Focused on Export Market Development
According to Kernels and Chaff by Marx Koehnke, “the welding of three states into a regional marketing organization became a reality on December 15, 1958, when Great Plains Wheat Market Development Association, Inc., was officially chartered...” On April 23, 1959, producers adopted articles of incorporation in Pendleton, OR, to form Western Wheat Associates. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) was founded in 1980 with the merger of Great Plains Wheat and Western Wheat Associates.
USW remains fixed on the mission of the producers who created these legacy organizations to develop and grow export markets.
Today, the stated mission of U.S. Wheat Associates is to:
“Develop, maintain, and expand international markets
to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.”
This mission positions USW to:
- Address issues that affect the profitability of both producers and customers
- Focus on the future of the industry
- Serve the needs of its members
- Educate and assist international customers to purchase U.S. wheat.
Our mission is reflected in the organizational vision:
"Working together to make U.S. wheat the world's first choice."
The generous financial support from U.S. wheat producer check-off dollars managed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service ensure that USW has the resources needed to help overseas buyers understand the reliability and functional benefits of U.S. milling wheat.
Our 19 member state wheat commissions are:
Arizona Grain Research and Promotion Council
Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board
California Wheat Commission
Colorado Wheat Administrative Committee
Idaho Wheat Commission
Kansas Wheat Commission
Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board
Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council
Montana Wheat and Barley Committee
Nebraska Wheat Board
North Dakota Wheat Commission
Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program
Oklahoma Wheat Commission
Oregon Wheat Commission
South Dakota Wheat Commission
Texas Wheat Producers Board
Virginia Small Grains Board
Washington Grain Commission
Wyoming Wheat Marketing Commission
Assisting Overseas Buyers
 The U.S. grain marketing system is unmatched and transparent. Yet it can be complicated. That is why USW maintains 15 offices strategically located around the world and two offices in the U.S. To pave the way for U.S. export growth in durum, hard red spring, hard red winter, soft red winter, soft white, and hard white wheat.
USW provides comprehensive assistance to U.S. wheat buyers, millers, wheat food processors and government officials around the world:
- Trade Servicing
- Technical Assistance
- Market Information and Analysis
- Consumer Promotion
Trade Policy
USW invests trade policy resources to help secure open global competition with equitable and fair terms. These efforts are primarily focused on the federal government agencies that impact and regulate trade, as well as the World Trade Organization and non-governmental organizations involved in international food aid. USW provides information and analysis that the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) uses in its representation of U.S. wheat producers in Congress. USW, NAWG, and other wheat industry organizations also work together to align the eventual introduction of biotechnology traits in wheat with the interests of producers, technology providers, and end-users.
How USW is funded
 Funding activities that develop and maintain wheat export markets is a cooperative effort between the federal government and wheat producers. Federal programs, including the Foreign Market Development program and the Market Access Program, account for about 74% of USW revenues. Producer check-off funds forwarded to USW through the state wheat commissions, including regular state assessments and state-funded special projects, provide 26% of activity funding.
How funding is allocated
Eight of every ten dollars go to USW overseas activities. The remaining 20% stays in the U.S. for domestic staff members, two offices (in Arlington, VA, and Portland, OR), assistance with foreign trade delegations, USW Board of Directors expenses, and information and education for wheat producers.
Follow USW online
In addition to this Web site, its bimonthly Wheat Letter, and other outreach efforts, USW is now communicating through Twitter.com, YouTube.com, and Flickr.com. To learn more about U.S. wheat export market development, the producers and state wheat commissions who support us, and our customers:
Click here to subscribe to Wheat Letter
Email us at info@uswheat.org
Call us at (202) 463-0999
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter.com
See photographs from USW events at Flickr.com
View USW video at YouTube.com |
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ACTIVITIES
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FEATURE
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2011/12 Annual Report
U.S. Wheat Associates has released a 2010/11 Annual Report covering worldwide marketing activities and developments from June 2010 through May 2011 for all six classes of U.S. wheat. It is posted in a new section of this website, Report on Activities, with expanded information on successful wheat export promotional activities and information about the successful partnership between wheat farmers and the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service
 Read more |
BOARD MEETING
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2013 Summer Board Meeting
The USW Board will hold its Summer Board Meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota from June 29 to July 1.
Read more and register |
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