The U.S. Grains Council’s International Marketing Conference and Membership Meeting each February brings together the directors of the Council’s international offices with member Advisory Teams to review goals, strategies, and resources for the year ahead.

Advisory Teams – Or A-Teams – are small groups of Council delegates who devote extra time and effort to help align export market development programs with member priorities. In Charleston, the A-Teams tackled issues ranging from international acceptance of biotechnology and rising competition to the Trans Pacific Partnership and potential markets in India, Africa and elsewhere.

This meeting launched formal planning for the Council’s 2014 export market development programs. While the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill authorized USDA export market development programs in fiscal year 2013, the continued uncertainty about the U.S. government budget and new Farm Bill makes planning for 2014 difficult. The A-Teams still forged ahead with ambitious plans. Exports are vital to U.S. agriculture, and Council members see clearly the urgency to sustain USDA export market development programs in a comprehensive new Farm Bill.

Click here for photos from the meeting.