Tours Available for Conference Participants

Sophisticated buyers in the international and domestic markets are requesting an increasing number of attributes in corn and soybeans. These specifications require new strategies and technologies for measurement and monitoring these attributes, and for delivering according to buyers' specifications. Several firms and agencies in the New Orleans port area have responded to these demands in effective and novel ways. Two tours have been organized to provide conference participants an opportunity to observe and discuss some of the most important of the related issues. A knowledgeable host will accompany each tour, providing additional insights and information related to alternative strategies and technologies.

Tour 1. Monitoring Quality Attributes in the Export Market Channel

Tour 1 will focus on the sampling and measurement technologies in use to monitor and control quality attributes in the export market. Tour stops include:

1. GeneScan Laboratories. This firm is involved in strategies for delivering Identity Preserved Shipments where quality is monitored and controlled from seed to consumer. At their laboratory they will disucss their programs, their technologies for monitoring, and will conduct a tour of their laboratory to demonstrate analytical techniques.

2. FGIS Field Office for the New Orleans area will demonstrate technologies and statistical requirements for measuring and assuring quality attributes in large volume markets.

3. ADM Export Elevator at Destrehan. FGIS has installed an automated sampling and grading system for automatically measuring and recording US Grade factors. The on-site discussion will include the potential for automating grade factors and other attributes rather than hands-on inspection.

Tour 2. Handling Technologies for Specialized Attributes

Tour 2 will focus on operational strategies for meeting contract specifications in the export markets. Each location will explain and demonstrate how quality is assured, meastured and controlled. Tour stops include:

1. Bunge Elevator at Destrehan. This export elevator is designed to move grain from barge to shipping bin to vessel without using storage bins. This precludes blending and therefore presents challenges for quality control. The tour will give an overview of traditional and barge-to-vessel loading technologies, a discussion of logistics of originating inbound grain, costs associated with the two strategies, the ability to meet new demands for specialized quality contracts, and changes needed in grading and monitoring regulations.

2. Total Transportation, Inc. This mid-stream floating elevator transfers grain and products from barge to ocean vessel. Ocean vessels and barges are anchored in the river. This requires that many attributes be determined prior to loading barges up river. Tour participants will be taken by crew boat for a view of the facility and a discussion of the opportunities, advantages and challenges of mid-stream transfer technique.

3. ADM Export Elevator at AMA. This elevator is equipped to load vessels directly from barges without using shipping bins. The tour and discussion will include the technology and equipment required, the issue of split loads, grading and testing procedures, logistics of originating barges to meet contract specifications, risks of failutre to meet quality specifications, the role of FGIS, comparative costs, and changes needed to expedite the growth of this strategy.

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