NCI Hosts Grain Procurement Management for Importers Course | September 8–17, 2025

All Participants from 22 different countries at the Peltier Complex in Fargo, ND

The Northern Crops Institute (NCI) hosted its Grain Procurement Management for Importers course from September 8 to 17, 2025. This ten-day course brought together 38 participants from 22 countries, including the United States, Singapore, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, South Korea, Mexico, Venezuela, Haiti, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Panama, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Tanzania, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and China.

Designed for international grain buyers, millers, feed manufacturers, and food processors, the course provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of grain merchandising. Academic experts and commodity trade professionals guided participants through the mechanics of the U.S. grain handling and marketing system, risk management strategies, and futures and cash markets.

Commodity Trading Game with Dr. Frayne Olson

Building Knowledge and Skills in Fargo

The course opened at North Dakota State University’s Barry Hall in Fargo, North Dakota, with a welcome from NCI’s Program Development Manager, Casey Peterson. Participants quickly immersed themselves in sessions on the U.S. grain export marketing supply chain, basis and spreads, and the fundamentals of futures markets.

One of the most engaging parts of the Fargo portion was the Case Study and Commodity Trading Game led by Dr. Frayne Olson, NDSU Extension Crops Economist and Marketing Specialist, in the NDSU Commodity Trading Room, a facility designed to simulate live market conditions. The case study placed participants in the role of a procurement team for a mid-sized milling company, where they had to balance price, quality, and supply security while managing risk in a competitive marketplace. The Commodity Trading Game added a fast-paced, real-time trading environment that pushed participants to apply lessons from the lectures to make buying and selling decisions. Together, these activities gave the group a hands-on way to build critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while experiencing the ups and downs of real market dynamics.

The Fargo portion also featured lectures covering hedging principles, interpreting market fundamentals and technical factors, and advanced price risk management strategies. Additional presentations explored railroads and their role in U.S. agricultural exports, as well as global grain outlooks and wheat supply and demand.

A highlight during this portion of the course was the visit to Grand Farm’s Autonomous Nation event, where participants experienced live demonstrations of new agricultural technologies.

Bus tour of the Duluth storage grain terminal

Exploring the Grain Industry in Minnesota

After a weekend break that included visits to Minnesota landmarks such as Itasca State Park, the Headwaters of the Mississippi, and Split Rock Lighthouse, participants reconvened in Duluth. They toured a storage grain terminal owned by Bartlett and observed a vessel being loaded, followed by presentations from the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. A harbor tour aboard the Vista Queen provided a unique perspective on Duluth’s role as a key hub for U.S. agricultural exports.

The learning continued in Minneapolis, where participants visited ADM offices for a session on managing supply chains for U.S. wheat exports. At the Mill City Museum, they explored the history of grain milling while hearing from industry experts on risk management and alternative strategies in futures trading. Additional sessions at Bartlett headquarters covered international contracts and arbitration, followed by discussions with wheat merchandisers.

The final day at CHS headquarters in Minnesota

Wrapping Up with Market Insights

The final day of the course took place at CHS headquarters in Minneapolis. Participants engaged in a group discussion with commodity traders, gaining firsthand insight into exporting U.S. wheat internationally. This session provided a meaningful conclusion to the course, tying together the lectures, simulations, and site visits of the previous days.

Investing in Global Grain Trade

The Grain Procurement Management for Importers course reflects NCI’s mission to provide education and training that strengthen relationships between U.S. producers and international buyers. By combining academic expertise, hands-on trading exercises, and industry tours, the program equips participants with tools to navigate the complexity of global grain markets.

The success of the Grain Procurement Management for Importers course was made possible by the support of U.S. Wheat Associates, North Dakota Wheat Commission, Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council, South Dakota Wheat Commission, Montana Wheat & Barley, and the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.

NCI thanks all participants, presenters, and sponsors for making the course possible. To view and register for upcoming courses, visit www.northern-crops.com/courses.