Feed grain importers visit southern states to forge relationships with US suppliers

Two teams of feed grain industry importers—from South America and China—are heading to the southern U.S. to meet with suppliers and exporters of U.S. corn, its co-products and sorghum.

Both teams will meet with U.S. suppliers and get a chance to learn about current supply and demand for U.S. feed products.

The U.S. Grains Council is working with the teams in cooperation with the United Sorghum Checkoff Program.

“We are excited to host the upcoming trade teams as sorghum exports have represented a large portion of the U.S. sorghum marketplace over the last few years,” said Florentino Lopez, Sorghum Checkoff executive director. “The Sorghum Checkoff is dedicated to building strong relationships between buyers and sellers, resulting in continued sorghum sales.”

“It is essential for us to strengthen the bonds between suppliers and partner countries, and the connections made at this critical event will not only help propel our industry this year, but for years to come.”

Individuals on the teams have opportunities to directly do business and make connections to facilitate future sales. The South American delegation will visit export facilities in New Orleans and an ethanol plant and corn and sorghum farms Texas. The Chinese delegation will visit corn and sorghum farms in Missouri, Arkansas and Texas as well as an ethanol plant, local elevators and transloading facilities.

This work is a critical piece of market development programs operated by the Council in more than 50 global markets, with funding from organizations like USCP, the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development program in the U.S. farm bill.

“Our growers need the farm bill to cross the finish line as momentum is vital in farming and markets,” said Wayne Cleveland, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers executive director. “Farmers need to know the farm program rules for financing and planning intentions going forward, and continual funding of MAP and FMD are key to increasing market opportunities.”

More from the USGC is at www.grains.org and more from USCP is at www.sorghumcheckoff.com.