Indiana’s Miller joins USGC in Spain for corn harvest quality report event

With the release of the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) Corn Export Cargo Quality Report taking place in the spring, let’s take a look back at Indiana grower and Council Vice Chairman Josh Miller’s role in a recent Corn Harvest Quality Report rollout event.

Miller, Ryan LeGrand, USGC President and CEO and Middle East/Africa/Europe Manager of Global Trade Reece Cannady visited Spain in February to offer Spanish grain buyers a look at the organization’s 2021-22 Corn Harvest Quality Report.

In January, the European Union (EU) removed 25 percent import duties on U.S. corn that were imposed in June 2018. This action opened an export opportunity for up to 2 million metric tons (MMT), or 80 million bushels, of U.S. corn. The Council’s engagement while in Spain was vital in promoting U.S. corn exports to its Spanish counterparts.

The Corn Harvest Quality Report provides the Council an opportunity to showcase the outstanding quality of the 2021 crop to Spanish importers, especially with regard to bulk shipments, and to remind customers that the U.S. agricultural sector is committed to being a reliable supplier of agricultural exports.

“Spain is a valued customer and a stronghold for U.S. agricultural exports to Europe,” Miller said. “The market is a consistent customer for U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and Spain looking at buying U.S. corn is a product of our logistical certainty.”

LeGrand provided opening remarks at the event in Madrid before Cannady presented the findings of the report. Miller provided attendees with a firsthand account of the 2021 growing season in the United States, sharing his personal experiences and answering questions about his crop.

To wrap up the program, Sergio Dettmer, senior risk management consultant at StoneX, an institutional-grade financial services network, offered a virtual presentation on U.S. corn and DDGS production, supply and distribution.

The Council hopes that by presenting the findings of the 2021-22 report, the Spanish market will have increased confidence when purchasing U.S. corn.

The 2021-22 Corn Harvest Quality Report provides information about the quality of the current U.S. crop at harvest as it enters international merchandising channels. A second Council report, the 2021-22 Corn Export Cargo Quality Report is released each spring. This report measures the corn quality at the point of loading for export.

To read the most up-to-date reports, and those from years past, visit grains.org/corn_report/