Two sections of the IGP-KSU Grain Procurement and Purchasing course will be offered to enhance the participant’s abilities to purchase U.S. grains and commodities with greater confidence and effectiveness.
The basic course will be held April 20-24, 2020, and the advanced course will be offered April 28-May 2, 2020.
Participants have the option of attending a supply chain field trip held in between the sections on April 24-27, 2020.
They also have the option of taking both sections of the course concurrently.
This course series benefits individuals who are responsible for purchasing, importing, shipping, and handling U.S. grains in both government and private settings.
Participants attending the basic section can expect to investigate the U.S. supply chain, international freight markets, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) quality standards, and grain export markets.
During the advanced offering, participants can look forward to discussing topics on cash contracting, futures, trading strategies, options, and price risk management strategies, along with a continued discussion over current market events.
“Participants who attend either or both offerings of the IGP-KSU Grain Procurement and Purchasing course will receive an in-depth look at the purchasing and trading of commodities on an international scale,” says Guy Allen, IGP Institute senior agricultural economist and course manager.
“If they choose to attend the offered field trip, they will also see first-hand how grains are traded and transported through the U.S. supply chain to international markets.”
The field trip is planned to give participants a better understanding of the U.S. supply chain that delivers grain into the trade of international agricultural commodities.
Participants will visit the CME Group rail and barge loading facilities, lock and dam systems, grain producers, and several companies that directly handle the trading and transportation of commodities.
Previous course participant, Rolando Solis, charter manager for MF Grains in Panama City, Panama, says he benefited from learning more about all the different parts that make up the grain industry.
“This course gave me the opportunity to become more familiar with the grain industry,” says Solis.
“I understand more of the importance of properly managed grains, how to manage risks in such a volatile environment and how communication and news can play a big role in what we do.”
Click here for more information on the IGP Institute.
