OMIC USA Inc.

Our Inspector Mr. Bryan Pogan joined the 56th Annual Hard Winter Wheat Tour which was coordinated by the Wheat Quality Council and opened on April 29 in Manhattan, Kansas.

The tour took three days, it started in Manhattan KS, on April 30th, and ended in Kansas City KS, on May 2nd. Tour participants included people from around the wheat industry such as growers, transportation, facility, shipping and exporting.

As Bryan left Manhattan KS on the first day, his group found some really good wheat fields in north central Kansas, with some fields projected to yield in the high 70s and low 80s (Bushels per acre). However, as they traveled towards Colby in northwest Kansas, the soil moisture profile got drier and drier- and projected yields dropped. Overall Bryan says the fields look poorer than previous year but the wheat plant is a tough plant, battling drought, frost, and wheat mites. Bryan’s group also noted some stem damage in some areas due to the freezing temperatures in early April. Some of the irrigated fields got hit harder by the freeze. In some areas the fields had patchy spots where wheat had died off completely. Of course everyone is anxious to see the final results on this year’s crop, but it will be a while before harvest and who knows what can happen between now and then. Bryan noted that his opinion as well as other participants on the tour, is that this year will hold lower yield numbers and will see about a 5% drop from last year. But only time will tell how much wheat makes it to harvest in Kansas this year.

Bryan also adds that the weather was horrible with heavy rain and wind as well as snow at times. What made it bareable Bryan adds “Kansas has some great BAR-B-Q!”. His group ended their field scouting with a lunch at Mays BBQ Bar, which is somewhat of a tradition for tour participants. Before leaving Bryan also visited the Kansas Board of Trade in Kansas City, and was able to watch the market close with very little action.

For more information a link is provided here to the Wheat Quality Council’s website. http://www.wheatqualitycouncil.org/

Also from Food Business News: http://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/news_home/Purchasing_News/2013/05/Kansas_crop_tour_sees_lower_yi.aspx?ID=%7B126F20F1-90A2-4596-86FB-15ED96213779%7D&cck=1

From the Daily News online:
Pro-union protesters set up river picket at Port of Kalama
http://tdn.com/news/local/protesters-in-boats-block-grain-ship-at-port-of-kalama/article_e35b9bea-b73f-11e2-a2d0-0019bb2963f4.html

Pro-union protesters set up river picket at Port of Kalama
Boats block grain ship in response to lockout at Port of Vancouver
http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/may/07/protesters-boats-block-grain-ship-port-kalama/

From Oregonlive:
Longshore protest boat violates safety zone at Port of Kalama, draws Coast Guard citation
http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2013/05/longshore_protest_boat_violate.html#incart_river

From The Columbian: Judge delays civil suit over alleged sabotage at grain elevator – Delay will allow prosecutors to decide on criminal charges
http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/may/03/judge-delays-civil-suit-over-alleged-sabotage-grai/

Breaking News…from: Oregonlive.com
Columbia Grain export terminal locks out longshore workers at the Port of Portland
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/05/columbia_grain_export_terminal.html#incart_river

From Reuters: Columbia Grain locks out dockworkers in U.S. Pacific Northwest
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/04/us-usa-ports-lockout-idUSBRE9430A020130504

From Yahoo news: Dockworkers protest Columbia Grain lockout in Oregon
http://news.yahoo.com/columbia-grain-locks-dockworkers-u-pacific-northwest-182851798.html

From The Columbian:United Grain, union trade charges
Company acknowledges that replacement workers are being used

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/may/02/united-grain-union-trade-charges-port-vancouver/

From The Columbian: Police show up in force at Port of Vancouver

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/may/01/vancouver-police-show-force-port-vancouver/

From The Columbian;
ILWU sees Temco pact useful in other talks
Grain official: Using it as basis for negotiations is a ‘nonstarter’
http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/apr/12/ilwu-sees-temco-pact-useful-in-other-talks/

From Oregonlive.com;
Threats by union members against river pilots are counterproductive — and bad form
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/04/threats_by_union_members_again.html

From The Columbian;
Probe of sabotage allegation at port complete – Prosecutor will decide whether to charge official with longshore union
http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/apr/08/probe-of-sabotage-allegation-complete/

From Oregon Live;
Columbia River pilots say longshore picketers encircle, threaten them at United Grain
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/04/columbia_river_pilots_say_long.html

Below link to USDA’s Grain Transportation Report dated; March 28, 2013. Report provides weekly highlights and comments on the stalled grain negotiations in the Pacific Northwest.

This link takes you directly to the GTR.
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5103273&acct=graintransrpt

It isn’t every year that those of us here in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. get to enjoy this kind of beautiful weather so early in the year as it has been, especially today, March 27, 2013. It was very nice outside with mild temperature good enough for shorts and short sleves.

On days like this it’s great to be an OMIC Portland Branch Inspector. Oh! and the weather….it will only get better from here. Cheers!

March 23, 2013

From Oregonlive.com
Talks break down between longshore union and Northwest grain terminal operators

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/03/talks_break_down_between_longs.html