New SSGA team member ready to make an impact

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Gary Williams and the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) have found each other at the right moment in time.

“This is a transformative organization,” Williams said.

After a lengthy career across the transportation and specialty grains industries, Williams took a step back from those pursuits during the past few years. But when SSGA and its management organization, Ag Management Solutions (AMS), launched a hiring search for a new director of transportation and regulatory affairs in early 2024, Williams felt the urge to return to an industry he knows best.

“The one thing I wanted to be assured of is, that whatever I did, I wanted to be able to have an impact,” Williams said during a break at the end of his first week on the job at SSGA’s headquarters in Mankato, Minn. “When the opportunity came forward to work with AMS and SSGA, that was something that I got really excited about, because with ag transportation, there are a lot of important crossroads that we’re both moving through and coming up on, so this truly was something that came along that will allow me to have an impact. That was a big ‘check’ for me.”

Eric Wenberg, SSGA’s executive director, said Williams is joining the organization at an ideal moment, as the national association marks its fifth year of operations while anticipating industry trends across the globe.

“With his position, Gary becomes the national leader for those who trade grains and oil seeds in containers,” Wenberg said. “We’re excited to stand behind him to help him improve the industry, and SSGA members and supporting allies should expect to see Gary a lot.”

A native of Ohio who grew up on a beef cattle farm as the son of a vocational agriculture teacher, Williams arrives at SSGA with more than 35 years of experience in the transportation of specialty grains across North America, including managing specialty grains and oilseeds for a three-state co-op.

“That (position) made specialty grains near and dear to my heart, especially on the oilseed side,” he said.

Williams has crossed paths SSGA staff and members in recent years. He’s supported SSGA’s programs and initiatives, most recently as a panelist at the inaugural Identity Preserved International Summit in January 2023 in Hawaii. He said he’s excited to work alongside Wenberg, who also celebrates five years with SSGA in March.

“Eric has a set of experiences and skills in a lot of areas that I can benefit from,” Williams said. “I think we’ll work really well together and complement each other with my experience on the commercial side of putting the seed in the ground to getting it to the destination countries or distributors, and Eric’s background of facilitating trade and ensuring that those barriers are removed. The beauty is that we can both lean on each other.”

In his spare time, Williams is an avid lover of nature and fitness who teaches outdoor education and guides trips with the Mount St. Helens Institute.

“My weekends are spent sharing the ecology, volcanology, geology and the culture of Mount St. Helens,” said Williams, who’s been married to his Australian-born wife, Danielle, for 25 years. “I also participate in a lot of longer-distance trail runs, particularly in the mountains. That’s where I like to spend my time.”

Williams will represent SSGA from his home near Vancouver, Wash. He’ll also work on behalf of AMS’ roster of clients from across the nation.

“I’m in great location, because the Pacific Northwest is such an important outlet for producers in the Midwest,” he said.

Williams will attend his first event since joining SSGA at the organization’s upcoming Transportation Go! Conference in Toledo, Ohio, where he’ll will have a chance to engage with SSGA board members and learn more about the organization’s key priorities in 2024 and beyond.

“SSGA is an example of associations and organizations needing to transform and be relevant,” he said. “I think that’s what you’re seeing with SSGA and why there’s growth and numerous new projects.”

Member Profile: Chuck Kunisch, Michigan Agricultural Commodities

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Born and raised in the thumb of Michigan, Chuck Kunisch has been involved in agriculture since he was very young. Growing up along Saginaw Bay, Kunisch and his family grew grain, sugar beets, dry beans, corn and wheat. ­

After attending Michigan State University to receive his degree in Dairy Science and Crops and Soils, Kunisch worked in the dairy industry before his company bought into a farm elevator. The elevator partnered with Michigan Agricultural Commodities (MAC) for marketing and expanded the operation. Today, Kunisch works with MAC as the specialty grain business development director and the corporate safety director emeritus.

Working for MAC, Kunisch has had the opportunity to travel to Japan and Asia to sell contracts. Kunisch has recently taken a step back from traveling, but with his new role, he will soon be making trips overseas again.

“I’ve met a lot of interesting people,” said Kunisch. “The West does business very differently and it was interesting to learn their ways.”

While trading with Japan, Kunisch learned that soybeans grown in Michigan near Lake Michigan and Huron face similar conditions to soybeans growing in Hokkaido, Japan, because of lake effect and the two areas being on the same line of latitude. Through this discovery, Kunisch was able to make more connections with the Japanese to sell food grade soybeans.

“We mirror the climate in Michigan and Southwest Ontario,” said Kunisch. “It works very well.”

Not only has Kunisch learned a lot from his time with MAC, but he has also learned a lot about the industry from being a member of both the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) and SSGA. Originally, Kunisch was involved with the Midwest Shippers Association, but joined SSGA when it first started.

“MAC has always felt it was important for us to be part of the grain industry and help promote what we do,” Kunisch said. “It’s very important to give back to our industry, so I’m going to continue to do that.”

While attending the Identity Preserved International Summit hosted by SSGA in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kunisch built relationships with others involved in the specialty soya industry. After the summit, he used those connections to help benefit MAC.

“When I went to the conference in Hawaii, I made at least two good contacts,” he said. “MAC has benefited from those relationships, because that is what business really is all about: relationships and networking.”

Two years ago, Kunisch received a spot on the SSGA board and was put on the specialty grains action team. After taking a step back from managing facilities, Kunisch felt it was time to take on more responsibility and get involved.

“This is my second year on the board, and I enjoy it a lot,” Kunisch said. “I’ve been very blessed to have that ability.”

Kunisch is excited to be part of an organization that is proactive.

“There are a lot of exciting things coming in export of food grade grains and beans, and SSGA helps people take advantage of those opportunities,” Kunisch said. “I’ve been very blessed that MAC has supported me in doing this.”

Member Profile: Pamela Ryan, Stonebridge Ltd.

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Pamela Ryan grew up in a musical family, which led her to pursue a degree in music education. However, after graduating from the University of Iowa, Ryan found an opportunity to work for Stonebridge Ltd. when a position opened. From then on, Ryan has found her career not in music, but in the soybean industry.

Growing up on a farm, Ryan always enjoyed spending time with the animals and getting lost in the corn fields. While her father drove truck, Ryan would accompany him every once in a while so that he could show her the ropes.

“I got to see the process of going someplace, picking it up, and going someplace else to drop it off,” said Ryan. “I always found it really fascinating.”

Ryan started out doing foreign documentation for Stonebridge but has found her way up the chain and now is the operations manager where she oversees export logistics, making sure that they have all the information to get the containers to their customers. Ryan also manages the IT department.

“With my auditor and organizational mind, it was a good fit,” said Ryan. “It’s been a very exciting journey.”

Ryan heard about SSGA when they first started. She felt that SSGA’s values aligned with Stonebridge’s and wanted to become a part of that mission.

“We wanted to make sure that we both supported and had the support of an organization that knows our story,” said Ryan. “They know what we were trying to promote to our customers.”

Soon after joining, Ryan was put onto the competitive shipping action team. With her combined knowledge of the shipping industry and her willingness to make a difference, she was the perfect fit. On the committee, the team talks about topics like vessel schedules and difficulties getting containers, among a variety of other topics.

“These were frustrations we (Stonebridge) dealt with every day,” said Ryan, who now chairs the committee. “I just thought that it was a good opportunity for me to, instead of complaining about it, see if we can find some solutions and find some answers.”

Ryan says that the committee is always interested in what the Federal Maritime Commission is doing to make global shipping and freight easier for exporters and how they support the work that the committee does. Currently, the committee is learning about a proposal to improve the rail system in the Chicago area, which would help container freights pass through the hub more efficiently.

“It’s a long process, but I think that will be exciting to see,” said Ryan.

Ryan has enjoyed her time on the committee working on improving the shipping process for soybean growers. She said her one bit of advice for soybean growers interested in the specialty market would be to join SSGA.

“SSGA supports anything that has to do with that quality grower,” said Ryan. “If you want an organization that gets what you do, wants to help you succeed, wants to help give you resources, that’s what SSGA is.”

SSGA gathers for board meeting, gets first look at Ag Innovation Campus

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The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) board made their way to Fargo, N.D., Sept. 13-14 for the organization’s quarterly board meeting.

Before they got down to business on Thursday morning, the board toured Grand Farm during the Grand Farm Field Day featuring Nutrien.

Grand Farm, established in 2019, is a “network of growers, technologists, corporations, startups, educators, policymakers and investors working together to solve problems in agriculture with applied technology.” With a brick-and-mortar campus under construction in rural Casselton, N.D., Grand Farm will soon have a permanent home.

Created to solve the biggest problems in agriculture, Grand Farm is home to a wide variety of research plots, including a KWS Seeds sunflower plot that is testing a laser scarecrow.

“Partners come to us and explain their vision of what could happen out here, what they’re trying to test, and why they’re trying to test it,” Grand Farm Director William Aderholdt said. “Then we work with them to get plots put out. We make sure that from end to end they’re successful whether that be making sure the environment is ideal or making sure that planting happens on time or finding the right farm management contractors or doing data collection. All those things are really important to the work that we’re doing.”

During the field day, SSGA board members were able to tour the plots, learning about the research being conducted throughout the farm from Program Manager of Field Operations Ann Nobriga.

At the board meeting, the board discussed strategic marketing plans outreach, upcoming events and heard action team and administrative reports. After the meeting wrapped up, the board traveled to Crookston, Minn. for the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) Phase One Grand Opening.

“What makes this facility so amazing is the vision and the mission that it is going to hold for agriculture,” Acting AIC CEO Tom Slunecka said in his opening remarks. “Not only will the AIC empower the value of agriculture in the region and add value with new employees to the city of Crookston, but this facility is going to change agriculture as a whole.”

The AIC is a not-for-profit facility that will produce an estimated 240 tons of soybean meal daily, equaling a grand total of 62,400 tons of soybean meal per year. With three independently operated mechanic crush systems, the AIC will be able to crush organic, non-GMO and GMO soybeans.

Phase one – the crush plant – is the first of the three-phase project. Phase two will feature an office complex and research labs. Phase three consists of rentable discovery bays that will be available for short to midterm use. Companies can then use the space to prove their designs at full production scale. The “Crushwalk” will also allow visitors to view the processing facility in a safe and bio secure manner.

“We’re going to develop and process products that consumers want today and tomorrow, not yesterday,” Slunecka said. “That’s the whole point of this center.”

SSGA will holds its next board meeting Thursday, Nov. 30 in Bloomington, Ill.

SSGA seeks to make U.S. IP ‘big in Japan’

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The tour through the Aeon Style supermarket in Tokyo showed the Americans several ways U.S. agriculture impacts Japan.

The travelers were part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture trade mission, and they got to see many of their exports or foods that use their exports on display, while shoppers also walked around intending to purchase some of those products.

The showcase included an impressive display of soy foods important to Japan such as natto and tofu, products that often feature identity preserved soybeans from the United States as prime ingredients.

“You might not realize the cultural importance of these foods until you see so many brands and varieties together in the cooler with shoppers poring over them,” said SSGA Manager for Strategic Programs Shane Frederick, who took part in the trade mission June 4-9 in Tokyo and Osaka. “Knowing that some of those products likely had ingredients sourced from SSGA members really underscored the impact our U.S. suppliers have on the industry.”

Indeed, the United States is the No. 1 supplier of food and agricultural products to Japan, a country that must import 60% of its calories. In 2022, Japan – a country with a population of more than 125 million people – imported $14.6 billion worth of food and ag from the U.S.

SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick
SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick
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“This shows that there is a continuously growing demand for U.S. products in Japan, providing U.S. exporters with a tremendous opportunity to expand their exporting,” said Alexis M. Taylor, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

Taylor led the delegation, which included representatives of several commodity organizations, 11 state departments of ag and 40 agribusinesses who, she said, had the opportunity “to showcase the strength of U.S. food and agriculture products. Japanese consumers are especially interested in high-quality, health-oriented products, and I am confident that U.S. businesses can meet and exceed these expectations.”

Besides the Aeon and other tours, Frederick participated in business-to-business meetings in Tokyo and Osaka, matching with a tofu manufacturer, as well as importers with customers in the food manufacturing and school lunch industries. He also met with in-country marketing professionals and USDA Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) officials.

“It was an opportunity to meet people and, hopefully, start some working relationships,” Frederick said. “In some cases, we’ve begun setting up future discussions.”

Frederick’s No. 1 goal was to promote the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and mark, which was launched in December 2021. Fourteen U.S. companies have been qualified for the program and are using the mark. Frederick talked about those companies and other SSGA members who supply high-quality, specialty grains and soybeans. As well, he was able to share the story of farmers who carefully grow identity preserved field crops for food ingredients and other purposes.

“The mark seemed to resonate with the representatives I met with, but there is more work to be done to keep it growing and get U.S. Identity Preserved well-recognized throughout Japan and around the world,” Frederick said.

Frederick also met with USDA international services officials in Japan representing the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and brief them on the High Quality Specialty Grain (HQSG) export certification program, which APHIS announced in April and SSGA administers.

The U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and mark were developed, in part, through a USDA FAS Agricultural Trade Promotion grant. SSGA’s participation in the trade mission is part of the organization’s goal of promoting the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand program, which is also by the Michigan Soybean Committee, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

SSGA will be considering other opportunities to promote U.S. Identity Preserved abroad, including future USDA trade missions.

SSGA presents at Asia Soy Excellence and Food Summit

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SSGA presented an update on the supply, sourcing and forecast for U.S. soy and specialty food soybeans during the Asia Soy Excellence & Food Summit 2023 in Thailand.

SB&B partner Todd Sinner presented virtually to the audience in Bangkok on Monday evening, while SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick joined the event following Sinner’s presentation to answer questions. They were part of a panel on U.S. Soy supply status, value differentiation and benefits with Ohio farmer and United Soybean Board director Bill Bayliss and Soy Nutrition Institute Global CEO Julie Ohmen.

SSGA focused on the importance of forward contracting, early decision making and developing relationships with buyers – all to ensure customers gets the varieties they desire.

The event, organized by U.S. Soybean Export Council and supported by SSGA and others aimed to provide updates on the soybean supply chain, soy food and beverage trends and innovation, soy health and nutrition, as well as consumer attitudes, product promotion and marketing.

SSGA joins first ever USDA Netherlands trade mission

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The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance is constantly looking for opportunities to promote its members’ companies, expand exports of their high-quality products and familiarize the world with the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand program. So, the opportunity to go to the Netherlands and be part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture trade mission there could not be passed up.

Last week, Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick attended the trade mission in Amsterdam, an experience that included opportunities to engage with Dutch businesses, receive market briefings from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and industry trade experts and participate in site visits, including the largest seaport in Europe, the Port of Rotterdam.

The U.S. delegation was led by USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor and included representatives from 41 agribusinesses and farm organizations and 10 state departments of agriculture looking to expand economic partnerships between the United States and the Netherlands and markets throughout Scandinavia. The trip marked the USDA’s first-ever agribusiness trade mission to the Netherlands.

Frederick participated in the business-to-business meetings and sat down with commodity brokers, food and food ingredient importers and port logistics service representatives. He also made connections with USDA FAS staff, state and regional trade group officials, and ag department representatives from California, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, among others; networked with agribusinesses from throughout the United States; and was part of roundtable discussion with ag cooperator and advocacy groups led by Under Secretary Taylor.

“This was an opportunity to go to the Netherlands and the European Union, learn about their markets and tell our own story about identity preserved and specialty field crops available in the United States, as well as the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand mark program,” Frederick said. “It was an opportunity to talk about the work SSGA and its members are doing, see how those efforts fits in to U.S. trade strategy and compare notes with other groups and companies.”

The Netherlands is the United States’ ninth-largest export market for agriculture and also the world’s second-largest ag exporter after the United States. In 2022, combined total agricultural and related exports to the Netherlands and the region topped $4.5 billion.

Consumer trends there include a growing interest in what they’re eating and where that food comes from and a willingness and ability to pay for healthy and nutritious foods. Their younger populations are open-minded about new concepts, products and flavors, and there’s a strong market for plant-based and sustainably certified products.

Frederick will be participating in the USDA’s trade mission to Japan this June. Feel free to contact him for more information.

More news:

https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/usda-trade-mission-to-the-netherlands/

SSGA joining USDA Netherlands trade mission

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Shane Frederick

SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick

On April 17-20, SSGA Manager of Strategic Programs Shane Frederick will accompany USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor’s delegation during USDA’s first-ever regional agribusiness trade mission to the Netherlands. Taylor will head a diverse group more than 50 business, trade associations and state government leaders seeking to grow U.S. agricultural exports to the Netherlands, Scandinavia and beyond.

“This regional trade mission is part of USDA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen America’s rural economy by helping U.S. producers, exporters, and agribusinesses grow and diversify their revenue streams,” said Taylor. “Home to the largest seaport in all of Europe and an impressive network of importers, packers, processors, and distributors, the Netherlands is the gateway into the European Union, offering great business potential for U.S. agricultural exporters.”

During the mission, U.S. participants will meet with importers from the Netherlands, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

“Combined exports of U.S. farm and food products to this region totaled $4.5 billion in 2022, an increase of 10 percent from 2021,” Taylor said.

Frederick will represent SSGA member companies in business-to-business meetings and promoting the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand mark program.

“It’s SSGA’s mission to promote the high-quality, specialty soybeans and grains available from U.S. suppliers,” Frederick said. “And making the U.S. Identity Preserved mark recognizable worldwide is vital to telling that story. I look forward to introducing the program to companies and officials next week in the Netherlands.”

While on the trade mission, participants will conduct business-to-business meetings with potential buyers, receive market briefings from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and industry trade experts, and participate in site visits.

Donkers replaces Schrader on SSGA board

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Gail Donkers, farmer and Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council director, has been selected to finish the term of Keith Schrader on the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance Board of Directors.

Gail Donkers

Donkers farms in Faribault, Minn., raising soybeans, corn, alfalfa, hogs, dairy beef and sheep alongside her family. She grew up on a dairy and diversified livestock farm near Wanamingo, Minn., and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in animal industry marketing and a minor in technical communications.

“At the Identity Preserved International Summit, I saw first-hand what SSGA is doing to broaden the identity preserved field crops market,” Donkers said. “I’m excited to be a part of the organization that is working to develop this potential.”

Donkers will finish Schrader’s term ending in 2023 and will be eligible to run for reelection. The SSGA board approved the move during its March 24 meeting, which was held virtually.

Schrader has served on the SSGA board since it formed in 2019, representing MSR&PC and previously serving as treasurer. Before that, he served on the board of SSGA’s predecessor organization, Midwest Shippers Association, starting in 2010.

Schrader felt it was time for another farmer to take over his position on the SSGA board. He recommended Donkers and thought her experience on her farm and other professional roles would lend itself well to SSGA.

“I’m ecstatic that such a quality person like Gail can join the SSGA board,” Schrader said. “She is very involved on her farm but also has extensive experience working for other ag associations and communications roles. She’s a person who can cover all of the bases and do it well.”

Although retiring from the SSGA board, Schrader will still be involved in the organization as a member and as part of the agronomy action team.

“This is such a close-knit industry, and I’ve loved working with these people,” Schrader said. “Even though these businesses are in competition, I admire the way they work as a team to better the industry.”

SSGA elects two new board members; tabs Sinner as chair

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The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) welcomed two new members to its board of directors during the group’s annual meeting on Thursday, as Jake Noll of Minnesota-based Richland IFC and Chuck Kunisch of Michigan Agricultural Commodities were elected to two of three open seats.

For the other open seat, Darwin Rader of Michigan-based Zeeland Farm Services was reelected to the eight-member board during the meeting, held at the office of the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

Bob Sinner of North Dakota-based SB&B Foods was selected to chair the SSGA board for a second time.

“SSGA has really gotten its legs,” said Sinner, who previously served as SSGA chair in 2021. “I think everybody understands and realizes what SSGA means to the identity preserved world. We’ve had some great successes, and there are some great things on the horizon for the industry. I’m just proud to be able to assist the leadership in continuing to grow the organization.”

Rader was elected as SSGA vice-chair, while Colby Eymann of Scoular was reelected as the group’s secretary/treasurer.

“I am so honored that the membership has faith in me to continue to serve their needs,” said Rader, who has served as chair of SSGA’s competitive shipping action team. “And I’ll do my best to fill their expectations in that role.”

Although they had not previously served on the board, both Noll and Kunisch also have taken on action team leadership positions as SSGA members.

“I’m glad to have been elected,” said Noll, chair of SSGA’s food grade soya action team. “I hope to further what SSGA has been doing, and I look forward to working with our group of board members and everyone involved in the Alliance.

Kunisch is chair of SSGA’s specialty grains action team.

“I really appreciate everybody’s vote and confidence to do the job,” Kunisch said. “I hope I can help further advance the goals of SSGA.”

Noll and Kunisch replaced outgoing board directors Adam Buckentine and Andy Bensend, who did not seek reelection to their seats. Each was honored by SSGA with a retiring director’s award.

SSGA’s other board directors are Rob Prather of WeFARM Organics; Keith Schrader representing Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and Bryan Stobaugh of Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council.

SSGA Board of Directors. From left: Chuck Kunisch, Executive Director Eric Wenberg, Keith Schrader, Jake Noll, Bob Sinner, Darwin Rader, Colby Eymann, Bryan Stobaugh and Rob Prather
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SSGA also awarded its Alliance Honors to the American Soybean Association’s WISHH program; Fawad Shah of Minnesota Crop Improvement Association; Duluth Cargo Connect and the late Robert (Bob) Karls, former executive director of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.