North Dakota Northern Crops Institute

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Registration Deadline: September 3, 2010

Grain Procurement Management for Importers Short Course
September 20-29, 2010

Northern Crops Institute, Fargo, North Dakota, USA


Does your company know how to purchase U.S. grain that meets its quality and price requirements?
Do you need to know more about the U.S. Grain Marketing System?
Do you understand the risks associated with quality and price options?
This course will provide the knowledge that you need!

The Grain Procurement Management for Importers Short Course is designed for individuals who are responsible for purchasing grain. The eight-day course will focus on the mechanics of grain merchandising through the U.S. grain marketing system. Participants will receive a course manual containing an outline of each presentation, printed copies of the visuals used, and other printed materials for future reference.


Why Should You Attend?
One of the first steps in purchasing grain from the United States is to thoroughly understand the U.S. grain marketing system. By doing so, an importer can review the risks associated with various quality and price options. This course provides information that assists buyers in purchasing U.S. grain that meets quality requirements at the best value.


Highlights:
Lectures by both academic and commodity trade authorities on cash and futures markets.

Information from grain merchandisers who will guide you through the full complexity of the international grain markets.

Opportunity to share day-to-day experiences with colleagues from other countries and U.S. grain merchants.

Seminars by grain merchandisers at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange.

Case studies and trading games to demonstrate purchasing strategies.

On-site visits to a country elevator, Duluth Seaway Port Authority, an export grain terminal, a barge facility, and Minneapolis Grain Exchange.


Course Topics
• U.S. Grain Handling and Transportation System
• Cash and Futures Markets: Role and Function
Market channels for grains
Price relationships
Rules and regulations
• Basis: Concepts, Relations and Behavior
Components
Sources of price risk
Basis behavior
• U.S. Grain Grading Standards
• Grain Hedging Principles
• Commercial Export Trading Practices
Logistics
Managing risk
Tendering
Supplier-customer relationships
• World and U.S. Grain Market Outlook
• Grain Contracts and Their Specifications
Quality specifications
International contracts and arbitration
• Price Risk Management by Importers
Merchandising
Importer hedging
Purchasing alternatives
• Options Use by Importers
Options markets
Premiums
Hedging
• Importer Procurement
Procurement strategies
Tendering alternatives
Selection of the number of suppliers
Who Should Attend?
International grain buyers associated with private trading companies, milling, feed manufacturing and food processing.
Anyone with an interest in importing grain from the United States.
To Register:
Registration Fee: $1,400 USD. Payment in full is due one week before the start of the course. Registration deadline is September 3, 2010. Course fee includes course materials, scheduled breaks, and one recognition dinner. Hotel accommodations and other meals are not included in the fee. Attention: Please book return flights departing from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

To pay by credit card or with an electronic check, click here.

To pay by check, fill out the form and mail with your check to Northern Crops Institute (address below). Checks must be payable to Northern Crops Institute and drawn on a U.S. bank.

To pay by wire transfer, contact NCI for wire transfer instructions.

Groups of three or more: Special rates are available to groups of 3 or more from the same company. Contact NCI for more information.

Course Schedule: On the first day of class, course participants should be in the hotel lobby by 8:30 a.m. for transportation to the campus. Class will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, September 20, 2010 and adjourn around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2010.

Non-smoking environment. Casual business attire.

Daily Transportation: Daily complimentary transportation will be provided between NCI and the hotel.

Hotel Information: Participants start this short course in Fargo, and then travel for site visits in Duluth and Minneapolis, Minnesota. NCI has reserved a block of rooms in all three cities. NCI staff will assist you with your hotel reservations.
Ramada Plaza Suites
Fargo, North Dakota
Single Room Rate: $ 80.00 + 9.5 % tax/night

Hampton Inn
Duluth, Minnesota
Single Room Rate:
Saturday, Sept. 25: $149.00 + 13% tax/night
Sunday, Sept. 26: $99.00 + 13% tax/night

Country Inn and Suites
Bloomington, Minnesota
Single Room Rate: $119.00 +14.28% tax/night

All hotel rooms are non-smoking.
Information and Special Requirements: If you have questions or special needs (dietary or physical requirements), please contact Northern Crops Institute.

Mailing Address:
Northern Crops Institute
NDSU Dept. 7400
PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA.

Phone: 701-231-7736 Fax: 701-231-7235.

E-mail: nci@ndsu.edu Internet: www.northern-crops.com

About Northern Crops Institute
Northern Crops Institute is the international center for meeting and learning about crops produced in the four-state region of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. Situated on the campus of North Dakota State University, NCI exists as a forum to bring together customers, commodity traders, technical experts, processors and producers from all points of the globe for discussion, education, and technical service programs. Since 1983, the Institute has hosted visitors from more than 127 countries.

NDSU is an Equal Opportunity Institution. This publication will be made available in alternative formats upon request (701-231-7736).

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Sally Sologuk Backman
Public Relations/Communications Specialist
Northern Crops Institute
NDSU Dept. 7400, PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA
Phone: 701-231-6538
www.northern-crops.com

2010 Short Course Schedule
June 15-17 Basics of Wheat and Flour Quality
July 12-16 Pasta: Raw Materials & Processing Technology
July 26-30 Baking with Soy
August 9-13 Exploring Whole Wheat Foods (Korea)
August 17-20 Barley Malt Quality Evaluation
Sept. 7-10 Quality and Utilization of Food Grade Soybeans
Sept. 20-29 Grain Procurement Management for Importers
October 4-8 Feed Manufacturing Technology
October 18-22 Alternative Ingredients in Finfish Aquaculture