Wisconsin Corn Promotion: As record corn harvest continues, international buying teams head to Wisconsin to see grain operations first hand

As Record Corn Harvest Continues, International Buying Teams Head to Wisconsin to See Grain Operations First Hand

Lisbon, Wisconsin – Export Exchange 2016 is coming up soon in Detroit, Michigan, and overseas grain buyers from Turkey will now see U.S. grain production and the U.S. export system for themselves here in Wisconsin.

With a record corn harvest just reaching export channels, a total of 19 pre- and post- Export Exchange trade teams sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council are in the fields, offering a perfect opportunity for the more than 200 participating grain buyers to see the U.S. supply and quality for themselves.

“At a time when we are looking at a record corn harvest and the clear need for international trade to be championed by our country’s leaders, Export Exchange is critical for our industry,” said Tom Sleight, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council.

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

Held every other year by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Export Exchange brings together international buyers with U.S. sellers of corn, sorghum, barley, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn gluten meal and corn gluten feed.

Over the course of field tours in USGC member states, hosted by organizations like Wisconsin Corn and a three-day conference, these individuals have opportunities to directly do business and make connections to facilitate future sales.

“We’re excited to host this group and strengthen our relationship with international corn and DDGs buyers. We are hopeful that our efforts will result in more sales of corn and distillers grains,” said Wisconsin Corn Growers Association President Casey Kelleher, a farmer from Whitewater.

The buyers will begin their tours on Friday by visiting Hartmann Grain in Lodi. The next stop will be Didion Milling in Cambria and United Wisconsin Grain Producers in Friesland before traveling to Cottage Grove to visit Landmark Services Cooperative Animal Nutrition facility. On Saturday, the group will travel to Cedar Home Farms in Oconomowoc to see harvest in action.

In addition to networking opportunities, foreign attendees at the Export Exchange conference in Detroit were briefed on the global supply and demand situation, the realities of a growing population, transportation issues and challenges, the global grains outlook, agribusiness and weather trends, the current U.S. policy environment, and more.

Export Exchange also highlights the importance of strong trade policy and market development to U.S. agriculture. The Council, in partnership with Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board works in more than 50 countries and the European Union to market U.S. grains and their related products and build long-term demand from loyal customers.

This work is also supported by funding from USDA through the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program in the 2014 Farm Bill.

More information on Export Exchange 2016 is available at www.exportexchange.org or on social media using the hashtag #ExEx16.