The U.S. Grains Council won over a diverse group of Japanese grain sorghum importers after a successful USGC trade team mission to the United States earlier this month. By collaborating with hosting organizations, including the Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board, the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, the team was exposed to virtually all stages of sorghum development, logistics and merchandising throughout the United States.

The team consisted of traders, feed manufactures and food grade sorghum millers, representing the broad cross section of the variety of uses for the grain. Participants attended a short course on sorghum utilization by the International Grains Program, where they gained firsthand knowledge on the myths and facts regarding sorghum usage in animal feed rations and culminated in a tour of a family hog operation that uses sorghum from farrow to finish on his farm.

“These educational opportunities to explore the U.S. marketing channel are very important for us to understand their commitment to quality. After being involved in this program—given an equality in price, or even a slight disadvantage—I will now choose U.S.,” said team participant Hideki Watanabe of Nosan Corporation, expressing the importance of the trip and highlighting its success.

Attebury Grain welcomed the group to their terminal in Fort Worth Texas where participants were able to speak with traders and tour a typical shuttle loader. They were also able to meet with producers and tour fields throughout the sorghum belt in order to assess the growing crop in order to get an idea of the supply once harvest begins. Due to the adaptable and rugged nature of sorghum, it is grown in many different areas, under many different soil conditions. For this reason, the group was able to see newly germinated sorghum seedlings to juvenile plants and eventually mature plants that are nearly ready to be harvested.

“While addressing the day-to-day activities of their business, many people throughout the globe do not have time to realize all of the wonderful attributes that sorghum really possesses. Educating importers to unlock the true potential of sorghum is one of the predominate issues the Council is focused on,” said Kevin Roepke, USGC manager of international operations—sorghum. “By exposing our customers to the human element behind their grain imports, we position the U.S. supply chain as the most trustworthy and reliable brand in the entire world.”

Overall the trip was a great success in the Councils continuing efforts to educate customers on grain supply, use and reliability. Kiyotaka Sakurada of Toyoto Tsusho Corporation, who participated in the mission, commented, “If I didn’t participate in the trip, my concern with U.S. sorghum would be the quality and logistic capacity to deliver it to me. This concern is alleviated and (after attending the International Grains Program) I now recognize the true value of sorghum, especially from the U.S.”