A U.S. Grains Council (USGC) delegation of corn producers and staff visited Canada this June as part of the Council’s annual Grain Export Mission (GEM), aimed at strengthening trade relationships and promoting U.S. grain, ethanol and co-product exports.
Led by USGC staff members Ellen S. Zimmerman, Alicia Koch, and Stephanie Larson, the team included producer representatives from Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska. The visit provided firsthand insights into how Canadian end-users source and utilize U.S. agricultural commodities.
“Canada is a vital trading partner for U.S. agriculture, and ethanol exports in particular have been extremely impressive with more room still to grow,” said Koch. "“By bringing Council members to this important market through the GEM, we are connecting the Council’s mission of developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives from the start of the value chain to the end.”
The mission began in Toronto, where delegates visited a major feed mill and met with the Ontario Agribusiness Association. In Ottawa, the group held discussions with Canadian regulators and agencies, including Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The U.S. embassy also hosted a briefing by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
Zimmerman emphasized the importance of such partnerships: “We’re fortunate to have international partners equally committed to trade that benefits all parties. This collaboration helps expand U.S. exports in Canada and beyond.”
Since its inception in 1994, GEM has helped more than 200 delegates better understand global markets, building valuable connections from farm to foreign buyer.
