For farmers, spring means it’s time to get the seed in the ground.

For the U.S. Grains Council, spring 2013 means last winter’s budget uncertainty is behind us, and it’s time to throw international market development programming back into high gear.

For most of the fall and winter, the failure of Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill, the extended delay in passing the federal budget and uncertainty about the debt ceiling meant that the availability of Market Assessment Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program funds could not be assumed. That uncertainty, at least for the moment, has now lifted.

“It’s great to be back,” said USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight. “Last winter, with all the questions about MAP and FMD, we cut travel and programming to the bone to ensure that we could keep international staff in place through the funding crunch. On top of the drought, a short crop, and the resulting fall in U.S. exports, that was a double hit. So this spring, as we look to a new crop and — we hope — a strong rebound in export sales, we’re making up for lost time.”

From a Moroccan mission to learn about U.S. corn quality … to co-products promotion in Korea and Japan … to DDGS seminars in East Asia and Latin America … the Council’s international staff is hitting the ground running. The Council’s very well received Corn Harvest Quality and Corn Export Cargo Quality Reports have been released to eager readers around the world. Looking longer term, emerging market assessment initiatives took teams to India and Africa as well.

“We call it ‘Being There,'” Sleight continued. “We’re servicing our current loyal customers — that’s always Job 1 — but we’re also continuing what the Council has always done “turn over rocks” to unearth and develop demand for corn, barley and sorghum. The world is changing fast. The Council must remain engaged and nimble to best represent the global interests our members.

Some uncertainties remain. The federal budget crunch is a long-term problem, and the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are still looking for a path forward for a new Farm Bill. But for now, with the drought abating, a new crop about to be planted, and the Council’s global staff back at full throttle, the year ahead is shaping up as one of opportunity — and that’s good news indeed.