Nine U.S. farmers learned firsthand about their customers’ perspectives and studied U.S. export competitors during the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC) Grain Export Mission (GEM) last month. The participants returned from this mission with a clearer understanding of the challenges, opportunities and competition U.S. grains face in the international marketplace.

“We need to keep in direct contact with these countries and try to build upon our relationships,” said Bill Long, an Illinois farmer and member of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. “I learned how important it is for all of us to better understand and cooperate with international farmers, suppliers and governments.”

The producers also gained valuable contacts in these international countries that will facilitate working relationships over many years.

“Even in this age of electronic communication, relationships are still the cornerstone of business,” said Buzz Mattelin, a barley farmer and member of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee.

More about the GEM was available in a previous edition of Global Update, which is available here.

You may also click here to view photos of the mission.