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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.

Washington wheat farmer to represent growers on trade

The wheat producer members of US Wheat Associates (USW), the National Association of Wheat Growers and the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee recently voted to elect Christopher Shaffer to represent US wheat interests on trade to the World Trade Organization and on other trade forums.

A Walla Walla, Wash. wheat farmer, Shaffer was nominated by the organizations’ growers for the position on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee on Trade (APAC). The APAC was instituted to advise, consult with and make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Trade Representative concerning the trade policy of the US and matters arising in the administration of such policy.

Shaffer will comment on behalf of US wheat producers with respect to the negotiating objectives and bargaining positions of the US government in upcoming bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade talks.

USW helps develop Asian noodle technology center

USW/Singapore is involved in a joint venture effort to develop an Asian Noodle Technology Development Center, which will be the first of its kind in the South Asian region. Loo Kai Soon, USW/Singapore’s Biscuit/Noodle Consultant, is assisting in developing the physical structure and has also assisted in the design of five pieces of experimental noodle machinery and a noodle pilot line, which will be delivered to the Center in January 1999.

When completed, USW/Singapore will utilize the facility for semiannual training programs in commercial noodle production, testing of US wheats in various noodle formulations and the development of new products utilizing flours produced from US wheat.

Brazil announces partial lifting of ban on imports of US wheat

Brazil has announced a partial lifting of its ban on imports of US wheat, effective immediately, by stating that it will allow imports of hard red winter wheat from the Gulf region.

Brazil put a temporary halt to imports of US wheat in September of 1996, due to concerns about tilletia controversa kuhn disease (TCK). Last April, Brazil announced it was lifting its ban, following a pest risk analysis conducted by the USDA which demonstrated the extremely low level of risk of TCK developing in Brazil. However, imports of US wheat did not resume as Brazil said it was concerned about three other plant pests: wheat nematode, cereal stripe and flag smut.

Last June, USW assisted in hosting an inspection team of Brazilian officials to assess the risk of these pests, which are not widespread in the US nor are they considered economically significant. Following the team’s return to Brazil, scientific papers and other information was exchanged concerning the diseases.

USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) was recently involved in numerous discussions with their Brazilian government counterparts, which resulted in the recent announcement regarding the ban. APHIS plans to continue discussions with the Brazilians to gain access for other U.S. wheat classes and ports.

"We are pleased that Brazil is reopening its market to US wheat, however, we need to continue to work with USDA to see that the market is opened to all classes of wheat and for other port areas," says USW Chairman Jerry Kress.

Brazil imports about six million metric tons of wheat each year, relying mostly on wheat imports from Argentina. Prior to the announcement of the ban in September 1996, Brazil purchased 670,000 metric tons of wheat from the US in marketing year 1995-96. Sales of US wheat to Brazil are generally contracted in May, in order to take advantage of market opportunities in August and September prior to crops being harvested in Argentina and Brazil.

USW sponsors technical journals in Korea

Several technical journals were published in Korea this year with support of USW. The technical journal Noodles was published in cooperation with the Korean Noodle Products Research Society. The journal includes research findings on noodle technology for enhancing noodle characteristics, such as texture and eating quality, as well as information on developing new types of Korean noodles using US wheat. The journal was distributed to noodle companies, flour mills and research organizations.

USW also co-sponsored the technical journal Wheat and Milling Industry in conjunction with the Korean Flour Milling Research Society, which USW helped organize in 1995. This journal includes research reports on milling technology geared toward enhancing flour quality attributes to meet consumer preferences for various wheat-based products. This journal was distributed to milling, noodle, bakery and confectionery companies.

Goal to re-introduce US wheat to Mauritania

USW Regional Director George Galasso traveled to Mauritania (in northwest Africa) this fall to explore means to re-introduce American wheat. Although most cereal operators are familiar with American hard red winter wheat, its local name indicates the amount of time which has elapsed since it came in any significant quantities; "Kennedy Wheat." Galasso met with wheat importers, banking officials, representatives of non-profit organizations such as the World Bank, the UN Development Program, World Food Program, and others to discuss initiatives for the introduction of American wheat. Significant interest in American export programs was generated by the visit among the banking and importing community.

Moroccan Bake Test Lab inaugurated

USW Chairman Jerry Kress, and USW President Alan Tracy participated recently in the inauguration of the bake test lab at the Moroccan Milling School (IFIM). It will significantly advance wheat and flour quality control throughout the region and provide an effective vehicle for undertaking USW technical consultations.

View US as wheat supermarket

Pablo Maluenda, USW marketing specialist, presented the subject "The Use of Different Classes of US Wheat and the Diversification of Flours in South America," at the international seminar "Technological Milling Developments, The Diversification Of Wheat Flours" offered by the Technological Center of Granotec in Santiago, Chile. The fall seminar was attended by 30 representatives of the milling industry from eight Latin American countries.

In his presentation, Maluenda emphasized the importance of using different types of wheat for different end uses, an uncommon practice in the South American countries a few years ago, when millers produced all kind of flours from only one or two different types of wheat.

With the recent development and increased diversification of the food industries in South America, millers can only obtain the quality and specific characteristics of the flour that their customers require, by using different types of wheat and through blending of flours, two concepts strongly emphasized by Maluenda, along with the concept of the United States as a supermarket providing a wide range of different types of wheat.

1998 HRS analysis indicates higher quality

USW has completed its annual crop quality survey, and the 1998 HRS wheat crop on average is rated as having good to very good quality, which is better than the past few years. Sampling and analysis was conducted the NDSU Cereal Science Department. Results of the 1998 analysis from 1.104 hard red spring wheat samples collected from growers and elevators in MN (154) MT (229) ND (518) and SD (203) indicated higher than average protein, average test weight, little sprout damage and lower damaged kernels.

The crop has good milling properties, stronger than average dough mixing strength and good baking performance. Although scab was present, its severity was considerably less than in the past few years. Quality results are published in the 1998 USW Crop Quality Report, which is being used to help promote US hard red spring wheat throughout the world.