16/09/2013: Foodbank wants your grain; US biofuels mandate; CBH moves into US grain market

Companies in the grain sector are supporting the industry commitment to donate 3000 tonnes of grain a year to Foodbank. Grain Producers Australia, Viterra, Cargill and Emerald Grain are donating to the cause.

Grain Trade Australia (GTA) announced the initiative at the Australian Grain Industry Conference in Melbourne last month.

A Grain Consultative Group that comprises representatives from all sectors of the industry has been set up to help facilitate donations. 

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An ethanol trade group and a cattlemen's organisation have differing opinions with regards to the US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). 

The ethanol trade group is standing by its claim that RFS is working, but according to the cattlemen's organisation, federal volume mandate puts the beef industry on an unlevel playing field for the finite amount of corn that is produced.

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Australia's main grain marketer, the CBH Group has opened a new international office in Portland, Oregon, USA. 

Jason Craig, marketing and trading general manager said that trading grain out of Portland will allow CBH to offer US and Canadian wheat to key customers in the Asian region, to compliment Australian wheat grades in their flour milling process.

“CBH currently has a strong advantage in the Asian region and has well established relationships with end-users. We have offices in Hong Kong and Japan and key investments in the flour milling industry through Interflour,” said Craig.
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CBH grain Silo - Kwinana, Western Australia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

22/08/2013: Grain coalition; Vietnam to expand on maize and soybean; Carr's new low-moisture feed block business

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has proposed a takeover of GrainCorp. 

However, in the run up to the Australian federal election next month, Warren Truss, leader of the National Party of Australia, has voiced his opposition of the proposed $3-billion takeover. 

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The Vietnam Animal Feed Association recently stated that Vietnam is lacks sufficient materials for  animal feed production. Pham Duc Binh, deputy chairman stated that the lack of materials is down to unreasonable decisions about what plants to grow.

According to Binh, if animal feed producers coul seek domestic material sources, they would not have to import materials any more, which would allow them to cut down expenses (VND1,000 per kilo for transportation cost). 

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Agriculture and engineering group, Carrs Milling Industries PLC, has announced that its wholly owned USA subsidiary, AFS Inc., is investing in a new joint venture aimed at producing its patented low-moisture feed block products.

The new company will be called ACC Feed Supplement LLC.

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English: Coat of arms of Vietnam 日本語: ベトナムの国章 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

17/06/2013: Grain growers worry about lack of investment; Denver as home of milling venture; rules for Animal Feed Manufacturers

A Senate inquiry has been launched looking into the $3.5 billion offer by US giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to buy Australia's largest grain handler after grain growers voiced concerns about a lack of investment in grain storage.

The US Senate inquiry has heard from farmers both for and against the sale, but the common message was concern about investment.

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Cargill, CHS and ConAgra have chosen Denver, Colorado, to become the headquarters for a new flour-milling venture

The new partnership will create a flour superpower that would become the largest miller in North America, with some US$4 billion a year in sales. 

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The FDA has introduced a new video outlining regulations on medicated animal feeds intended for commercial or private operators of feed mills.

The video focuses largely on how to read and interpret the label on medicated feeds and use the products in compliance with the label specifications.

Watch the video here.

English: Logo of the . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

29/04/2013: Farmers want GrainCorp sale inquiry; new O.H. Kruse feed technology innovation centre; Japanese Poultry gobbling up US soy meal

The NSW Farmers Association is calling for a federal inquiry into the sale of east coast grain handler GrainCorp to US Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), reports ABC News.

GrainCorp handles over three-quarters of the grain grown in eastern Australia and directly sells half of the wheat exported from NSW.

GrainCorp directors have accepted a takeover bid from Archer Daniels Midland of $3.4 billion dollars, after rejecting lesser offers from the American company.

ADM says if the offer proceeds the deal with help "connect Australia's growers with growing global demand for crops and food, particularly in Asia and the Middle East". 

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The new feed technology centre at K-State is becoming a reality. Construction has begun and should be completed in mid-2013.

The facility will serve as the new home of the feed science and management program, which has provided nearly 700 graduates to the US feed manufacturing industry during the 60 years since the industry helped to establish the programme at K-State. In addition, several thousand domestic and international feed industry professionals have participated in educational short courses and seminars provided by the programme.

The faculty members have been a source of problem solving and new technological information throughout the programme’s history. The programme has been fortunate to have a dedicated teaching and research feed mill available on campus for student, faculty and client use. Even though remodeled and updated numerous times, the present feed mill has far outlived its useful life and will finally be replaced.

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Soy meal produced from US soybeans has been a favorite of Japanese poultry for fifty years.  Now, demand is shifting and soy meal imports there are expected to grow, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

That may be good news for U.S. soybean farmer, since US Census figures show Japan is the second largest buyer of US soy meal in Asia. 

“United Soybean Board (USB) research is creating a body of information showing soy meal produced from US soybeans has consistently higher quantities of the five essential amino acids,” says Scott Singlestad, a USB farmer-leader who raises soybeans and corn. “That’s given US soy meal a higher feeding value over its competitors.”

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Soy bean snack (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

27/03/2013: Rothamsted applies for autumn GM wheat trial; ‘Dangerous’ levels of gas at Graincorp depot in Dingo

Rothamsted Research has submitted an application to DEFRA to plant autumn-sown wheat as part of its GM wheat trial. The application requests permission to conduct the winter sowing of Cadenza wheat, which involves exactly the same GM lines and experimental design as the current spring-sown experiment.

Scientists believe the extension of the trial would allow them to study the effects of autumn aphid infestations on their experimental aphid-repelling wheat. They say autumn-sown Cadenza wheat engineered to repel aphids - a major crop pest - would allow them to gain further data for the experiment.

"With the trial up and running, it seems sensible to make this small adjustment," said John Pickett, head of chemical ecology at Rothamsted Research.

He added, "This additional data will add a great deal of value to the overall investigation by testing our wheat plant under a more varied range of environmental conditions throughout the year and in accordance with the different times of the year farmers plant their wheat."

The request to DEFRA will be assessed by the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and by members of the public during a 60-day consultation period.

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Duaringa police are investigating an incident of dangerously high levels of a chemical gas  found at Graincorp's Dingo depot this month.

Sergeant Paul James said police and an expert Graincorp clean-up crew were called to the depot after two drivers tried to unload grain with Phosphine gas readings of 57 parts per million and higher.

Phosphine levels over 50 ppm are considered to be immediately dangerous to life and health of farm workers, drivers and the public.

"It would appear the truckies have transported the grain to Dingo, maybe the night before, and placed their Phosphine (tablets) in cut-down 1.25l coke bottles, put water in there and put it with the grain, pulled over the tarp and gone to bed," Sgt James said.

"In the morning the containers were almost depleted and they have thrown them into the Dingo roadhouse bin and gone to Graincorp where the grain has been tested and… Graincorp staff have said no we're not taking it because it is way beyond what is safe and legal."

He added that  police recovered the evidence from the roadhouse bin and disposed of it safely. The grain's property of origin is unknown.

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