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Ohio Corn and Wheat traveling to Brazil

Members of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association are embarking on a trip to Brazil this month to scout the competition.

John Linder of the Ohio Corn marketing program says the group hopes to gain a better understanding of South American crop production.

“There’s probably a little bit of a misnomer; a lot of folks probably have a vision of Brazil as kind of short on technology.  That has so changed.  We really need to understand it so we can report back what it really is (like there), and use what the competition has as strengths and figure out where we fit against them.”

He tells Brownfield Brazil isn’t just an export competitor for the U.S., it’s also a customer.

“Wheat is a really big product for them right now; they need that import.  Unfortunately because of differences in the governmental changes between Argentina and Brazil, that trade is not happening.  We’ve been able to capitalize on that market on the wheat side, so for Ohio Corn and Wheat that’s a great message too.”

He says the 19 members of Ohio Corn and Wheat traveling to Brazil represent a great cross-section of agriculture in the state that will provide unique perspective.

Brownfield spoke to Linder last week at Commodity Classic in New Orleans.