Photo credit: U.S. Wheat Associates.
A group of mill production managers from South Korea recently completed an advanced milling course in Kansas that combined technical training with firsthand exposure to the U.S. wheat supply chain, reinforcing the value of U.S. wheat and providing practical knowledge participants can apply in their home mills.
Sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates, the program was based at the IGP Institute on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, Kansas. It marked the fourth customized advanced milling course offered for South Korean participants in the past five years.
The course focused on advanced milling processes designed to help participants improve flour production efficiency. In addition to classroom instruction, the group completed hands-on milling exercises at the Hal Ross Flour Mill, where they gained practical experience with commercial milling techniques.
According to U.S. Wheat Associates Food and Bakery Technologist David Oh, previous participants have returned home and improved flour extraction rates by applying techniques learned during the course. He credited the program's continued development to the collaboration with Shawn Thiele, milling specialist and associate director of the IGP Institute, whose expertise has helped refine the curriculum each year.
While South Korean buyers typically source U.S. wheat through Pacific Northwest export channels, the facilities at Kansas State University provide an effective environment for advanced milling education and technical training.
Following the coursework, the group toured key parts of the Kansas grain supply chain, including a visit to the farm of wheat producer Justin Knopf near Gypsum, Kansas, along with stops at a grain elevator and a commercial flour mill.
For many participants, it was their first visit to the U.S. Midwest. The tour offered a closer look at wheat production, grain handling and transportation systems that move U.S. wheat from farms to export markets. Participants also observed the scale of Great Plains farming operations and the technology used throughout the supply chain.
Knopf said wheat serves as a common point of connection among people involved in the industry, regardless of language differences. He noted that sharing the production side of the business helps international customers better understand the quality and reliability of U.S. wheat.
Program organizers said combining technical milling instruction with visits throughout the supply chain gives international customers greater confidence in U.S. wheat while strengthening long-term commercial relationships. They added that continued demand from export markets benefits wheat producers across the United States, regardless of the region from which the wheat is shipped.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates, "South Korean Team Gains Insights from the Mill to the Field During IGP Milling Course"