RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S. — The U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) board of directors installed new officers at its annual meeting July 1, in Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S. 

Dan Hughes (Venango, Nebraska, U.S.) was installed as chairman, while last year’s chairman Darrell Davis (Ipswich, South Dakota, U.S.) transitioned to past chairman and chairman of the USW Budget Committee. Other officers installed included Roy Motter (Brawley, California, U.S.) as vice-chairman and Brian O’Toole (Crystal, North Dakota, U.S.) as secretary-treasurer. USW officers were elected to these one-year positions at the January Winter Wheat Conference. 

Committees met on June 29 and June 30, including the Joint Biotech and Joint International Trade Policy committees that operate in conjunction with the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG). Official business was called to order on June 30, and continued through July 1. 

Reports from the meeting included a welcome from South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Lucas Lentsch, an update export market development activities in South Korea from USW Country Director Dr. Won Bang Koh, a report from NAWG President Bing Von Bergen, a market update from USW Market Analyst Casey Chumrau and reports from wheat producers who participated in an intensive industry tour to Asia. This year’s meeting also featured industry speakers, including:
• Greg Guthrie, director of ag products, BNSF Railway
• Norm Dreger, head of North America cereals, Syngenta
• Dr. Kevin Kephart, vice-president of research, South Dakota State University
USW's next Board meeting will be held jointly with NAWG in Portland, Oregon, U.S., Nov. 4-6.