Ethanol is the number one priority for the U.S. Grains Council today, according to USGC CEO Ryan LeGrand, who spoke at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) conference last week in Omaha. “There’s nothing more important to us right now than ethanol,” said LeGrand. The council has seven priority markets, with Mexico being one of the most significant. While the …
Trump Announces Deal to Expand U.S. Beef Exports to EU
President Donald J. Trump congratulated members of the nation’s beef cattle industry Friday as the United States and the European Union signed an agreement that is expected to nearly triple the duty-free access for high quality U.S. beef exports to Europe. . “This is a tremendous victory for American farmers, ranchers, and, of course, European consumers because American beef is …
Global Ethanol Summit Announced
Three global ethanol export organizations are teaming up this year to host the first-ever Global Ethanol Summit (GES), scheduled for Oct. 13-15, 2019, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are working together with the goal of engaging a broad array of global ethanol leaders about the benefits of expanding global …
Cattlemen Launch Campaign to Pass USMCA
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has launched a media campaign urging Congress to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The campaign features personal stories from cattle and beef producers across the country who want Congress to ratify the USMCA as quickly as possible. “The USMCA keeps the highly successful framework for U.S. beef trade in place and preserves access to …
President Trump Celebrates Ethanol With Farmers
President Donald J. Trump brought a hopeful message to farmers in the Midwest on Tuesday with an appearance at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa to celebrate year round sales of E15. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the president, and Trump in turn brought Iowa farmer and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) first vice president Kevin …
Growing Demand for U.S. Soy Abroad
While trade tensions between the U.S. and China continue, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is working to build global demand and expand market access for U.S. soy products and support the American farmer. Since last year, USSEC hosted events around the globe with new and existing customers to show appreciation for their business and grow it even further. Last …
Study Shows Economic Impact of Grain Exports
A new study commissioned by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) points to the importance of export markets to U.S. farmers. The study highlights the total economic impact of U.S. grain exports to be $55 billion in 2016 and also shows grain exports supporting 271,000 jobs directly or indirectly, according to Kimberly Atkins, vice …
U.S. Grains Council Board Names Next President And CEO
U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Director in Mexico Ryan LeGrand has been named as its next president and chief executive officer, effective next month. LeGrand joined the organization in Mexico in 2015 and has served as the director of the Council’s Mexico City office since 2016. In this capacity, he has overseen the expansion of the Council’s programming in that country …
National Pork Board CEO Shares Export Numbers
National Pork Board CEO Bill Even addressed those attending the 2019 Pork Industry Forum, highlighting a number of issues affecting pork producers today. One of those topics was pork exports, and Even said the NPB has certainly not been idle when it comes to market opportunities. “Since the year 2000, exports have absorbed 63 percent of your growth from U.S. …
Corn Growers Request Changes in Trade Relief Package
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is urging Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to consider changes to the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) ahead of the second round of payments. In a letter to Perdue, NCGA president Lynn Chrisp said that many farmers are “disappointed in USDA’s approach to calculating the first round of MFP payments because it was too narrow in …