FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Michigan Corn Grower Travels to India to Educate about World Corn Production, Supply and Demand

DEWITT, MICH – As part of a delegation representing the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Ken Wadsworth, a corn grower from Sandusky traveled to India to talk about world corn production, supply and demand. Wadsworth, who is also a Corn Marketing Program of Michigan (CMPM) board member, traveled with Dr. Simla Tokgoz, an associate scientist with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at Iowa State University, to New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bombay and Coimbatore.

The delegation met with starch manufacturers and poultry and feed industry representatives in India who were seeking information about issues concerning the U.S. and world corn industries. “The purpose of the trip was to educate consumers and industry representatives about the availability of corn in India and the world,” said Wadsworth. “We met with top representatives from the India grain industry, cornstarch industry, feed milling and poultry industries as well as with export and import officials. The majority of our time was spent discussing the U.S., world, and Indian outlook on corn.” Wadsworth was a key individual on the trip, providing his perspective as a grower on how on farm decisions are made in the U.S. and how the industry is planning for the future.

“We received a lot of common questions,” Wadsworth reported. “For example, they wanted to know if the current U.S. ethanol economic situation is temporary or permanent. Does the United States have enough corn to supply the world in the future? What is the European Union doing in the midst of high corn prices, debates on biotech issues and are they willing to pay a premium for non-genetically modified crops? We were able to answer these questions and help clear up some of the misinformation,” Wadsworth stated. Wadsworth concluded by saying the trip was very educational and proved to be a great stepping stone in providing accurate information regarding corn and ethanol.

Headquartered in DeWitt, the CMPM is a legislatively-established statewide program that utilizes one-cent per bushel of Michigan corn sold. Investments are made in the areas of research, education, market development, and new uses in an effort to enhance the economic position of Michigan corn farmers. The CMPM works cooperatively with the Michigan Corn Growers Association (MCGA), a grassroots-membership association representing the state’s corn grower’s political interests.

For more information on the CMPM and the MCGA, visit the web site at www.micorn.org.