October 5, 2006

US Grain Council eyes the foreign market for corn

Vic Miller, who recently became the chairman of the US Grains Council says there could not be a more exciting time to lead the organization.

The world market for corn is now a demand-driven market, Miller pointed out. He said production agriculture had been trying to achieve that for a long time and exports had managed to obtain so.

Miller joined the US Grains Council after serving the Iowa Corn Promotion Board for nine years.

Speaking about the council and its role, he explained it was a partnership between agribusiness, farmers and the US government. The council administers 10 offices overseas and has its arms in 50 countries worldwide.

Miller also emphasised that the council was the only only group promoting the exports of US corn, sorghum and barley with Japan being the top destination followed by Mexico.

China, which has lately grown as a major exporter of corn is expected to become a buyer in the coming years, Miller said.

He recently attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Sino-US Dairy Project, a council program designed to expand milk production and create demand for corn and distillers dried grains used in dairy rations in China. This project was undertaken jointly by the US Grains Council and China Genetics earlier this year. Some of their major projects include operating a 620-cow dairy with plans of touching about 2,000 milking cows by the end of next year and marketing a branded milk product in Beijing in June this year.

Much of China's current milk supply is far from being safe to drink, Miller said.

He emphasised on the need to make buyer-farmer interaction and said on one recent meeting in Vietnam when an individual expressed a similar desire, he said, "Here I am."

He said it helps to be a farmer.