The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) held its 22nd International Marketing Conference and 65th Annual Membership Meeting in Austin, Texas, bringing together industry leaders to discuss global trade strategies and highlight the upcoming United Nations' Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026.
USGC Chairwoman Verity Ulibarri set the tone for the conference with her theme "Cultivate the Future," emphasizing both opportunities and challenges in the current trade environment. The meeting featured Advisory Team sessions, where experts conducted market and commodity-specific analyses to shape the Council's strategy for the coming year.
A panel of female farmer leaders, including Jennie Schmidt, Wendy Osborn, and Ulibarri herself, shared their perspectives on the industry and discussed plans for celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Schmidt highlighted her recent mission with the UN and ASEAN, focusing on technology transfer to women farmers in Indonesia and Vietnam.
Former Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman provided insights on trade policy, drawing from his experience on the Senate Agriculture Committee and as a delegate to the UN's 61st General Assembly.
USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand concluded the day's proceedings with an optimistic outlook on the Council's future activities, stating, "We have Council staff positioned in all the right places to take advantage of growing need for U.S. coarse grains and ethanol."
