The Global Miller: July 2013

July 31, 2013

31/07/2013: Monsoon-sown grain production in India; Australian grain donation; Cellulosic ethanol project

India's grain production may soon hit record figures thanks to monsoon-sown grain. Rice and corn planting figures have increased as a result of one of the best starts to the rainy season since 1994. A high that could potentially ease inflation in Asia’s third-largest economy.

The production of crops from corn to rice and barley may exceed the all-time high of 131.3 million metric tons in the 2011-2012 season and last year’s 128.2 million tons, Tariq Anwar, junior agriculture minister, told reporters in New Delhi.
Read more...

Grain Trade Australia has set up a new grain donation/collection project. It is expected that farmers will donate up to three thousand tonnes of grain, which will be processed into breakfast cereal; pasta; flour and bread.

"When growers deliver grain to the receival site, they are able to donate one or two tonnes or what ever it may be to the Foodbank. The growers then get a tax deductible receipt based on the current market value of the grain," Geoff Honey, chief executive officer of Grain Trade Australia told ABC Rural.

Quad County Corn Processors has revealed a groundbreaking new cellulosic bolt-on ethanol plant to be opened in Galva, Iowa, USA. The Adding Cellulosic Ethanol (ACE) project will turn corn kernel fiber, a cellulosic feedstock, into high-octane, clean-burning ethanol.

The new facility is expected to produce 2 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol from a feedstock already onsite.
Read more...

Long grain rice from the United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Binmaster

BinMaster® designs and manufactures reliable, solid-state point and continuous bin level indicator and control systems and sensoring devices used while storing or processing powder and bulk solids such as cement & aggregates, chemicals, feed & grain, food, plastics, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, pulp & paper and wood products. Click on image to visit company website.

Novus and Verenium launch new phytase enzyme CIBENZA® PHYTAVERSETM

Novus International, Inc. and Verenium Corporation have announced the name of their new phytase enzyme product, CIBENZA® PHYTAVERSETM. This new innovative phytase is specifically designed to unlock more of the hidden nutritional value in phytate for improved animal growth and well-being.

The two companies, which entered into a strategic partnership in 2011, designed CIBENZA® PHYTAVERSETM to have specific performance characteristics that offer significant advantages over current phytase products. These performance characteristics include:

High in vivo activity under gastric conditions for sustained performance
Improved activity at low substrate concentrations to maximize phytate hydrolysis
High gastric stability for activity throughout the upper gastrointestinal tract
High intrinsic thermotolerance and pelleting stability
Improved bioavailability due to the elimination of the need for thermo protective coatings

“We’re excited to bring this new enzyme solution to the market,” said Gary Hayen, global director fermentation products at Novus. “The partnership with Verenium is allowing us to offer our customers the synergy of cutting-edge enzyme technology and nutrition solutions knowledge which makes CIBENZA® PHYTAVERSETM a valuable asset for today’s feed industry.”

Animal trial results have demonstrated the superior performance characteristics that CIBENZA® PHYTAVERSETM provides, based on standard metrics such as weight gain, feed conversion ratios and phosphorus mineralisation versus other available phytase products. These results indicate that inclusion of CIBENZA® PHYTAVERSETM in monogastric diets can provide improved nutrition and economics to the animal feed industry.

“By combining Novus’s animal nutrition expertise and extensive industry knowledge with over 15 years of experience in developing high-performance phytase products at Verenium, together we’ve been able to create a next-generation phytase that exhibits superior performance characteristics over those marketed today,” said David Weiner, vice president of R&D strategy and partnerships at Verenium. “These important characteristics allow the animal to more efficiently utilise the phosphorus and other nutrients necessary for improved animal health and nutrition, and can provide producers an increased return on investment.”

Read more about CIBENZA® enzyme technology here.

English: 2D-structure of phytic acid (IP6; phytate) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

July 30, 2013

30/07/2013: Ukraine's record grain harvest; Blumberg Grain to invest US$250m in agric sector; animal feed company goes organic

According to a note to investors by Kyiv-based investment bank Dragon Capital, Ukrainian farmers have harvested nearly 27 million tons of grain this year, representing a 21 percent year-on-year increase on 9 million hectares of land.

Dragon Capital reported that the volume included 19.6 million tons of wheat, 6.2 million tons of barley and 2.1 million tons of rapeseed.

The Agriculture Ministry forecasts that 57-59 million tons of grain will be harvested this year, up 22-26 percent over last year.
Read more...

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the chairman and CEO, Blumberg Grain, Philip Blumberg to invest $250 million in large scale food storage facilities.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday and signed by the ministry’s acting director (Press), Greyne Anosike, noted that the investment would create up to 1,000 jobs and boost food production in the nation’s agriculture sector.
- See more at: http://leadership.ng/news/300713/blumberg-grain-invest-250m-agric-sector#sthash.amGVB6W9.dpuf

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, minister of agriculture and rural development has signed a letter of intent with Philip Blumberg, chairman and CEO, Blumberg grain, to invest US$250 million in large scale food storage facilities.

In a statement made available to Nigerian newspaper Leadership, Greyne Anosike noted that the investment would create up to 1,000 jobs and boost food production in the nation's agriculture sector.
Read more...

Scratch and Peck Feeds, Bellingham, Washington, US, the first animal feed processor in the United States to become non-GMO verified, has achieved national USDA Organic certification. The certifications provide assurance for backyard chicken farmers and full-scale farmers that there is a local, healthy alternative for poultry feed, all dedicated to Scratch and Peck’s belief “you are what your animals eat.”
Read more...

Food grains in a weekly market (Photo credit: Wikipedia).

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday and signed by the ministry’s acting director (Press), Greyne Anosike, noted that the investment would create up to 1,000 jobs and boost food production in the nation’s agriculture sector - See more at: http://leadership.ng/news/300713/blumberg-grain-invest-250m-agric-sector#sthash.amGVB6W9.dpuf

July 29, 2013

29/07/13: Extreme weather hampers UK grain crops; CHS invests in Australian grain company; Pakistan imports wheat from India and Russia

Extreme weather in the UK is damaging grain crops reports the Guardian.

The summer heatwave have has stopped plants growing and some fields are so dry, fire is a real risk.

But it's the constant changes in weather that is having the greatest impact. Spring 2012 was hot and dry followed by a wet summer in 2012 and now this summer's heatwave. The has made it difficult to get crops established.

More information on the challenges the weather poses to the UK farming industry is explored in this Guardian article.

CHS Inc., the leading farmer-owned business and a global energy, grains and foods company in the USA, has invested in Agfarm, an Australia-based grain origination and marketing company.

CHS and Ruralco Holdings Limited (Ruralco), Sydney, Australia, will each own 50 percent of Agfarm. The Agfarm name and management structure will not change.

"CHS is committed to investing for the long term in the Australian market, so that Agfarm growers benefit from even stronger connections to the growing, global demand for high quality grains and oilseeds," said Rick Browne, CHS Ag Business, senior vice president, Asia-Pacific. "This partnership aligns with CHS strategic growth initiatives that add value to member-owners by competitively linking global producers with buyers and consumers."

Agfarm has 38 employees in eight offices in Australia. Agfarm founder Bob McKay will continue to serve the organisation as chief executive officer.

More information...

The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has supported the government's decision to import of cheap wheat from India and Russia.

The Pakistan government made the decision to imported 0.8 million tons of wheat on the grounds that Pakistan wheat was poor quality.

The move has improved the supply of wheat, lowered flour prices and forced the hoarders to sell their stock.

Location of Pakistan, including all areas controlled by the government of Pakistan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. As an innovation company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve the quality of life. Click on image to visit company website.

Registration open for GEAPS/K-State distance education courses

Now is the time to plan your strategy for success this fall. Registration is now open for three GEAPS/Kansas State University distance education courses that begin September 3, 2013.

GEAPS 500: Introduction to Grain Operations Management, first offered this spring, is an introductory look at the most common equipment, processes, and hazards of grain handling facilities. Completion of this class takes you closer to your Credential in Grain Operations Management.

Learn the basic principles of grain dryer operation in GEAPS 524: Grain Drying. Course lectures provide an overview of dryer capacity and energy efficiency, drying’s effects on end use quality, grain fires and maintenance procedures.

GEAPS 552: Materials Handling III covers key information about properties and flow characteristics of grains and other dry bulk materials and their effects on the selection and sizing of bins, spouting and screw conveyors.
The courses run from September 3 - October 7, 2013.
Registration closes August 27, 2013.

More information about the courses or the GEAPS/K-State Distance Education Programs available here.

Grains, the largest food group in many nutrition guides, includes oats, barley and bread. Cookies, however, are categorized as sugars. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Event: Tour offered at Russian Grain Week

During the afternoon of the 2nd day of the Russian Grain Week Conference, a tour of the Port of Azov is offered, aimed at conference participants.

Participants will depart from the Don Plaza hotel at 13.30, and embark on a guided tour around the port's facilities. Due to security reasons, places are strictly limited.

Places on this tour are strictly limited and will be booked on a first come first serve basis. The booking fee to attend this tour is GBP£100 (USD$145). This covers the cost of the cruise, bus transfer from Don-Plaza hotel, tour guide (both Russian and English); entry into the museum in Starocherkassk, entertainment on the boat and light refreshments.

An early bird rate is available to those who book before 8th August 2013.

More information and booking options available here.

The Russian Grain Week Conference takes place from 23rd to 27th September 2013, at the Don-Plaza Congress hotel, Rostov-On-Don, Russia.

Russian Grain Week Conference announces port tour

NAMA hosts milling industry summer interns in Washington, DC

The North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) recently hosted ten summer interns from member companies for a Washington public policy experience. Cargill/Horizon Milling interns, Amie Canarr and Ryan Welker; ConAgra Mills interns, Sabrina Reynolds, Jessica Solo and Luke Weinheimer; Bunge Milling interns, Tyler Watson, Jacob Porter, Paul Catterson, and Kenton Robert; and Wilkins Rogers Mills intern Travis Grover met with the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and with the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee. They learned how the Farm Bill can affect the future of milling.

Randy Garvert, senior director, manufacturing, ConAgra Mills; Aaron Black, director of operations, Wilkins Rogers Mills; and Lisa Kiriaki, operations human resource lead, Horizon Milling, accompanied their interns.

“The NAMA intern program shows member company interns the big picture on how public policy is formulated through the collaboration of industry representatives, legislators, and regulators,” said NAMA Chairman Jim Meyer, president Italgrani U.S.A., Inc. “It adds value to their intern experience to learn how decisions made in Washington affect the milling industry,” said Meyer.

Interns also met Rasma Zvaners, policy director, American Bakers Association (ABA) to learn about how ABA and NAMA work on issues together for the benefit of the entire industry. Danielle Mutone-Smith, policy and technical division, Food for Peace, U.S. Agency for International Development presented “Food Aid 101” to the interns.

Welker, Grover, Porter, Catterson, Robert, Reynolds and Weinheimer are enrolled in the milling science and management program at Kansas State University. Canaar is enrolled in the engineering program at the University of North Dakota, Watson is enrolled in the mechanical engineering program at California State University, and Solo is enrolled in the food science programme at Kansas State University.

#3 Flour & friends (Photo credit: mrlins)

Alapala

Alapala, one of the two top leading company in its sector, serves the flour, semolina, maize, feed turn-key projects and offers economical solutions to its customer all over the world. Click on the image to visit the Alapala website.

July 26, 2013

26/07/2013: Rise in grain imports as eating habits change; grain farmers battle beekeepers; badgers raid cattle feed stores

Industry experts report that China's grain imports will rise this year as the population continues to gain access to higher-protein food and industrial use of grain crops expands.

Ding Shengjun, senior researcher at the Academy of the State Administration of Grain, said "Industrial consumption now far exceeds food demand. More than 72 percent of corn is consumed in the intensive-processing industries of animal feed, ethyl alcohol and starch."

A new campaign is being launched by The Grain Farmers Association of Ontario to try and convince the province that a ban on pesticides is a bad idea.

“We want to make sure that any decisions are made with common sense and with a science-based approach. Anything else would be very premature,” said Barry Senft, CEO of the Grain Farmers Association.

Farms in the South West of Australia, have been videoing badgers raiding food stores as part of research to help prevent the spread of bovine TB to cattle.

Ian Vernon, from the AHVLA Wildlife Team running the Farm Assessment Toolkit project, said, "In some cases farmers have had no idea badgers are entering their buildings. On one of the farms from last year's surveillance the cameras picked up images of badgers frequently visiting the feed store by squeezing under the gate. The farmer was able to fix a piece of wood to the bottom of the gate to prevent this."

Barley is a major animal feed crop. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Event: 2014 Australasian Milling Conference - opportunitites for everyone

The dates have been set for the 2014 Australasian Milling Conference being held at the Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Center in Queensland, Australia. Save the date for the 2014 Australasian Milling Conference (AMC) being held at the Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre in Queensland, Australia and ensure you consider the benefits of sponsoring, attending, and having a trade display when setting your 2013/14 budgets. Book early and you can enjoy advertising in the run up to the conference.

The AMC conference will once again combine with the Poultry Information Exchange (PIX) thereby enabling maximum exposure for both Sponsors and Exhibitors. With a combined total of over 1000 delegates and in excess of 200 trade booths, the 2012 conference was one of the biggest and most successful conferences ever run by the SFMCA and ATMA. With further improvements planned for 2014 even bigger results can be expected.

Held bi-ennially, the Australasian Milling Conference is an important industry event and provides companies with access to the key industry personnel.

The Stock Feed Manufacturers' Council of Australia and the Australian Technical Millers' Association are pleased to have the Feed Ingredients & Additives Association of Australia join the organising team.

FIAAA aim to provide a forum for suppliers of feed ingredients and additives, and to improve safety of animal feeds. SFMCA and ATMA are delighted with the synergies the inclusion of FIAAA will bring.

More information available here.

Australasian Milling Conference 25-27 May 2014
Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre

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July 31, 2013

July 30, 2013

July 29, 2013

July 26, 2013