Sask Wheat Director Brett Halstead observes a Canadian vessel loaded with wheat arriving in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Twitter/@BrettHalstead)

By Alice McFarlane

New Crop Missions

Crop missions strengthen relationships with overseas customers

Dec 3, 2019 | 4:49 PM

A Nokomis area farmer and director with Sask Wheat has recently returned from a New Crop Mission in Asia.

Brett Halstead was part of a delegation visiting customers overseas sharing information on the Canadian wheat crop. He travelled with the group for part of the trip from Nov. 14 to 26.

“The New Crop Mission happened in Japan and Philippines, but I joined it in Jakarta, Indonesia, and then we went on to Singapore and Beijing,” he said. “I provided an update on how the growing season went and the things producers do during the year and how they attempt to grow a good quality crop and keep it in good shape on their farm until they sell it.”

Halstead was part of a group that included representatives from Cereals Canada and the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI).

“We went to the Bogasari Mills. Bogasari is the single, largest buyer of wheat in Indonesia and Indonesia is our largest customer. They purchase about 2.4 million tonnes and Bogasari produces flour and baked goods, they purchase about half of Indonesia’s total, so we got a little tour and had a seminar with them.” he said.

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Halstead said the group had the opportunity to watch a Canadian vessel, with number 2 CWRS 13.5 per cent wheat being delivered to Indonesia. The next day the group participated in a public seminar with Indonesia industries that purchase Canadian wheat.

Halstead said it’s an opportunity to share details on the growing season and challenges with our harvest.

“We talked about the quality of our crop this year just to keep a consistent relationship going with these countries. We can hear their feedback on what they’re looking for. Indonesia was very hot and humid so one of their concerns is moisture levels in our grain. With a wetter than normal fall, that’s a timely conversation as to what went on in Canada,” he said. “This focused on wheat, obviously, and it focused on some actual end use customers. The setup in Singapore was similar. We met with the largest miller in Singapore that imports a lot of Canadian wheat and the same in Beijing. We met with COFCO which is their central buying agency which purchases about 90 per cent of Chinese imports.”

Cereals Canada and CIGI focused on the quality of the grain along with the milling and baking aspects.

“The grain commission also did they’re bit on the harvest survey and some of the technical quality issues in the wheat. They get into the scientific stuff of what’s in the wheat, stuff that I’ve never heard of before but what’s important to end users,” he said.

Halstead said these crop missions have great value.

“The relationship is the big thing, you know, just to feel comfortable and have them feel comfortable with us,” he said. “Again, back to Indonesia, they’re the largest purchaser of Canadian wheat and those numbers have increased due to Australian drought. Building that relationship gives us a leg up on keeping that business when Australia starts producing more again.”

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF