Feb. 19: More than 200 delegates attended the U.S. Grains Council's 10th International Marketing Conference and 53rd Annual Membership Meeting in Charleston, S.C., last week. There, attendees, including leadership from the National Corn Growers Association, reviewed strategies and opportunities for competing in the rapidly changing global marketplace.

“Coordination is essential to best leveraging the checkoff dollars entrusted to us,” said NCGA President Pam Johnson. “The programs run by NCGA and USGC complement one another in many ways with the Council engaging in valuable projects overseas to cultivate markets for U.S. corn while NCGA works back home to push for government policies and production strategies that benefit our farmers.”

USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight emphasized that now is the time to redouble the Council's efforts – with customer servicing to sustain export demand and ensure that the United States can regain its market share next year, and with continued efforts in policy, demand building and co-product marketing. Through the USDA's export promotion programs, including the Foreign Market Development and Market Access Program, the Council is able to implement and sustain these efforts.

"All of us understand that this is an especially challenging year for coarse grains exports due to the U.S. drought and the short crop," said Sleight. "But all of us also know that the underlying dynamics point to rapidly rising global demand. The weather set us back this year, but U.S. producers and agribusinesses are ready to rebound strong."

To view photos from the meeting, click here.