Get to know SSGA’s identity-preserved technical advisers

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By Kaelyn Platz

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) takes pride in developing ways to reach foreign markets through funding from the ATP grant. The grant has enabled SSGA to hire identity-preserved (IP) technical advisers to address issues in their designated regions to help enable increased exports by communicating about the benefits of IP crops and their traceability, reporting on trends, competitors and transportation and build upon SSGA’s value of providing resources that communicate the quality, diversity and availability of specialty soy and grains. The three advisers will represent Southeast Asia, North Asia and Europe.

The Southeast Asia adviser is Hoa Huynh. Huynh has an extensive background working for the U.S. government in a variety of capacities. He has served as acting assistant deputy administrator, area director for North Asia and Agriculture Trade Office (ATO) coordinator of the Office of Foreign Service Operations, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Huynh also completed an assignment as director of the ATO at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China.

Huynh was the regional agricultural counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. In addition to Bulgaria, he also covered Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo. He has served as director of the ATO at the American Institute in Taiwan and U.S. agricultural attaché to the United Kingdom.

Hunyh joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) FAS in 1990 as an agricultural economist and served in various capacities at FAS’ Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in between his overseas assignments. In 1999, Hunyh successfully negotiated the market access for agricultural and food products chapter of the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The BTA established a solid foundation for the current flourishing exports of U.S. agri-food products to Vietnam.

“After almost 30 years of serving U.S. agriculture, I’m very excited and grateful to again have the privilege to assist our farming community in developing, maintaining and expanding overseas markets, especially in Southeast Asia, for U.S. IP soybeans and specialty grains,” Huynh says.  “I look forward to working with specialty grains farmers to increase exports of their crops abroad.”

Huynh is a graduate of Oregon State University, where he received an MBA, an MA in multidisciplinary studies (MAIS) degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. Hunyh is fluent in Vietnamese, Chinese Mandarin, Bulgarian and French.

The adviser for North Asia is Alyson Segawa. Segawa began her career by managing a multimillion-dollar portfolio of international market development projects for a leading international affairs management consulting firm. Through this experience, she gained access in 15 international markets, including North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

With her knowledge in international markets, Segawa decided to found her own business, Eliasan Consulting, in 2018. Her extensive experience has enabled her to be able to pinpoint market development strategies and tactics to be able to support SSGA’s goals.

“I am looking forward most to being an advocate for IP soya and specialty grains within the Northeast Asia region,” she says. “It sounds like there is a lot of real opportunity there to grow the different export markets for the industry.”

Segawa received her bachelor’s degree in international studies and Spanish from Seattle University and earned her master’s degree in international business and policy from Georgetown University.

She has been a guest speaker for numerous organizations such as U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council, Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, and Washington State Wine Commission. She also serves as a member of the U.S. National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council.

Eugene Philhower is the IP technical adviser for Europe. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of California, Davis, Philhower started his career for the U.S. government.

In total, he spent 33 years in numerous different positions for the government. He spent five years with the Agency for International Development and later joined USDA’s FAS serving as an overseas post in Brussels, Belgium; Geneva, Switzerland; Lima, Peru; London, UK and various positions in Washington, D.C., including three years as chief of staff and most recently as director of the Fragile Markets Office.

Since leaving his government job, he worked as an adjunct professor at Delaware Valley University, teaching a course on global agriculture and trade.

Philhower learned that he loved teaching, but realized that he had found a passion in learning himself.

“It is always a good thing to be learning something new,”Philhower says. “I view my role as a matchmaker. I know that U.S. producers can produce the crop, so I must figure out the demand and how to put the two of them together within the conditions of the markets and the countries.”

In addition to his expertise, Philhower speaks French, Spanish and a bit of German and Nepali.

SSGA elects HC International’s Petrich as chair at annual meeting

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The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) tabbed Curt Petrich to continue as chair of the premier business association representing identity-preserved (IP) soya and specialty grains.

Petrich, of HC International, Inc. in Fargo, N.D., was re-elected as chair at the inaugural SSGA annual meeting Dec. 3 in Bloomington, Minn. Bob Sinner of SB&B Foods, was voted vice chair, while Keith Schrader of Wheeling Grain Partnership will act as treasurer/secretary.

Petrich said he was surprised but humbled to be re-elected chair.

“I think there is a lot of really good talent in this organization,” he said. I thought maybe it would be time for some new talent to come in, but I am certainly willing to serve this organization.”

Petrich says with the board of directors in place, the organization can focus on improving how it serves the industry.

“I think having working groups meeting more often will be good for the organization,” he said. “We intend to stay laser focused on issues so we can deliver meaningful results for this industry.”

SSGA members also voted on board members at its meeting, expanding upon the board set after the merger of Midwest Shippers Association and the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association. Board members for SSGA serve staggered terms of either 1-, 2- or 3-year terms.

SSGA’s board of directors is:

  • Petrich, HC International, Inc., 1-year
  • Schrader, Wheeling Grain Partnership, 1-year
  • Sinner, SB&B Foods, 2-year
  • Rick Brandenburger, Richland IFC, 2-year
  • Rob Prather, Global Processing, Inc., 2-year
  • Andy Bensend, AB Farms, 3-year
  • Adam Buckentine, The Redwood Group, 3-year
  • Darwin Rader, Zeeland Farm Services, Inc., 3-year

“We have such a talented and experienced group of producers, processors and shippers on this board,” said Eric Wenberg, SSGA executive director. “We’re really excited to continue to grow SSGA and IP, food-variety field crops worldwide.”

First of many firsts

While SSGA has existed for nearly a year, Tuesday’s annual meeting was its first chance to bring members together to help mold the direction of the organization moving forward.

Tuesday’s meetings saw breakout sessions on food-grade soya, specialty grains and competitive shipping.

Sinner, who attended the food-grade soya and competitive shipping breakout sessions, said he was pleased with the amount of discussion that occurred, but lamented there wasn’t more time for discussion.

“I was really impressed with the IP and food-grade soya session, and I hope we expand upon it next year,” he said. “We talked about market access, about opportunities and challenges, and we discussed the U.S. Global Trade Exchange. I really enjoyed the thoughtful dialogue and interaction from all participants.”

Wenberg was pleased with the day’s events. He said SSGA’s annual meeting is an important venue for the industry.

“This is a fantastic networking opportunity for people across the country to check signals with each other,” he said. “At times, it can seem like every company in this industry is its own ecosystem — they have to source product, they deal with logistics, they do marketing, they adhere to strict identity-preserved practices. Here they get to talk to the people that have the same challenges and opportunities and learn from one another.”

SSGA members also heard presentations from Trevor Fouts, Strategic Sales Manager for AGI, which was the major sponsor of the meeting. Fouts discussed traceability and how AGI’s SureTrack plays a role in the IP, food-variety field crops industry.

United Soybean Board director Nancy Kavazanjian of Beaver Dam, Wisc., discussed her experiences and challenges as an IP producer, and U.S. Soybean Export Council’s Paul Burke, Senior Director – U.S. Soy Marketing, delivered an update from the organization.

SSGA talks transportation, research on Michigan tour

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With more than 300 commodities grown, Michigan boasts diverse agriculture, so it’s understandable why staff from the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) wanted to introduce the organization to the agricultural industry in the state.

SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg met with the agribusiness industry in Michigan Oct. 23-25 to learn more about Michigan’s identity-preserved (IP) industry and to see how SSGA can work for its member across the nation.

SSGA kicked off its trip at Zeeland Farm Services, Inc. (ZFS), in Zeeland, Mich., where ZFS officials shared transportation hurdles they’re facing. Among their concerns was the perception that heavy trucks damage the roads more than lighter trucks.

In Michigan, the allowable truck weight limit is 164,000 pounds on an 11-axel truck, which averages 14,900 pounds per axle. The federal limit of an 80,000-pound truck with 5 axels equals 16,000 pounds per axle. Despite the heavier federal allowance, neighboring states are adapting to Michigan’s rule to alleviate stress on roadways and increase efficiency by using fewer trucks, drivers and fuel. ZFS also shared other transportation concerns such as not being able to transport a fully loaded, 40-foot container to Chicago because of weight limits when driving between states.

“Visiting member companies like ZFS helps bring more awareness to issues they’re facing when growing, brokering and transporting identity-preserved crops across America,” says SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg. “By listening to our members, SSGA can bring these issues to the forefront and help create a better environment for the entire IP industry.”

Another stop for SSGA staff was to the Michigan State University agronomy farm to learn about soybean breeder Dr. Dechun Wang’s research. Wang considers the 11,000 non-GMO soybean breeding lines he planted in 2019 like his children and relayed the importance of support for public research breeding programs.

“Both public and private breeding programs are vital to the success of crops like soybeans,” Wang says.  “Public programs like the one at MSU ensures that growers have unbiased research solutions to an ever-changing agricultural climate.”

SSGA also met with new Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee director Janna Frisk, and with Michigan Agricultural Commissioner Gary McDowell, to discuss the issues Michigan faces with identity preserved crops, practices, and shipping.

Soybeans are the Michigan’s top food export and 12 percent of all soybeans grown are IP. Michigan also leads the nation in production of the dry edible bean classes of black, cranberry, navy and small, red beans.

SSGA talks export logistics at JOC Inland Distribution Conference

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The outlook for U.S. exports and export shipper logistics challenges were the central focus of a key panel of experts at the Inland Distribution Conference held Oct. 21-23 in Chicago. The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) was represented on the exporter panel.

There was record turnout for this year’s annual event, which focused on inland intermodal container shipping hosted by the Journal of Commerce (JOC)/IHS Markit. JOC is the leading international intermodal shipping news media source covering global trade, ocean shipping, rail and trucking drayage transportation for importers and exporters.

SSGA Strategic Advisor for Trade and Transportation Bruce Abbe participated in a panel discussion on export obstacles and opportunities looking at how U.S. trade disputes, tariffs and reciprocal tariffs on goods to and from China and other trading partners are challenging U.S. exporters as well as importers. Scott Sigman, transportation and export lead for the Illinois Soybean Association; Sean Mulford, trader and broker for Agniel Commodities; and Don Lake, senior vice president, Enterprise Development for Dunavant Logistics Group, a division of major cotton exporter Dunavant, were the other panelists.

Container export outlook

The North American economic and freight outlook is slowing, in line with a slow down in the world economy, putting a damper on the outlook for increased trade and related transportation, Paul Bingham, IHS economist, told conference attendees, citing several economic indicators.

However, if a new trade deal between the U.S. and China is finally inked, that could lead to a sharp increase in exports, shipping and logistics demand that could strain the transportation infrastructure, exporter panelists said.

The pending Phase One partial trade agreement between the U.S. and China has not yet been announced in detail. If an agricultural trade deal is confirmed, that could well spur exports of several commodities. However, the main commodity to most benefit will likely be whole soybeans that are shipped in bulk vessels to China, as opposed to containers.

One potential game changer for container shipping, Abbe noted, would be if a deal is made that gets rid of China’s current high tariffs on U.S. dried distillers grains (DDGS). In 2015, DDGS accounted for nearly one half of all containerized grain exports from the U.S., and made for a natural backhaul for containers to China for use by consumer goods manufacturers. China’s 80 percent tariff in 2015 dried up DDGS exports to China. U.S. exporters have largely been successful in diversifying to other markets – albeit with a decline in prices. Reopening China’s potential big demand for DDGS, which the U.S. Grains Council is pushing for, could add a big demand resurgence for the feed commodity.

Sigman and Abbe noted the U.S. soybean exporters have been making steady progress in diversifying to other markets as well, notably to Southeast Asia’s growing population countries, but the China market is too large to replace in short order. Meanwhile, China has ramped up its ag commodity purchases from South America.

The panelist all agreed that the impact from African swine fever is having a dampening demand on soy and grain export demand in China, and a further threat if it spreads wider across Asia.

Mulford was blunt that the U.S. needs to get serious about improving our own export infrastructure, citing the deteriorating status of our locks, dams and barge shipping infrastructure in particular. He noted it’s a stark contrast to the rapid export infrastructure development under way now in the Black Sea region.

Lake had a different take from earlier presenter’s forecasts of flat global trade next year keeping a lid on shipping demand. If the scope of the trade deal that’s talked about comes through and spurs quick new demand from China, he said we could see some major logistics challenges occur that the shipping industry is not ready for.

Shipping Logistics

Panel moderator Mark Szarkonyi, executive editor of JOC, asked Abbe about the need for additional intermodal shipping locations in the inland – a consistent message that SSGA has brought to these circles.

Abbe noted there are serious intermodal development initiatives underway in Wisconsin and North Dakota at this time, along with rumored developments in the works in other locations that could improve capacity for exporters. He encouraged ocean carriers and railroads to take a serious look at these developments, with an eye to helping them work for all parties.

Worsening congestion around the main inland container yards, increased trucking costs, and periodic shortages of trucking options are driving forces behind the new inland intermodal development initiatives, he noted.

Abbe also encouraged carriers and railroads to be more open and work with shippers and forwarders on container repositioning programs to make equipment more available where it is needed by exporters.

Detention and demurrage penalties at ports and terminals is another hot issue that came up. Mulford said it consumes a huge amount of time to sort these penalties out. A current Federal Maritime Commission initiative pushing for clarity and consistency in these procedures to minimize unfair penalties is welcomed by shippers.

SSGA directors discuss ATP grant, market access with trade and regulatory agencies

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By Eric Wenberg

Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) Chairman Curt Petrich and Vice Chairman Bob Sinner visited Washington, D.C., last week to represent specialty soya and grains issues to federal agencies and supporters of plant-based proteins and grains.

The main purpose of the trip was to thank USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Administrator Ken Isley for including SSGA in the Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) grant program. SSGA is activating its $1.5 million project with support from the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) to complete a portal to connect soya and specialty grain exporters with clients through digital networking. SSGA is pushing for recognition abroad of America’s achievements in farm-to-table connections with customers supported by world premium identity preservation standards.

Along with myself, the group also discussed market access abroad for food grade issues and at-home certification and transportation issues with USDA and other federal agencies, ultimately looking for solutions to reduce cost for identify-preserved (IP) producers and containerized shipping.

“If we can start to peel the onion of regulatory and logistical limits to containerized shipping from rural America, we can help the bottom line for U.S. exporters accessing export markets direct from America’s growers,” Petrich said.

Petrich is concerned that the costs of logistical hurdles today can eat away at the premiums for IP.

SSGA has a goal from its members to make it easier to trade.

The trip to DC got the ball rolling. With questions and to report your interests in pressing for lower cost, effective certification and transport, feel free to contact me directly at ewenberg@soyagrainsalliance.org.