5/11/13: Controversy over electronic grain trade; Viterra invests in grain handling network; remember remember the 6th of November

Global exchange company, CME Group Inc. was at the centre of a controversial trial on Monday following a decision to consider electronic trades when settling grain prices.
Terrence Duffy, executive chairman of CME defended the digital move, stating the decision was "the right thing to do."

 In June 2012, traders working in the futures pits on the Chicago Board of Trade's 140-year-old agricultural trading floor sued CME to halt settlement rules that factored in electronic transactions, saying the change would kill their business.  
 

The digital change follows a century-old tradition of settling futures prices for crops like corn and soybeans based on transactions executed in the pits.  
Read the full story here.
 
Canada's grain industry leader Viterra recently announced it intention to invest over CAD$34 million into its Alberta elevator network through two upcoming projects.
 

The first project will see the construction of a new high throughput grain terminal near Grimshaw, Alberta, Canada. The concrete facility will be developed with a 104 railcar loading capability and approximately 30,000 tonnes of grain storage.

The second project involves the expansion of Viterra's grain terminal in Grassy Lake, Alberta. Storage capacity will increase by 14,000 tonnes to 36,500 tonnes, along with operational improvements to increase logistical flexibility and efficiency.
Read the comprehensive story on Viterra's website.

Preparations are underway here at the Global Miller HQ, but it's not bonfire night that's got us excited.

Tomorrow will see the return of the UK's best post harvest event; UK Grain. 

Now in it's 7th year, the event covers storage handling, drying and marketing, providing a wealth of opportunity to those looking for reinvestment in their fixed grain handling equipment, crop monitoring and offers marketing advice and storage solutions.

As well as a full technical exhibition from the key players within the business, UK Grain also boasts a seminar programme, which is free to all visitors. 

In addition, there is also an aptly named 'GrainStorm' area where visitors can talk to industry experts about specific issues about the market, grain sampling and pest identification and control.

Organised by leading show specialists, FarmSmart, UK Grain takes place in the Peterborough Arena, UK from 9am - 4pm tomorrow.

Three of the Grain and Feed Milling Technology team - Roger Gilbert, Tuti Tan and Lee Bastin -  will be present at the event, so do drop by and say hello if you get the chance!

For more details, visit the UK Grain website.

 

A field of wheat

 

21/10/13: Estonian grain terminal built by farmers; Sorghum - a day to remember; exporting grain through the Amazon jungle

A new grain facility, the largest joint agriculture effort of its kind, has opened in Estonia. Roodevälja grain terminal, which boasts a 50,000 ton capacity, was built by members of farmer's cooperative, Kevili at a cost of €8 million.

Situated in Sõmeru parish, a rural municipality of Estonia, Roodevälja can receive 500 tonnes of grain per hour and conducts grain tests in 10 seconds. The terminal also includes a lab.

Preparations are now under way for extensions of the terminal that aim to double the capacity.
More information. 

Last Friday - a historical day in the agricultural world - saw the first-ever bulk shipment of US sorghum to China unloaded at the Guangzhou Port Facility, South China.

The 60,000 metric ton shipment reinforces the continuing modernisation of China's feed industry. Staff from the US Grains Council, representatives of buyers and sellers, port officials and US government representatives were present at the leading coastal hub port.
More information. 

In support of an ever-expanding corn and soybean trade, Brazil has opened a new highway that offers exporters a shortcut through the Amazon jungle.

It is estimated that the BR-163 highway, which connects Mato Grosso state's soy belt with two key river ports, will boost grain exports by some 3 million tons next year, relieving congestion at ports in the southeast of the country.

“We've been exporting through the wrong route, to Santos and Paranagua,” said Carlos Favaro, president of Mato Grosso soybean association, Aprosoja in reference to the ports on the southern coast. Ships there had to wait for 60 days to load grains last year and some frustrated buyers cancelled orders."
See supporting material here. 

A false-color satellite photograph of the Amazon River in Brazil. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Brest terminal serves major centre of agriculture and animal breeding

Yara International's Feed Phosphates terminal, located in Brest, France is a major hub of agriculture and animal breeding, with distribution ranging from Bretagne, North West France across the Atlantic.

Yara's warehouse, which boasts a capacity of 5,500 mt and is both GMP+ and ISO 9001 certified, has delivered nearly 200,000 mt of product to customers in and around France since it opened in 2003.

Today, the terminal supplies feed minerals including BOLIFOR® MCP-F, BOLIFOR® MCP-N, BOLIFOR® MGP+ and BOLIFOR® MGP.

These phosphates are supplied exclusively to the French market to support French mineral feed producers who want magnesium phosphate without sulphur. 

BOLIFOR® products are used in both mineral feed for ruminants and are also mixed with molasses to produce lick blocks.

The port of Brest, with a 600-metre quay and 10-metre draught, unloads up to 3,000 mt per day and handles a wide variety of agricultural products.

More information.

BOLIFOR® product information available here.

Entry to the port of Brest (Photo credit: Wikipedia)