CHECKOFF INVESTMENT
Spreading the good word Corn expanding in new, emerging markets BY ANN HINCH
T
he true north of U.S. checkoff groups’ efforts to cultivate fresh customers and expand sales to established ones around the world might be, in the words of Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) board director David Ring, “You’re always fighting hard to keep the export markets you have while also trying to find new markets.” Ring began farming in 1963, and his farm stretches into Dubois, Spencer and Warrick counties in southern Indiana. He knows the importance of marketing corn, as well as crop-fed meat. Exports of Indiana corn is largely aided through efforts of the U.S. Grain Council (USGC), whose mission is to develop new export markets for corn and other grains. In addition to his service on the ICMC Board, Ring is also a USGC board member. Ring said, “By working with national groups like the U.S. Grains Council and others, Indiana corn farmers don’t have to start on the ground floor when working
12
INDIANA CORN & SOYBEAN POST
to secure new export markets.” The checkoff dollars that power the efforts by USGC and ICMC are matched by USDA funding through the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD) to help reach out to overseas customers. Identifying new and emerging markets has always been important to Indiana Corn, said Steve Howell, senior director of Industry Affairs for ICMC and the Indiana Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA). But the last three years has reinforced that U.S. farmers should not rely on any one country for its bulk of exports. In early 2018, former President Donald Trump levied tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum imports; China retaliated with duties targeting U.S. goods, including soybeans and corn co-products ethanol and distillers dried grains (DDGS). Although Chinese demand is picking up again under the past
