NCI Hosts Contracting for Wheat Value Workshop | August 12-14, 2026
Participants at NCI on the first day of the course
The Northern Crops Institute (NCI) hosted a Contracting for Wheat Value workshop from August 12-14, 2026. The group then went on a week of tours and training led by the U.S. Wheat Associates in Portland, Oregon. The workshop brought together 6 participants from the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Tour of Maple River Grain & Agronomy
Day one featured an overview of the U.S. wheat market by Steve Wirsching of U.S. Wheat Associates, covering wheat classes and end-uses, crop quality, U.S. production, pricing, and export facilities. Jim Peterson of the North Dakota Wheat Commission then provided an overview of world and U.S. wheat supply and demand. After lunch, Dr. Shahidul Islam of the Department of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University (NDSU), led participants through analytical, rheological, and functional laboratory tests on flour and dough quality, including chemical and physical tests, rheological evaluations, and functional test demonstrations.
On day two, the group visited the NDSU Greenhouse with Dr. Andrew Green of the Department of Plant Sciences at NDSU, who gave them a tour and discussed his spring wheat breeding research. Participants then heard from Dan Mostad from the Berthold Farmers Elevator, on inland logistics and grain movement from country to export locations. Participants then left for an afternoon of industry tours, first stopping at Maple River Grain & Agronomy in Casselton, ND, then visiting a local farm near Mapleton, ND.
Tour of Todd Ellison’s farm
The final day at NCI focused on end-product evaluations and the relationship between laboratory testing and wheat performance. Ady Redondo of U.S. Wheat Associates, discussed how physical, chemical, and functional laboratory tests relate to end-product quality, followed by a comparison of U.S. and competitor wheat classes in bread, cake, and short dough biscuit applications. After lunch, Shawn Thiele from Kansas State University’s International Grains Program presented on flour mill management to optimize profitability, covering wheat blending, tempering, cleaning, and key performance indicator (KPI) management.
The Contracting for Wheat Value workshop offered a comprehensive look at the U.S. wheat industry from research and production through milling and end-product evaluation. NCI thanks U.S. Wheat Associates, presenters, and participants for making this program a success.