High U.S. Imports of Organic Grain Constraining Market
Peter Golbitz, president of Agromeris, stated at the Organic & Non-GMO Forum held in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 7 that the high volumes of U.S. organic grain imports are posing a threat to domestic production and reliant industries.
Golbitz noted that organic grain imports are growing faster than U.S. production is expanding. Organic corn imports account for 46 percent of U.S. supply, and organic soybean imports account for 75 percent of total supply last year. And with imports often priced lower than U.S. production, it removes economic or industry incentives to increase domestic output.
This constriction to U.S. organic grain supply will most likely affect the potential for growth in the poultry industry noted Golbitz, who also highlighted issues with difficulties associated with verifying the authenticity of foreign organic grain cargo.