Idaho Wheat Commission leadership and staff were in Austin this week to join U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) during the joint fall board meeting. Idaho’s wheat-growing families are represented on the USW Board of Directors by Clark Hamilton, Ririe; Cory Kress, Rockland; and Cliff Tacke, Cottonwood.
The discussions covered a range of topics, including fertilizer and inputs, wheat breeding technology, transportation of wheat to market, food aid, and USW’s long-term strategy. While there are some challenges within USW programming due to the ongoing government shutdown, USW is well positioned with the ability to keep normal operations going for a few months with financial reserves.
The state commission delegates got a sense of the scale and scope of programs being conducted in overseas markets to promote U.S. wheat and build confidence in the supply and consistent quality. These programs have clear metrics by which to track success in the form of increased sales in each region.
IWC Commission Cory Kress recapped a trade mission he attended earlier this year to the Middle East and European Union. Miguel Galdos from the USW Santiago, Chile office was in attendance to talk about Food for Progress (food aid) successes in Colombia and USW programming successes throughout South America.
With the investments from Idaho’s wheat growers and the representation from northern and southern Idaho on the Board of Directors, as well as Idaho’s representation on several USW committees and working groups, the best interests of Idahoans are prominently advocated for when decisions are made for the wheat industry as a whole.