Every year, technology and know-how are bringing more people together to exchange ideas, conduct business, and develop new opportunities. At the same time, global markets are growing as more people make strides economically and move into the middle class. Keeping U.S agriculture ahead of these trends and maintaining U.S. leadership in an increasingly competitive world are never-ending challenges.

“These trends are changing the global marketplace as we know it,” said Don Fast, chairman of the U.S. Grains Council.

“They also help define our theme for the year, ‘Smaller World, Bigger Markets,’ and provide some key discussion points on the agenda for our annual membership meeting and marketing conference.”

The U.S. Grains Council’s 10th International Marketing Conference and 53rd Annual Membership Meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11-13, 2013, in Charleston, S.C. Registration for the meeting has opened and can be found at www.grains.org or by clicking here.

This meeting is where Council Advisory Teams gather and sector meetings are held to review global strategies and set an operational course for the Council for the coming years.

“Member, agribusiness and industry input are critical as we develop our strategic plan, and that’s the primary purpose of the Charleston meeting. In addition, we’ll further explore the dynamics of trade and its importance to the competitive future of U.S. agriculture,” Fast said. “It promises to be an excellent, informative meeting of interest to anyone involved in the future of agriculture and trade.”

Hotel details, the meeting agenda and optional tours can also be found at www.grains.org.