South Dakota Wheat
By Alan Tracy
On behalf of U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the wheat growers we represent, Chairman Darrell Davis of Ipswich, SD, and I traveled to Japan and China last month to meet with customers. Japan is normally the largest buyer of U.S. wheat, and China has perhaps the largest potential for our future market growth.
Five months into the 2012-13 current marketing year, the export total of 14.7 million metric tons is 9% lower than last year and less than half the USDA's forecast of 31.3 million metric tons. But these numbers can be deceiving says Vince Peterson, vice-president of overseas operations for U.S. Wheat Associates.
Reaching out to officials who participate in global agriculture and agricultural trade.
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is helping build record export sales and sustainable demand for U.S. wheat in South Asia by helping milling and baking customers grow their businesses, USW Regional Vice President Mike Spier said in a presentation to the USW Board of Directors in Spokane, WA. “In southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, wheat consumption is rising rapidly because incomes are improving and tastes are shifting from rice to wheat foods," Spier said. “That is opening markets for baked goods, biscuits, cakes and other foods that need more types of higher quality flour and per capita annual wheat consumption is growing.”
The U.S. Wheat Associates’ (USW’s)and National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) joint committees on trade and biotechnology policy met over the weekend in Spokane, Wash., in association with USW’s summer meeting there. The two committees include members from both organizations who work to develop priorities and resolutions that are forwarded to both boards of directors for approval.
USW Director of Policy Shannon Schlecht and USW Chairman Darrell Davis discussed trade policy issues during the USW Summer meeting.