This year, the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC), in association with National Corn Growers Association and state partners, held five trade policy academies (TPA) in Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Missouri for farmers to learn about the latest developments affecting global markets for their goods.
“U.S. farmers feed and fuel the world with the work they do every day, but there are countless factors that go into overall demand and the prices they receive for products,” said Ellen S. Zimmerman, USGBC director of industry relations.
“The Council is proud to offer TPAs at no cost for growers and agribusinesses to stay informed by harnessing the experience and knowledge from the USGBC staff and members.”
Zimmerman led the various TPAs and invited USGBC staff and other experts to speak at events to most accurately provide updates on topical developments in both domestic and international trade markets, policies and logistics.
USGBC Director of Trade Policy Andrew Brandt frequently spoke to growers and Council members, including board of directors’ members and Advisory Team (A-Team) leaders, to help bridge the gap between daily farming routines and the global market.
“We’re already well into the planning process for more TPAs in 2026 based on the demand of recent events, ensuring the Council and our key state partners are a reliable resource for rural communities to expand their understanding of the global marketplace and how trade impacts their bottom line,” Zimmerman said.
The Council is committed to constant and consistent engagement with its members as part of its mission to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives. If you are interested in attending a future trade policy academy, make sure to follow the Council’s social media pages and visit www.grains.org for announcements on upcoming events.
Learn more about the Council’s trade education here.