.S. wheat. In 2012, holding a USW seminar at our company encouraged us to promote and market our use of U.S. wheat with confidence. USW has since held more technical seminars and invited us on a company trade delegation to the Pacific Northwest and to participate in training there. We deeply love the grain trade in China that connects farmland and the dining table. It is traditional, but with new opportunities.”

Mingsui delegation visits the Pacific Northwest with USW in 2013.

FERNANDO ROBLES
Wheat Imports Manager, Grupo La Moderna
Mexico

“Grupo La Moderna began in 1920 and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with at least three generations of employees. This is my 27th year with the company and throughout my career, I’ve been inspired by the values our founder, Eduardo Monroy Cárdenas, left as a legacy: work, administration, good faith, loyalty and excellence. I’ve traveled with U.S. Wheat Associates several times, including for the Latin American Wheat Buyers Conference. USW staff have always supported us in resolving our concerns and we have developed excellent bonds of friendship. I also have very fond memories of the excellent attention while visiting Mike and Diana O’Hara at the O’Hara Farm in Montana.”

Fernando Robles in Montana with USW in 2019.

DONG-CHAN BAE
Manager, Samyang Corp.
Korea

“One of the most valuable experiences in my life is the close friendships made with USW staff and in the U.S. wheat industry. Thanks to USW, I’ve met so many U.S. farmers who always welcome our delegation with the warmest hospitality. The annual USW Crop Quality Seminar helps me better understand the global wheat market and about wheat and flour quality. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to USW and congratulations on their 40th anniversary. I wish USW and U.S. farmers much prosperity and success forever.”

Dong-Chan Bae visiting with U.S. wheat farmers in 1998.

Discover more stories about the connection between U.S. wheat farmers and their customers.

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Federal Agency Helps Keep the Wheat Moving

By Michael Anderson, USW Assistant Director, West Coast Office

The uncertain nature of COVID-19 and the unprecedented changes it brought to how we live our lives has made every industry stop and consider how it can meet customer demands while protecting the health of its employees. While the novelty of the virus may have worn off, its presence has become a fact of life.

As the pandemic continues, the U.S. wheat supply chain is still working hard to meet the needs of customers, ensuring that the U.S. wheat store stays open. One crucial link in that chain is the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service. The work of FGIS is valued by overseas wheat buyers because they are assured that an independent agency has certified shipments to meet the weight and quality requirements specified in the sales contract.

“Our system of standardized, independent grain inspection makes U.S. wheat more valuable,” said USW Chairman Darren Padget, a wheat farmer from Grass Valley, OR. “The proof of that came this year when many of our overseas buyers expressed a real concern that the pandemic would interrupt federal grain inspection and our supply chain.”

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) recently spoke with FGIS about the measures the agency is taking to protect the integrity of the work and its essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following are the answers provided by an agency spokesperson:

USW: How has the pandemic affected how FGIS manages its team of inspectors?

FGIS: “Within the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) we’ve conducted over 100 staffing actions in the past year (either new hires or promotions into new positions). The increase in hiring actions is a result of both the pandemic and an increase in inspections overall. We developed virtual onboarding so staff could be trained quickly and remotely. Our national network of field offices allows us to send additional staff on detail assignments to busy offices during the natural ebb and flow of the harvests and export patterns. We do this on a limited basis in any given season. When the COVID national emergency started we expanded that practice and set up an active list of interested personnel should a need arise somewhere. However, we have not had any shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that list has not been needed.”

USW: It cannot be easy keeping people socially distanced, when you think about the nature of exporting, transfer of samples/people in and out of facilities that are open around the clock. Yet, you have done that – any special steps that you have taken there?

FGIS: “Exporters have been essential in helping us ensure that FGIS on-site labs and common areas are clean and set up for social distancing. Most of our laboratories allow for social distancing and masks are required when that is not possible. USDA has ensured that all staff have access to cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment. In fact, our labs at AMS made hand sanitizer and masks for fellow employees this past spring when national supplies ran tight.”

USW: The U.S. government declared workers in the food industry and specifically agricultural workers essential in March 2020 to ensure the food supply chain would not be disrupted. Like a lot of essential industries, FGIS inspectors and staff must be taking extra precautions to stay healthy and avoid the risk of quarantine. Any special instructions that have been provided to them, or directives in terms of helping to keep them healthy?

FGIS: “We follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We also mandate that employees clean their work-spaces after each shift, and do not enter any vessel offices while conducting stowage exams on ships.”

USW: Looking ahead, what can buyers of U.S. wheat and other commodities expect?

FGIS: “Our goal is to provide service safely, without interruption. We know the U.S. grain supply is essential to providing nutritious food around the world and we are proud of the role we play to keep those products moving with accurate and timely grades and weights for grain exports. FGIS has had no interruptions since the national emergency began and none are planned. We will continue to take actions to ensure inspection and weighing service can be provided safely, and we will continue to adapt and adjust to meet the needs of our customers.”

Through the committed efforts that extend from the farm to the FGIS inspectors and export elevator staff, wheat grown in the United States continues to flow to importing customers to continue feeding people around the world.

The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), as an objective third party, certifies that all exported wheat meets import specifications.

 

 

 

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A Thanksgiving Wish

Throughout 2020, U.S. Wheat Associates has highlighted our 40th year in operation by celebrating all the dependable people who work tirelessly to make the United States the world’s most reliable wheat supplier. Most of all, we celebrate the people who purchase U.S. wheat to produce the highest quality food for people around the world.

As those of us in the United States celebrate our Thanksgiving holiday this week, the people who work for USW wish to say, “Thank You!” to our customers, in our native tongues. We hope that we can share this in person as soon as possible in the new year.

Please note that USW Headquarters and Portland offices will be closed for the holiday Nov. 26 and 27.

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Wheat Industry News

Recent news and highlights from around the wheat industry.

Speaking of Wheat. “Clearly health care workers [should get the vaccine] first, and the vulnerable, the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions. We will advocate that, then, the essential workers – I would include the food-supply chain – should be right at the top.”  – David MacLennan, CEO, Cargill Inc., from a Nov. 23 Wall Street Journal article on preventing food supply disruptions as the pandemic surges.

Pandemic Raises Positive Image of Farming. For the first time, Americans answering a Gallup tracking poll about various business and industry sectors put farming and agriculture at the top of their list with a 69% positive rating. The former top-ranking industries – restaurants and computers – remain in the top four, with the grocery industry rounding out the group. Wheat producers and wheat production, of course, have always been “Number One” in our opinion. Read more here. 

Concerning Trends in Farm Financial Well-Being. Field to Market, The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, recently release a report highlighting trends in farm financial well-being. The report titled Economic Sustainability: Trends in Financial Well-Being. The report found that a prolonged period of low commodity prices has created significant financial pressures for U.S. agriculture, jeopardizing many farming operations and challenging the ability of supply chains to meet ambitious sustainability goals absent more direct support for growers.

Best Wishes to Montana Wheat Executive. The Montana Grain Growers Association (MGGA) recently announced that executive vice president Lola Raska will retire at the end of December and Alison Vergernot will take that position effective Jan. 1, 2021. MGGA represents the interest of Montana grain growers at the state level and is a member of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Lola has been involved in Montana agriculture for over 40 years and served on the MGGA Staff for 21 years. Her friends at U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) thank her for her service and wish her a long and happy retirement.

NWF Announces National Winners for the 2020 National Wheat Yield Contest. The National Wheat Foundation’s (NWF) National Wheat Yield Contest offers growers the opportunity to compete with farmers from across the United States and improve their production practices through new and innovative techniques. The NWF recently announced the national winners for the 2020 National Wheat Yield Contest, which recognizes winners in two primary competition categories: winter wheat and spring wheat, and two subcategories: dryland and irrigated. Read about the winning entries here and here.

Subscribe to USW Reports. USW publishes a variety of reports and content that are available to subscribe to, including a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting recent Wheat Letter blog posts, the weekly Price Report and the weekly Harvest Report (available May to October). Subscribe here.

Follow USW Online. Visit our Facebook page at 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.

 

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EU Hits HRS Imports with Punitive Tariffs; Durum Trade Remains Open

By Claire Hutchins, USW Market Analyst

U.S. hard red spring (HRS) wheat exports are caught in the crosshairs of an ongoing trade dispute between the United States and the European Union (EU), to the detriment of U.S. farmers and EU customers alike.

Effective Nov. 10, the European Commission (EC) announced a 25 percent import duty on hundreds of U.S. goods, including bulk agricultural commodities like non-durum wheat. The tariffs, punitive in nature, are the latest in a long-running disagreement between the United States and the EU over state subsidies to airline manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.

The disputes date back to late 2019 when the Trump Administration hit the EU with import tariffs on $7.5 billion of goods following a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that Europe’s Airbus, Boeing’s main rival, received illegal subsidies between 2011 and 2018. The WTO authorizes punitive tariffs as retaliation to pressure a country to comply with a WTO ruling. In October 2020, the WTO determined Boeing had also received illegal subsidies, thus opening the door for the EU to hit the U.S. with import duties on $4.0 billion of U.S. goods.

The EU’s tariffs apply to all non-durum U.S. wheat entering the bloc. The tariffs have the biggest impact on HRS demand, the largest class of U.S. wheat sent to the EU besides durum. With the tariffs, HRS farmers lost competitive access to the EU, a considerable, consistent market. EU customers regularly import about 300,000 metric tons of HRS per marketing year, making the bloc a top-10 export destination for the Northern Plains wheat. The market disruption will also disrupt the routine of EU customers who have come to depend on the unique functionality of high protein HRS, unmatched by domestic varieties, for valuable products like holiday breads and pizza dough.

Punitive tariffs generated by competing WTO challenges on airplane manufacturing subsidies have disrupted trade in non-durum U.S. wheat, primarily hard red spring wheat (above) with European customers. 

Unfortunately, there is no termination date scheduled for either set of tariffs and agricultural trade between the United States and the EU will continue to suffer as a result. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) encourages the United States and EU to prioritize a fair, timely solution to this trade dispute to reinforce the trusted partnership between U.S. farmers and our customers in the EU. In the meantime, USW will continue to monitor the situation and will regularly communicate with producers, customers and exporters about these developing uncertainties.

 

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USW Joins U.S. Marine Corps Founding Celebration in Hong Kong

By Jeff Coey, USW Regional Vice President for China and Taiwan

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) staff and stakeholders often encounter embassy personnel while sharing information with the offices of ag affairs and USDA Agricultural Trade Offices (ATO) assigned to posts around the world. The overseas support of the U.S. State Department and USDA staff in markets with USW offices is essential to our mission to bring services and information to U.S. wheat buyers, wherever they may be. U.S. embassies and consulates are guarded by special U.S. Marine detachments who circulate on two- to three-year cycles to one of 181 posts around the world. Visitors to embassies will invariably pass through security that is handled primarily by local contractors. But every day at the final checkpoint, one or more U.S. Marines, usually dressed in fatigues, stand watch.

The U.S. Marine Corps was officially founded Nov. 10, 1775, and it has become customary in the 20th century to celebrate this founding wherever active duty Marines gather. Hong Kong, where USW also has an office, is no exception. USW was honored to donate the cake, made with U.S wheat flour, used in this year’s ceremony at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau. As USW Regional Vice President for China and Taiwan, I attended the ceremony and, accompanied by ATO Attaché Ms. Alicia Hernandez, thanked the Marines on behalf of U.S. wheat farmers (photo above).

Ceremonial cake made with U.S. wheat flour and donated by USW carries a shortened version of the U.S. Marine Corps motto in Latin, “Semper fidelis” translated to English as “Ever faithful.”

The Master of Ceremonies, the head of consulate security and a non-active-duty Marine himself, gave the history behind the cake ceremony and then played a video by the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, General David Berger, featuring stories from U.S. Marine Corps veterans sharing memories from their time in service.

The cake was then brought forward in a procession to the Guest of Honor, Consul General Hanscom Smith, and cut with a ceremonial sword, as is tradition, and served first to Smith. The next person served was the oldest Marine in the room, a 57-year old non-active-duty Marine, who in turn served a slice to the youngest Marine in the room, a 24-year old corporal.

The cake is cut with a ceremonial sword by the commander of the U.S. Marine Corps detachment at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau.

The first piece of ceremonial cake is served to the Guest of Honor, U.S. Consul General Hanscom Smith.

After the Consul General made concluding remarks that thanked, among others, U.S. wheat farmers for their contribution. The ceremony concluded with an acapella performance of the Marine’s Hymn and all guests were invited to enjoy the cake and beverages.

While we often see these soldiers during our work and travels, it is rare to have the chance to converse with and thank them for their service, since making small talk is not part of their job description. USW is happy for the opportunity to get to know at least one detachment of the U.S. Marine Corps that help us do our work, and to express our thanks for their work at posts all over the globe.

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