The Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB), in partnership with the Wheat Marketing Center, sponsored eight Nebraska wheat growers and industry representatives to attend the Wheat Export & Marketing Workshop, held January 7-9 in Portland, Oregon.
The workshop provides participants with the opportunity to learn where their wheat goes after it leaves the farm and how it is processed into end products. Attendees also gained a deeper understanding of global wheat export markets and the important role research plays in maintaining wheat quality.
Participants explored several industry facilities through a series of planned tour stops. At the Wheat Marketing Center, they experienced firsthand how wheat is developed and tested as it’s transformed into common foods like crackers, noodles and tortillas. The group also toured Kroger Bakery, the Federal Grain Inspection Service, United Grain Terminal, the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center, and Shaver Transportation, where they gained a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to transfer wheat from the farm to global markets.
Joe Thimm, a wheat producer from southeast Nebraska, attended the workshop and appreciated the opportunity to connect with other trip participants and gained valuable insights into parts of the wheat industry he does not typically see.
“Before attending, I wasn’t very familiar with the transportation process, pricing, or who determines the quality of the wheat,” said Thimm. “The workshop helped me better understand who is responsible for each of those aspects.”
Thimm encourages fellow producers to attend the workshop, noting that there is always valuable information they can bring back to their own operations. He described the event as an excellent opportunity to understand the importance of why producing high quality wheat is vital for farmers. The trip also provided insights which he plans to apply directly to his farm.
Source : nebraskawheat.gov