With a record corn crop being harvested, exports are more important than ever. The United States exported more than 11 percent of the U.S. corn supply to over 100 countries in the 2013/2014 marketing year, which U.S. Grains Council president and CEO Tom Sleight says is a nice recovery from lost market share after the drought of 2012. “Now it’s …
Vetter Confirmed Speaker at USGC Annual Meeting
International trade policy, and current developments in agricultural trade with China, will be in the spotlight as recently appointed chief agricultural negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, Darci Vetter, addresses the U.S. Grains Council’s 54th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, July 28-30, 2014. Helping implement the North American Free Trade Agreement, resolving agricultural trade issues with …
Corn Communicators Talk Maizall in Argentina
Communications directors of three major grain grower organizations in the United States were among those attending the IFAJ 2013 Congress in Argentina this week. It was the first time for Mindy Williamson with the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Marri Carrow with U.S. Grains Council, and National Corn Growers Association Communications Director Ken Colombini to attend the international meeting of agricultural …
MAIZALL Announces Board and Website
An organization uniting corn growers of North and South America has elected officers and unveiled a new website. The International Maize Alliance (MAIZALL) was formed in May between the corn industries of the United States, Brazil and Argentina with the goal of addressing key issues concerning food security, biotechnology, stewardship, trade and producer image. MAIZALL is composed of MAIZAR, representing …
North and South American Corn Growers Unite
As most agricultural eyes were on progress of the farm bill last week in Congress, some very prominent farmers were in another nation’s capitol below the equator signing a new agreement to create an alliance between North and South American corn growers. Leaders of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), joined with maize producers …
Farm Bill’s Effect On US Grains
You may believe the farm bill doesn’t effect you, but you might be surprised to find out that it covers more than you think. It was a hot topic during National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk. While sitting down with U.S. Grains Council’s President and CEO, Tom Sleight, I was reminded how intricate this farm bill is. “It’s an …
Sleight Selected as USGC President and CEO
The U.S. Grains Council announced the selection of Thomas N. Sleight as president and CEO to replace the retiring Thomas C. Dorr. Sleight initially joined the Council in 1983 and has served in multiple capacities both in Washington, D.C., headquarters and overseas. After leaving for stints with other agricultural organizations, he returned to the Council in November 2010 as vice …
Meeting Growing Export Demand
At the recent NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference one of our panel discussions featured Tom Dorr, U.S. Grains Council. The panel topic was “Meeting the Growing Demand for Exports for Trade.” Thanks to Paulsen Marketing for supplying this video clip with Tom. Much of American agriculture is dependent on international trade. What does this mean for the future if the …
Reaction to USDA Crop Forecast
Both corn and soybean production for this year were cut in this month’s crop report out this morning from USDA. Corn production is forecast at 12.7 billion bushels, down 4 percent from the September forecast and down 3 percent from last year’s record production of 13.1 billion bushels. Soybean production is forecast at a record high 3.41 billion bushels, down …
Connecting International Buyers With U.S. Producers
After leaving the NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference I headed on down the agriblogging highway to another conference of importance to U.S. grain producers. This is the Export Exchange 2010 which got off to an official and social start this evening with welcoming remarks from U.S. Grains Council President/CEO Tom Dorr (left) and Renewable Fuels Association President/CEO Bob Dinneen. The …
