“The U.S. Grains Council congratulates the U.S. Administration on achieving a historical and precedent-setting agreement with Korea, the most expansive U.S. trade deal since the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement provides significant benefits for U.S. agricultural trade and the U.S. economy. It will immediately open new opportunities for significant increases in U.S. agricultural exports, which will generate income and jobs here at home.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) reflecting the third-largest corn crop and yield on record. While this month’s report lowers U.S. corn yield and production estimates from the previous month, U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Thomas C. Dorr said these market challenges will be addressed.

“U.S. farmers have always responded to market signals and have been able to produce an adequate supply to meet market demand. This has established the United States’ position in the global marketplace as a reliable, long-term supplier of coarse grains and co-products,” said Dorr.

CHICAGO, Ill., October 6, 2010 –Nearly 500 producers, suppliers, importers and end-users of U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and coarse grains from around the world gather in Chicago this week for an event known as the place to Get answers. Make contacts. Build business. Starting tomorrow, the Export Exchange, co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association and the U.S. Grains Council, hosts the world’s leading distillers grains marketers and ethanol producers to confront the most pressing issues facing the DDGS markets, including potential trade barriers, quality improvements and new evolutions in technology.

Distillers grains, the livestock feed coproduct of ethanol production, is quickly becoming one of the United States’ fastest growing exported commodity. As U.S. ethanol production grows and faces its own market pressures, so too is the production and use of distillers grains. In the near future, the U.S. feed market will become saturated with distillers grains, much like the gasoline and ethanol market today. Exports and other new markets for distillers grains will be essential to ensure this high value livestock feed continues to see its use grow.

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 5, 2010 – The U.S. Grains Council recently concluded its annual China Corn Tour, estimating an increase in production over 2009. The Council estimates the total production for China’s 2010 corn crop at 158 million metric tons (6.2 billion bushels). Given the projected corn harvest area of 30.8 million hectares, this implies a yield of 5.13 tons/hectare or 81.5 bushels/acre.

“While the Council is projecting higher production numbers than last year, this does not indicate a bumper crop. Conservative estimates of demand growth suggest China will likely need to import,” said Thomas C. Dorr, USGC president and CEO.