The chairman of the U.S. Grains Council is attending his first Export Exchange this week in Detroit and he is very impressed.
Maryland farmer Chip Councell says he is amazed by the number of attendees and the prospects that the event offers for U.S. grain suppliers. “We have over 200 international customers from 35 countries,” said Councell. “It’s a great opportunity for us to show them U.S. agriculture and our infrastructure and how we are a consistent, reliable supplier of high quality grain.”
That consistency and reliability continues to grow with the increased investment that farmers have made in the latest technology. Councell related how farmers in his area were able to harvest grain in record time when Hurricane Matthew was coming up the East Coast. “We actually harvested two-thirds of our corn crop in three and a half days,” he said. “It just shows the ability of the U.S. farmer to get it done when we have to.”
Councell says much of the investments were made a few years ago when customers of U.S. grains were paying much higher prices for corn. “So farmers invested in technology which I think our customers are benefiting from now,” he said.
Learn more in this interview: Interview with Chip Councell, US Grains Council chairman
2016 Export Exchange Photo Album
