MANHATTAN, Kan. — Grain industry professionals including corn starch manufacturers are constantly increasing their knowledge of markets and trade to increase buyer experiences. IGP and the U.S. Grains Council partnered to hold a customized course for the USGC trade team in Kansas City. Carlos Campabadal, IGP Institute feed manufacturing and grain quality management curriculum manager, and Jay O’Neil, O’Neil Commodity Consulting and retired IGP Institute senior economist, co-taught the course. Its focus was on teaching Indonesian corn starch manufacturers how to purchase U.S. corn including topics on: U.S. grain export systems and quality analysis, an introduction to Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) futures market, an introduction to hedging, among other topics.
Throughout the day participants listened to lectures and engaged in discussions. The course included an overview of what the IGP Institute is, U.S. grain production and marketing systems, export contracts, hedging fundamentals and futures markets.
“We often discuss quality, quantity and availability when promoting the U.S. advantage. However, the support, education and transparency we provide through these courses and other trade missions help set us apart from alternative origins,” says Caleb Wurth, assistant regional director of Southeast Asia–U.S Grains Council. “As customers increase their interest in U.S. origin grain, so increases their need for sound risk management tools. We thank Jay, Carlos and IGP for giving our customers the risk management tools they need to successfully purchase U.S. coarse grains.”
This is one example of the many customized partnership courses offered by the IGP Institute. In addition, the IGP Institute provides trainings in the areas of feed manufacturing and grain quality management, grain marketing and risk management, and grain processing and flour milling. To learn more about training opportunities at the IGP Institute, visit www.grains.k-state.edu/igp.
— Janelle Marney, K-State Research and Extension
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