USGC Manager of International Operations Alvaro Cordero escorted the group.

While in Guadalajara, the group visited a small feed mill that produces for its own and nearby animal producers. This was in stark contrast to the much larger feed mill they toured using 300 tons of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) per month and producing about 4,000 tons of feed per day. The facility also utilized a large pelletizer for poultry feed and was importing about 30 percent of their corn needs.

During lunch with the Feedmill Association, Larry Klever, a corn grower from Iowa and a director on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, was able to ask about grain quality. The feed mill association members expressed their happiness with DDGS use in their dairy operations and correlated their increase in dairy production to DDGS. “I believe we have a growing market in both quality corn and DDGS from what I witnessed on our tour. A feedlot that we toured includes 15 percent DDGS in their rations today and couldn’t stop talking about how much they liked it,” said Klever.

Mr Klever has already had follow-up conversations after the meetings. “I think seeing and meeting with the producers, touring the transportation system and shaking hands with the feed mill representatives, was crucial for the extended tour. The personal connection is something invaluable to build their confidence in our corn quality,” he said. “In fact, I received an e-mail today looking for corn grown in the Midwest from a contact made on that visit.”