Top stories of 2020
Highlights include the coronavirus pandemic, facility expansions, acquisitions and more.
COVID-19 impacts agriculture from farm to fork
The COVID-19 pandemic affected every step along the agriculture supply chain. Agribusinesses responded by increasing hygiene and sanitation measures while vowing to keep the essential industry moving. Flour millers responded to a rapid increase in demand while ethanol producers experienced a serious slump. To read more, click here.
Grain silo damaged in Port of Beirut explosion
On Aug. 4, an explosion at the Port of Beirut killed an estimated 100 people and injured nearly 4,000. It also severely damaged a grain facility that stored Lebanon’s cereals and a nearby flour mill. The explosion was caused by a nearby warehouse fire but about 15,000 tonnes of grain was lost. To read more, click here.
Steven Bresky, CEO of Seaboard, dies at 67
Steven Bresky, chief executive officer of Seaboard, died on July 10. He was the third-generation of his family to lead Seaboard in its 102-year history. He had a long career with company, joining in 1979 in the commodity merchandising and storage division moving from one leadership role to the next until he became president and CEO in 2006. To read more, click here.
China makes largest US corn purchase in two decades
China made an unprecedented move by purchasing 1.365 million tonnes of US corn. The purchase was the largest in more than 20 years and second largest recorded. To read more, click here.
US millers ramp up manufacturing flour
As the outbreak of COVID-19 began many municipalities began requesting citizens stay home to better practice “social distancing” in an effort to “flatten the curve.” This caused a demand increase for family flour. To combat the boost in demand flour manufacturers began to “prep like it’s a holiday season” and make plans on how to continue producing if more restrictions were put in place. To read more, click here.
Zen-Noh Grain to acquire Bunge grain elevators
Zen-Noh Grain Corp. reached an agreement to purchase 35 of Bunge North America’s US interior elevators. Bunge noted the sale will the company to operate more efficiently and reinvest in higher returning areas of the company and reduce costs. To read more, click here.
Corn alcohol plays key role in COVID-19 fight
In mid-March, the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) and its members reassured consumers of the dedication to keep producing and supply corn-based alcohol used in the making of hand sanitizers. A surge in demand for hand sanitizer was spike by the outbreak of COVID-19. To read more, click here.
Explosion rocks Tilbury Grain Terminal
The roofs of several grain silos were blown off following an explosion at the Tilbury Grain Terminal, sending one person to the hospital. Nearby residents reported hearing a “huge bang” and rattling windows. The terminal handles 2 million tonnes of grain, wheat, barley and beans annually. To read more, click here.
Largest US flour mill plans expansion
North Dakota Mill, the only state-owned mill in the United States and the largest in the country, announced plans to expand. It will increase its milling capacity to 60,500 cwts by adding a 6,000-cwt durum unit and a 4,000-cwt spring wheat unit. They will be the plant’s ninth and tenth milling units. It is expected to be completed by the summer of 2021. To read more, click here.
Minnesota farmer charged in grain elevator fraud
Bryan D. Crandall, a corn and soybean farmer, was charged in US federal court for stealing thousands of dollars from a grain elevator. With the help of two employees at a CHS Inc. elevator to inflate delivery records to the facility between 2013 and 2017, according to the May 27 complaint. He is charged with felony conspiracy and the US Attorney’s Office is seeking at least $6,335 in fraudulent proceeds, and “a money judgment not to exceed $355,517.” To read more, click here.