05/11/12: Ukrainian exports; rice milling Australia; Russian grains

Hello, 

• The Ukrainian government has softened its plans for a ban on wheat exports, reports Reuters. In October, the government announced that it would halt wheat exports from mid-November due to poor harvest. Now the Agriculture Ministry has said that it will will consider all "necessary measures" if the country's wheat stocks fall to a critical level. Read more...

• Good news for rice milling in Australia: SunRice is to reopen its third mill in the NSW Riverina this month. The mill was forced to close in 2007 after a big decline in rice production. The reopening marks a return to strong rice production in the area. Read more...

• Russia has planted of 15.5 million hectares of winter grains, exceeding 2011 planting bu 4000,000 hectares in the Southern federal district and 370,000 hectares in the North-Caucasus federal district. Read more...

English: The Southern Federal District of Russia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New! GFMT article: Managing mill maintenance

Our GFMT article today is on managing mill maintenance. The feature looks at the various responsibilities of keep a mill in good running order, including preventative maintenance and training.  Click on the image to read the text in full.

Tapco

Tapco stocks the largest inventory of elevator buckets and bolts in North America, some 900,000 buckets in 64 sizes, and 15 million bolts. The company also has the largest inventory of abrasion resistant sheeting, drag flights and hanger bearings in North America. Click on the image to visit the Tapco website.

02/11/12: Nigeria prepares for 'rice revolution'; new staff at Anitox; ADM to expand flour milling operations

Hello, 

• The Nigerian government has earmarked rice as one of eight value chains for development. At present, the country is the world's second largest importer of rice. Read more... 

• Feed industry specialist Pieter Vos has been appointed by Anitox as Sales Manager for The Benelux countries, comprising Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. “This is an excellent time to be joining Anitox. There is a tremendous need for the company’s products and services in The Benelux because, in common with many other countries, the pig industry here has substantial problems with levels of Salmonella and other pathogens," says Pieter. More information...

• ADM is to the expand its flour milling capacity in Indianapolis, USA. ADM Milling is one of the world's largest flour millers with multiple wheat flour mills in the U.S. as well in Canada, the Caribbean, Central America and the United Kingdom. Read more...

  

  #3 Flour & friends (Photo credit: mrlins)

  
  

Video: Bühler’s new mechanical barge unloader

I am researching articles on grain transportation for GFMT magazine and came across this very informative video about Bargolink, Bühler’s new mechanical barge unloader.

Bargolink sets new standards in the areas of energy consumption, gentle product handling and low maintenance. Find out more here or watch the video below.

New! GFMT Article: Insect damaged wheat

Pests in wheat have been a problem for years. In this GFMT article,  Hikmet Boyacioglu of Doruk Group Holding, Turkey charts to unfortunate rise and rise of the suni bug in wheat and different methods of extermination.

Click on the image to read the article

01/11/12: Australia wheat deregulation pushed through; Rain in Argentina; US winter wheat

Hello, 

• Plans for wheat deregulation in Australia have been afoot for sometime now but were delayed due to political wrangling.  However, yesterday the bill finally passed through parliament after the Labor party, Greens and independents joined forces to vote in favour of full deregulation. Read more...

• How times change.  Last week Argentina was touted as the answer to the world corn shortage.  Today, we learn that the continued wet weather may cut corn acreage.  Back to square one. Read more...

• Winter wheat crops in the USA are in the worst condition since the government started monitoring in 1985, according to Bloomberg.  In the first USDA crops assessment of the season, 40 percent of winter wheat was rated good or excellent, compared to 46 percent last year. Read more...

Soil Health: Soybeans Planted into Winter Wheat Stubble (Photo credit: NRCS Soil Health)