June 27, 2019
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Some Positive News on Wheat Trade with Japan, Mexico and China
Originally published June 19, 2019
Headlines on the trade front this week have direct bearing on the U.S. wheat industry’s desire to reaffirm our trade relationship with long-standing customers in Japan and Mexico, and to renew our relationship with customers in China. For now, at least, the news is positive.
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Meet the USW Technical Experts: Gerry Mendoza – Born to Teach and Share His Love for Baking
Originally published June 25, 2019
By Amanda J. Spoo, USW Director of Communications
There is one thing that everyone who crosses paths with Gerry Mendoza agrees on: he is just a really positive, nice guy. “One of Gerry’s greatest assets is a positive attitude and sincere willingness to do whatever it takes to carry a project to completion,” said Joe Sowers, USW Regional Vice President for the Philippines and Korea, of his Filipino colleague.
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Milling Executives from the Philippines Start Their Tour of the U.S. Wheat Supply Chain in Oregon
Originally published June 26, 2019
By Claire Hutchins, USW Market Analyst
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) believes customer engagement, supply chain transparency and free access to market information are the building blocks for robust relationships with U.S. wheat overseas customers. Every year, USW hosts several foreign trade delegations on trips to the United States to help foster these relationships. These delegations of millers, bakers, wheat buyers and executives from overseas mills and end-product manufacturers visit many stops along the U.S. wheat supply chain including wheat farms, state wheat commissions, export inspection facilities, export elevators, test labs, wheat breeding programs, bakeries and more. These trips are designed to assure overseas customers of the quality, abundance, end-use versatility and value of U.S. wheat.
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The Science Behind Promoting U.S. Wheat
Originally published June 26, 2019; Reprinted with permission from the North Dakota Wheat Commission
In May, Dr. Senay Simsek, Professor and Wheat Quality Specialist with North Dakota State University (NDSU), traveled to the Philippines and Indonesia with U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) to meet with millers and end-users of U.S. wheat. The objective of the visits and seminars was to provide technical assistance to mills to improve their efficiency to produce flour that meets their local needs. USW staff included Peter Lloyd, Andres Saturno Eguren, Ivan Goh, Joe Sowers and Matt Weimar.
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USW Captures Images of Harvest in Kansas
Originally published June 27, 2019
The landscape in southwestern Kansas is vast and relatively flat. You can see the local grain elevators from 10 kilometers away, tall testimony to the crop for which this country is known. Hard red winter (HRW) and hard white (HW) wheat is ripening everywhere here this week and that is why U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is also here.
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“Gerry has a natural affinity for presenting information in a classroom setting or running a baking workshop in an interesting and engaging fashion. He is very creative in designing training activities and enthusiastically carries them out. I think that is why so many customers here want Gerry to put on workshops – and, of course, because he is such a nice guy.” — Joe Sowers, USW Regional Vice President for the Philippines and Korea, on the work of his colleague USW Baking Consultant Gerry Mendoza.
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Wheat Growers Join Nearly 1,000 Food & Ag Groups in Letter Urging Congressional Ratification of USMCA. Nearly 1,000 groups representing the U.S. food and agriculture value chain at the national, state and local levels have called on Congress to support the ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter sent to Congress June 13, the groups reiterate that USMCA will benefit the U.S. agriculture and food industry while providing consumers a more abundant supply of high-quality, safe food at affordable prices. Read the full release from the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) here.
Congratulations. USW President Vince Peterson and his wife Sandi welcomed their eighth grandchild, a girl, Carly Reagan, born June 12.
Wheat Myth Debunked by a Major New Study. The myth that modern wheat varieties are more heavily reliant on pesticides and fertilizers is debunked by new research published in Nature Plants today. Lead author on the paper, Dr. Kai Voss-Fels, a research fellow at The University of Queensland, said modern wheat cropping varieties actually out-perform older varieties in both optimum and harsh growing conditions. Read the full story here.
USDA Announces ERS and NIFA Relocating to Kansas City Region. On June 13, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture will be relocating to the Kansas City Region. The USDA went through a selection process that included 136 locations expressing interest before coming to the decision. Read the USDA’s press release on the announcement for more information and background on the decision here.
Procedural Step on China TRQ Case. On June 24, the Chinese government formally notified the World Trade Organization that it will not appeal a ruling it lost in a case brought by the United States against Beijing’s adherence to a reduced duty tariff-rate quota on imported grain. China said it would abide by the WTO ruling within a reasonable period of time to be negotiated with the United States. This is a procedural process and in the domestic support case brought by the United States against China the “reasonable period of time” to comply is until March 31, 2020.
National Wheat Foundation Blog Series: The Science Behind Gene Editing. On June 20, 2019, NAWG Summer 2019 Intern Merrick Irvin drafted his second blog in a five-part series on the progression of wheat genetics from the beginning to present. The second blog provides a high-level overview of what is gene editing. Read it here.
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.
IAOM-KSU Flour and Dough Analysis. The IAOM-KSU Flour and Dough Analysis short course will be held at the IGP Institute in Manhattan, Kan., Sept. 10 to 12, 2019. The course will focus on flour and dough analysis practices and methods and correct interpretation and understanding of the results. Click here to learn more and register.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates