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The visit this week, part of the Illinois Department of
Agriculture's annual Illinois Grain Tour, gives the group a
firsthand look at Illinois' vast grain production and
distribution capabilities. "Illinois agriculture owes much of
its success to foreign trade and the loyal customers it has
throughout the world," Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said.
"Nearly half of our crops are exported, and the demand from our
trading partners has helped us to sustain a level of production
that is among the highest in the United States."
Illinois is the largest producer of soybeans and
second-largest producer of corn in the United States. In 2003,
it harvested 374 million bushels of soybeans and 1.8 billion
bushels of corn. Cash receipts from the two crops totaled $5.8
billion, including $2.4 billion in export sales.
The foreign grain buyers include 26 agricultural importers
from Mexico and 13 feed manufacturers from China. They were
identified as potential customers by the department's trade
offices in Mexico City and Hong Kong.
During their stay, the buyers are visiting a feed ingredient
company, a manufacturer of grain analysis and testing equipment,
a firm that produces grain storage products, a farm, and a farm
implement dealer. Other tour stops include the University of
Illinois' new Beef Research Farm and National Soybean Research
Laboratory and the Chicago Board of Trade.
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 The itinerary for the Illinois Grain Tour follows:
Oct. 10
- 8:30 a.m. -- Trouw Nutrition, Highland
- 11 a.m. -- DICKEY-john Corp., Auburn
- 3 p.m. -- Tim Seifert farm, Auburn
Oct. 11
- 8:30 a.m. -- Grain Systems Inc., Assumption
- 1 p.m. -- Sloan Implement Co., Assumption
Oct. 12
- 8 a.m. -- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- Beef Research Farm
- Animal Sciences Laboratory
- National Soybean Research Laboratory
Oct. 13
- 9 a.m. -- Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago
- 11 a.m. -- Seedburo Equipment Co., Chicago
[Illinois
Department of Agriculture news release]
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