Miller Magazine Issue: 141 September 2021

67 INTERVIEW MILLER / september 2021 gives insights into the U.S. wheat industry. Could you please give some information about U.S. Wheat Associates (USW)? What is the mission and ob- jective of your Association? U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is the export market de- velopment organization for the U.S. wheat industry. The organization promotes the reliability, quality, and value of all six U.S. wheat classes to wheat buyers, millers, bak- ers, food processors, and government officials in more than 100 countries. Its mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance wheat’s profitability for U.S. wheat producers and its value for their customers.” Funding for the organization starts with U.S. wheat farmers who contribute a small portion of their wheat sales to state wheat commissions that promote the crop at home and abroad. Money, goods and time contributed to USW from 17 state wheat commissions qualify USW to apply for cost-share grants from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. USW does not buy, sell nor process wheat, but the or- ganization helps make it easier for everyone else who does. It is important to note that USW takes no funding from commercial grain companies. Instead, USW is proud to represent hard-working farm families that produce an abundant supply of wholesome milling wheat. USW has an impactful motto: “Dependable people, reliable wheat”. Could you elaborate on the meaning of this motto? As I mentioned, USW represents wheat farm families like mine who share a strong legacy of commitment and partnership to produce the highest quality wheat and to take care of our land for generations to come. We pro- duce enough wheat every year to fill American tables and still have enough to supply a big share of the world wheat trade. I think we have shown buyers they can de- pend on American wheat farmers to do the right things. I wish I could share all the reasons why we are such reliable wheat suppliers, but here are a few. First, our export supply system is the most efficient in the world and is regulated by federal government rules. Our wheat is inspected independently and certified to meet tender specifications by the Federal Grain Inspection Service. U.S. law protects the sanctity of all export contracts and forbids export tariffs. Finally, USW representatives pro- vide no-cost trade service and technical support that adds exceptional value to all U.S. wheat imports.