On average, exports account for half of all demand for U.S. hard red spring wheat and one-third of demand for durum wheat. Customer bases for these premium wheats -- North Dakota's pride -- span 74 and 33 countries respectively.
So many buyers in so many cultures require continual contact from marketing professionals who strive to build loyalty toward U.S. wheat and trust in American farmers. The North Dakota Wheat Commission and U.S. Wheat Associates work together to accomplish these goals. Producer checkoff dollars invested in USW export marketing programs receive a more than 2 to 1 match with USDA foreign market development dollars.
As the leading state in the production of hard red spring and durum wheat, the North Dakota Wheat Commission complements the in-country expertise of USW personnel with its own marketing staff and consultants uniquely qualified to promote these specialty wheat classes. Commission support of the North Dakota State University Cereal Science Department and Northern Crops Institute, both in Fargo, and the Wheat Marketing Center, Portland, Ore., provides customers with any additional training, information and service they need to buy and process hard red spring and durum wheat.
Links
US Wheat Associates
U.S. Wheat Associates, the industry's export market development organization, supplies training and information to customers in over 100 countries, supporting the use of all U.S. wheat classes.
USW activities are a cooperative effort between wheat growers and the federal government. Federal programs, including the Foreign Market Development program and the Market Access Program, account for about 72% 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 28% of activity funding.
Northern Crops Institute
A collaborative effort between commodity organizations, state legislatures and others in North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota to support the promotion and market development of crops grown in this four-state region.
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
Serves as a basic resource of information to the U.S. agriculture industry for foreign countries.