Miller Magazine Issue: 130 October 2020

45 NEWS MILLER / OCtOber 2020 U.S. Wheat Associates introduces interactive wheat export supply system map U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has introduced the first digital map of the U.S. wheat production and supply sys- tem as a visual planning tool for its overseas representati- ves and their customers. The “USW Wheat Export Supply System” map is posted on the USW website and was bu- ilt in cooperation with Heartland GIS using funds from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Agricultural Trade Promotion program. “With six distinct wheat classes grown across many states and delive- red by many different routes, the U.S. wheat supply chain truly is driven by geography,” said USW Vice President of Overseas Operations Mike Spier. “The map provides a geographical information system that our team of representatives can use to help the world’s wheat buyers literally see where the wheat they are buying is grown and how it can be transported to the export elevator.” “Assisting overseas customers is a very important ser- vice that helps add value to U.S. wheat,” said USW Vice President of Communications Steve Mercer. “This map will be a unique and very useful addition to the trade ser- vice our representatives conduct all around the world.” The map includes a selection tool that allows the viewer to identify, in any combination, U.S. wheat pro- duction by class, wheat shuttle loading terminals, Class 1 U.S. rail lines and spurs, river terminals, major rivers and export elevator locations. “Working with U.S. Wheat Associates and its state wheat commissions, we used data from multiple sources, including satel- lite imagery, to identify wheat planted area between 2013 and 2019,” said Todd Tucky, Owner and Senior Con- sultant of Heartland GIS. “I believe this is the most accurate representati- on ever developed of where individual wheat classes have been produced in the United States.” USW’s mission is to “develop, main- tain, and expand international markets to enhance wheat’s profitability for U.S. wheat producers and its value for their customers.” USW activities in more than 100 countries are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 17 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agri- cultural Service. USW maintains 15 offices strategically loca- ted around the world to help wheat buyers, millers, bakers, wheat food processors and government officials understand the quality, value and reliability of all six U.S. wheat classes.