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Wheat Letter – May 17, 2018

Wheat Letter – May 17, 2018

May 17, 2018


Even with Lower HRW Outlook, U.S. Wheat Production Called Up for 2018/19

By Stephanie Bryant-Erdmann, USW Market Analyst

With the small, stressed hard red winter (HRW) wheat crop getting the lion’s share of attention, it was an initial surprise to read in USDA’s May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) that U.S. wheat production is expected to increase to 49.6 million metric tons (MMT) in 2018/19. That would be up 5 percent year over year, if realized. Read the full article here.


Chinese Wheat Stocks Mask Tight Stocks to Use Ration

By Stephanie Bryant-Erdmann, USW Market Analyst

On May 10, USDA forecast the 2018/19 global wheat supply to hit a record 1,018 million metric tons (MMT) despite the expectation that global wheat production will fall for the first time in 5 years to 748 MMT. Read the full article here.


A Welcome Look at Hybrid Wheat Research

By Steve Mercer, USW Vice President of Communications

Several colleagues from U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) had a great experience on May 16 on a visit to Bayer Corporation’s main North American wheat breeding laboratory and nursery near Lincoln, Neb. They had a true look at the future, one that includes a more stable supply of high quality wheat for millers and wheat food processors around the world. Read the full article here.

   


Japanese Flour Milling Executives Visit United States at a Pivotal Time

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Country Director Wataru “Charlie” Utsunomiya traditionally brings a team of senior executives from Japan’s flour milling industry to the United States to get an early look at each year’s wheat crop and establish professional connections with farmers, grain traders and other industry representatives. This year’s team arrived April 28, 2018, in Portland, Ore., at a good time to discuss many factors that affect the long, productive relationship between the Japanese milling industry and U.S. wheat. Read the full article here.

The Washington Grain Commission signed a

Letter of Intent with the Japan Flour Millers

Association for the Development of Club Wheat.

Photo courtesy of Washington Grain Commission.


Miguel Galdos Returns to U.S. Wheat Associates as Regional Director in South America

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) announces that a familiar face is returning to the organization, naming Miguel Galdos as Regional Director of its South American region. This follows the announcement that after 41 years of dedicated service to the U.S. wheat industry, Regional Vice President Alvaro de la Fuente will retire October 2018. Galdos will begin June 1, 2018, providing an appropriate transition period. Previously, Galdos worked for USW as Marketing Specialist and Assistant Regional Director in the USW Santiago Office from 2001 to 2008. Read the full article here.


Wheat Groups Welcome Counternotification on India’s Reports to WTO

Last week, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) formally questioned data India has reported to the World Trade Organization (WTO) about its market price support programs for wheat and rice from marketing years 2010/11 to 2013/14. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) consider this counternotification (CN) to the WTO Committee on Agriculture as an appropriate and welcome step that further brings transparency to countries’ farm support programs. Read the full article here.


“What impressed me the most, in terms of a marketer of wheat, was discussions surrounding the quality factor…There is a big discussion about protein levels and flour quality. That’s the message that the users of our wheat are really going to be looking for to help them.”  USW President Vince Peterson, summarizing his visit to the 2018 Oklahoma State Research Field Day. Listen to the full interview here. 


Online Home for Ag Export Information. The website www.AgExportsCount.org provides information about U.S. agricultural export market development and is the foundation of a unified public presence for the multiple coalitions and individual organizations that leverage USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program to promote U.S. commodities and high-value agricultural products overseas. Visit the website and follow #agexportscount on social media for more information.

IAOM-KSU Introduction to Flour Milling. This course, hosted by the IGP Institute at its Conference Center in Manhattan, Kan., Aug. 13 to 17, will focus on all aspects of the flour milling process from wheat selection to flour blending and functionality. Find more information and registration here.

Source: U.S. Wheat Associates