US Grains Council : Experts on Trade Policy, Grain Markets Set for USGC February Meeting

The U.S. Grains Council's (USGC's) 13 International Marketing Conference and 56 Annual Membership Meeting scheduled for Sarasota, Florida, from Feb. 15-17, 2016, is slated to have a stimulating line-up of expert speakers offering members and other attendees insights into what makes the global grain market tick.

Hot topics will include insights into how the upcoming presidential election may impact the global grain trade; the status of trade policy priorities and their importance to U.S. grain sales; and an examination of the world grain markets from the eyes of Argentine partners in MAIZALL, the international maize alliance.

Additional talks will be on the long-term results of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the potential impact of the current El Niño cycle on this year's crop season.

Confirmed speakers include:

• A keynote presentation about the 2016 political climate and how it may impact trade policy, including the approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, by renowned political analyst and publisher of The Cook Political Report, Charlie Cook.
• A look into the potential impact that the finalized Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could have on grain exports by Ambassador Darci Vetter, chief agricultural negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative.
• The changing farm market in Argentina and MAIZALL's work by Alberto Morelli, first vice president of MAIZALL and former president MAIZAR, and Martin Fraguio, executive director of MAIZAR.
• Insights into both short- and long-term factors affecting the world's climate cycle by Joel Widenor of the Commodity Weather Group.
• An examination of NAFTA's long-term impact on North American grain trade by panelists including USGC Regional Director of the Western Hemisphere Marri Carrow, USGC Director in Mexico Julio Hernandez and USGC Consultant in Canada Neil Campbell.

As a member-led organization, the Council depends on its delegates' commitment and participation and encourages stakeholders to make plans soon to attend the February meeting. Potential attendees are requested to register online and secure their hotel rooms as soon as possible, no later than Jan. 14.

More about the meeting is available online at www.grains.org or on social media using the hashtag #grains16.