Charting new paths in Agri-exports - U.S. Grains Council’s vision

Dec 21, 2023

The U.S. Grains council, with Andrew Brant at the helm of trade policy, is actively working towards expanding the international footprint of U.S. Agriculture. Their focus is on promoting primary crops such as corn, sorghum, barley, and ethanol, aiming to boost exports for U.S. Farmers.

One of the council's significant achievements is the opening of an office in India, marking a strategic advancement in their global outreach. This initiative is part of their broader plan to tap into emerging markets in regions like Africa and southeast Asia.

The journey is not without its hurdles. Global political decisions, like those seen during the U.S. Trade war, have direct consequences on local agricultural markets. These challenges underscore the need for strategic foresight in navigating the complex interplay between global policies and local agricultural economics.

Looking ahead, Brant points out the burgeoning challenge and opportunity in integrating sustainability within agricultural supply chains. The council's innovative response includes the introduction of the record of sustainability for U.S. Corn exports and a comprehensive corn sustainability assurance protocol.

These tools are designed to underline the sustainable practices prevalent in U.S. Farming, thus enhancing the global competitiveness of American agricultural products.

Through these initiatives, the U.S. Grains council reaffirms its commitment to not just bolstering U.S. Agriculture in the present but also securing its position in the global market for the future.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.