The Northern Crops Institute (NCI) hosted its Soybean and Soybean Meal Procurement course from May 11 to 19, 2026, and brought together global industry professionals involved in importing, trading, risk management, and procurement of U.S. soybeans and soybean meal. This course was conducted at the NCI in Fargo, North Dakota and tours in Portland, Oregon with 36 participants from the Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Sri Lanka, Italy, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.

Participants in the Commodity Trading Room in Barry Hall

The course began with a welcome and an overview of the week-long case study. Day one’s sessions focused on understanding the U.S. export marketing supply chain, including inland logistics and transportation considerations, presented by Dr. Frayne Olson, NDSU Crops Economist and Marketing Specialist. Participants were introduced to futures markets and trading concepts before putting it into practice in the Commodity Trading Room. The first day concluded with a visit to a North Dakota soybean farm, showing participants firsthand insight into soybean production at the farm level.

The second day was spent engaging with detailed market-focused sessions. David Spickler from Lighthouse Commodities presented on basis and spreads, Frayne Olson continued his presentations on understanding hedging principles, as well as commodity analysis interpretations of fundamental and technical factors. David Bullock from NDSU discussed the mechanics of hedging and applying hedging principles, and finally the day concluded with a presentation on trade finance by Mariel Huasanga from Export-Import Bank of the United States.

North Dakota Soybean Processors facility tour

The third day began with participants discussing exporting U.S. soybeans and soybean meal and price risk management with Darrin Carlson of CHS International. The morning wrapped up with presentations on the procurement of soybeans for U.S. crush plant and crush margins and risk management with Morgan Loyd and Mike Keller from Green Bison Soy Processing. After lunch, participants went back to the trading room to continue learning and practicing real-time trading with Dr. Frayne Olson. The course left for the rest of the day to tour the North Dakota Soybean Processors in Casselton, North Dakota.

Participants spent the fourth day at NCI’s facilities again, starting with back to back presentations on the 4 D’s of differentiating solar dried U.S. soy from Tom D’Alfonso from USSEC, and feed formulation with carbon footprint calculations from Neneth Reas from USSEC. Participants then engaged in discussion with Shane Mueller, NCI Feed Mill Manager about our capabilities with soybean meal and toured NCI’s facilities. The morning wrapped up with Dr. David Bullock’s presentations on introduction to options. After lunch, participants dived into contracts with a presentation on contracting basics and tips of the trade from Dana Clarke from NAEGA, and learning about contracting from the practitioner’s perspective from Diaa Ghaly from Trans Globe, LLC.

Day five began with the Miki Miheguli from the ND Soybean Council presenting on soy innovations and new uses. The morning continued with presentations on geopolitics and decision making by Jacob Shapiro from The Bespoke Group, and the world soybean and soybean meal situation and outlook by Allison Thompson from The Money Farm. Dr. Frayne Olson finished the morning with a review of the trading game exercises from earlier in the week.

Participants also worked together in groups on a multi-day case study that required them to act as procurement managers for an importing operation. Groups evaluated global supply and demand, market risk, logistics, contracting terms, and geopolitical factors before presenting their recommended procurement strategies. Day five concluded with each group presenting their case study plan to the group.

Those participating in the optional Pacific Northwest extension continued the course with visits to export and logistics facilities in Oregon and Washington. The day started with touring SGS North America, then a visit to TEMCO Kalama before wrapping up the morning at BNSF to discuss railroads and exports. After lunch, the course officially concluded with a tour of EGT, LLC (Export Grain Terminal).

NCI would like to thank the North Dakota Soybean Council, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, South Dakota Soybean Checkoff, U.S. Soybean Export Council, and U.S. Soy for their support in making this course possible.

To view and register for upcoming courses, visit www.northern-crops.com/courses.

NCI Hosts Soybean and Soybean Meal Procurement Course | May 11-19, 2026

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