10/10/2013: Banned feed additive found in beef imports; new grain facility signs lease at port; Meriden appoints new international brand manager

South Korea has halted beef imports from the US after finding traces of the feed additive zilpaterol in a meat shipment.
 
The substance, which is banned in the country, was detected in a 22-tonne shipment from Colorado-based Swift Beef Co. at the end of September 2013. 

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, South Korea have asked the US to investigate the matter.  
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Mississippi based Rosedale-Bolivar County Port Commission and the Bolivar County Board of Supervisors, USA have entered into a lease agreement with a subsidiary of Louis Dreyfus Commodities LLC for the construction and operation of a new grain storage and barge loading facility at the Port of Rosedale.
 
Louis Dreyfus Commodities, is set to invest more than US$20 million in constructing the facility, which will provide a new outlet for local farmers to sell corn and soybeans to the company, with an annual capacity of more than five million metric tons.
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Feed additives company Meriden Animal Health has appointed a new international brand manager. In her new role, Lisa Falconer will work to build brand awareness and enhance product profile throughout the industry.
 
"Lisa joins us at an exciting time where we are in a position of growth. Lisa brings with her a wealth of experience that will help take Meriden Animal Health to the next level," said managing director Steve Harris.  
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Flag of South Korea (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

03/09/2013: International InsectCentre; intercrop planting; South African grain differential

A range of companies, government agencies and universities have set up an international organisation with the aim of promoting insects as a viable feed and pharmaceutical resource.

The International InsectCentre (IIC), based in Brabant, the Netherlands will develop joint projects and rally towards breakthroughs in international legislation and regulation. As a cooperative, the Centre will also help parties who wish to contribute to the promotion of insects for food.

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According to research by Ohio State University's College of food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, planting soybeans into standing wheat not only results in higher yields but also offers growers' a financial boost. 

Steve Prochaska, an Ohio State University Extension field specialist and member of the university’s Agronomic Crops Team added that the technique, known as modified relay intercropping, results in the ability to capture 66 percent of the traditional growing season, which allows production of a second crop through late May or early June. 

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South African news broadcaster eNCA recently reported on the proposed increase in location differentials by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

The location differentials focus on the cost of transporting grain from registered silos in different parts of the country to a central selling point in The West Rand District of South Africa.

Grain association, GrainSA commented on the proposal, stating that many grain farmers deliver much of their product to local buyers and the location differential causes them to pay thousands in “imaginary” transport costs.

Watch the full news report here.  

Wheat at the anthesis stage. Face view (left) and side view (right) & Wheat ear at the late milk (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Free, unofficial grain grade with Harvest Sample Program

With this year's harvest starting in Western Canada, producers have until November 1, 2013 to send in a grain sample to get a free unofficial grade and quality information through the Harvest Sample Program. If you haven't participated before, sign up by October 15 to make sure you receive your Harvest Sample Program kit in time to send a sample this fall.

"Our Harvest Sample Program is a voluntary program that gives producers important information about their grain at no cost to them. It also helps promote the sale of Canadian grain by providing customers with scientific information about the quality of this year's harvest," said Elwin Hermanson, chief commissioner for the Canadian Grain Commission.

Easy to participate
Participating in the Harvest Sample Program is easy and starts with signing up to receive your free kit, which includes postage-paid envelopes and instructions for sending in your sample.

Producers who send in a grain sample are also eligible to win prizes, and the earlier you send in your samples, the greater your chances of winning.

Quality information for producers
Even if you have a good idea about the quality of your grain, by sending in your sample, you'll also be able to access detailed information, such as:

Protein content on cereal grains and pulses
Oil, protein and chlorophyll content for canola
Oil and protein content and iodine value for flaxseed
Oil and protein for mustard seed and soybeans
New this year, the Canadian Grain Commission is providing dockage assessment for canola samples.
Details about how to access your information online, by phone or email are available here.

Market support and research
We use harvest samples to test the quality of the annual crop. Crop data helps with the marketing of Canadian grain to customers. Your harvest samples also contribute to important scientific research into grading issues and finding new uses and markets for Canadian grain.

Cereal (grain maize) harvest in Brazil (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cargill to acquire Northstar Grain LLC assets

Cargill said it has reached an  agreement to acquire the grain storage and crop inputs assets of Northstar Grain LLC and associated properties in Decatur in southwest Michigan.

The assets will be acquired from Northstar Grain LLC. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of June, pending routine due diligence.  Terms were not disclosed.

“Our ownership of these assets will mean that farmers will gain a competitive market for their grain, as well as an expert crop inputs team from a company that they can rely on,” said Ben Breazeale, leader of the Greater Indiana Farm Service group of Cargill AgHorizons U.S.  “We also bring to the table industry-leading risk management products, personalized on-farm grain marketing services and excellent customer service.

The assets include 4.5million bushels of storage space for corn, soybeans and wheat, and a crop inputs business. The site is served by the Norfolk Southern railroad, which provides access to markets in the eastern and southeastern United States.
    
“We have had a sales presence in southwest Michigan for a number of years,” Breazeale said.  “We have Farm Marketers and Grain Marketing Advisors who cover the area who can help farmer customers with all aspects of their business. Our crop inputs team will be another valuable resource for producers.”

Cargill will initially invest about $3 million in upgrades to the facility to complete the construction of a 500,000 bushel storage bin and increase the capability to ship 75-car unit trains. “We look forward to notably increasing the competitiveness of this facility as a market for our future customers and connecting it to the extensive grain and oilseeds supply chains we serve,” Breazeale said.

Cargill (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

30/04/2013: Crystal Valley Cooperative to build grain terminal; train derailment spills grain in Blue Earth; bird flu could reduce domestic demand for feed

The Crystal Valley board of directors, contractors and members of the Hope Township board have announced plans to build a new grain terminal outside of Hope in Steel County. Ground work on the project is expected to begin on or about May 1, 2013 with a scheduled completion date of August 1, 2014.

Plans for the facility include upright storage of 3.8 million bushels, temporary storage of 2.8 million bushels, receiving capacity of 60,000 bushels per hour by way of three 20,000 bushel per hour receiving pits, and rail load-out capacity of 80,000 bushels per hour. It will also include an 8,100-foot loop track and a 10,000-bushel per hour grain dryer.

Crystal Valley is a farmer-owned, full service cooperative with 145 full-time employees serving agricultural producers with agronomy, feed, grain, petroleum and propane products and services.  

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A cleanup is under way in the southern Minnesota town of Blue Earth, where 17 cars derailed on a train carrying corn, and 10 tipped on their sides.

Mark Davis, Union Pacific spokesman says the 73-car train was carrying corn from Fairmont, Minn., to Blair, Neb., when it happened. The cause is under investigation, and there's no estimate yet on how much grain spilled. 

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A drop off in Chinese demand for soybeans used to feed poultry and livestock could last for months, as consumers lose their appetite for poultry in response to a deadly bird flu virus outbreak and amid lingering images of rotting pig carcasses floating in a river.

China, which buys 60 percent of the world's traded soybeans, could further reduce bean imports this year - already down some 13 percent year to date on food security concerns and high stocks - which will likely curb a rally in benchmark Chicago prices.

Authorities have culled tens of thousands of birds as it tries to contain the spread of the H7N9 virus that has killed 22 people and infected 108 since the first deaths were reported in March. 

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Union Pacific Railroad 9214, a GE Dash 8-40C, leads an eastbound train up California's Cajon Pass on May 10, 1991. Photo by Sean Lamb (User:Slambo) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)