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GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA, February 8, 2009 - America's Heartland is a television show focused solely on educating U.S. consumers on the importance of U.S. farmers in providing food, feed, fuel and fiber for the United States and around the world. For the first time ever the show, now in its fourth season, traveled overseas with representatives of the U.S. Grains Council to showcase the role U.S. farmers play in feeding a growing world. Alan Tiemann, USGC Board member representing Council member Nebraska Corn Board, and his wife Lori traveled with the filming crew to see how their corn journeyed from their farm in Seward, Neb., to the overseas marketplace. The episode titled ‘Journey of the Corn' was a revealing experience for the Nebraska farm couple. Alan told more than 200 attendees at the Council's 6th International Marketing Conference and 49th Annual Membership Meeting in Guatemala City, Guatemala, that Council programs are benefiting U.S. farmers.
The show starts on the Tiemann family farm and then ventures to Taiwan where U.S. corn is being used for livestock feed and polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic-like material made from U.S. corn.
"The fact that Taiwan is one of the largest PLA end-users and a great proponent of PLA is the direct result of Council programs and should be considered a great accomplishment by all USGC members," said Alan.
They then travel to China to see USGC efforts being made to increase demand for feed grains in the country's growing dairy industry.
"In order to meet the needs of Chinese consumers the dairy industry will require a great expansion, which will require much more feed. The Council is working hard at building the demand for our products. China has always been a large potential market for U.S. feed grains and with over one billion people and a growing middle class, this will be a market to continue to nurture," he said.
Marsha Stanton, USGC delegate for Monsanto, a flagship sponsor of America's Heartland, told USGC members that it is imperative to put a face to U.S. agriculture and tell the true story of the American farmer.
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The U.S. Grains Council is a private, non-profit partnership of farmers and agribusinesses committed to building and expanding international markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and their products. The Council is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has nine international offices that oversee programs in more than 50 countries. Financial support from our private industry members, including state check-offs, agribusinesses, state entities and others triggers federal matching funds from the USDA resulting in a combined program value of more than $26 million
The U.S. Grains Council does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation or marital/family status. Persons with disabilities, who require alternative means for communication of program information, should contact the U.S. Grains Council. |
