SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Each year, Illinois agriculture officials host a group of grain buyers from overseas, but the visit usually takes place in October. This year, however, has been different; Mother Nature’s drought has growers and ranchers struggling.

“Normally, we do these at the beginning of October, but with the way things have been going this year, we knew there wouldn’t be anything to see in October,” said Jennifer Tirey, the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s bureau chief for marketing and promotions.

So, the department stepped up its trip this year, and with about 20 buyers from China, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, the group came away last week with a better impression than they expected. They toured several farms and grain operations from Sept. 10-14.

“I had one gentleman from China tell me after we went to the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), and he pulled me aside to tell me this specifically, that, ‘I think it will not be as bad as we had feared,’” said Jim Mackey, one of the department’s international market representatives.

“He, and I believe most of the group, came away thinking that while we have had probably the worst conditions in a long, long time, things aren’t going to be as bad as they thought. They saw corn being harvested, corn being stored and corn tested for diseases, and while the supply will be down a bit and corn prices will be up, they came away knowing that it will be a tight year, and not worse than that.”

The group started the week with a stop at the central Illinois farm of Tim Seifert in Auburn, then moved on to visit the headquarters for grain storage suppliers GSI Group in Assumption. The following day they toured two co-op facilities in central Illinois, then moved on to the Marquis Ethanol plant in Hennepin and the Spirit Family Farms operation in Sheridan.

At the Spirit operation, the group watched representatives from family-owned Beck’s Hybrids (headquartered in Atlanta, Ind.) explain the company’s research operations and how it tests for specific drought-related diseases.

“Most in the group were already aware of aflatoxins, so they were very interested to see that our corn was of high quality. We may not have the quantity, but we have quality,” Mackey said.

Ranchers need to take care and test corn feed for levels of aflatoxin, particularly this year, said Travis Meteer, a University of Illinois extension beef educator. “If you find mold present on your corn, it needs to be tested for aflatoxin,” said Meteer, who added it can be found in dry distillers grains from ethanol, as well. “Aflatoxin is concentrated in the fermentation process and thus the levels in DDGs can be dangerous. Testing corn and corn co-products for aflatoxin is recommended.”

The overseas group visited three other grain operations before finishing the trip at CBOT on Friday. “Illinois agriculture owes much of its success to foreign trade and the loyal customers it has throughout the world,” said Bob Flider, acting director of the state’s ag department.