No other organization in the United States can do what the U.S. Grains Council does, said Alan Tiemann, farmer-director on the Nebraska Corn Board from Seward, Neb., as well as Secretary/Treasurer of the U.S. Grains Council Board of Directors.
"With the council's public-private partnership we're doing great things around the world to develop exports of our products," said Tiemann.
Tiemann has a unique perspective on his 15 years of council experience. Beginning in 1997, he represented the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board for six years. Then, after a break, he moved to Nebraska's corn checkoff board in 2005, becoming an at-large director on the USGC board and, last summer, the council's secretary/treasurer.
"One of the biggest changes I've seen in my years at the council is in structure from a board of delegates to a board of directors," he said. "It's allowed the council to become more efficient than when they had three huge meetings each year."
He urges members to maximize the benefits of council membership by being involved.
"Even if you're not named to an advisory team (A-Teams), the best thing you can do is show up at the meetings and visit as many A-Teams as you can," he said. "Find out where your skill set fits with the council's work and get involved.
"The council has such a diversity of teams that there's something for everybody to get passionate about."
Tiemann's own passion is new markets. "We're still working to expand China, but markets are constantly evolving from where they were 20, 15, even 10 years ago. Will the next opportunity be Africa? India?
"That's what I'm excited about at the council."
The uncertainty of a Farm Bill is also a concern for the U.S. Grains Council who utilizes FMD/MAP funds to develop these foreign markets, as well as funds from corn, sorghum and barley checkoffs. One more reason we need a Farm Bill Now!
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