First-Hand Look AT U.S. Crops Yields Relationships, Purchases
It's important for buyers to learn about U.S. sorghum and to allay supply concerns.
Compiled by staff
Published: Sep 8, 2010
The U.S. Grains Council and Sorghum Checkoff recently hosted a group of Mexican grain buyers in Texas. United Sorghum Checkoff Program Marketing Director Florentino Lopez says missions like this are important because Mexico is the number one importer of U.S. sorghum. He says the buyers want to learn more about U.S. grain sorghum and the Grains Council and the Sorghum Checkoff is happy to oblige, giving them an opportunity to see U.S. sorghum and talk with those that produce it.
"They can understand the crop and understand that it continues to be available in the United States," Lopez said. "That just offers them that opportunity, so it's nice to have groups such as this come and visit and learn more about sorghum and that sorghum is available and hopefully we can provide it into their country."
Lopez says it's an important part of maintaining a good relationship with Mexican grain buyers. He says it also provided an opportunity to allay any concerns about the availability of U.S. sorghum on the news of significant rains and potential damage to the crop in southern Texas.
"It's always nice to have a group that comes by and asks questions and actually can see that although there are damages there is still a lot of availability," Lopez said. "We still find that is the key ingredient, making sure that they're aware that that is only a small portion; that the majority of the crop is very good and should provide all of their needs."
In fact Lopez says the affected area only represents about 10% of the U.S. crop and that the 130 to 150 million bushels of annual exports come from many different areas. Lopez says a group from the Phillipines will soon make a sorghum buying mission to the U.S.
"Those groups also coming in and actually learning more about sorghum and trying to find out how it would best suit their needs," Lopez said. "So this is just one of those parts that the Checkoff is trying to do and trying to promote as much as possible sorghum from the U.S. moving into other countries."
In 2009 Mexico accounted for 82% of U.S. sorghum exports. Through efforts like this buyer tour the Sorghum Checkoff hopes to continue the relationship with Mexico and further relationships with other nations.
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Tagged: sorghum, checkoff, SURE
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