New World Alliance carriers add vessel to Pacific southwest, Thailand service (03/05/2010)

New World Alliance ocean carriers will add a vessel to their Pacific Southwest string and will have direct service from Thailand to the West Coast, effective March 15.

China farm exports causing trade tension - UC-Davis economist says (03/05/2010)

Chinese farm exports are set to become a greater source of trade tension as China boosts its production and becomes a bigger player in world markets for labor-intensive crops, a US agricultural economist has said.

Maersk to run biodiesel test with container ships (03/05/2010)

Maersk Line and Lloyd's Register will team up in a two year research program to test the suitability of biodiesel for use in powering container ship marine engines.

China has not approved importation of GM grain seeds (03/05/2010)

China has not approved imports of any genetically modified (GM) grain seed, according to the Biosafety Office of Agricultural GMO under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) this week.

Canadian government to invest up to $19M in canola, flax research (03/05/2010)

The Government of Canada is investing in research and innovation that will give oil seed producers the tools to protect and build their businesses. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today announced up to $19 million for the Canola Council of Canada to lead research in partnership with the Flax Council of Canada, industry scientists and universities.

Argentina expects record grain harvest (03/05/2010)

Argentina is expecting a record grain harvest of 93-95 million tons, the country’s Agriculture Minister Julian Dominguez said this week.

Grain Millers expands into corn milling with Agricor (03/05/2010)

Grain Millers, Inc., a Midwest Shippers Association agribusiness member processor, has acquired the shares of Agricor, Inc. from the Ewart family. Headquartered in Marion, Indiana, U.S., Agricor is a manufacturer of yellow corn grits, cornmeal and corn flour with a growing presence in the certified organic and non-bioengineered corn product markets.

LaHood promises comprehensive transportation bill; Administration opposes gas tax increase; Thune decries slow going (03/05/2010)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said this week that the administration wants to move forward with a “comprehensive, robust transportation bill,” but opposes increasing the gas tax while unemployment remains at around 10 percent. Meanwhile, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, bemoaned the slow progress and said the Senate should embark on a long term surface transportation bill. He expressed doubts it would be done this year.

Greenpeace denounces UN support for GM crops in Mexico (02/26/2010)

The Greenpeace chapter in Mexico this week denounced the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization’s support for the introduction of transgenic, or genetically modified, crops in Mexico and other developing nations.

EU regions call for non-GMO feed, food labels (02/26/2010)

There are adequate supplies of non-GMO soybeans to meet Europe’s feed needs, and GMO-free labels on food products should be encouraged throughout Europe. These were two important conclusions at the third annual conference of the European GMO-Free Regions Network, held in Brussels, Belgium in early February.

SK Food International reinforces name distinction; is not SK Foods, Inc. (02/26/2010)

SK Food International, a privately-owned corporation located in Fargo, North Dakota, wishes to clear any confusion regarding association with the former SK Foods, Inc., a separate corporation previously headquartered in Monterey, California. This comes in light of recent additional legal issues involving SK Foods, Inc.

SunOpta completes upgrade and expansion of aseptic packaging operations in Alexandria, Minnesota (02/26/2010)

SunOpta Inc.this week announced that the SunOpta Grains and Foods Group has completed an upgrade and retrofit at its Alexandria, Minnesota aseptic processing and packaging facility and has commenced its first production of natural broth and soup products for a major international packaged goods company.

GMO-Free is fastest-growing corporate-brand claim (02/26/2010)

GMO-free claims are the fastest growing claims on US store brands, according to the Nielsen Company. Sales of GMO-free labeled products increased 67% in 2009 and were worth $60.2 million.

Minnesota Ag Department study concludes more rail competition would benefit shippers (02/26/2010)

A lack of competition among railroads in Minnesota is resulting in higher rates for shipping corn, wheat and soybeans. That's according to a new study conducted by Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Ag Marketing Services and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Minnesota Congressman Peterson introduces bill to expand ag exports to Cuba; earns support of NCGA, ASA (02/26/2010)

"Helping feed Cuba is good for the U.S. economy and for the Cuban people. This bill increases the ability of our farmers to sell their products to Cuba just like they do with our other trading partners," Cong. Colin Peterson, D-MN, said this week in introducing bill to expand U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. The bill, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act, won favor this week from the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Corn Growers Association.

Challenges for containerized grain shippers continue in 2010 – USDA GTR (02/26/2010)

Containerized agricultural shippers contended with fewer vessel calls, slower transit times, and insufficient container availability at many inland locations in 2009. Much of the same is expected in 2010. In addition, ocean container carriers report that through the first half of 2010 containerized agricultural shippers should expect several rounds of general rate increases (GRIs), continued container availability challenges, and limited vessel space and service, according to this week's USDA's Grain Transportation Report.

Minnesota soybean farmers tour research facilities, importers in Chile (02/19/2010)

Seventeen soybean growers from Minnesota took part in the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council's See For Yourself program. While on the journey, their goal was to learn more about soybean research being conducted by the University of Minnesota in Chile, as well as to meet with Chilean importers of U.S. soybeans and soy products.

Food companies committed to low-linolenic soybean oil, says Monsanto in call for farmers to grow the beans (02/19/2010)

Interest by food companies to reduce trans fats has supported continued demand for low-linolenic soybean oil. As a result, processors across the Midwest are actively seeking contracts with growers for Vistive soybean acres this season.

Canadian government invests in flax industry innovation (02/19/2010)

Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced last week that the Flax Council of Canada will receive up to $5.9 million to help create new flax varieties and develop an improved method for flax seed testing.

Fermented soyfoods may help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes: Korean study (02/19/2010)

Scientists discuss in 'Antidiabetic effects of fermented soybean products on type 2 diabetes' new findings in type 2 diabetes. "Historically, the incidence of type 2 diabetes has been lower in Asian populations compared with those in Western countries. One possible reason for the lower incidence among Asians is that they consume fermented soybean products, which are unique to the traditional Asian diet," investigators in Korea report

China could become world’s biggest grocery market by 2014 (02/19/2010)

China could overtake the United States as the world’s biggest grocery market within five years, according to market research organization IGD.

Oberstar urges “clean” highway extension (02/19/2010)

A Senate jobs bill skews a federal highway funding formula to benefit four states, and leaves nothing for 22 others, Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., said late this week.

South Korean ag trading corporation aims to set up international grain company (02/12/2010)

South Korea's state-run agriculture trading corporation said this week that it aims to set up an international grain purchasing and distribution company that can better insulate the country from fallout from global price hikes.

Philippine’s to allow duty-free wheat imports (02/12/2010)

Philippine’s President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has approved a proposal to extend the duty-free importation of wheat.

BNSF invests in intermodal capacity (02/12/2010)

Intermodal traffic on the BNSF Railway declined by double digits during last year's economic recession, but it is still one of the most important business units for the western railroad. Yet the railroad is investing heavily in intermodal lift capacity, logistics hubs and expedited intermodal services.

Asia-Europe container shipping rates, volumes surge; Transpacific spot rate steadies (02/12/2010)

Ocean container freight rates are surging on key Asia-Europe trade routes as traffic rebounds from a year-long downturn and carriers cull capacity, the Journal of Commerce (JOC) reported this week. In the Trans-Pacific trade, spot container rates have steadied as ocean carriers have culled capacity.

China grain, DDGS trade explodes in growth (02/12/2010)

China promises a tantalizingly big market for U.S. DDGS, but numerous issues may prevent it from ever being fully realized. The growth in distillers grains exports to China is nothing short of breathtaking—nearly 6,000 percent higher for the first three quarters of 2009 compared with the same period the year before. After conferences, trade missions and tests with container lots, this past summer the Chinese began importing bulk distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in vessels. China is on course to import 400,000 metric tons (MT) of DDGS when 2009 shipments are totaled, compared to just 8,505 MT the year before.

Australian report explores price premiums for non-GM products (02/12/2010)

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) released on Feb. 10 an analysis of world grains markets and evidence of price premiums for non-genetically modified (GM) grains, both certified non-GM and organic.

Surface Transportation Board updates railroad competition study; but discontinues proceeding on rail transportation contracts (02/05/2010)

USDA’s Grain Transportation Report this week reported two developments from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB), the federal railroad oversight agency. In January, the STB published an update to its rail competition study which extends the analysis to include two additional years of data. The STB also sought public comment on a proposed rule that sought to require a statement to disclose whether agreements made between shippers and carriers are contracts or common carrier tariffs.

Port of Vancouver sees growth in grain, but overall throughput declines (02/05/2010)

The Port of Vancouver's 2009 year-end cargo statistics report significant growth in grain, specialty crops and petroleum products, a modest increase in export laden container volume, and a decrease in total container count. Overall, the Port's 2009 total tonnage declined 11 per cent compared to 2008.

China’s soybean imports forecast to top 12 MMT in first quarter of 2010; up 18.2% (02/05/2010)

BEIJING -- China's soybean imports will likely top 12 million metric tons in the first quarter of 2010, up 18.23 per cent year on year, according to a report released by the China National Grain and Oils Information Center early this week.

CN railroad unveils plan for new logistics park (02/05/2010)

Canadian National Railway (CN) announced this week it plans to establish a new C$100-million CN Calgary Logistics Park in Conrich, Alberta, Canada, northeast of Calgary. The 680-acre park is planned to include a state-of-the-art intermodal terminal with room for customers to co-locate with CN and custom build their facility in place.

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White House launches National Export Initiative (02/05/2010)

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke late this announced more details of President Obama’s National Export Initiative plan to double U.S. exports within five years to $3 trillion while creating 2 million U.S. jobs

One review of Monsanto data claims GM Corn may be toxic, but other third party experts dismiss conclusions (01/28/2010)

Monsanto, the giant of genetically modified crops, has for the first time been forced to release raw data from toxicology studies it carried out on three strains of its modified maize. An external analysis of the data claims it shows that eating the maize could result in damage to the liver and kidneys, but this has been dismissed as unsupportable by a government agency and independent toxicologists

BNSF cuts domestic intermodal transit times (01/28/2010)

BNSF Railway implemented service improvements that cut scheduled trip times for 60 percent of its premium domestic intermodal traffic, saving shippers up to half a day on their long hauls, the company said this week.

Drewry tracks carriers’ financial health (01/28/2010)

Drewry Shipping Consultants is introducing a report for shippers called “Freight Shipper Insight,” which provides market information on demand trends, freight rate developments and macro-economic indicators specific to the ocean, air, rail and road freight sectors. Two key features of the report are spot market airfreight rate benchmarks for cargoes out of Shanghai to destinations in the United States and Europe and a Z-score financial stress index for freight operators, which can indicate whether a carrier’s vessels or planes may be in danger of seizure by creditors.

Organic opportunities -- Organic soybeans offer high profits, along with higher risk (01/28/2010)

Organic crops offer higher profit potential, but more risk. Organic crops earn significant premiums two or even three times the price for conventional crops. But it costs more to produce a bushel of organic soybeans or corn. Yields are lower, labor and fuel costs are higher and agronomic risk is greater. Now, there's a new menace: Soybean aphids threaten the sustainability of organic soybeans.

Prince Rupert grain handling increases 35 percent (01/28/2010)

PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA — The Port of Prince Rupert announced on Jan. 25 that its total cargo handling in 2009 increased 15 percent over 2008, including a 45.9 percent increase in container traffic and a 35 percent increase in grain handling.

Minnesota soybean industry representatives witness need for lock and dam improvements (01/28/2010)

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Four years ago, the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council debuted the See For Yourself (SFY) program, geared to educate the state's soybean producers on the path their crop takes once it leaves the field. Early this week, the latest contingent selected for the program -- 23 soybean producers, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association board members, representatives from Farm Bureau, Farmer's Union, the Minnesota Turkey and Minnesota Broiler associations, Midwest Shippers Association, and other ag professionals -- embarked on a week-long mission to include a tour of the Port of New Orleans, La., and, later this week, a visit to the International Poultry Expo in Atlanta, Ga.