Wheat Producers Represent Reliability, Quality
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) routinely gives overseas buyers, millers, and wheat food processors information about crop quality, supply, and the U.S. grain transportation and inspection system. Customers also want closer ties with producers, so connecting the entire supply chain is increasingly important.
USW does that in many ways. We sponsor trade team visits to U.S. farms, country elevators, grain exchanges, and export facilities. We send our producer board members to visit customers. We cooperate with private exporters to help customers manage supply and risk.
USW also includes real U.S. wheat producers in its educational material to represent this important link with customers.
Meet the wheat producers currently featured in USW communications:
Larry Flohr, Chappell, NE
 Larry produces hard red winter wheat, wheat seed and millet on his farm in the Nebraska panhandle where he has hosted overseas visitors. He is a USW board member and is a commissioner with the Nebraska Wheat Board.
"It is important to help buyers in other parts of the world know more about our product—where it’s produced, where it originates, who produces it, and the safeguards we take,” Flohr says.
Dan and Josie Hughes, Venango, NE
 Dan and his wife Josie raise hard red winter and hard white wheat, along with corn, millet, sunflowers and pinto beans on his southwestern Nebraska farm. Like Larry, Dan is a USW board member and chairs the USW Long Range Planning Committee.
“Anything we can do to try to personalize relationships helps our marketing efforts. When you mention the United States, Japan, South Korea, or any country to someone, a mental picture comes to mind,” Dan says. “When we put a face on it, that goes a lot further in helping bring business to a more personal level.”
Harlan Klein, Elgin, ND
 Harlan produces hard red winter and hard red spring wheat, sunflowers, safflower, and corn in partnership with his brother, Lloyd, in southwestern North Dakota. He has participated in USW trade missions to Asia and has hosted trade teams at his farm. Harlan is a former USW board member and served as chairman of the North Dakota Wheat Commission.
“Customers in other countries feel wheat is not just a commodity,” Harlan says. “They want to understand where it comes from, down to the state and local area, and feel they have a relationship that allows them to provide input. They want to know how we’re raising and handling the crop, and what happens to it on our farms and once it leaves.”
Randy Suess, Colfax, WA
 Randy is a third-generation farmer who produces soft white winter and spring wheat, as well as peas. About 90 percent of his wheat crop is exported for use in cookies, crackers, flat bread, and pastries. Randy has visited several countries, touring food processing operations and talking personally with buyers, millers, and bakers who import U.S. wheat. He is a member of the Washington Wheat Commission, representing his state on the USW board. In July 2009, Randy was elected Secretary-Treasurer of USW.
“Overseas export promotion is very important to our producers and our industry,” Randy says. “Industry representatives can provide information to buyers about the crop report and quality, and can discuss milling and baking scores, but customers say it’s very important to visit with farmers personally.” | |
Assisting Buyers
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Making a World of Difference
Working on behalf of U.S. wheat producers, USW maintains offices strategically located around the world to help wheat buyers, millers, bakers, wheat food processors, and government officials understand the quality, value, and reliability of U.S. wheat.
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Influencing Trade Policy
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Trade Policy
USW is dedicated to creating a level trade playing field that allows U.S. wheat producers to participate in export markets worldwide. We offer analyses, perspectives, and recommendations on trade policy issues that potentially affect export market access and have the potential to impede sales.
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