NCI Hosts Custom Grain Procurement Management Course

Dr. Frayne Olson offers his commodity trading expertise to a participant during the trading game exercise in NDSU’s commodity trading room.

Last week, NCI welcomed 11 participants from 4 different countries for our Grain Procurement Management for Importers course! The countries represented were Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Panama. The course was held from June 13-17, 2022 and included presentations, tours, and plenty of travel! NCI would like to especially thank the US Wheat - Mexico office for inviting participants to attend this valuable course.

On the road to Duluth, the group stopped for lunch at Itasca State Park to see the headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi River.

Day one included several lectures by presenters from NCI, the ND Wheat Commission, and NDSU. To cap the day full of market analysis and wheat values, the group traveled to the Grand Farm in Fargo, ND, to check out the plots.

Day two took the group straight to NDSU’s Barry Hall to continue more classroom learning. By the afternoon, participants were able to get hands-on life-like experience through a Trading Game Exercise in NDSU’s Commodity Trading room. The group then relaxed for an evening on the lake in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Group photo outside the CHS terminal in Superior, WI.

Day three rounded out the classroom-style lectures in the NCI building. A special thanks goes out to NDSU distinguished professors Dr. Bill Wilson and Dr. Frayne Olson for sharing their time to present for the group. Other presenters from this day included Jeff McPike, Mike Krueger, and Steven Wirsching. The crew toured Alton Grain Terminal in Hillsboro, ND, before the course banquet and certificate ceremony held at the Sanctuary Events Center in Fargo.

Days four and five were spent in Duluth, MN, and Superior, WI. Tours included a cruise of the Duluth Port and the CHS terminal. The group also heard presentations at the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. The weather was beautiful and the tours were a great way to cap off a successful course.