[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17623]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              COMMENDING THE NORTH DAKOTA WHEAT COMMISSION

 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, today I honor the North Dakota 
Wheat Commission.
  On July 8, the North Dakota Wheat Commission celebrated its 50th year 
marketing and promoting wheat on behalf of my State's farm families. As 
the top spring wheat and durum wheat producing State in the Nation, I 
am proud of what the North Dakota Wheat Commission has been able to 
achieve for our State's producers.
  The commission, created by the North Dakota Legislature in 1959, has 
allowed my State's farmers to become more actively engaged in the 
export and market promotion of our wheat crop because the commission is 
funded and directed by producers. During its 50 years of existence, 
North Dakota's average wheat production has increased from 100 million 
bushels to 300 million bushels annually. In that same time period, 
total U.S. exports have increased from 500 million bushels to 1.3 
billion bushels.
  Thanks in part to the work of the North Dakota Wheat Commission, U.S. 
hard red spring and durum wheat are exported to more than 80 countries 
around the world. These exports account for 50 percent of hard red 
spring wheat and one-third of durum wheat. The North Dakota Wheat 
Commission's customer base includes markets across the globe, including 
Asia, Latin America and Europe.
  While our wheat output and exports have increased, one thing has 
remained the same: My State's wheat producers have a solid reputation 
around the world for having a premium product. This is, in part, thanks 
to the hard work of the North Dakota Wheat Commission.
  In closing, I again want to recognize the North Dakota Wheat 
Commission for a successful first 50 years and wish them continued 
success in the future.

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