Have you ever thought about the end user that ultimately buys your grain, particularly the portion that is shipped overseas? Every year in January, the US Grains Council works on behalf of US Corn Farmers by informing overseas buyers throughout the world of what they can expect from the US corn market through their Grain Export Missions (GEM). With the challenges that plagued almost the entire midwest; their role is especially important in a crop year like 2019.

Josh Yoder with Yoder Ag Services recently participated in the Japan GEM mission and came away with a new appreciation for the role that US Grains Council plays in maintaining good working relationships with export buyers. According to Josh, “It’s pretty widely known that US grain quality has suffered due to one of the most challenging growing seasons in 40 years for most people. When you’re in that situation, I think transparency is the best policy. The great part of what the Grains Council does is provide buyers a clear understanding of grain quality in multiple dimensions. Our export buyers don’t get that from our competitors and I think that goes a long way to maintaining good longterm relationships with customers.”

This year, Japanese buyers are especially worried about broken corn and foreign material (BCFM) numbers coming out of the US. In years past, one of the key aspects of grain quality that Japanese buyers have grown to appreciate are the large kernels synonymous with US Corn that impact the aesthetics and quality of their feed products. Widespread drying in 2019 throughout the midwest has negatively impacted that dimension of quality. The high heat of most modern dryers creates comparatively more stress cracks than field drying; leading to more broken kernels by the time grain reaches overseas buyers. One of the key points made by growers on the trip was that the American Farmer takes pride in the quality product that they produce. As the global market place continues to become more competitive, being aware and responsive to customer needs will become increasingly important. Having those relationships to do so will certainly help.

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