October 5, 2010

Hutchens provides insight on Ukraine's grain, livestock sector

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Despite its current ban on exports, farmers in the Ukraine have the potential to be a significant contributor to the global grain market, said Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, following a trade mission to the country organized by the U.S. Grains Council.

“There are vessels of grain loaded but they are not allowed to leave the country due to the export ban,” he said in a news release. “While this has grain traders and grain elevators in the Ukraine upset, it does create a market opportunity for the United States because much of that grain was destined for the Mediterranean and North Africa.”

Hutchens was on the mission with corn executives from a number of states, including those from Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, Kansas, Ohio and Kentucky. U.S. Grains Council representatives included Chris Corry, senior director of international operations based in Washington; Cary Sifferath, director for the Mediterranean and Africa based in Tunisia, and Alexander Kholopov, a consultant based in Russia.

While on the mission, they met with Ukraine Congressional leaders, agriculture officials, farmers, grain traders and export facility managers.

“We need to have a good understanding of not only where our competition is, but where long-term potential markets exist,” Hutchens said. “We compete with the Ukraine for exports, but the country has a long way to go in developing its livestock industry.”

For more, listen to several audio reports from Hutchens at the bottom of this page.

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