Earlier this month, the World Food Program (WFP) officially announced the appointment of Luke J. Lindberg as the organization’s next executive director. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) welcomed the news as Lindberg succeeds fellow American Cindy McCain, who served as WFP’s Executive Director from April 2023 through May 2026, before stepping down due to health reasons.
Lindberg most recently served as USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, a position of great importance to wheat farmers and the entire U.S. agriculture industry. Before joining USDA in 2025, he founded and led South Dakota Trade, a public-private partnership focused on expanding international markets for the state’s exporters.
“We extend our congratulations to Lindberg on his appointment as the new WFP executive director, extending an important legacy of U.S. leadership in international food assistance,” said Dalton Henry, USW vice president of policy and communications. “The United States is the largest contributor to WFP, making U.S. leadership critical to supporting the organization’s efforts on global food security while supporting U.S. farmers. We appreciate his work to restart the Food for Peace program under USDA administration and look forward to sustaining U.S. wheat farmers’ longstanding connections with international humanitarian assistance.”
In his role with USDA, U.S. Wheat’s leadership and staff have had the opportunity to travel and work with Lindberg as he promoted U.S. agriculture around the world. Learn more about Lindberg and his work with U.S. Wheat on USDA trade missions and other efforts in the stories below.
Q & A: USDA Under Secretary Luke Lindberg Answers USW’s Questions About First 6 Months on the Job
March 11, 2026
One month into his tenure, Lindberg announced a three-point plan that led to the America First Trade Promotion program, which provides supplemental funding to support U.S. agricultural exports, and also created a new type of “rapid response” trade mission designed to help U.S. farmers take advantage of new trade deals.
Prior to his Aug. 2 confirmation, U.S. Wheat joined dozens of other ag organizations in signing a letter of support for Lindberg. In part, the letter stated, “Throughout his career, Mr. Lindberg has been a proponent of using trade to strengthen U.S. agriculture. As President and CEO of South Dakota Trade, Mr. Lindberg collaborated with local and regional agriculture groups and led several international trade missions to help South Dakota producers and agricultural partners navigate the global trade landscape. Prior to that, as Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, he managed day-to-day operations and advanced strategic initiatives, including opening new markets for American producers.”
Trade, USDA Administration of Food for Peace Program Highlighted During Kansas Ag Roundtable
May 7, 2026
U.S. Wheat helped welcome Luke J. Lindberg, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01), and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center on May 27 for a roundtable discussion with agricultural stakeholders on trade negotiations and agreements, USDA administration of the Food for Peace program and other top-of-mind issues.
“We were excited to have Under Secretary Lindberg, Senator Moran and Congressman Mann visit the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center for an opportunity to talk about the importance of trade with leaders from Kansas commodities,” said Justin Gilpin, Kansas Wheat CEO. The Under Secretary has a unique understanding of why producers need to be able to sell our products around the world to consistent buyers, especially in these times when there’s so much volatility and geopolitical uncertainty.”
U.S. Wheat Joins USDA TRUMP Mission to Ecuador
June 18, 2026
Underscoring a commitment to strengthening trade relationships for U.S. farmers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers (TRUMP) Mission to Argentina and Ecuador in early June. The mission, led by USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Luke J. Lindberg, aimed to expand market access in South America.
U.S. Wheat joined other agricultural cooperators on the mission, sending Brian Liedl, USW vice president of overseas operations, and Miguel Galdos, regional director for South America. For the USW team, a highlight of the mission was the delegation’s visit to the Grupo Superior biscuit (cookie) plant.
“The visit to Grupo Superior allowed us to see U.S. wheat being made into delicious products that are top-tier in Ecuador and Peru,” Liedl said, noting that Grupo Superior uses almost exclusively U.S. SRW wheat to make its cookies and crackers. The company uses around 60,000 MT (2.2 million bushels) of U.S. SRW annually and produces for export markets, including products destined for shelves in the United States.
U.S. Wheat Leader Joins USDA TRUMP Mission to Vietnam During Record Export Year
April 9, 2026
U.S. Wheat joined the USDA’s Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers (TRUMP) Mission to Vietnam in late March, underscoring ongoing growth in U.S. wheat exports to the Southeast Asian nation.
USW President and CEO Mike Spier joined the mission, which was led by Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg. Spier conveyed how U.S. Wheat’s on-the-ground engagement has translated into growing U.S. market share and increased use of higher-value U.S. wheat classes in this increasingly competitive market.
“Spending time with Under Secretary Lindberg during the trade mission provided a valuable opportunity to directly highlight USW’s long-standing market development, technical assistance, trade servicing and relationship-building efforts in Vietnam,” Spier said. “This direct engagement with senior USDA leadership helps ensure alignment between policy priorities and commercial realities, reinforces the importance of continued investment in overseas market development and, ultimately, supports increased export demand and improved returns for U.S. wheat farmers.”
U.S. Wheat Associates Staff Join Under Secretary Luke Lindberg in Central America
March 11, 2026
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg continued his work to expand markets for U.S. exports this week, leading a trade mission to Guatemala and El Salvador. The trade mission to Central America included 15 USDA cooperator organizations representing a broad sector of U.S. agricultural producers.
Stephanie Bryant-Erdmann, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Assistant Regional Director, and USW Vice President of Policy and Communications Dalton Henry joined the Under Secretary on the trip and helped facilitate discussions with key flour milling customers.
The trip was timed to coincide with the recently signed Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ART) – designed to expand trade relations between the countries and the U.S. In celebrating those agreements and highlighting the purpose of the trip, Lindberg said, “Our goal here is to turn that new market access into market share for U.S. agriculture.”
U.S. Wheat Strengthens Ties and Reaffirms Commitments During USDA Trade Mission to Indonesia
February 26, 2026
Demonstrating American wheat farmers’ commitment to meeting global wheat demand, U.S. Wheat recently participated in a USDA Trade Mission to Indonesia from February 2 to 5, 2026. The trade mission highlighted U.S. Wheat’s efforts to support sales to the world’s fourth-most populous country.
The U.S. delegation was led by USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg. USDA noted that the trade mission connected U.S. companies with partners in Indonesia’s dynamic market, reinforcing a shared commitment to bringing top-quality U.S. agricultural products to the market.
Notably for wheat producers, U.S. Wheat and California Raisins hosted a baking competition showcasing U.S. agricultural products. The mission included visits to Mayora Indah, Indonesia’s leading biscuit manufacturer and one of the country’s largest Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies, and Bogasari, the nation’s largest flour mill.
USW Joins USDA Under Secretary Lindberg in Affirming Essential Partnership with Japanese Customers
October 9, 2025
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) leadership joined Luke Lindberg, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, in Japan in early October on an agricultural trade mission to Japan. The mission provided Mike Spier, USW president and CEO, and Jim Pellman, USW chairman and farmer from North Dakota, an additional opportunity to reaffirm the enduring partnership between U.S. wheat farmers and Japan’s government and milling and baking industries.
“Japan has been a consistent customer of U.S. wheat from before USW was even officially formed as an organization,” Spier said. “We appreciate the opportunity to showcase our long-term success in this market with Under Secretary Lindberg. These missions strengthen mutual cooperation and communication between our nations, maintaining our access to this mature, quality-conscious, and steady buyer.”