MPC
Research Projects (2000-01)

Identifying Number

MPC-203

Project Title

Containerized Grain & Oilseed Exporters: Industry Profile and Survey

University

North Dakota State University

Project Investigator

Kimberly Vachal
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, NDSU
(701)231-6427
kimberly.vachal@ndsu.edu

External Project Contact

Heidi Reichert
Shipper & Exporter Assistance / USDA
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 1217-S.
Washington, DC 20250-0267
(202)690-2325
Heidi.Reichert@usda.gov

Project Objective

The goal of this project is to develop a profile of the U.S. containerized grain and oilseed export industry, including marketing activities, future expectations, information needs, and business practices. This profile will be the first in a two-stage project to be completed over a two-year period. The second stage of the project, to be completed in year two, will be a survey of this industry. This survey will be used to expand and update the industry profile created, in year one of the project.

Project Abstract

Competitive access to an array of agricultural markets is critical to agricultural shippers and rural economies in the Midwest. One sector that has gained notoriety in recent years is that sector marketing its grain & oilseed products via container. It seems that technological advancements in shipping, grain production, grain handling, communications, sophistication of buyer expectations, and grain producer business developments may lend themselves to continued development of this sector. It has been estimated that currently, less than one percent of the U.S. grain and oilseed production is market via container. A recent survey of grain industry experts suggests that this volume could increase by more than 300 percent over the next five years.

Limited, and rather disjointed, information exists for profiling the industry or identifying trends required for regional and national logistical planning. Information ascertained through this survey would be valuable in addressing logistical planning, distributing resources for economic development, addressing regulatory issues, planning infrastructure investment, and other facets associated with this sector of the grain transportation industry.

Task Descriptions

• Task 1 – Conduct review of recent research findings relevant to the containerized grain export industry.
• Task 2 – Identify and describe existing data sources for containerized grain export information.
• Task 3 – Draft a report that profiles of the containerized grain and oilseed industry, based on the literature and data reviews.
• Task 4 – Form an industry advisory group for the survey project based on the information collected in the review of literature and existing data sources.
• Task 5 – Draft survey and time-line for advisory group input and administration of the survey.

Milestones, Dates

• Starting Date: September 2000
• Project Milestones:
  • Task 1: November 2000
  • Task 2: February 2001
  • Task 3: June 2001
  • Task 4: August 2001
  • Task 5: August 2001
• Ending Date: August 2001

Yearly and Total Budget

Federal $21,599.00
University Match $22,141.00

Student Involvement

None

Relationship to Other Research Projects

None

Technology Transfer Activities

Final report and presentations of results.

Potential Benefits of the Project

• National, state and local planning and marketing agencies may utilize this information to assess current activities, define factors that contribute to the success of this form of grain marketing, and develop expectations for this sector of the grain industry.
• The grain & oilseed export sector may use the data for bench marking their industry.
• State DOTs may use the information in state transportation planning and in evaluating rail and road investments.
• Regulatory agencies may utilize the information in policy decisions regarding the grain industry.
• Local and state economic development initiatives may utilize the information in infrastructure decisions.

TRB Keywords

Intermodal, grain