The U.S. Identity Preserved brand is now officially a global entity with its introduction this week at an event in Vietnam. The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) met with buyers and food producers in Saigon to introduce the new international mark designating premium crops with verifiable origins and superior products from the U.S. “(SSGA) is here today to announce …
Ethanol Report from Export Exchange 2022
Export Exchange was back for the first time in four years with the 2022 conference in Minneapolis October 12-14 and attendance was as good as it has been in the past with more than 200 international customers from 50 countries and nearly 300 domestic suppliers of grains and co-products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). This marked the sixth …
Export Exchange by the Numbers
The first Export Exchange since 2018 is underway in Minneapolis this week and organizers are pleased with the turnout. “We have about 490 registrations as of right now,” said U.S. Grains Council Director of Industry Relations Ellen Zimmerman during the welcome reception Wednesday night. On site registration was busy so they expect to easily surpass the 500 they expected. “We …
Export Exchange Underway in Minneapolis
The 2022 Export Exchange welcomed hundreds of buyers and sellers of U.S. coarse grains and co-products to Minneapolis Wednesday evening for a reception prior to the official kickoff of the event Thursday. “It’s looking great,” said Chad Willis, a farmer from Minnesota and past chair of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC). “After COVID, everybody wanted to get out and be …
Rail Disruptions Impacting Ag and Biofuels
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) heard about how agricultural and biofuels producers are being impacted by rail service challenges during a two-day hearing last week. USDA Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh told the board how rail disruptions are impacting farmers, ranchers and consumers. “Elevators are full and therefore cannot purchase more grain from farmers, and livestock operations are unable to …
GROWMARK FS Members Helping Food Banks
Farmers and grain companies in the Midwest are stepping up to help feed those in need. GROWMARK system members FS GRAIN and Gold Star FS have started accepting grain donations which will raise money for food banks across the region in a move they hope will spread nationwide. Mike Schaver, grain department manager with Gold Star FS, says he is …
Grains Council Talks Trade at NAFB Trade Talk
Trade was probably the top topic at NAFB Trade Talk last week and the U.S. Grains Council was more than ready to talk about it. Darren Armstrong, a North Carolina farmer who is currently serving as chairman of the council, discussed the need for Congress to ratify USMCA, the new agreement with Japan, potential for ethanol in China, and some …
Japan Deal is Good for Grains and Ethanol
The U.S.-Japan trade agreement signed by President Donald Trump this week “will solidify our longstanding partnership for the future and create a platform for growth into new sales and new sectors, including the potential for sales of U.S. ethanol,” according to the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Japan is one of the largest and most loyal U.S. corn customers, having bought …
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 …
New Specialty Soya Alliance Names Executive Director
The new Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) now has an executive director. Eric Wenberg has been named executive director of the organization and began work on Monday with meetings in Washington, D.C. and a visit to the 2019 Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit. He is pictured here, second from right, with (LtoR) former American Soybean Association president and …