Michigan Corn hosts Trade Policy Academy
This month, Michigan Corn partnered with the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) to hold a trade policy academy in Birmingham, MI for producers to learn about the latest developments affecting global markets for their goods.
“International trade is vital to the health of the U.S. agricultural industry, and by offering these trade policy academies free of charge to USGC and NCGA members, we hope to help producers better understand how global market dynamics affect grain prices domestically,” said Ellen S. Zimmerman, USGC director of industry relations.
Zimmerman was accompanied by USGC Director of Trade Policy Andrew Brandt, NCGA Director of Trade, Transportation and Animal Agriculture Michael Granché, and USGC Manager of Industry Relations Rebecca Starrett.
The academy kicked off with a tour of Detroit Port for participants to see how their products are handled through the export process followed by a day of educational sessions and speakers.
Brandt and Granché covered the history of international trade policy and how it has affected U.S. grain trade and current perspectives on market development. Zimmerman and Granché discussed how the Council and NCGA work with international partners to advance U.S. agricultural exports. Zimmerman also moderated a panel discussion on how trade affects Michigan farmers that featured NCGA board member Matt Frostic, MCGA President John Delmotte, CMPM board member Ned Wyse, and Trade Policy A-team Lead Chris Cregeur.
The group also received an update from Michigan Corn Communications Director Angel Jenio on how state agricultural organizations interact with overseas buyers and end-users to grow demand for U.S. products.
Learn more about the USGC/NCGA trade policy academies here.
