Foreign Sorghum Buyers Visit Texas Panhandle and Export Exchange
In an effort to expand sorghum’s international markets, the Sorghum Checkoff and U.S. Grains Council sponsored a group of Saudi Arabian grain buyers in the Texas Panhandle Oct. 3-5 to learn about how U.S. sorghum is grown and utilized in the poultry and dairy industries.
"This group is looking for a consistent source of protein and energy in their purchases," said John Ballard, a sorghum producer from Claude, Texas, who met with the group. "They need a consistent quality product, and the U.S. can provide that."
Ballard said that while Saudi Arabia is not a new customer to U.S. sorghum, this particular group is interested in the value of sorghum in the livestock industry as they represent Saudi poultry and dairy producers.
The group began their tour with a visit to the White Energy ethanol facility in Hereford, Texas, followed by a stopover in Wildorado, Texas, to get a farm view of U.S. sorghum. While in Texas the potential buyers attended a seminar at the Texas AgriLife Extension Center in Amarillo to learn about sorghum’s nutritional value to beef and dairy producers.
"The best way for foreign buyers to learn about U.S. sorghum is to come here and see it for themselves," said Florentino Lopez, Sorghum Checkoff marketing director. "By inviting these customers to see how sorghum is produced and handled we can show these buyers how dedicated U.S. sorghum farmers are to providing them with a quality product."
The U.S. Grains Council and the Sorghum Checkoff are currently working to develop a new feeding trial to take place in Saudi Arabia to exhibit the nutritional value of sorghum, and to persuade them to view sorghum as a more valuable product.
Following the tour stops in Texas, the group attended the Export Exchange in Chicago, Ill., hosted by the U.S. Grains Council and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The co-sponsored event held Oct. 6-8 brought together more than 150 international buyers of U.S. DDGS and course grains, which make up about 80 percent of export buyers, with more than 500 U.S. producers and agribusinesses.
Lopez said these groups will tour the U.S. to gain a better understanding of grain production in our country, and how we can meet their needs.
"These buyer missions are a vital part of marketing sorghum because exports represent about 35 percent of sorghum production," Lopez said. "Without exports the marketplace would be saturated with grain, resulting in lower prices."