U.S. Durum Wheat Availability and Quality Situation

1. U.S. Durum Wheat Availability and Quality Situation October 24, 2005 Neal Fisher, Administrator N.D. Wheat Commission 4023 State Street Bismarck, N.D, 58503-0690 Phone: 701.328.5111 Fax: 701.328.5115 email: ndwheat@ndwheat.com website: www.ndwheat.com

2. WORLD DURUM PRODUCTION Million Tons

3. WORLD DURUM PRODUCTION-MAP (Million Metric Tons) Source: USDA & International Grains Council 10/12/05 NF51.xls

4. Durum Stocks In Major Exporting Countries - U.S., Canada, European Union

5. World Durum Exports *Others includes Turkey, Syria, Mexico & Australia

6. U.S. DURUM PLANTINGS & PRODUCTION Hectares/Tons

7. U.S. DURUM PRODUCTION

8. U.S. DURUM DOMESTIC USE

9. U.S. DURUM EXPORTS

10. U.S. DURUM STOCKS

11. EXPORT PACE FOR U.S. DURUM 2004-05 Marketing Year as of October 6, 2005

12. TOP IMPORTERS OF U.S. DURUM IN MARKETING YEAR 2004-05

13. PRICE TRENDS AT THE LAKES

14. U.S. NORTHERN DURUM 2005 Quality Based on approximately 290 durum samples collected during harvest. Samples are random and represent individual fields. • Montana • North Dakota Source: North Dakota State University Hard Red Spring wheat Quality Lab Durum wheat Quality Lab Plant Sciences Department

15. Durum: 2005 Overview • Planting • Rapid planting pace • 60% seeded by May 15 • Growing season • Excellent growing conditions • Above average moisture, limited disease issues • Some areas in the south and west suffered from heat during kernel development • Harvest • Rapid harvest - double 2004 pace • Some rain delays in areas, but generally near ideal harvest • Overall • Crop average #1 HAD with high falling number • Well above average yields but lower protein content • Improved semolina yield and pasta color

16. DURUM: Test Weight

17. DURUM: Thousand Kernel Weight 2005 regional thousand kernel weight is 35.5 grams.

18. U.S. & CANADIAN DURUM PROTEIN LEVELS

19. DURUM: Protein Distribution

20. DURUM:Dockage Content 2005 regional average dockage content is 1.5 percent.

21. DURUM: Falling Number 2005 regional average falling number is 378 seconds.

22. DURUM: Total Defects 2005 regional average total defects is 2.2 percent.

23. DURUM: Vitreous Kernel Content

24. DURUM: 2005 Vitreous Kernels by Crop Area 94% 84% 94% Montana A-B 95% 76% 73%

25. DURUM: Quantity Estimate by Grade 71% grades 2HAD or better.

26. DURUM WHEAT Milling and Pasta Processing Characteristics Source: Department of Cereal Science, North Dakota State University, Fargo

27. DURUM:Semolina Extraction

28. DURUM: Semolina Mixing Strength Reference Mixograms

29. DURUM: Pasta Color Score

30. DURUM: Pasta Cooked Firmness

31. U.S. DESERT DURUM • Desert Durum® - A trademark of Arizona Grain Research and Promotion Council and the California Wheat Commission. • Applies only to durum produced in AZ and CA. • Planted in December-February and harvested in May and June. • Typically sold on variety or identity preserved basis. • Large share of production is contracted prior to planting. • Low moisture, uniform large kernels and very strong gluten are features of the crop. • California • Arizona Additional information is available on the California Wheat Commission website www.californiawheat.org

32. DESERT DURUM 4-YR Production Trend • 2005 acres were sharply lower due to untimely rains at planting • Growing season was generally cool • 2006 plantings still uncertain - due to lower prices and higher input costs Source: California Wheat Commission and USW

33. DESERT DURUM Wheat Protein Content (12% Moisture Basis)

34. DESERT DURUM Test Weight

35. DESERT DURUM Semolina Extraction

36. DESERT DURUM Pasta Color Score

37. THANK YOU