Wheat Scoop: 2026 USW Latin American & Caribbean Buyers Conference

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has worked to build regional partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean for more than 60 years. Part of those efforts include connecting farmers, exporters, importers, millers and others through buyers conferences, like the 2026 Latin American & Caribbean Buyers Conference (LABC), which took place in late July in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The conference included a cross-section of more than 140 representatives from 14 countries, including 12 U.S. wheat farmers. Of those in attendance, Kansas representation included Mike McClellan, a Plainville farmer and Kansas wheat commissioner, and Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat Vice President of Research and Operations. 

“The LABC offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and explore emerging trends shaping the future of the wheat industry,” said USW President and CEO Mike Spier. “The relationships built and partnerships strengthened through events like the LABC are a cornerstone of our industry’s success. By bringing together producers, customers, exporters, and technical specialists, we deepen the relationships that have helped make U.S. wheat a dependable source of quality and end-use value throughout the region.”

The first day of the conference focused on supply and demand, managing price risk, global trade flows, and trade policy updates. A logistics and transportation panel covered updates on how U.S. wheat moves to market, including the Columbia River, the Mississippi River and U.S. rail logistics.

An additional panel focused on updates on quality, performance and investment for five of the six U.S. wheat classes. Aaron Harries of the Kansas Wheat Commission, along with staff from the North Dakota Wheat Commission, Washington Grain Commission and Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association provided insights from their regions on the U.S. hard red winter (HRW), hard red spring (HRS), durum, soft white (SW) and soft red winter (SRW) wheat crops. 

“Unfortunately, we had to share the news that the HRW crop was historically small this year due to extreme weather," said Harries. "We reminded buyers that the U.S. has adequate supplies in storage to meet their needs.”

The second day of the conference focused on additional topics, including milling key performance indicators (KPIs) related to financial performance, exporter insights, a freight market outlook and investment programs available to buyers.

USW has organized the LABC at two- or three-year intervals since 1994, rotating between locations in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. Over the years, the core purpose of the conference has stayed true - providing information and connections to increase market opportunities for U.S. wheat farmers - but the composition of the participants has changed.

Mitch Skalicky, USW’s regional vice president for Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Venezuela, explained that one of the most considerable changes over the years is the shift away from government buyers to private sector wheat importers. Today, those private sector importers, typically flour milling companies, are the target audience. These customers are regular contacts for U.S. Wheat through in-country technical assistance or trade servicing or programs in the United States like trade team missions or educational programming.

Miguel Galdos, USW Regional Director for South America, noted that 24 different milling companies from South America attended the LABC, representing an important part of the milling capacity in South America.

While market outlooks and technical sessions provide valuable information, the relationships built during the conference are equally important. The event gives U.S. wheat farmers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the customers who rely on HRW wheat, creating a better understanding of how production decisions on the farm influence milling and baking performance around the world. Kansas wheat commissioner Mike McClellan said those conversations are one of the most valuable aspects of attending the conference. 

“This conference was a great experience and gave me a better understanding of the customers who depend on our wheat,” said McClellan. “Building those relationships and hearing directly from buyers about what they value in U.S. HRW wheat reinforces the importance of producing a high-quality crop.” 

To get a national perspective, see USW’s article on the 2026 Latin American & Caribbean Buyers Conference at uswheat.org.