Going together: ATP funds start working for soya and specialty grains

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By Eric Wenberg

I have three big developments to write about on the export market promotion front. As previously reported, the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) signed an agreement to use Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) funds with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), per request by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its award. July 19 was a big day, with a fair and equitable deal made to use USDA’s funds collaboratively with back office support from USSEC. That is a benefit we are pleased with. USSEC has an excellent compliance and regulatory record with USDA that we benefit and learn from. If we use ATP funds poorly, or make a mistake, we have to pay it back. This minimizes our risk and maximizes our learning opportunity. As they say in Africa: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. I think that’s true in this case.

Secondly, along with the soy industry associations, I met with USDA and FAS officials on July 23 in Washington, D.C. At that meeting  Mark Slupek, FAS Deputy Administrator, Office of Trade Programs, explained that the ATP funds were the first budget increases to the export market development program since 2006, and they had effectively even been cut since then due to budget sequestration. That’s when Congress cuts funds they already authorized. Thus, it’s important for SSGA to document and write about our successes. Rest assured, we will. Soon after, USDA, USSEC, and SSGA agreed on an additional allocation from FAS, increasing our ATP funding from $1.5 million to $2.0 million. We were invited to request additional funding next year based on our use of the funding. SSGA was also invited to join USSEC for $300,000 in additional funding to make joint strategy and activities to open the market in India. I have had several conversations and shared some work with USSEC’s operations professionals. As I’ve stated before, I am excited to work with them.

This all points to having the financing to achieve our aims to be a leading voice in identity-preserved (IP) field crops. We are happy to work through and with the groups making this a priority. At present, we are writing some Requests for Proposal (RFPs) regarding the digital IP marketplace project and working to get those funded for contractors. The action teams are making other plans for our projects abroad.

We will continue to keep our members engaged and updated on the latest SSGA news.

Hang Tung Resources supports U.S. soybean industry with GTE sponsorship

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Hang Tung Resources (USA) Co., a U.S. commodity trading company located in the Chicago area, is a new sponsor of the 2019 U.S. SOY Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE).

Hang Tung Resources started in the 1960s doing textile trading in Asian destinations and officially registered in 1984. The company is made up of four areas: real estate, investment funds, agricultural processing and commodity trading. The company has had its U.S. location since 2014, focusing primarily on trading agricultural products such as cotton, oilseeds and grain.

“Hang Tung opened its trading headquarters in Chicago not only to be close to the global futures pricing center, the Chicago Board of Trade, but also to be in the heartland of one of the world’s largest crop production regions and transportation hubs,” says Chen Ding, merchandiser at Hang Tung. “This allows us to understand the crop status, ensure product quality, and establish connections between the origins and destinations of these products.”

With GTE being held in Chicago this year, Hang Tung employees are looking forward to taking advantage of the global event being held right in their backyard.

“The Global Trade Exchange provides an opportunity for us to meet with potential customers from around the world,” Ding says. “Last year we had a trade show booth at the event and not only did we talk to many buyers, we made great connections in many of our targeted markets. There is high enthusiasm among our staff for the event again this year.”

Events like GTE provide an opportunity to meet many customers and take Hang Tung’s core values worldwide.

“Our goal is always to provide the best quality of product we’re providing in the most productive and efficient way,” Ding says. “We hope to grow with our customers and we take great pride in every step of the export chain that we participate in.”

Attendees can visit Hang Tung Resources in booth 1113 at the GTE trade show Aug. 20-22. To learn more about GTE and other event sponsors, visit www.grainconference.org.

North Dakota, Wisconsin Soybean Boards see value in sponsoring the 2019 GTE conference

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The U.S. SOY Global Trade Exchange and Specialty Grains Conference (GTE) is approaching quickly and it could not happen without the support it receives from other businesses, companies and organizations. Five U.S. Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs) are supporting this year’s conference, including the North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. 

NDSC is one of this year’s platinum sponsors. They have been sponsoring the conference for over five years, ultimately seeing this conference as an opportunity for farmer leaders to meet with international customers and connect with exporters. 

“The networking opportunities that the GTE continues to provide year in and year out are vital to promoting the equality of U.S. soy,” says Austin Langley, NDSC vice chair and market development committee chair. “GTE is an opportunity to show how dedicated the U.S. soybean industry is to its customers on providing the best product in the world.”

The second QSSB sponsoring the conference is the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, an original sponsor of the annual event, and currently a gold sponsor. 

“GTE is a very important program,” says Bob Karls of Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. “The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board feels it is an excellent opportunity to bring buyers and sellers together to showcase the U.S. soybean industry to our international customers.”

Visit www.grainconference.org to view the full list of sponsors.

Taking care of business: following SSGA merger, Sue Schmitt signs off

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Any writer will tell you: It helps to have a proofreader with a keen eye. For Bruce Abbe, Sue Schmitt was that person for the Midwest Shippers Association (MSA).

“I helped Bruce with his communications and looking at things from a member’s point of view so that we sounded right and we’re getting our point across,” she says. “Somebody once asked me if I was a teacher. I have a knack for finding grammatical errors.”

Schmitt recently departed her position as MSA’s executive assistant following a merger with the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association to form the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA). She was the company’s jack-of-all-trades for eight years, handling memberships, registrations and helping to grow and coordinate what is now known as the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange and Specialty Grains Conference.

“I was the number one contact,” she says. “When people called or sent an email, I was the first one they talked to. I liked talking with people, getting our goals across and taking care of business. There was never a dull a moment.”

Former MSA President and CEO Bruce Abbe says Schmitt was vital to helping to build the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange and Specialty Grains Conference, which began in 2002, into an international tradeshow. When Schmitt worked on her first Conference in 2011, only a few hundred buyers attended. The joint SSGA/USSEC Conference has now grown to around 800 attendees.

“Sue’s been a mainstay support provider for me for a number of years, in particular in work on the Conference,” says Abbe, a strategic advisor for trade and transportation with SSGA. “She had considerable experience in conference support and management when she first stepped in to help me out several years back, and stayed on.”

Schmitt says one of her favorite programs during her tenure at MSA was working with an advertising co-op program offered to members.

“That allowed them to advertise on more of a level than they could afford, or didn’t have the opportunity to show their information,” she says. “We really helped members who didn’t have large budgets.”

Prior to joining MSA, Schmitt says she didn’t fully appreciate the business instincts needed to excel in agriculture.

“Generally, people think Mr. Farmer is out just there growing crops and they take it to a grain elevator,” she says. “People don’t realize the entrepreneurial instincts of farmers. It was very informative and eye-opening.”

Schmitt isn’t retiring, but hopes to spend more time with her five grandchildren.

“My house needs to be cleaned, but I don’t want to do that,” she says, laughing. “I’m still keeping busy and wish everyone well with the new organization.”