U.S. Ag Sec. Vilsack Launches USGC Summer Meeting

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) has resumed their summer meeting under a hybrid in-person/virtual format for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. Opening the meeting was U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack who spoke in-person for the first time since assuming his role.

Addressing attendees on the state and future of U.S. agriculture trade, Vilsack called the U.S. grain industry the “secret sauce” of trade, saying that its players understand the importance of partnerships to growing exports, and adding that the USDA is working to remove trade barriers and is building deeper relationships with international counterparts.

Additionally, Vilsack noted how important biofuels, and their creative uses including for aviation and marine use, will be to the future for American agriculture. USGC president and CEO Ryan LeGrand also shared his assessment of where the U.S. corn, barley, sorghum, ethanol, and DDGs markets stand, noting record sales of U.S. corn and sorghum, and the great potential that exists on the international trade horizon.

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