Grainnet

U.S. Grains Council Delegates Discuss Feed Grain Supply With Korean Agriculturalists

This article is reprinted from the May 8 edition of U.S. Grains Council's Global Update

The U.S. Grains Council is trusted across the globe as an accurate and reliable source of information and technical assistance.

That trust inspired Korean agriculturalists to invite the Council to discuss U.S. feed grains supply and address present and potential challenges.

Dale Artho, USGC chairman; Ken Hobbie, USGC president and CEO; and Mike Callahan, USGC director of international operations for Asia; are currently embarking on the USGC President’s Mission to Korea and Taiwan.

In Korea, they are meeting face-to-face with government and industry leaders.

According to Hobbie, this mission is all about “straight-talk.”

“There are many uncertainties and questions out there pertaining to growing demand and tightening supplies and we are talking straight-talk,” said Hobbie.

At the root of their concern is Korea’s local supplies tightening and demand expanding to an all time high, pushing prices to record-levels.

Specifically, Korea’s cattle numbers have doubled since U.S. beef was banned in 2003 as a result of bovine spongiform encephalopathy detection.

“We are trying to be as realistic as possible and not overly optimistic.

"At the same time, we assured them that U.S. farmers are the very best at what they do and have a proven track record of responding to demand, and producers from top corn producing states are waiting on the weather to cooperate,” Hobbie said.

Hobbie presented a world view of grain supplies to more than 50 agribusiness leaders of the Korean grain and feed industry.

Artho said the interaction with Korean leaders has been positive.

"We can be sure that Korea maintains trust in U.S. feed grains and co-products and just as important, biotechnology,” said Artho.

“We were told by representatives of the Korean corn processing industry that despite some local consumer opposition to their purchase of genetically enhanced corn, they will continue with those purchases for their use in starch and sweetener manufacturing.”

Mission participants also met with government officials about the U.S., Korea free trade agreement.

“We were quick to reach a consensus with the high-level government leaders—free trade is a win-win,” said Artho.

“They want to see the free trade agreement move forward and so do we.”

The mission will continue throughout this week with the Council taking their message to Taiwan’s agricultural industry.

For more information, call 202 789-0789.