Milling & Baking News - November 15, 2011 - 12

Business 

Quakes strike near Shawnee, but ﬂour mills escape damage
Okeene, is about 120 miles northwest of Sparks. “There was no damage to the mills or businesses in the state, but many of the homes in the area experienced breakage, glass broken in kitchens,” said William L. Ford, president of Shawnee Milling. “A tower at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee was badly damaged.” Mr. Ford said he and his wife had spent the day in Norman Saturday, watching a University of Oklahoma football game with classmates marking the 50th anniversary since they entered the school. “We were back at home after the game, and I had just climbed into bed when the earthquake hit,” Mr. Ford said. “I got out of bed and couldn’t move across the room. The quake the night before hit at about 2 a.m. while we were sound asleep. It was a 4.4 magnitude quake. Benedictine Hall at St. Gregory’s University sustained severe dam- Everything was shaking, age in a Nov. 5 earthquake. The university is four miles from and when my wife woke her first thought was that Shawnee Milling Co., which did not sustain damage. SHAWNEE, OKLA. — The flour mills of Shawnee Milling Co. sustained no damage when the state was struck by two earthquakes in less than 24 hours. The second and stronger of the earthquakes, preliminarily estimated as a 5.6 magnitude quake, struck at 10:53 p.m. on Saturday night, Nov. 5. The epicenter was just east of Sparks, Okla., only 24 miles north of Shawnee. Shawnee Milling’s second mill, in

someone had broken into the house and was in our room. I’ve lived here my entire life and have never experienced anything like it. “The main thing is no one was hurt by these earthquakes so far as I know. After two quakes in two days, everyone is a little on edge, waiting for another shoe to drop. There’s just a bit of remaining anxiety.” The earthquakes had a compounding effect on a state that has struggled for longer than a year with severe drought, Mr. Ford said. Wheat production in Oklahoma was down sharply in 2011, and the corn crop was devastated. Cattle numbers are off sharply, Mr. Ford said. He said Shawnee Milling has been fortunate in that the quality of the 2011 wheat crop has been excellent, even though the crop size has been small. Temperatures over the summer hit the highest levels ever in Shawnee, reaching 115 degrees. “Everyone watched out for each other at the mill, and we never missed a beat,” Mr. Ford said. The earthquakes amid the drought have created a feeling of “what’s next” in Oklahoma, he said. On the other hand portions of the state received up to four inches of rain early Nov. 7, creating hope that the worst has passed, he added. MBN

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

Syngenta Viptera corn trait receives approval in Argentina
BASEL, SWITZERLAND — Syngenta said the Ministry of Agriculture in Argentina has approved Syngenta’s triple corn stack Bt11 x MIR162 x GA21 for cultivation in that country beginning with the 201213 season. Brazil already has introduced the triple corn stack, which combines herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. “The approval of our triple stack corn seed confirms our leading offer for insect control in Argentina,” said John Atkins, chief operating officer for Syngenta. “It adds to the array of technology we are now bringing to corn growers as an integrated offer, including market leading seed care and crop protection. Triple stack corn will be just one

component contributing to the significant sales growth and market share gains that we expect to achieve in coming years.” According to Syngenta, the MIR162 trait (Agrisure Viptera) offers “outstanding” control of fall army worm, sugarcane borer and corn earworm, the main insect threats to corn in Argentina. Viptera was the subject of a bitter legal dispute between Syngenta and Bunge Ltd. (See Milling & Baking News of Oct. 4, Page 12.) MBN president of Cargill Korea Ltd. and also held an oilseed processing merchandising and risk management position for Cargill in the United States. Mr. Schouvieller said the company’s growth in AsiaPacific markets like Korea is a key component to adding volume and market access for long-term stakeholder value. “Expanding our global capabilities and footprint in agriculture and energy commodities is one of the company’s strategic aspirations,” he said. MBN
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CHS opens ofﬁce in South Korea
ST. PAUL, MINN. — CHS Inc. has opened an office in Seoul, South Korea, a move the company expects to strengthen its business with that nation’s growing customer base. “Korea is an important, strategic demand base for corn, soybeans, wheat and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS),” said Brian Schouvieller, vicepresident of international business for CHS. “CHS has done business in Korea for many years. With this office, Korean
12 / November 15, 2011 Milling & Baking News

customers will further gain acceptance of our farmer-owned business model. We plan to build on that base to serve more Korean customers and expand this market for our memberowners.” Charles Kim, who will manage the CHS Korea office, will be responsible for further building customer relationships and risk management. Prior to joining CHS, Mr. Kim was general manager and

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Milling & Baking News - November 15, 2011

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