 |
| NCGA staffers met
with a delegation of Russian cooperative lenders Tuesday in
Washington, D.C. From left are: Anatoly Maksimov, Foundation
for Agrarian Reform Support and Rural Development; Jane Shey,
Agriculture and Trade Consultant; Naoleida Vasilyevna Vshivkova,
Agricultural Consumer Credit Cooperative “Doverie”;
Betsy Croker, NCGA director of public policy ; Nosov Alexander,
Rural Credit Cooperative Development Fund; Zinaida Valeryevna
Vorobeva, Republican Agricultural Consumer Credit Cooperative
Society "Soglasie"; and Sam Willett, NCGA senior director
of policy. |
NCGA
Discusses Corn Grower Issues, Farm Policy with Russian Agriculture
Delegation (8-11-04)
National Corn
Growers Association (NCGA) staff members met with a delegation of
Russian farm cooperative lenders Tuesday in Washington, D.C., to
discuss U.S. agriculture programs, corn grower interests and the
structure of agricultural associations. The Russian delegation is
participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)
Cochran Fellows Program, an initiative combining international training
with the promotion of U.S. agriculture.
NCGA Directors of Public Policy Betsy Croker and Sam Willett discussed
various facets of the national and state corn growers associations,
including membership services, influencing public policy and research
and development efforts to create new business opportunities.
“We were
eager to help the Russian delegation gain a better understanding
of U.S. corn grower interests, federal programs and competitive
financial services that ensure a strong agriculture industry in
the United States,” Willett said. “These opportunities
to learn from one another serve to not only advance agriculture,
but they will hopefully encourage more cooperation with our trading
partners and increase market opportunities.”
In addition
to meeting with NCGA staff, the group was scheduled to speak with
representatives from USDA, the Federal Credit Corporation (Farm
Credit Administration), Farm Credit Council, the trade association
for the farm credit system and staffers from the Senate Agriculture
Committee. Following those meetings, the delegation travels to Minnesota
where it will spend eight days visiting farms and ethanol plants.
Also on the agenda is a discussion on lending practices and policies
with representatives from Agribank and AgriStar.
USDA’s
Cochran Program provides short-term U.S.-based training in agricultural
business practices, economic policies, food retailing, and other
areas. It is designed to help middle- income and emerging-market
nations develop food systems and trade linkages. Geared to mid-
and senior-level professionals, the Cochran Program works with approximately
60 countries worldwide.