Ag Partners Hosts Turkish Grain Warehouse Managers for Insightful Facility Tour on U.S. Storage Practices

At the end of October, we led a tour of our Belvue and Wamego facilities for a group of licensed grain warehouse managers from Turkey. 

Brice Elnicki, SVP Grain & Business Development, led the group hosted by the USDA Warehouse and Commodity Management Division and IGP Institute at Kansas State University.  Elnicki answered questions on how Ag Partners operates their grain facilities, with topics covered ranging from how the elevators function on the day-to-day to how prices are set.   

“Our [USDA’s] main focus of this week is to provide an overview of the regulatory role and functions pertaining to commodity warehousing, keeping in mind that our visitor’s perspective will be more encompassing.” Carie Cameron, Director of Warehouse and Commodity Management Division at USDA, said.  “The purpose of visiting your [Ag Partners’] facility is to provide the group direct exposure to operational best practices and technologies used in U.S. grain storage and handling facilities, and ultimately, the opportunity to see firsthand how current market conditions drive warehouse operations and through-put activity.” Cameron said. 

IGP (International Grains Program)’s mission is to provide technical and research-based training to benefit industry professionals internationally and enhance the market’s preference for U.S. grains and oilseeds.  Their perspective and information from intensive and specific yet broad research allowed the visitors from Turkey to ask questions and gain an in-depth look into the grain market and what it means to be part of the network of growers and exporters.  

In Turkey, licensed agricultural warehousing encourages farmers to produce high-quality goods by providing standardized storage and quality analysis, which enhances food safety. This system benefits the processed food industry by allowing it to access certified products at desired quality levels without having to manage its own storage facilities. Farmers lacking storage can use licensed warehouses, gaining security and insurance while avoiding stockpiling and price speculation. Additionally, they can use product certificates as collateral to obtain financing. Established legally in 2005 and implemented in 2011, licensed warehousing now has 68 firms with government permits, and it is expected to help stabilize food prices and control inflation. 

We hope these tours and discussions provided our Turkish visitors with valuable insights into grain storage, marketing, and elevator operations. Sharing knowledge and innovations is vital to our industry’s success, and we were honored to have the opportunity to connect and exchange expertise with our colleagues from across the Atlantic.