TEGMA
TEGMA Newsletter
August 2013
In This Issue
2013 Fall Symposium
UP Rail Line Upgrades
USDA August Crop Report
New ND Ethanol Plant
KCS Succession Plan
Thank You Sponsors
SAVE THE DATE:
2014 Annual Meeting
Mark your calendars for our annual meeting!

January 23-24, 2014



Montelucia
Resort & Spa
Scottsdale, AZ

STB Schedules Hearing on Mandatory Competitive Switching
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has scheduled an Oct 22, 2013 public hearing to explore issues surrounding the National Industrial Transportation League petition to modify the Board's standards for mandatory competitive switching. Parties wishing to participate must file a notice of intent to participate no later than Sept 23, 2013.
TEGMA Hosts Local Luncheon
TEGMA First Vice Chairman, Mark Huston, hosted a small luncheon for Kansas City based TEGMA members at Milburn Country Club on July 24. TEGMA member discussed current issues, expressed what they would like to see from TEGMA in the coming year, and were treated to a preview of the upcoming TEGMA Fall Symposium. 

A similar luncheon was held in Omaha by TEGMA Chairman Todd McQueen on July 17. 

TEGMA continues to strive to serve its members through a variety of meetings and committees to fulfill the value proposition it promises its membership. 
Thank You & Farewell!

Many thanks to Abigail Hiles for everything she has done for TEGMA over the last 2 1/2 years. Abigail has accepted a new position with Romer Labs as their Agriculture Sales Manager. Her last day with TEGMA and Petersen Consulting will be Thursday, August 15.

 

Please be in touch with Erica Venancio (816) 569-4020 for any future TEGMA business. Thank you!

TEGMA Meets with BNSF Representatives

On Tuesday, August 13, a group of KC area TEGMA members met with Frank Anderson, Scot Stoa and Greg Guthrie from BNSF.

 

The BNSF representatives reviewed plans for the fall harvest including capacity and maintenance projects currently underway that will help support grain shippers across their network. 

 

TEGMA is appreciative of BNSF for taking the time to meet to discuss current issues and are thankful for their active participation in TEGMA.

TEGMA Leadership

Officers

Chairman

Todd McQueen

The Scoular Company 

 

First Vice Chairman

Mark Huston

Louis Dreyfus Commodities 

 

Second Vice Chairman

Brian Mehrmann

Gavilon Grain 

 

Board of Directors

David Ayers

Champaign-Danville

Grain Inspection Depts

 

Bill Eilbracht

Union Pacific

 

Roger Fray

West Central Cooperative

 

John Glynn

CIT Rail

 

Pete Goetzmann

ADM Grain Company

 

Barbara Haertling

BNSF Railway

 

J.L. (Joey) Meibergen III

W.B. Johnston Grain Co.

 

Ryan Pellett

JD Heiskell 

 

Staff

President

Bob Petersen

 

Treasurer/Secretary

Erica Venancio

 

Contact Info

TEGMA Office

P.O. Box 26426

Kansas City, MO 64196

 

Tel: (816) 569-4020

Fax: (816) 221-8189

 

Issue: 2013.2
August 15, 2013
2013 TEGMA Fall Transportation Symposium 
Register now for TEGMA's Annual Fall Transportation Symposium, this year held at the newly remodeled Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, MO, September 12-13.

General Meeting and Registration Information can be found on TEGMA's website.

Speakers include:

Bill Krueger
CEO, Lansing Trade Group LLC

 

Pat Ottensmeyer
EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Kansas City Southern

Jim Dillman
President, MetroPorts

Bill Lapp
Founder and President, Advanced Economic Solutions

 

TEGMA's Fall Symposium, a popular industry tradition, shares the dates with the National Grain Car Council whose members meet on Thursday afternoon, TEGMA members are invited to attend, as well. TEGMA will hold its meeting on Friday morning, with Council members invited to attend. The groups co-host a reception on Thursday evening, September 12, with all invited to attend.

 


To register, click here.
To view a current attendee list, click here.
To reserve a hotel room, click here.
To view the most updated meeting information, click here.
UP Announces Rail Line Upgrades in Iowa, Missouri
Union Pacific Railroad announced plans to invest $18.5 million to upgrade rail lines in Iowa and Missouri.

In a $10.5 million project that began in July, UP is replacing 67,000 ties UP logo and 41,600 tons of ballast along the line between Allerton, Iowa, and Lock Springs, Mo. In addition, crews will renew surfaces at 57 grade crossings and install more than two miles of rail in the yard at Trenton, Mo., UP officials said in a press release.

In an $8 million project that started in Iowa on Aug. 6, UP will replace 50,000 ties and install 18,000 tons of ballast along the line between Mason City and near Iowa Falls. Crews also will renew surfaces at 73 crossings.

The projects are among 1,500 that UP plans to complete across its 32,000-mile network this year.

"In addition to helping move customers' goods more safely and efficiently, our investments support communities by reducing traffic congestion, facilitating industrial development and promoting economic expansion," said Donna Kush, UP's vice president-public affairs for the northern region.
Source: Progressive Railroading 
USDA August Crop Production Report
Corn production is forecast at 13.8 billion bushels, up 28 percent from 2012. If realized, this will be a new record production for the United States. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 154.4 bushels per acre, up 31.0 bushels from 2012. If realized, this will be the highest average yield since 2009. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 89.1 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast but up 2 percent from 2012.

  

Soybean production is forecast at 3.26 billion bushels, up 8 percent from  last year. If realized, production will be the third largest on record.

Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 42.6 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from last year. If realized, the average yield will be the fifth highest on record. Area for harvest is forecast at 76.4 million acres, down less than 1 percent from June but up slightly from 2012. Planted area for the Nation is estimated at 77.2 million acres, down less than 1 percent from June.

 

All wheat production, at 2.11 billion bushels, is up slightly from the July forecast but down 7 percent from 2012. Based on August 1 conditions, wheatthe United States yield is forecast at 46.2 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month but down 0.1 bushel from last year. Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.54 billion bushels, down slightly from the July 1 forecast and down 6 percent from 2012. Based on August 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 47.8 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month but up 0.6 bushel from last year. If realized, this will equal the United States record high yield established in 1999. The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 32.3 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 7 percent from last year.

 

Expected area to be harvested for grain totals 1.50 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 29 percent from last year.

Other spring wheat production is forecast at 511 million bushels, down slightly from July and down 6 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is expected to total 12.0 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 1 percent from last year. The United States yield is forecast at 42.8 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushel from last month and down 2.2 bushels from 2012. Of the total production, 475 million bushels are Hard Red Spring wheat, down slightly from last month and down 6 percent from last year. 

Construction Starts on N.D. Corn-Ethanol Facility
Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, the first U.S. corn-ethanol plant to begin construction in the last five years, celebrated its groundbreaking Friday in Spiritwood, N.D. The plant is expected to use 23 million bushels of corn annually to produce 65 million gallons of ethanol, 6,900 tons of fuel-grade corn oil and 198,000 tons of distillers grains. "This is the first corn-based ethanol plant since 2007 to meet the carbon reduction goals. That's what makes Dakota Spirit unique," said Greg Ridderbusch, president of Midwest AgEnergy Group.

 

To read more, CLICK HERE. 

Source: Ethanol Producer
KCS Succession Plan Continues On-Track

Kansas City Southern on Thursday, Aug. 8 announced, "in furtherance of its long-term succession planning," that Michael R. Haverty will transition from his current position of Executive Chairman and employee of the company, to Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and will also become Chairman of the Executive Committee of the board effective Sept. 30, 2013.

 

"I advised the board yesterday that it was time to step away from being an executive of the company in what  has been a Mike Havertywell-executed succession plan," Haverty said. "It was three years ago the first of this month that I moved up to Executive Chairman and Dave Starling became KCS's CEO. We have a strong, experienced management team now. Plus this year marks my 50th anniversary of starting in the railroad industry as a switchman/brakeman in Atchison, Kan., so the timing is appropriate to transition to Non-Executive Chairman at the end of next month."

 

Haverty will remain on the Board of Directors, a position he was elected to by the shareholders at the May 3, 2012 Annual Meeting, and will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board, a position he was elected to by the board at the May 2, 2013 Annual Meeting. Starling will continue as KCS's CEO and President, and also as a member of the board, a position he was elected to by the shareholders at the May 2, 2013 Annual Meeting.

Source: Railway Age 

Thank You Sponsors!

Thank you to the following sponsors for their support of the 2013 TEGMA Fall Symposium! 

 


BNSF logo
UP logo         

Champaign

NIK