Last week, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), in collaboration with Kansas State University’s International Grains Program (KSU’s IGP) hosted a delegation of Mexican grain buyers to provide educational opportunities about storage logistics and feed processing.
The team consisted of feed miller representatives and swine and poultry producers, covering topics including steam generation systems, plant design, mycotoxin control and more. Participants also completed IGP’s Feed Manufacturing Course to better equip them for success at their own operations.
“The IGP has been a great partner to the Council in advancing the education of countless millers and livestock producers to maximize the advantages provided by U.S. feed grains,” said Pedro Kadota, USGC Mexico consultant, who escorted the team.
“By increasing their competitiveness in the Mexican market, there will be higher demand for the raw materials provided by farmers in Kansas and across the rest of the U.S.”
The program consisted of multiple seminars over three days, with the first covering quality assurance, mill safety and data analysis to provide a baseline for the rest of the course.
Other sessions covered the process of feed pelleting – from batching to extrusion to cooling and liquid applications to streamline the procedure for attending millers and improve the cost-effectiveness of their businesses.
Lastly, attendees learned about feed mill design and maintenance and toured KSU’s O.H. Kruse Feed Technology Center, where students can practice safety and quality control measures that protect consumers.
“From top to bottom, this course prepared the team to enhance production and improve the lives of their customers and consumers, developing loyalty to U.S. feed grains as the clear choice for their raw material needs,” Kadota said.
Learn more about the Council’s work in Mexico here.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.