The chairman of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) says the investment farmers have made in new technology and equipment is paying off for their customers.
Maryland farmer Chip Councell, who was attending an event in Detroit this week to promote exports of U.S. coarse grains and ethanol co-products to international buyers, related how farmers in his area were able to harvest grain in record time when Hurricane Matthew was coming up the East Coast. “We actually harvested two-thirds of our corn crop in three and a half days,” he said. “It just shows the ability of the U.S. farmer to get it done when we have to.”
Councell says farmers were able to make significant investments to improve productivity a few years ago when customers of U.S. grains were paying much higher prices for corn. “So farmers invested in technology which I think our customers are benefiting from now,” he said.
The Export Exchange in Detroit this week, sponsored by USGC and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), is helping to connect international buyers and domestic suppliers of corn, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), sorghum and barley.
“We have over 200 international customers from 35 countries,” said Councell. “It’s a great opportunity for us to show them U.S. agriculture and our infrastructure and how we are a consistent, reliable supplier of high quality grain.”
Learn more in this interview: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/exex16-councell.mp3″ text=”Interview with Chip Councell, US Grains Council Chairman”]
2016 Export Exchange Photo Album
