Container shipping, traceability get focus on Day 2 of GTE

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By Shane Frederick, SSGA Communications Manager

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance led the discussion on two topics vitally important to its members on Wednesday, Day 2 of the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE).

SSGA, which is co-hosting the Virtual GTE with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), held two breakout sessions: “Container Shipping Landscape – The New Reality” and “Traceability – Trusting the Quality of Food You Demand.”

Shipping

The container shipping breakout, sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association, was moderated by Bob Sinner, President of SB&B Foods, SSGA Vice-Chair and Chair of SSGA’s Competitive Shipping action team. Panelists included Roger Mortenson, Vice President of Grain Millers Specialty Products; Uffe Ostegaard, President, North America, of Hapag-Lloyd; Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles; and Peter Friedmann, Executive Director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition.

The discussion centered around concerns about container availability and quality of containers for inland U.S. exporters; reliability of on-time service by ocean carriers; as well as logistics in the areas of truck, rail and ocean shipping, especially as consumer demands have changed and the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the marketplace and global supply chains.

The panel agreed that communication among buyers, suppliers, shippers and transportation providers as important as ever.

“Communication is the most vital aspect of our business,” Mortenson said. “Understanding all the pieces is critical. We need to take a team approach. As U.S. soybean suppliers, we have great relationships with our logistical partners. We’re talking, listening and working to support the common goal.”

Seroka advocated for more digital technology such as a data-driven, nationwide port communication system, one that lines up with trucking and rail schedules and can help get containers where they need to be in the rural U.S.

“It’s all about dialogue and collaboration,” he said. “It’s still a relationship-based business.”

Ostegaard said overall on-time reliability has been improving gradually, although canceled sailings could go up again in the fourth quarter. Ostegaard and Friedmann predicted ocean freight rates for exports to remain stable for the foreseeable future.

Traceability

Curt Petrich, SSGA Chairman, moderated the Traceability panel at the U.S. Soy GTE & Specialty Grains Conference.

The traceability breakout was moderated by Curt Petrich, founder of HC International and SSGA Chair. Panelists included Rob Prather, Chief Strategic Ambassador of Global Processing; Chris Crawford, Senior Market Manager for The Scoular Company; Jeff Fjelstul, Director of Sales for AGI Suretrack; and Will McNair, Director of Human Utilization for USSEC.

The panelists explained how the container and identity-preserved (IP) traceability system works and advocated for its benefits throughout the value chain.

Prather said he’s trying change perceptions of IP and traceability, showing farmers, processors, distributors and food producers alike that changes to their routines and extra work and costs are worth it in the end as consistency, efficiency and quality increase customer confidence, brand loyalty and profits.

“The positives greatly outweigh the negatives,” he said. “And it’s not as much trouble as you think.”

Crawford demonstrated an analysis of two varieties of tofu beans with similar characteristics. The bean in the traceable, segregated IP system had a significantly higher yield over time.

Technology is pushing the IP system forward with tools such as the AGI Suretrack system other new digital solutions.

“The market is demanding greater transparency,” Crawford said.

Also, McNair talked about a new U.S. Soyfoods Database currently in the works that will give an overview of varieties and quality. A workgroup of more than 15 stakeholders, including SSGA staff and leadership, has met six times already this year. McNair said the hope is to have some data available this winter and the Database up and running by the 2021 GTE.

What’s ahead?

Thursday is the final day of the GTE, and sessions include SSGA’s breakout session on the Food Soya Exporter Outlook. That session, which begins at 9 a.m. CDT (and again at 7:30 p.m. CDT) features SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg, The Redwood Group’s Adam Buckentine, Star of the West’s Steve Herr, Brushvale Seed’s Travis Meyer and Montague Farms’ Tom Taliaferro.

Other sessions Thursday include:

  • 2021 Tokyo Paralympic-hopeful Kevan Hueftle’s inspirational story of overcoming adversity. Hueftle is a farmer and rancher from Nebraska, who has competed as a sprinter in the Para-Pan-Am Games and Para-Athletics World Championships.
  • USSEC’s breakout session on U.S. Soy oil.
  • Trade policy talk with U.S. Trade Representative, Chief Agricultural Negotiator Gregg Doud.
  • Market outlook and strategies to position with ConsiliAgra’s Emily French.
  • Closing remarks from Wenberg and USSEC CEO Jim Sutter.

Sessions are repeated each day starting at 7 p.m. CDT to accommodate busy schedules and multiple time zones.

Go to the GTE website to learn more and to see the full agenda. Use the hashtag #USSOYexchange on social media to find out more information.

Virtual US Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference gets underway

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By Shane Frederick, SSGA Communications Manager

Months of planning and coordination came together on Monday and Tuesday as the 2020 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE) kicked off on a virtual platform.

More than 1,000 international buyers and sellers from over 50 countries are expected this week to participate in the GTE, which runs through Thurs., Aug. 27.

“Like you, of course, we wish we were gathering in person – shaking hands, visiting with old friends, making new ones, learning and doing business together – and the hope is we’ll be able to do that again next year,” Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) Executive Director Eric Wenberg said in his comments to close Tuesday’s general session. “But this week, we’ve been able to do the next best thing thanks to all of the hard work of so many people … who put in so much time, care and effort to pull this off in spite of the many challenges.”

The GTE started with style on Monday evening and Tuesday morning (U.S. times) with live performances by the band uRequest Live, which rocked song suggestions from attendees located throughout the world.

The event then began in earnest on Tuesday with a welcome from U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) CEO Jim Sutter and remarks from Ted McKinney, USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs.

McKinney, speaking from a farm in Indiana, talked about the U.S. Soy “advantage”: exceptional composition, consistent supply, sustainability and innovation “beyond the bushel.”

That was followed by a live Q&A with Ken Isley administrator of the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and two general sessions: “Liquidity Surge! Its Impact on Supply & Demand and Global Markets,” featuring speakers from CoBank Knowledge Exchange, and the “Pro Farmer Crop Tour Report,” which shared insights from Pro Farmer’s just-completed 2020 tour.

Wenberg gave the day’s closing remarks before officially opening up the daily trade show, which features virtual booths from 34 exhibitors, including SSGA and 18 SSGA member companies and organizations.

Virtual GTE organizers have tried to give attendees the closest experience possible to an in-person show with opportunities to visit in a virtual lounge and chat both publicly and privately.

Besides the sessions and the trade show, there is a virtual kitchen where renowned chef David Bonom prepared four “soy-inspired” dishes specifically for the GTE. Bonom is also doing live, hour-long chats to “talk all things soy” with attendees. Bonom chatted on Monday evening and Tuesday morning and is scheduled to chat again at 6 p.m. CDT Wednesday and 7:30 a.m. CDT Thursday.

There also are also virtual field tours, giving attendees a chance to see farms, logistics and examples of sustainability from all over the United States.

On Wednesday morning, there will be two SSGA breakout sessions, including “Container Shipping Landscape: The New Reality” and “Traceability – Trusting the Quality of Food You Demand.”

In addition, Wednesday’s program features RFD-TV’s “State of the Industry” premier and USSEC breakouts on U.S. Soy sustainability and the use of U.S. Soy protein to increase profits.

And on Thursday morning, Paralympic hopeful and farmer/rancher Kevan Hueftle will tell his inspirational story to start the day. After that, an SSGA breakout, “Food Soya Exporter Outlook” will take place, along with a USSEC breakout on soybean oil from the U.S.

Those will be followed by a general session featuring U.S. Trade Representative Gregg Doud, the chief agricultural negotiator, as well as a market outlook and strategies discussion.

All morning sessions repeat in the evenings for convenience of attendees worldwide. The trade show is open for two hours following each session.

Go here more information on the GTE and to see the full agenda, and use the hashtag #USSOYexchange on social media to find more information.

Related stories

GTE sponsorship remains important for industry leaders

GTE beat goes on, thanks, in part to QSSB sponsors

SSGA to launch European marketing efforts Sept. 15

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The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) is launching its marketing efforts in Europe on Sept. 15 with the U.S. Identity-Preserved Soya and Specialty Grains Virtual Seminar. This webinar will promote the U.S. container and identity-preserved (IP) traceability system and its benefits to European companies and consumers.

The co-organizer of the event, the Dutch company Bridge2Food, is promoting the event on its website and through social media channels to attract a robust audience of European buyers. SSGA is also working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture offices in Europe to promote the event. Target participants include companies along the soy value chain, from traders and importers, to food processors and ingredient companies, to food producers and retailers. Registration is free so we hope and expect significant participation by European companies interested in high-quality, U.S. IP products.

The seminar will feature three SSGA presentations and a virtual trade show. Two of these presentations will introduce the U.S. IP system and focus on its advantages, including traceability of container-shipped field crops. We will also have a panel discussion with U.S. producers of IP soya and specialty grains.

Concurrent to the presentations and during networking breaks, participants will be able to meet with exhibitors in the virtual trade show. SSGA members can exhibit for free. This will be a great opportunity for SSGA members to introduce themselves to the European market and to make new contacts in this important market.

If your company would like to join us, email Katelyn Engquist to register.

GTE sponsorship remains important for industry leaders

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By Shane Frederick, SSGA Communications Manager

For many years, SB&B Foods Inc. had been the lanyard sponsor for the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference.

With the 2020 GTE moving to a virtual, online platform because of travel and gathering restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, there was no need for lanyards and name badges.

However, that didn’t mean SB&B and other industry leaders weren’t still interested in throwing their support behind the event.

“Obviously this year we won’t be wearing lanyards,” said Todd Sinner, SB&B vice president and partner. “But it was still an easy decision because we see incredible value in it. I feel there’s no better global event than what you get at the GTE. We get the greatest return on our investment both as a sponsor and as an attendee.”

SB&B signed on early as an industry sponsor for the 2020 Virtual GTE, which will take place Aug. 24-27.

The DeLong Co. Inc., and The Redwood Group are the other industry-level sponsors of the global event, which is organized jointly by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA). The GTE gives U.S. exporters and international buyers a platform to build relationships, renew old ones and do business together.

The sponsors agreed that it was vital that the GTE continue on, even if it had to take place online.

“I think this year, probably more than any other year, the GTE is crucial,” said Adam Buckentine, director of Food Soy and Organics for The Redwood Group, a food and feed ingredient merchandising and solutions-based company headquartered in Mission, Kan. “Because of the situation with COVID, you don’t get the opportunity to travel and see your customers.

“To have visibility by being at the virtual GTE, we’re saying, ‘We’re still here, we’re still working and we still want to supply you with quality soybeans.’ … Name me another place in the world where we get to talk to customers from so many countries who are aligned in their interest in the soybean industry. It’s a tremendous opportunity to cover a lot of ground.”

Austin DeLong, who is in export sales for The DeLong Co., the agricultural products wholesaler based in Clinton, Wis., agreed.

“We find it very important to stay connected and engaged with our customers during this uncertain time of COVID,” he said. “The GTE and its trade show continue to provide a valuable agenda to update our international customers on the U.S. soy industry. Although we find ourselves attending a virtual event this year, we still believe constructive dialogue and new business development can take place under this platform.”

Sinner, who is chair of SSGA’s Food Grade Soya action team, says the GTE is vital to SB&B, the Casselton, N.D.-headquartered soy food and specialty company, as well as to others in the IP industry.

“For us, as IP soybean exporters for over 30 years, IP is something we’re passionate about and care about,” Sinner said. “Sponsoring the GTE is a result of that passion and care. We are able to promote (IP) to people around the world.”

Sinner said the work being done to coordinate a virtual event after the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the ability to have a live event is a continuation of SSGA’s agility and effectiveness since its formation about 18 months ago. That includes the efforts to try to open new markets for the IP soya and specialty grains industry and to create a national brand promoting the U.S. as a quality origin for IP crops.

“The leadership at SSGA, collaborating with USEEC, makes this a very powerful event,” Sinner said. “You’re able to see first-hand what the results will be because we’ve got a united vision now from one of the greatest soy producing countries in the world with a lot to offer. … It’s really been taken to the next level.”

GTE beat goes on, thanks, in part, to QSSB sponsors

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By Shane Frederick, SSGA Communications Manager

There are many ways to tell a story, and the story of 2020 has been told on our screens. That will be the case at the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE), which will take place in a virtual environment Aug. 24-27.

“The Global Trade Exchange gives Illinois soybean growers the chance to tell our story about the high-quality and sustainability grown soybeans we grow each and every year,” said Doug Schroeder, Illinois Soybean Association chairman. “The GTE also allows Illinois growers to share the story of how we get our beans directly to export customers. using transportation corridors like the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.”

Illinois is one of six U.S. qualified state soybean boards (QSSBs) that are committed to the GTE as show-level sponsors during this year’s show. Each will be presenting a session presentation during the show.

The other QSSB sponsors are: Iowa Soybean Association, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, Ohio Soybean Council and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

“I think the GTE is important because, like any business, it’s important for us farmers and the agriculture industry to maintain relationships,” said Patrick O’Leary, a Minnesota farmer and council director. “These conferences are a good way for us to not only build but maintain relationships. Even the idea of going virtual gives us the opportunity to still spend some time talking to our customers and have them understand what’s happening at our farms.”

Ohio farmer and council board member Bill Bayliss agreed.

“The conference is a great opportunity to create new relationships with international customers and thank current customers for their business,” Bayliss said. “Soybeans are the No. 1 export among Ohio agricultural products, and about half of the soybeans grown in Ohio are exported – which is why expanding international markets is important to Ohio soybean farmers.”

More than 1,000 U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) trade team members from more than 60 countries have been invited to participate in the GTE, which is co-hosted by USSEC and the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA).

“The opportunity to have leaders from all over the world representing so many different aspects of our industry together in one place, communicating face-to-face, was incredibly valuable to the continued growth of North Dakota soy worldwide,” said Adam Redmann, North Dakota council board member and a past attendee of the GTE.

The states did not shy away from continuing to sponsor and support a differently formatted event, as organizers are expecting a record number of attendees due to the virtual nature of the event.

“I’ve always felt that this is a very important conference,” Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board President Robert Karls said. “International buyers are No. 1 on our list as a target market. They make or break the soybean market. The conference is a means to an end providing an outlet to buyers who are so vital to the industry we’re trying to make better every day.”

This year, at least, the meet-ups that once took place between session, at the trade show or over morning coffee or evening drinks will take place online through a unique platform designed to give attendees as close to a real, live experience as possible so the work that has taken place in previous conferences can continue to be done.

“Exports are critical to the economic well-being of U.S. soybean farmers,” said Grant Kimberley, senior director of market development for the Iowa Soybean Association. “More than ever, we need positive news on the export front as sales this marketing year continue to lag. Events like the GTE can be a catalyst for renewing purchases of quality and sustainably grown U.S. soybeans and boosting prices.

“By working together and being together virtually this year for this year’s exchange, we can emphasize the quality of U.S.-grown soybeans and our reliability as a trading partner to an even larger number of buyers and prospective buyers.”

As part of its GTE sponsorship, states will sponsor a conference session and select a farmer-leader to introduce the presentation.

Int’l container shipping issues, future on agenda at 2020 GTE

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By Bruce Abbe, strategic adviser for trade & transportation

The 2020 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE) is less than one month away. The big international buyer and supplier event is a virtual conference and trade show this year for the first time and is expected to attract its largest international audience ever.

International transportation and container shipping developments will be one of the spotlight event at the GTE once again. A high-powered panel featuring four of the most respected U.S.-based leaders in intermodal container shipping will be on the agenda to provide an update and interactive presentation on global container shipping now and looking forward.

“Global Container Shipping – Shaping the Future” is the theme for this key session, which is sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association.

U.S. agricultural exporters and their international customers have experienced a strong sense of urgency in 2020 as it relates to timely and reliable shipments. Unpredictable trade interruptions have created concerns and U.S. exporters are working hard with their transportation partners to create a more dependable and consistent environment for moving their shipments.

Looking ahead
While the first half of 2020 was marked by unprecedented disruptions for international shipping due to the economic effects from COVID-19, the second half of the year is now looking considerably improved with most businesses now operating again. In the longer-term, global shipping’s future will be shaped by what all strategic supply chain partners can do together to be more proactive with solutions than reactive to shipping problems.

Change is in the air
With the right cooperation among all supply chain partners, change can be good and yield the reliability of service shippers and international customers need.

This GTE panel session at the will feature five transportation segment leaders with unquestionable experience in the international container shipping industry. The panelists will discuss not only the current outlook for shipping service and costs but also where they see the need and opportunity to expand and improve service from the inland U.S. to worldwide destinations. We anticipate a lively interactive discussion for those taking part in this session.

Confirmed speakers include:

Peter Friedmann, Executive Director, Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC). AgTC represents all agricultural export sectors, and Friedmann is one of the most-recognized and influential advocates for improving container shipping in Washington, D.C.

Uffe Ostergaard, President, Hapag-Lloyd North America. Hapag-Lloyd is the fifth-largest container shipping line in the world. Hapag is also well respected for its efforts to provide expanded container service to more rural U.S. locations.

Gene Seroka, Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles (POLA). The Port of Los Angeles is the largest container port in the U.S. in terms of volume and value. POLA handles around 20% of all cargo coming into the U.S. Seroka is one of the most-recognized and respected leaders of U.S. ports.

Roger Mortenson, Vice President, Grains Millers Specialty Products. Mortenson heads Grain Millers’ food grade soybean division, which supplies specialty soybeans to food manufacturers in many countries. Grain Millers is also the largest oat milling company in the U.S., and has specialty grains and food ingredient operations in nine North American locations.

The panel will be moderated by Bob Sinner, President, SB&B Foods and chair of the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance Competitive Shipping action team.

Visit here for more information or to register, if you haven’t already.

2020 Virtual GTE set for Aug. 24-27

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Registration now open for USSEC, SSGA conference

Everyone is looking forward to gathering together again as soon as possible, but until then, work must continue even in these uncertain times. That’s why the 2020 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE) is going virtual.

The 2020 Virtual GTE will take place Aug. 24-27, and registration is now open.

The conference and trade show, a jointly held U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) event, is an opportunity for international buyers and U.S. exporters to build relationships. While this has been done in person for years, the eighth annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange and 17th annual Specialty Grains Conference will be an online experience designed to allow those connections to continue to take place.

“Although we would love to be meeting and connecting in person with our soy family of associations, industry partners and customers, SSGA, in partnership with USSEC, is excited about the opportunity to put on the 2020 Virtual GTE this summer,” said Curt Petrich, SSGA board chair. “It is our hope that this unique, virtual format will allow all participants to discover new opportunities, efficiencies and benefits.”

More than 500 soy and grain industry leaders, buyers and suppliers are expected to attend and participate in the 2020 Virtual GTE. That includes 200 international buyers representing more than 50 countries.

“The U.S. Soy GTE is our global family meeting on the value and benefits of U.S. Soy,” SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg said. “SSGA is extremely proud to be a co-sponsor this year and welcomes all foreign customers to join and hear about the U.S. crop and, for SSGA especially, about traceability. The U.S. delivers food and premium soya with assurances of origin and quality through excellent identity-preserved programs.”

Besides USSEC and SSGA, the 2020 Virtual GTE currently has sponsorships from the United Soybean Board, American Soybean Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, Illinois Soybean Association, Ohio Soybean Association and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.

GTE organizers plan to return to an in-person conference and trade show again in 2021 but are excited about the prospects of this summer’s unique event.

Once you register, be sure to keep your eye open for more announcements, including exhibitors, presentations and other details, between now and Aug. 24.

For more information, go to the 2020 Virtual GTE website at: gte2020.org.

Northern Commodity Transportation Conference to cover all the ag transportation bases

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If you build it, they will come.

In a matter of months, the inaugural Northern Commodity Transportation Conference (NCTC) has transformed from a brainstorm to a fully-curated meeting with dozens of panelists, ensuring coverage of every link in the ag transportation chain.

After all, every player in commodity transportation can empathize with the complex system of moving commodities from the Tri-State region to the West Coast for export. To untangle today’s myriad of transportation roadblocks, Ag Management Solutions, in conjunction with commodity groups from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, is set to unveil the NCTC March 11-12 in Bloomington, Minn.

“We are extremely encouraged by the response the NCTC has received,” says AMS CEO Tom Slunecka, who reported more than 100 farmers, industry leaders and legislative assistants will be in attendance. “The enthusiasm surrounding this event proves that there’s a demand to discuss these important, relevant topics in commodity transportation.”

This unique, first-of-its-kind conference will unite the entire commodity transportation industry to share and learn about trade barriers, struggles, similarities and opportunities along the transportation route as commodities leave combines in Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota and head for international waters.

“At the end of the day, we are all in this together,” Slunecka says. “If the system cannot turn a profit, neither can our farmers. Without profitable farmers, there will be no grain to feed the system.”

Transportation and non-tariff barrier topics such as grain quality criteria, phytosanitary issues, rail reliability and regulations and trucking efficiencies will be discussed. The majority of the topics will begin with a panel format, allowing for free-flowing, robust dialogue among all attendees.

“As privately funded transportation systems, railroads have unique challenges as we seek to continually improve service to our agricultural customers and ship their goods to markets,” says Steve Milligan, BNSF Railway’s ombudsman for agricultural products. “The NCTC is a great way to share information across the industry, and we look forward to being a part of it.”

Dozens of state officials and experts from the agriculture industry are slated to appear as featured speakers, including longtime economic and marketing consultant John Baize; American Soybean Association President Bill Gordon; Minnesota and North Dakota’s respective agriculture commissioners Thom Petersen and Doug Goehring; and National Grain and Feed Association President Randy Gordon. Staffers from Sen. Mike Rounds (S.D.), Sen. John Thune (S.D.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Tina Smith (Minn.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig, respectively, will be in attendance. Local and regional media are also expected to cover the event.

“Our hope is to create a better understanding of the many issues and barriers we face from the combine until the grains reach international waters,” Slunecka says. “Each of these issues we’ll be discussing help drive profitability for the entire system.”

Team members in the grain, trading, sales, regulatory and management industries will glean substantial value from this conference. Potential NCTC attendees include: grain elevator and terminal loading managers, transcontinental shipping lines, shippers, transloading facilities, rail lines, commodity association leadership, state government, regulatory groups and more.

“With a full slate of speakers and panelists encompassing the breadth of the commodity transportation industry, the NCTC is an exciting new event for anyone who is a link in the ag transportation chain,” says North Dakota farmer Mike Langseth, chair of Northern Soy Marketing. “We’re proud to sponsor NCTC, and we encourage elevator employees and farmers to join us in the conversation and find solutions to the issues facing our industry.”

Registration is $200 per person; walk-ins are also welcome. Visit www.graintransportation.com to learn more and register.

Kavazanjian shares IP challenges, successes at SSGA annual meeting

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Nancy Kavazanjian isn’t a stranger to the world of identity-preserved soybeans. Along with her husband, Chuck, Hammer and Kavazanjian Farms has been growing varieties of non-GMO or IP soybeans for more than 30 years. But when Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance Executive Director Eric Wenberg approached her to speak at the inaugural annual meeting, the longtime United Soybean Board director admitted she was a little hesitant.

Nancy Kavazanjian was interviewed by moderator Doug Monson at the inaugural SSGA annual meeting

“I didn’t want to hear myself talk for 15 to 20 minutes,” she joked.

Thankfully for SSGA members, she was more than happy to be interviewed in front of attendees on her experiences growing IP crops, some of the challenges she feels the industry is facing, and the need for more breeding and genetics for the industry.

Kavazanjian recalled her early days as an IP producer and how many farmers were growing anywhere from 10 to 50 acres of soybeans because the premiums at times kept people afloat.

“Once Roundup Ready came along, most of those farmers didn’t want to deal with having to grow conventional soybeans,” she said. “They all went to Roundup Ready. And of course, once the ethanol industry took off, there was a lot more corn being grown than soybeans.”

Kavazanjian said she sees a parallel in this tough ag economy to the ’80s, where those premiums helped keep farmers going. She says even today the premium is often more than enough to offset the basis in her area.

“We’ve had to change with the way the world has changed around us,” she said. “That’s just part of farming – being able to be innovative enough you recognize these changes and you capitalize on them.”

Kavazanjian, who hails from Beaver Dam, Wisc., said some of the challenges she faces include a lack of a crushing facility in the state, tools to continue to combat weeds and a better selection of varieties.

“As farmers, yield is everything,” she said. “But we need the people in this room, in this industry to work on getting us more varieties that are within a few bushels of commodity crops.”

Lastly, Kavazanjian spoke about sustainability, a topic that is near and dear to her heart. While she admits the word is often a buzzword with different meanings, she says there is no denying companies and customers care deeply about it. Her advice:

“Just embrace it. Use it.”

Ag Shippers Workshop to zero in on latest developments in export container shipping

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By Bruce Abbe, SSGA strategic advisor for trade and transportation

There are two big event days coming up early next month that Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) members and prospective members should take notice of and plan to attend.

The first is SSGA’s 2019 Annual Meeting on Dec. 3. It will feature two highly informative optional tours in the morning, followed by member planning meetings of SSGA’s three action teams, industry expert presentations plus the official member meeting and elections. Register here to attend SSGA’s 2019 Annual Meeting.

But don’t overlook the next day’s Ag Shippers Workshop. This year’s Minneapolis Ag Shippers Workshop, chiefly organized by the national Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) and co-sponsored by SSGA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will indeed be an information-packed, free flowing meeting featuring the latest updates on what is happening in global export container shipping from the inland U.S. It will also feature valuable discussion among shippers about the issues and strategies SSGA and AgTC should focus on.

The Dec. 4 Ag Shippers Workshop, one of seven AgTC is holding around the country, will be held at the same venue as the SSGA annual meeting – the Minneapolis Airport Marriott at 2020 American Blvd. East, in Bloomington, Minn.

Latest developments for the workshop include:

  • The ocean carriers session will feature senior executives for the Ocean Network Express (ONE) – the recently merged, large global service carrier made up of Japan’s three major container lines. ONE remains one of the most important carriers serving the Japan market and is important for many SSGA soybean and grain exporters.
  • Canadian Pacific (CP) Railroad will be sending at least one senior executive to share news about their North American rail system developments, including plans for expanding and improving service from CP’s Minneapolis container rail yard.
  • Informed discussion and information about the full range of other issues for shippers will also be held: the International Maritime Organization (IMO) low sulfur fuel mandate surcharges coming Jan. 1, the China/U.S. tariff war, new EU tariffs and other trade developments; free time penalties at the ports, rail, trucking and chassis issues and more.

If you or your business are involved in intermodal container shipping to reach and serve markets, this is a session you won’t want to miss this workshop. AgTC and SSGA members can register at a discount. Register here.