Nebraskans Follow Wheat from Field to Global Market

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.

Amanda Easterly, Research Associate Professor in the Agronomy and Horticulture Department at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, also attended the workshop and valued the opportunity to see how wheat quality directly connects to end-use products.  She also gained a better understanding of the trade and export side of the industry.

“Learning about the trade and export part of the industry from the U.S. Wheat Associates and FGIS really brought home the importance of U.S. Wheat Quality,” said Easterly.

Easterly encourages growers to attend the workshop if given the opportunity and believes anyone involved in the wheat industry can benefit from the experience.  She especially appreciated the conversations with the team at the Wheat Marketing Center and other attendees, emphasizing that those interactions were a key highlight of the workshop.

Overall, the workshop was a success, providing participants with valuable knowledge and essential insights they can use to enhance their operations and benefit their wider communities. The experience also helped strengthen participants’ understanding of the journey wheat takes from the farm to end products and different customers around the world.

The Nebraska Wheat Board looks forward to sponsoring similar trips in upcoming years.  In partnership with the Wheat Marketing Center, the NWB provides this experience to educate Nebraska producers, consumers, and industry partners about the wheat industry.

Producers interested in attending the 2027 workshop or learning more about the program are encouraged to contact the Nebraska Wheat Board office at 402-471-2358 or email wheat.board@nebraska.gov.