Tom Sleight, USGC Vice President of Operations and Membership, Discusses 2011 International Marketing Conference and Annual Membership Meeting.
The U.S. Grains Council proclaimed 2011 to be the “Year of Competitiveness,� beginning with the International Marketing Conference and Annual Membership Meeting, Feb. 6-10 at the Hotel InterContinental in New Orleans.
In the wake of tighter stocks-to-use ratios, a shorter crop, price concerns and an increasing global population, the Council will carry a focus on competitiveness, efficiency, reliability and quality throughout its global operations this year to develop and expand global markets for corn, barley, sorghum and their co-products.
Nowhere will this be more evident than at the Council’s membership meeting, as producer and agribusiness leaders gather to discuss and plan Council programs for the year ahead, including a series of transportation and infrastructure-based initiatives.
The Council is a member-driven organization. The member input and feedback we receive is the foundation for the development of our annual marketing plans.
With growing demand and capacity challenges to the U.S. transportation system, staying ahead of competition and making the necessary upgrades are increasingly vital to the state of U.S. agriculture. New Orleans serves as an opportune platform for the Council to address current infrastructure challenges due to its vast, lively network of the transportation industry.
This meeting creates a forum for industry leaders to identify the issues. This is a unique opportunity for U.S. producers and agribusinesses to talk directly to one another and compile information on how we can make the transportation of grains more efficient. With an emphasis on food security and supply assurance, a major priority will be ensuring the United States has the capacity to meet demand.
Registration for the meeting in February is underway on the Council website, www.grains.org. The hotel room discount and room-block deadline is Jan. 5, 2011.