| Members of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) are arriving in Savannah, GA, for the Council’s 20th International Marketing Conference (IMC) and 63rd Annual Membership Meeting, held Feb. 13-15, where they will focus on challenges and opportunities around the world and hold a roundtable forum celebrating the Council’s rich history. The event will also include several Advisory Team (A-Team) sessions, where experts in various agricultural commodities and markets will come together to brainstorm strategies and share experiences relevant to their industry for this year. “It is my honor to welcome all of our attendees in Savannah to discuss the state of the agricultural industry today,” said USGC Chairman Josh Miller. “We look forward to collaborating with A-Team members to help shape the Council’s goals and strategies for 2023.” The first general session will begin with USGC directors in Mexico, Japan, Southeast Asia and Oceania and the Middle East, Africa and Europe will give market outlooks from their local perspectives. Next, a panel of four former Council chairmen will discuss how the Council has changed over the years and look ahead to the future of the organization. Dr. Joe Outlaw, a professor at Texas A&M University, will provide attendees with the status of this year’s farm bill and then Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand will deliver his State of the Council address to close out the day. “The Council takes pride in offering the latest information on global grain markets to our members at this event,” LeGrand said. “The conversations had here will be a benefit to attendees, staff members and the Council as a whole as we strive to maintain U.S. corn, sorghum, barley and their co-products’ status as the number one option for consumers worldwide.” These presenters will set the stage for member discussions and A-Team meetings in the afternoon. The winter meeting is an annual chance for corn, sorghum and barley farmers and members of agribusinesses, who make up the organization’s membership, to meet with Council staff working on behalf of U.S. producers. The guidance and information they offer during this meeting, combined with input from A-Team members, help plan the roadmap for the Council’s near-term strategy. Tuesday’s agenda is packed with A-Team and commodity sector meetings, and the event will wrap up with the Board of Delegates and Board of Directors meetings on Wednesday, where the Council will unveil its updated strategic plan. The Council’s trade policy team will also formally launch the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol during the Board of Delegates meeting, allowing attendees to get a first look at the Council’s latest effort to promote the climate-conscious efforts of U.S. farmers. See the full meeting agenda here, and view updates from the event using the hashtag #grains23 on social media. |
