Ag Management Solutions (AMS) understands and appreciates that moving commodities from the Tri-State region to the West Coast for export isn’t simple. To tackle today’s complex transportation roadblocks, AMS, in conjunction with commodity groups from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, is launching the inaugural Northern Commodity Transportation Conference (NCTC) March 11-12 in Bloomington, Minn.
“Our hope is to create a better understanding of the many issues and barriers we face from the combine until the grains reach international waters,” says AMS CEO Tom Slunecka. “Each of these issues we’ll be discussing help drive profitability for the entire system.”
The conference will unite the entire commodity transportation industry to share and learn about trade barriers, struggles, similarities and opportunities along the transportation route as commodities leave combines in Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota and head for international waters. Transportation and non-tariff barrier topics such as grain quality criteria, phytosanitary issues, rail reliability and regulations and trucking efficiencies will be discussed. The majority of the topics will be discussed in a panel format, allowing for more open discussion among all attendees.
State officials and luminaries from the agriculture industry are slated to appear as featured speakers, including longtime economic marketing consultant John Baize, American Soybean Association President Bill Gordon, Minnesota and North Dakota’s respective agriculture commissioners and National Grain and Feed President Randy Gordon. More special guests will be announced in the near future.
Team members in the grain, trading, sales, regulatory and management industries will find great value in this conference. Potential attendees include: grain elevator and terminal loading managers, transcontinental shipping lines, shippers, transloading facilities, rail lines, commodity association leadership, state government, regulatory groups, farmer leaders and more.
“At the end of the day, we are all in this together,” Slunecka says. “If the system cannot turn a profit, neither can our farmers. Without profitable farmers, there will be no grain to feed the system.”
Registration is $200 per person. Visit www.graintransportation.com to learn more and register.
For sponsorship details, contact Katelyn Engquist at kengquist@mnsoybean.com or (507) 508-1540.
About Ag Management Solutions
AMS is an agriculture management company serving associations in a fast-evolving industry. The goal of AMS is to streamline ag associations to more effectively and efficiently advocate for members, communicate with industry partners and influencers, and strengthen agriculture’s voice.
