FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, U.S. — Northern Crops Institute will offer the Advanced Grain Procurement Strategies Short Course May 14-18, 2012 at Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. The course is designed for global grain buyers who want to better manage price and quality risks in order to gain a competitive edge in grain marketing decisions.

Lectures in basis analysis, trading strategies, price risk management strategies, quality specifications strategies, logistics management, and buyer/seller relations in grain procurement will be supplemented by trading games, case studies involving real world situations, and panel discussions.

William Wilson, North Dakota State University Distinguished Professor of Agribusiness and Applied Economics and an expert in commodity futures trading, will lead the course. In addition, course participants will have an opportunity to interact with U.S. grain merchandisers, who have years of practical experience in the international grain business.

Persons who attend the course should be actively involved in grain merchandising and be well versed in grain marketing or have a basic understanding of commodity merchandising principles.  Participants must be fluent in the English language.

The course registration fee is $1,100. Payment in full is due one week before the start of the course. Registration deadline is April 23, 2012.

For the course fee, participants will also receive a CD-ROM containing materials from lectures and laboratory demonstrations, and refreshments during scheduled breaks. Hotel rooms and other meals are not included in the fee. Cancellations received after the registration deadline will be assessed a 10% service fee. Special rates are available to groups of three or more from the same company.

For more information and to register, go to www.northern-crops.com and follow the educational courses link or call 1.701.231.7736.