NGFA Meeting To Focus On 2013 Weather, Grain Quality | Farm Futures

    This article originally appeared on the Farm Futures website on December 3, 2012.

    A trio of major speakers will discuss policy options designed to enhance futures market customer protections when they address the National Grain and Feed Association’s 41st annual Country Elevator Conference Dec. 9-11 in Omaha, Neb.

    Walt Lukken, president and chief executive officer of the Futures Industry Association, Washington, D.C., and John Roe, co-founder of the Commodity Customer Coalition, Chicago, Ill., will discuss policy and regulatory improvements to customer protections, including reforms to U.S. bankruptcy laws, full segregation of customer funds, and the establishment of a customer protection fund.

    In a separate session, CME Group Chief Operating Officer Bryan Durkin also will address strengthening customer protections, as well as other issues underway at the exchange, including its evaluation of potential changes to trading hours.

    Sessions focus on enhancing futures market customer protections, weather, business drivers and grain quality

    Sessions focus on enhancing futures market customer protections, weather, business drivers and grain quality

    The business-focused conference also will feature major presentations on implications of the election, as well as weather, grain and market outlooks for 2013.

     

    NGFA First Vice Chairman Bailey Ragan, vice president of Bunge Grain, Fertilizer and Biofuels, St. Louis, Mo., will focus on key global agricultural trends and demand, and how they will affect U.S. country elevators and producers.

    James Wiesemeyer, senior vice president, Informa Economics, Washington, D.C., will provide a perspective on the election results with an eye toward implications for agricultural, trade and environmental policy, as well as the larger political scene.

    Looking beyond 2012, Craig Solberg, senior meteorologist, Freese-Notis Weather, Des Moines, Iowa, will provide a preview into the impact weather and climate change will have on agriculture.  In addition, Mike O’Dea, risk management consultant, FCStone, will provide the grain and oilseed market outlook for 2013.

    Other major sessions will focus on maintaining grain quality following a stressful weather year, presented by Dr. Charles Hurburgh, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, and supply chain demands from grain and oilseed suppliers, presented by Ben Warren, director of product safety and regulatory affairs, Land O’Lakes Inc., Arden Hills, Minn.; and Dr. Craig Henry, director of food and product safety at Deloitte & Touche LLP, Hattiesburg, Miss.

    In addition, conference attendees will be welcomed by Mrs. Nebraska 2012.  A session on personal financial planning also will be led by Ron Carson, founder and chief executive officer of Carson Wealth Management Group, also of Omaha.

    Conference information is available by visiting www.ngfa.org.