March 7, 2019
Positioned to Return More Value to Wheat Buyers and Producers
Originally published February 28, 2019
By Vince Peterson, USW President
Recently, I was searching online for some wheat market information to share at an upcoming meeting. I saw a headline that asked: “What country exports the most wheat?” Great, I thought, here we go again with more propaganda about Russia beating the United States in the global wheat export market contest. Read the full article here.
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The Benefits of U.S. Investment in Global Wheat Research Collaboration
Originally published February 28, 2019
By Elizabeth Westendorf, USW Assistant Director of Policy
Seventy-five years ago, the seeds of the Green Revolution were planted when Norman Borlaug began his work on wheat breeding in Mexico. The success of that effort, which was a partnership between the Mexican government and the Rockefeller Foundation, led to the eventual founding of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Read the full article here.
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Meet the USW Technical Experts:
Peter Lloyd – International Man of Milling
Originally published March 4, 2019
By Steve Mercer, USW Vice President of Communications
Peter Lloyd’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the MIAG pilot flour mill and baking lab at Mennel Milling’s Fostoria, Ohio, plant.
Lloyd, who was with U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) colleagues gathering information on new U.S. wheat export opportunities, said “there is no end to that plant’s potential in soft wheat product development.” Read the full article here.
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U.S. Wheat Export Pace Quickens
Originally published March 6, 2019
By Claire Hutchins, USW Market Analyst
As wheat futures hit contract lows, trade negotiations with China wind on and the window for export sales delivered in marketing year 2018/19 (June to May) draws to a close, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) sees a more optimistic picture in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) most recent series of commercial sales data. Read the full article here.
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U.S. Wheat Farmers See Opportunity for Growth in Southeast Asia Markets
Originally published March 7, 2019
By Catherine Miller, USW Programs and Planning Coordinator
Every year, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) invites farmers (selected by state wheat commissions) to participate in a “Board Team” trip overseas to follow their wheat and learn from customers about the quality characteristics needed in those markets. In February the first USW Board Team of 2019 traveled to Southeast Asia—one of the largest and fastest growing wheat import regions. Stops in the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia gave the team the opportunity to visit important markets and learn more about how wheat-based products are re-shaping consumer demand. Read the full article here.
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Recent News Releases from USW
U.S. Wheat Associates Names New Associate Country Director for Japan; Utsunomiya to Retire
WTO Dispute Panel Confirms China’s Domestic Support Policy Exceeds Limits, Distorts Trade
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“The most valuable commodity in the world is integrity.”
— Peter Lloyd, USW Regional Technical Director, USW Casablanca Office
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How the United States Uses Its Land. There are many statistical measures that show productivity, but what can be harder to decipher is how a country uses its land. Bloomberg in 2018 created maps that give a general sense of how land in the United States is used for cropland, pasture, forest, special use and urban living. Agricultural land takes up about 20 percent of the country and it takes about 21.5 million acres (8.7 million hectares) to produce all the U.S. wheat exported in one year. Click here to view the Bloomberg maps.
Congratulations New NAWG Officers. The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) recently elected officers for 2019/20. Texas wheat farmer Ben Scholz will serve as President, Michigan wheat farmer David Milligan as Vice President, Washington state wheat farmer Nicole Berg as Treasurer and Oregon wheat farmer Brent Cheyne as Secretary. Now Past-President Jimmie Musick of Oklahoma will continue to serve on NAWG’s executive committee. USW wants to thank Jimmie for his strong support of export development and his hard work for wheat farmers, and we congratulate his fellow officers on their election. Click here to read the full release.
NAWG Endorses USMCA. NAWG recently joined The National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, and National Sorghum Producers in support for the pending U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Mexico and Canada account for 25 percent of all U.S. agriculture exports and USMCA preserves and builds upon the existing trading relationship between the United States, Canada and Mexico, the organizations said in a news release. They will be advocating members of Congress to ratify USMCA this year, while also urging the Trump Administration to keep the current NAFTA agreement intact until the new agreement is ratified. Click here to read the full release.
Group Calls on USDA to Support Export Development in Cuba. In a recent letter, the United States Agriculture Coalition for Cuba urged U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to approve the use of USDA Foreign Agricultural Service export market development funds in Cuba to promote, educate and carry out research supporting U.S. agricultural goods. The USACC represents more than 100 agricultural commodity and farm member organizations, including USW and NAWG, that support improving rural economies and enhancing opportunities for U.S. agriculture through normalized trade with Cuba. Click here to read the letter.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates