Erica Shaffer is the managing editor of MEAT+POULTRY. After joining Sosland Publishing Company in 2009, Shaffer worked as the website editor of several Sosland titles before joining MEAT+POULTRY as its digital media editor in 2012. Most recently, Shaffer served as MEAT+POULTRY’s Digital Media Senior Editor, a role she was promoted to in 2019. She writes, edits and produces website exclusive stories, images, videos and podcasts featuring leading industry figures, events and issues of interest to meat and poultry processors. Erica brings more than 20 years of experience as a journalist to the role. Connect with Erica Shaffer on Linkedin or via email.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, US — It was a bumpy ride for the global grain industry in 2024.
An already unstable geopolitical situation worsened with military conflicts expanding in Ukraine and the Middle East. Transporting grain efficiently was a challenge, in part because of those wars. And several of the world’s largest agribusiness companies saw profits tumble in a suboptimal economic climate for global agriculture.
The establishment in both Europe and the United States saw a conservative backlash against their liberal policies, leading to political unrest in countries such as France and the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency after a four-year absence. The result will likely be a continued trend toward protectionist policies that will impact the global grain trade in the coming years as well a reduced emphasis on “green” environmental policies that had become prevalent during the past four years.
The following are World Grain’s top 10 stories for 2024.KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, US — The Grain Majors listed in Sosland Publishing Co.’s 2025 Grain & Milling Annual comprise the top North American multiple facility grain companies and cooperatives based on total corporate grain capacity.
To qualify for the complete list, which runs to 103, companies must have two or more facilities and total storage capacity of 6 million bushels. See who made the Top 15.