Experts at Export Exchange

Anyone involved in the production of corn should be planning to attend the upcoming Export Exchange 2010, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Oct. 6-8, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel in Chicago.

The event will focus on increasing exports of both coarse grains and the emerging growth market of the ethanol co-product dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), and features an array of international leaders in ag commerce, including Dr. Bob Thompson with the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy and Gary Blumenthal, president and CEO of World Perspectives Inc.

Dr. Thompson is scheduled to deliver the keynote address on the first day of the conference to provide perspective and insight on the world supply and demand situation will give attendees a better understanding of the world market. Blumenthal’s remarks during the second day luncheon will focus specifically on the growing global demand for U.S. DDGS. “As long as global population continues to grow, the demand for meat, milk and eggs will increase, and subsequently the demand for livestock and thus for DDGS will climb as well,” Blumenthal says.

More than 170 international buyers of U.S. DDGS and coarse grains are scheduled to attend the event, including representatives from China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Vietnam. Why should a corn farmer plan to attend? Consider this. The United States grows 42 percent of the world’s corn and supplies more than 60 percent of the world’s corn exports. Nearly 2 billion bushels of corn were exported last year to about 60 different countries and the current forecast for this year is just over 2 billion, according to USDA. Exports of DDGS to Southeast Asia doubled last year over 2008 and were already up nearly 75 percent over 2009 at the beginning of this year. With yet another record corn crop expected this year, it is more important than ever to expand our exports.

Join more than 300 other U.S. producers and agribusinesses for the Export Exchange. Registration is available on-line with a $100 discount for registrations received before September 4.