MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Providing a foundation on which professionals gain practical training and learn about the fundamentals of grain procurement and trading is just one of the objectives of the upcoming International Grains Program (IGP) Grain Purchasing short course planned for April 16-27 at the IGP Conference Center at Kansas State University (KSU).

“Each of the key fundamentals that international grain buyers and traders need to know to conduct their business in a proper way are taught and discussed in this course,” said Jay O’Neil, course coordinator and IGP senior agricultural economist. “It is more than just educating people on how to write a contract and manage risk. We cover what professionals need to know to protect their company’s best interests and hopefully stay away from trouble.”

Along with O’Neil, participants will hear from a diverse group of presenters who represent both academia and industry, including Alan Brugler, private marking consultant; Leland McKinney, grain science professor; Carl Reed, grain science professor emeritus; and Kantha Lakshmikantha, grain science professor.

“The range of presenters that we feature in this course helps create a great learning environment where participants have the opportunity to expand their understanding of grain purchasing through discussion and hands-on activities,” O’Neil said. “It allows us to cover topics such as protecting buyers and important needs to ensure product quality, as well as opening up discussion to issues relating to contract construction and price risk management.”

The course is split into two, one-week sessions. Throughout the first week participants will focus on the basic fundamentals of grain purchasing and then shift that focus toward grain trading and hedging to finish out the second week.

In between the two sessions participants will have to opportunity to join an optional field trip to an export loading facility either in the U.S. Gulf or the Pacific Northwest.

For more information or to register for this course, go to the IGP website at www.ksu.edu/igp.