Trade Rules and Arbitration Seminar

Offered only once every other year, NGFA's Seminar on Trading, Trade Rules and Arbitration provides attendees with a primer on contracting principles and trading practices to minimize costly trade disputes and contract non-performance. Designed for those involved in trading operations or responsible for merchandising grains, feed and feed ingredients, the program uses extensive case studies and includes sessions on:

  • Trade rules application

  • Commercial and producer contracting

  • Laws and standards applicable to grain and feed transactions

  • Avoiding disputes and use of arbitration when necessary
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In addition to obtaining a working knowledge of trade and contracting matters, and extensive course materials for future reference, participants conclude the seminar with a competency test.

The next Trade Rules & Arbitration Seminar will be held in early May 2022 - check back for details.


2019 SEMINAR AGENDA

Monday, May 6, 2019

3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Registration
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. NextGen Networking Reception
6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. OFF SITE ACTIVITY: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies (additional registration required; round-trip transportation provided)

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

7:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. Registration
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m.

Seminar Welcome & Introduction

Dean O'Harris, Head Organic Merchandiser, Perdue AgriBusiness LLC, Chair, NGFA Trade Rules Committee

Charlie Delacruz, Senior Vice President, General Counsel  & Secretary, NGFA
8:05 a.m. Session I - Grain Trade Rules/Rail Freight Trading Rules

Ryan Warner, Senior Manager, Rail Pricing, Bunge North America Inc., Chair, NGFA Grain Trade Rules Subcommittee/Secondary Rail Freight Trading Task Force

Tom Bright, Director of Grain Merchandising, Agtegra Cooperative, NGFA Grain Trade Rules Subcommittee/Secondary Rail Freight Trading Rules Task Force

Kayla Burkhart, General Manager, Dakota Midland Grain LLC, NGFA Grain Trade Rules Subcommittee

Jay Matthews, Grain Marketing Manager, Midwest Grain LLC, NGFA Grain Trade Rules Subcommittee

Dan Suarez, Merchandiser & Transportation Manager, Central States Enterprises, LLC, NGFA Grain Trade Rules Subcommittee
9:05 a.m.

Session II - Feed Trade Rules

Mike Meyers, Director of Wheat By-Products, APEX, Chair, NGFA Feed Trade Rules Subcommittee

John Augspurger, Director of Feed Business Management, Livestock Nutrition Center, NGFA Feed Trade Rules Subcommittee

Sean Broderick, DDGS Marketing Manager, CHS Inc., NGFA Feed Trade Rules Subcommittee

Edmund Hall, President, Harris-Crane Inc., NGFA Feed Trade Rules Subcommittee
10:00 a.m. Mid-Morning Break
10:15 a.m. Session III - The Barge Trade: Barge Trade and Barge Freight Trading Rules; Barge Digital Transformation Project

Danny Andersen, Barge Freight Trading Manager, Cargill Inc.

Steve Lucas, President Jayhawker Consulting Co., LLC, NGFA Barge Trade Rules Subcommittee

Brittany Schaefer, Logistics Manager, Bunge North America, Chair, NGFA Barge Document Transformation Project Steering Committee

Mark Stoppel, Vice President, Dry Sales, American Commercial Lines Inc. NGFA Barge Freight Trading Rules Subcommittee
11:15 a.m. Session IV - NGFA Arbitration

Sharon Clark, Senior Vice President, Transportation & Regulatory Affairs, Perdue AgriBusiness LLC, Chair, NGFA Arbitration Appeals Panel

Charlie Delacruz, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, NGFA
12:00 p.m. Session V - Case Studies Presentation and Working Lunch

Steve Lucas, President Jayhawker Consulting Co., LLC, NGFA Barge Trade Rules Subcommittee
2:00 p.m. Discussion of Case Studies
3:30 p.m. Mid-Afternoon Break
3:40 p.m. Session VI - Legal Principles for Contracting and Trading

Simon "Chip" Buckner, Corporate Counsel, Bartlett and Company, Chair, NGFA Legal Council

David Barrett, Jr., Managing Partner, Barrett, Easterday, Cunningham & Eselgroth LLP

Jacob Bylund, Partner, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
5:00 p.m. Distribution of Take-home Examinations & Program Concludes