Agricultural News
Strong Corn, Grain Sorghum Exports Highlight a Good Year Says Ryan LeGrand, U.S. Grains Council
Fri, 27 Nov 2020 08:38:21 CST
A surprisingly large amount of corn and grain sorghum exports has been a highlight of 2020 for the U.S. Grains Council says Ryan LeGrand, president and CEO.
LeGrand was recently interviewed by Radio Oklahoma Agriculture Network Associate Farm Director and Editor KC Sheperd.
The U.S. Grains Council is a non-profit organization that promotes the global use of U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and related products including ethanol and distiller's dried grains with soluble.
The biggest change this year has been the exports of corn and grain sorghum really taking off, LeGrand said.
We have about 35 million tons of corn exports on the books today compared to 12.5 million tons a year ago, he said.
Grain sorghum exports are 3.8 million metric tons compared to 820,000 tons a year ago.
Large grain exports sometimes make domestic livestock producers concerned about increased feed costs and LeGrand notes higher grain prices are the result of more than just exports.
We've seen the balance sheets for livestock producers change drastically from May as the corn carryout has changed from May over 3 billion bushels to about half that now, LeGrand said.
Production issues and exports are the key reasons why, he noted.
Maintaining a global presence is important for the grains council, LeGrand said.
We have offices in 8 foreign countries soon to be 9 in India, plus full time presence with staff to operate programs in 50 countries and the EU, LeGrand said.
Working on trade issues and building relationship to keep markets open and build new markets is important.
Moving forward into 2021, Legrand said they have worked with previous administrations to make sure agriculture gets a fair shake and they understand biotech products.
The current administration has done a great job for agriculture and I think the next administration will do a good job too, he said.
The pandemic has forced the grains council to shift to a virtual world where they lose the personal touch, yet they've made many more contacts.
Instead of reaching 3-400 people at conferences we are reaching over 1,000 people now, LeGrand said.
LeGrand expects more of a hybrid version moving forward of virtual and in-person contacts once the pandemic issues are resolved.
Click on the listen bar below to hear more of KC's interview with Ryan LeGrand.
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