USDA Secretary Vilsack says we need biofuels to Iowa crowd at USGC meeting

August 1, 2021 |

In Iowa, the U.S. Grains Council is holding its annual meeting in person in Des Moines, Iowa, and online, for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic and was joined by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary in the Biden Administration, Tom Vilsack, who addressed meeting attendees about the future of U.S. agricultural trade.

Vilsack began his remarks by calling the U.S. grains industry the “secret sauce” of trade and saying those in it understand the importance of partnership between U.S. producers, their overseas customers and USDA.

“We are in the process at USDA to build back better for trade,” Vilsack said. “We’ve been working on removing barriers to trade and are ready to engage more frequently and closely with our counterparts in other countries. American agriculture is at the center of that work because if something happens internationally, U.S. ag will feel that change. We are prepared and ready to look for more opportunities and diversity in trade partners.”

In addition, Vilsack emphasized the continued need for biofuels in the future, including for aviation and marine use.

“It will be a long time before we’re in the position where we won’t need biofuels. We need to take a look at creative ways that we can use bio-based products,” he said. “If we can do this, I think we’ll see a bright future for American agriculture.”

USGC Chairman Jim Raben, a farmer from Illinois, began the 61st Annual Board of Delegates Meeting by thanking the industry for its perseverance during the global pandemic.

USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand offered his assessment of where markets stand for U.S. corn, sorghum, barley, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol.

Category: Policy

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