The event will provide members with an overview of the Council's strategy for the coming year and will include several information sessions.
Wednesday's agenda also includes a discussion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Regional Agriculture Promotion Program (RAPP), which aims to compensate nonprofit agricultural trade organizations for their activities in international markets. (Photo: Getty Images, Unsplash)
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala — United States Grains Council (USGC) members arrived in Guatemala City for the 21st International Marketing Conference and 64th Annual Membership for the first time since the conference was held in Guatemala City in 2009. Masu.
This event will provide members with an overview of the Council's strategy for the coming year and will include several Advisory Team (A Team) sessions. There, various agricultural products and market experts will gather to conduct in-depth market and product-specific research and share their experiences related to their industry this year.
USGC Chairman Brent Boydston will begin Wednesday's proceedings by welcoming both U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agriculture Negotiator Doug McCallip and U.S. Embassy Deputy Minister in Guatemala Patrick Ventrell. Mr. Ventrell's talk will be followed by a panel discussion on the current state of Guatemala's feed grain and ethanol markets, as well as the Council's overall activities in Latin America.
Wednesday's agenda also includes a discussion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Regional Agriculture Promotion Program (RAPP), which aims to compensate nonprofit agricultural trade organizations for their activities in international markets. USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand, USGC Vice President Cary Siferas, and USGC Senior Director of Global Strategy Kurt Schultz discuss what his RAPP means to the Council and its future. Explain the scope of work.
On Thursday, members will divide into their A-teams for in-depth discussions about products and markets relevant to U.S. farmers.
The meeting concludes with the board's delegates meeting on Friday, where the A-Team and sector product reports will be presented and delegates will vote on the board's new set of bylaws.
Details of the conference can be found on social media using the hashtag #Grains24 or through the website.
About the U.S. Grain Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum, and related products such as distillers dried grains containing solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. The Council is present in 28 locations and operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes that exports are essential to global economic development and the profitability of U.S. agriculture. More information about the Council and its programs can be found online at www.grans.org.
–U.S. Grains Council