Dakota Gold Newsletter

Neal Fisher was honored by colleagues, board members, and staff in November for over forty years of pivotal service to the North Dakota Wheat Commission (NDWC). Officially retired on July 1, 2025, Neal began as Marketing Specialist in 1977, advanced to Deputy Administrator in 1983, and became Administrator in 1998, shaping the Commission's direction throughout his tenure.

The 2025 production year for world wheat is one for the record books. Excellent growing conditions in most of the major production countries led to strong yields, more than offsetting steady to lower planted area in key regions.

The 2025 world durum crop is currently estimated at 1.37 billion bushels, up from 1.34 last year, and the largest crop in nine years. All of the key production regions had larger crops, with significant rebounds in Canada, the EU and North Africa, and a smaller increase in the United States.

In the fall of 2025, USW hosted 37 crop quality seminars for over 1,500 participants across 45 countries. While the core of the event is technical data—ranging from milling and dough quality to baking performance—the seminars also provide a platform to share the story of U.S. farming practices and provide production and price outlooks.

This past December, the North Dakota Wheat Commission hosted our Annual Meeting of County Representatives. This event is dedicated to the progress of our state’s wheat industry, providing a deep dive into the immediate issues impacting local producers through updates on critical infrastructure and global relationship building.