Prairie Grains Sept./Oct 1998 Turkish Wheat Importers

Issue 15
September/
October 1998
Turkish Wheat Importers Visit Northern Plains

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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.

Wheat producers, through their wheat checkoff, hosted a Turkish wheat trade team visit to the Northern Plains in August. The group of Turkish wheat importers and flour millers visited the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and merchandisers from three Twin Cities-based grain companies: Harvest States, Cargill and Conagra.
David Torgerson, executive director of the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, which administers the state's one-cent per bushel checkoff for wheat research and promotion, says he hopes the Turkish wheat importers learned more about US wheat quality and marketing systems, relative to competitors in the Turkish market. This will in turn lead to a stronger confidence in the US as a reliable supplier of consistent quality wheat, and will help to regain market share from aggressive Australian marketing, he says.
Two of the four trade team members were from the largest milling operations in Turkey, while the other two were among the most active traders in Turkey for sales to smaller Turkish mills, and have milling operations of their own.
Turkey is a large and diverse country with a population of nearly 62 million, a per capita income average of about $4,000 annually, domestic wheat production of about 600 million bushels, 700 flour mills, and 6,000 bakeries. Turkey is one of the highest per capita wheat consumers in the world at close to 400 pounds annually.
In late 1992, the Turkish government began allowing private merchants and millers in the country to make more of their own wheat importing decisions. Turkish wheat merchants and millers try to use as much domestically-grown wheat as possible, but often need to import high protein wheat to blend with Turkish wheat to meet market specifications.
"Scab in the 1990s hurt our high-quality spring wheat reputation, but we want to help importers realize that they can use contract specifications to purchase the type and quality of wheat that they want," says Torgerson. "We also want to point out that Minnesota has less scab this season, and is on track to harvest its best quality spring wheat crop in several years."
While in the US, the Turkish wheat trade team also visited SD and the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, ND, where they learned more about blending U.S. wheat. n

Copyright Prairie
Grains Magazine
September/October 1998

Issue 15 September/ October 1998	Turkish Wheat Importers Visit Northern Plains

Library Home E-Mail Back Prairie Grains is the official publication of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, South Dakota Wheat, Inc., and the Minnesota Barley Growers Association.	Wheat producers, through their wheat checkoff, hosted a Turkish wheat trade team visit to the Northern Plains in August. The group of Turkish wheat importers and flour millers visited the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and merchandisers from three Twin Cities-based grain companies: Harvest States, Cargill and Conagra. David Torgerson, executive director of the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, which administers the state's one-cent per bushel checkoff for wheat research and promotion, says he hopes the Turkish wheat importers learned more about US wheat quality and marketing systems, relative to competitors in the Turkish market. This will in turn lead to a stronger confidence in the US as a reliable supplier of consistent quality wheat, and will help to regain market share from aggressive Australian marketing, he says. Two of the four trade team members were from the largest milling operations in Turkey, while the other two were among the most active traders in Turkey for sales to smaller Turkish mills, and have milling operations of their own. Turkey is a large and diverse country with a population of nearly 62 million, a per capita income average of about $4,000 annually, domestic wheat production of about 600 million bushels, 700 flour mills, and 6,000 bakeries. Turkey is one of the highest per capita wheat consumers in the world at close to 400 pounds annually. In late 1992, the Turkish government began allowing private merchants and millers in the country to make more of their own wheat importing decisions. Turkish wheat merchants and millers try to use as much domestically-grown wheat as possible, but often need to import high protein wheat to blend with Turkish wheat to meet market specifications. "Scab in the 1990s hurt our high-quality spring wheat reputation, but we want to help importers realize that they can use contract specifications to purchase the type and quality of wheat that they want," says Torgerson. "We also want to point out that Minnesota has less scab this season, and is on track to harvest its best quality spring wheat crop in several years." While in the US, the Turkish wheat trade team also visited SD and the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, ND, where they learned more about blending U.S. wheat. n
Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine September/October 1998

Turkish Wheat Importers Visit Northern Plains

Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine September/October 1998

Copyright Prairie
Grains Magazine
September/October 1998