Jun 29, 2008 - 04:07:17 CDT
Representatives of four mills in South Africa are visiting North Dakota to inspect hard red spring wheat, the state's staple crop.Jim Peterson, marketing director for the North Dakota Wheat Commission, said the South African officials were to begin arriving on Saturday to get firsthand information on North Dakota's new spring wheat crop, which he said appears to be "pretty decent" at present.
"For the most part, we should have a pretty good story to tell, which hopefully leads to export contracts later this fall," Peterson said.
The delegation's five-day visit is to include a briefing by wheat breeders and researchers at North Dakota State University, as well as tours of the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, a grain elevator in Casselton and a wheat farm in Lisbon.
Farmer Richard Cavett said he plans to show the wheat team the equipment he uses to seed and harvest his crop, and also his fields.
"The wheat's looking good," he said.
North Dakota spring wheat, used to make bread, is in strong demand worldwide because of its high protein levels, Peterson said.
South Africa imports about 2.6 million bushels of hard spring wheat annually from the U.S., about 27 percent of its total imports. Peterson said the visit by South Africans to North Dakota could spur more exports to the country.
The amount of North Dakota spring wheat exports to South Africa has been sporadic in recent years.
"It's partly because they produce wheat themselves," Peterson said. "We're hoping to make them a more predictable, consistent customer."
Most of the wheat produced in North Dakota goes to Asia, with Japan being the state's biggest customer.
"Six of our biggest customers are in Asia, three are in Europe and one in Central America," Peterson said.
July is the most critical month for spring wheat development in North Dakota. Hot, dry weather will stifle the crop while too much moisture spurs disease, Peterson said.
"The weather forecast for July looks promising," he said. "We don't see anything too alarming."
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