US Wheat Industry Connects With Latin American Buyers at Santa Fe Conference

The U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) recently hosted its 2026 Latin American & Caribbean Buyers Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which connected more than 140 representatives from 14 countries with U.S. wheat farmers and industry experts.

The conference aimed to build regional partnerships and expand market opportunities for U.S. wheat, a goal USW has pursued for over 60 years. The event featured panels on supply and demand, price risk management, global trade flows, and trade policy, as well as logistics and transportation issues.

A key aspect of the conference was its focus on quality, performance, and investment in U.S. wheat classes. Representatives from major wheat-producing states, including Kansas, North Dakota, Washington, and Ohio, provided insights into hard red winter, hard red spring, durum, soft white, and soft red winter wheat.

USW President and CEO Mike Spier emphasized the importance of strengthening relationships among producers, customers, exporters, and technical specialists. Daniel Whitley, administrator of the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, opened the conference by highlighting U.S. wheat farmers' innovations and the country's ability to consistently supply high-quality wheat.