USGC connects with Mexican customers at Grain Handling and Storage Roadshow 

By Will Margerum, U.S. Grains Council 

U.S. Grains Council (USGC) staff recently traveled across Mexico for the 2024 Grain Handling and Storage Roadshow, conducting a series of informative presentations on proper grain handling and storage methods that can preserve grain quality and save money throughout the supply chain. 

USGC Mexico Director Heidi Bringenberg, USGC Manager of Global Strategies and Trade Alexander Grabois and USGC Mexico Consultant Pedro Kadota spoke to end-users of U.S. feed grains in the Mexican states of Yucatan, Jalisco and Veracruz. 

Dr. Klein Ileleji of Purdue University, Pete Mueller, manager at Fumigation Services & Supply Inc. and Aaron Maple, superintendent at Kokomo Grain Co., both Indiana-based agribusinesses, joined the group to offer their first-hand experiences working in the U.S. feed grain industry. 

“We’re excited to have seen great attendance and active participation from feed millers and beef, swine and poultry producers during the roadshow, allowing the Council to share storage and handling techniques that prevent grain quality deterioration and demonstrate value,” Bringenberg said. 

“Mexico is U.S. agriculture’s largest trading partner, and it’s important to show purchasers and producers in the country we are not resting on our laurels and will always support and grow the Mexican market throughout the entire supply chain.” 

Seminars began with welcome addresses from Bringenberg and Grabois and the content of speaker presentations centered on the importance of proactive grain storage management and new technologies for monitoring grain supplies. 

In the afternoon, Maple and Mueller shared their perspectives as U.S. producers and agribusiness representatives in overseeing large-scale feed grain operations and how to properly fumigate storage facilities. 

Each seminar ended with group discussions and Q&A segments for attendees to gain more detailed information about the challenges facing their farms and businesses. 

“The roadshow allowed participants to directly interact with industry experts and peers while gaining practical knowledge they can implement immediately to stay ahead of industry trends and competitors,” Grabois said.  

“Improving the standard of grain storage operations in Mexico will build further consumer confidence in U.S. feed grains by maintaining the superior quality of U.S. corn and other products.”