April 18, 2019
U.S. Wheat Farmers Discuss Wheat Quality with Customers in Spain, Portugal and Morocco
Originally published April 11, 2019
By Elizabeth Westendorf, USW Assistant Director of Policy
Every year, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) invites farmers (selected by state wheat commissions) to visit U.S. wheat customers overseas to learn more about international markets, customer needs, and the role of U.S. wheat in their businesses. This year, USW Assistant Director of Policy Elizabeth Westendorf led a team of three farmers to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The team included: Al Klempel, a hard red spring (HRS) and hard red winter (HRW) wheat farmer from Bloomfield, Mont. representing the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee; Kent Lorens, a HRW and hard white (HW) wheat farmer from Stratton, Neb., representing the Nebraska Wheat Board; and Casey Madsen, a HRW and HW wheat farmer from Pine Bluffs, Wyo., representing the Wyoming Wheat Marketing Commission. Read the full article here.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Putting Wheat Quality in the Spotlight
Originally published April 12, 2019
By Steve Wirsching, USW Vice President and West Coast Office Director
It is U.S. Wheat Associates’ (USW) mission to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance wheat’s profitability for U.S. wheat producers and its value for their customers.” The overseas market has changed tremendously in the last 25 years. In the 1990s, the United States was a dominant global supplier. Today, it is one of many suppliers in a highly competitive international market. International trade has nearly doubled during that same time, driven by population and income growth. This growth has increased competition, elevating wheat quality as a vital component of value.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Upcoming Tour Offers First Look at U.S. HRW Yield Potential
Originally published April 16, 2019
More than 90 U.S. wheat industry stakeholders will soon get a close-up view of the new wheat crop in Kansas, southern Nebraska, eastern Colorado and northern Oklahoma on the annual Wheat Quality Council (WQC) Hard Winter Wheat Tour April 29 to May 2. This tour and a second one in July focused on U.S. spring wheat are educational for the participants and news worthy as a first snapshot of each year’s new crops.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Here Are 5 Things to Know About SRW Supply and Demand
Originally published April 16, 2019
By Steve Mercer, USW Vice President of Communications
Grown in the eastern United States, soft red winter (SRW) wheat is a profitable choice for producing confectionary products like cookies (biscuits), crackers and cakes, and to blend its flour for baguettes and other bread products. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) wants to share some key points about SRW exportable supply in marketing year 2018/19 and look ahead to its potential for 2019/20.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Old Trading Friends Japan and USA are Talking Again
Originally published April 17, 2019
By Ben Conner, USW Vice President of Policy
The United States and Japan kicked off negotiations this week on a potential trade agreement between these two Pacific Rim economic giants. While the path forward for these negotiations is not yet clear, the pace is likely to speed up with a schedule of additional meetings between these traditional trading partners.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Good Quality, Competitive Prices Spark U.S. Winter Wheat Demand
Originally published April 18, 2019
By Claire Hutchins, USW Market Analyst
As marketing year (MY) 2018/19 draws to a close, customers of U.S. winter wheat are taking advantage of excellent buying opportunities on competitive pricing and high-quality, consistent supplies. Since the first week in January, the 2018/19 export sales pace for hard red winter (HRW) and soft red winter (SRW) surpassed last year’s pace for deliveries in the current marketing year (CMY) and the new marketing year (NMY).
_____________________________________________________________________________
Recent News Releases from USW
_____________________________________________________________________________
“With these decisions, we call on the Chinese government to come into compliance with the rules it accepted when it joined the WTO. The world now sees that their policies stifle market-driven wheat trade, block export opportunities and force private sector buyers and consumers to pay more than they should for milling wheat and wheat-based foods.” — Vince Peterson, USW President, commenting on the April 18 WTO dispute panel ruling that China does not fairly administer its annual TRQ for imports of corn, rice and 9.64 million metric tons (MMT) of wheat. Read the full news release here.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations. We are fortunate to have devoted, loyal colleagues at USW. This month Accountant Ana Laura Salinas from the USW Mexico City Office is celebrating 20 years. Thank you, Ana Laura, for your service to our organization, to U.S. wheat farmers and to our customers around the world.
Our Sympathies. We have learned that William L. “Bill” Hulse of The Dalles, Ore., passed away in March at 98 years old. Mr. Hulse was the first Vice Chairman of USW, elected at the January 1980 meeting at which USW was established, and served as Chairman for 1981/82. During his chairmanship, the USW board hired the late Winston Wilson as President, who served until his retirement in 1997. Our condolences to Mr. Hulse’s family and friends.
Wheat Buyers from Morocco and Tunisia Visit Kansas and Texas. Wheat buyers from Morocco and Tunisia got a closer look at the intricacies and reliability of the U.S. grain infrastructure during their Cochran Fellowship Program experience in Kansas and Texas April 12 to 19. The program offers short-term training opportunities to agricultural professionals from middle-income countries, emerging markets and emerging democracies. Read the full story here.
2019 Borlaug CAST Communication Award. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) recognized Dr. Frank Mitloehner, professor and air quality specialist in cooperative extension in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University and California, Davis, with its 2019 Borlaug CAST Communication Award. This award is presented annually for outstanding achievement by a scientist, engineer, technologist or other professional working in the agricultural, environmental or food sectors for contributing to the advancement of science in the public policy arena. Read the full release here.
2017 Census of Agriculture Data Now Available. USDA announced the results of the 2017 Census of Agriculture Apr. 11, spanning some 6.4 million new points of information about America’s farms and ranches and those who operate them. Read the full release here.
Refined Grains and Health. A study showing that current guidelines on refined grains are misguided was recently published in a respected nutrition journal, Advances in Nutrition. The article, Perspective: Refined Grains and Health: Genuine Risk, or Guilt by Association? was developed by Dr. Glenn Gaesser, Director of the Healthy Lifestyles Research Center, at Arizona State University. Gaesser conducted a comprehensive literature review looking specifically at the relationship between refined (or enriched) grain intake and risk of major chronic diseases. Read the article here.
Cassidy Anderson Joins IGP Institute Team. The IGP Institute welcomes Kansas State University agribusiness graduate Cassidy Anderson, as the new distance education coordinator beginning May 20, 2019. Anderson first joined IGP as a student intern in 2016 and has since supported vital distance education activities. Read the full release here.
Baking with Hard Red Spring Wheat Flour Course. The Northern Crops Institute is hosting a course focused on hard red spring (HRS) wheat and flour May 14 to 17, 2019, at its facilities in Fargo, N.D. Participants will spend time in the baking laboratory, making pan breads, hamburger buns, hard rolls, bagels, pizza crusts, wheat-flour tortillas and more. Click here to learn more and register by April 22.
Baking with Whole Wheat and Whole Grains Course. The Northern Crops Institute is hosting a course focused on the utilization of whole wheat flour made from hard red spring (HRS) wheat and how to incorporate other whole grain ingredients into wheat-based products. The July 30 to Aug. 2, 2019 course will be at its facilities in Fargo, N.D. Click here to learn more and register by Monday, July 8.
Buhler-KSU Executive Milling Short Courses. IGP Institute offers this executive milling course several times in 2019 at its campus in Manhattan, Kan. The course, focused on the underlying principles of the milling process and operational management, will be offered in English May 20 to 24, 2019, and Nov. 4 to 8, 2019, as well as in Spanish Aug. 26 to 30, 2019. Click here to register to these courses.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates