Grainnet

Kansas City, MO--Wheat Summit II, a follow-up to the first Wheat Summit in September 2006, was held April 19 in Kansas City.

The meeting was planned by the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and the North American Millers' Association (NAMA).

Approximately 70 representatives from all aspects of the wheat industry attended.

The four Wheat Summit working groups presented proposals and working papers tot he full group in an effort to form majority opinions that will be released publicly in the coming weeks.

"People were more frank with their discussion and we really made some progress," NAWG President John Thaemert says.

"I feel very good about the progress we made."

He continues, "Again, there are people who have to go home and get final approval to make a formal statement, but I think you'll see something in the future."

Collaboration achieved through the Wheat Summit process is aimed at having industry concensus in four major areas: domestic competitiveness; domestic farm policy; exports, transportation, and infrastructure; and research and technology.

"We represent the wheat industry from the ground up," Thaemert says.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Economic Research Service, wheat's share of U.S. field crop receipts has fallen from 20% in the early 1980s to about 11% in recent years.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• National Association of Wheat Growers
• North American Millers' Association

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