IDOA is leading foreign visitors on a ‘grain tour’

Posted on September 21, 2022
Illinois Department of Agriculture director Jerry Costello. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The world’s grain buyers have descended upon Illinois.

Accompanying forty guests from seven nations on a two-day tour of all things corn and soybeans in the state, Illinois Department of Agriculture director Jerry Costello answers the question, how does one measure the success of the tour?

“The traditional way would be monetarily, but relationships built and expanded upon is, I think, what is the most important thing for agriculture in this state moving forward.

“Ag being a $19 billion industry, $8.5 billion is exported every year in the state of Illinois, and about half the corn and soybeans we produce are exported.”

Why spend all this money to visit Illinois in a world in which people Zoom instead? Said Gerardo Pallais, who works in procurement and supply chain for a Guatemalan food processor, “It’s an effort, but it’s also a complete interest for us to see how the whole world is connected, from the farm to the different suppliers in the supply chain. It’s important to know how we all help – feeding the world.”

Stops on the tour include a Sangamon County farm, a Christian County grain-bin manufacturer, ADM in Decatur, and a trading concern in Chicago.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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