By Jamie Martin
A group of wheat buyers and millers from Ecuador recently toured wheat farms and research sites in Idaho and Oklahoma. The goal of the trip was to give the visitors a complete view of how wheat is grown, handled, and shipped in the U.S. The tour was organized by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) with funding from the USDA’s RAPP program and support from local wheat commissions.
In Idaho, the visitors saw irrigated soft white (SW) wheat fields ready for harvest. They visited farms owned by Wayne Hurst and Clark Hamilton, who are both leaders in the wheat industry. Hamilton shared his experience as a former USW chairman and explained how personal connections help build long-term partnerships.
The team then traveled to Oklahoma, where they joined Michael Peters, another past USW chairman, in his wheat fields. They watched combines harvest hard red winter (HRW) wheat and learned about the growing season, crop care, and export systems.
Besides farm visits, the group also toured research stations, grain elevators, and shipping facilities. These stops helped the team understand how wheat moves from farm to port.
Ecuador is importing more wheat than ever. Its wheat needs have jumped from 600,000 metric tons in 2015 to a projected 2 million metric tons in 2024. Much of this wheat supports a growing animal feed industry, especially for shrimp and poultry.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-bobex-73
Categories: National