Newly selected President and CEO Thomas C. Dorr will join the U.S. Grains Council staff Nov. 16, 2009. Former USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development and Iowa farmer, Dorr is no stranger to the Council and has high expectations for future Council programming. Dorr said, “We have to be at the front end of the market development strategy. We have to be attentive to all opportunities.”  A BARN OnAir broadcaster spoke with Dorr about his vision for the future of the Council. To listen to the complete interview, click here.

Thomas C. Dorr, former USDA undersecretary of rural development, has been named the U.S. Grains Council’s president and CEO, effective Nov. 16, 2009. Chuck Zimmerman of AgWired’s Zimmcast, spoke with Dorr about his new role at the U.S. Grains Council and the future for exports of U.S. corn, barley, sorghum and their co-products. “I am particularly focused on getting out across the country and meeting with our members,” said Dorr. He continues, “We need to find out what the members’ strategic vision is and match it with the Council’s international development programs.” To hear the entire interview, click here.

The U.S. Grains Council formally announced former USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr as president and CEO. Dorr accepted the charge to head the country’s largest export market development organization for barley, corn, sorghum and their co-products on Sept. 8, 2009. He will officially assume the role on Nov. 16. Dorr said being an Iowa farmer for more than 30 years and serving seven years with USDA afforded him the opportunity to understand and value the nearly 50 years of export market development efforts orchestrated by the Council. Stacia Cudd, of National Association of Farm Broadcasting, spoke with Dorr about his new role and the future of U.S. grains exports. “We have to be at the front end of this market development strategy,” Dorr said. “I can see the day when we may, in fact, have the need and opportunity to export in excess of 4.5 billion bushels of crops.” To hear the complete interview, click here.

Within the international grain trade, acceptance of biotechnology has faced great challenges, as evidenced by stringent policies in the European Union. The U.S. Grains Council strives to educate the global marketplace about the safety of biotech products and how utilizing the innovative products will benefit the bottom lines of U.S. farmer while meeting global demand for grains. Bill Ray with Agrinet News spoke with Ken Hobbie, USGC president and CEO, on the topic at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters’ Washington Watch. “One of my messages to our customers is how important it is going to be to recognize and appreciate the safety of these products in livestock and human consumption and begin to embrace this technology; it is very important to our ability to meet all the demand,” said Hobbie. To hear the full interview, click here.