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 journalists.

“It don’t usually attend meetings like this but we really couldn’t let the opportunity pass by,” Ken said. “We came along to meet with ag journalists from all over the world to talk about issues, especially biotechnology, how their media operates in their countries, and get a sense of how we can communicate better in our partnership called Maizall with the Argentine and Brazilian corn growers.”Interview with Ken Colombini, NCGA

Iowa corn farmer Julius Schaef, chairman of the Grains Council, was recently elected to serve as the first president of the new alliance between North and South American corn growers. “Actually it was very much his idea to move forward with the Maizall alliance between the corn farmers,” said Marri, who noted that the executive team of Maizall was meeting this week in Panama to discuss plans for the group’s first trade mission this fall to Korea and China.Interview with Marri Carrow, USGC

On Thursday, following the conclusion of the IFAJ meeting, Mindy says the three of them had some Maizall meetings of their own set up in Argentina. “We actually have some meetings at the U.S. embassy,” she said. “We’re meeting with Argentina and Brazil.”Interview with Mindy Williamson, Iowa Corn

Ken, Marri and Mindy all talk about their impressions of the IFAJ Congress and what they saw and heard in Argentina.

2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album