20/06/14: Nigerian Executives to Examine Midwest HRW Crop

Eight senior managers from Nigeria’s milling and noodle/pasta manufacturing industries will visit Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas June 22 to 28, 2014, to examine the current hard red winter (HRW) crop as part of a U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) trade team. 

Nigeria was the fifth largest buyer of U.S. wheat for the 2013/14 marketing year (June to May), importing 98.8 million bushels (2.69 million metric tons) and purchasing five of the six classes of U.S. wheat. In comparison, Nigerian millers purchased 12.9 million bushels (350,000 metric tons) 12 years ago, after their government ended a six-year ban on wheat imports in 1992. 

“The growth of U.S. wheat exports to Nigeria has been exceptional,” said USW Regional Assistant Director Gerald Theus, based in Cape Town, South Africa, who will accompany the team. “Thanks to the relationships built in Nigeria and between the farmers, USW and Nigerian millers on teams like these, U.S. wheat has found a home in Nigeria. And it is there to stay.” 

These millers will meet with wheat breeders, tour grain cooperatives and shuttle loading facilities as well as visit several wheat farms. That includes the farm near Elsie, NE, of Brent Robertson, who visited Nigeria in January as part of a USW Board Team. Trade teams help reassure world wheat customers of a steady and uninterrupted supply of high quality wheat as well as provide a better understanding of the entire U.S. wheat supply chain. 

USW collaborated with the Colorado Wheat Administrative Committee, Nebraska Wheat Board and Kansas Wheat Commission to organize this trade team. 

USW is the industry’s market development organization working in more than 100 countries. Its mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW activities are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 19 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by FAS.

 The Global Miller
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