The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and Idaho Barley Commission (IBC) recently hosted representatives from a major global brewing company on a tour of Idaho's barley industry. The visit, which took place earlier this month, aimed to explore new sources of barley for the company's facilities in Mexico.
Heidi Bringenberg, USGC Director in Mexico, Javier Chávez, USGC Senior Marketing Specialist, and Laura Wilder, IBC Executive Director, led the delegation on a comprehensive tour of farms, research centers, and storage and transport facilities.
The program began at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA's ARS) facility in Aberdeen, Idaho. There, the group received an overview of barley production, growers' conservation practices, and the latest developments in barley breeding research.
A highlight of the tour was a visit to IBC Chairman Allen Young's barley farm, operated in partnership with his two sons. This stop aligned with the brewing company's interest in securing additional sources of high-quality barley for beer production.
The delegation also inspected barley farms that currently supply the brewer and toured grain elevators to assess their capacity to deliver barley to a nearby malting facility before export.
"The company is committed to quality assurance from planting to malting to delivery, so meeting with stakeholders all along the value chain was vital in fostering trust and a strong business relationship," Bringenberg said.
She added that the connections made during these visits are expected to contribute to significant growth in export demand for Idaho barley in the coming years.
The tour underscores the USGC's ongoing efforts to provide valuable sources of barley that benefit both the brewing company's operations and create new export opportunities for U.S. farmers. The Council noted that the brewing company has also expressed interest in further education and research in the industry, potentially opening doors for collaboration on new barley varieties and applications.
This initiative reflects the growing importance of international partnerships in the agricultural sector and highlights Idaho's role as a key player in the global barley market.
