Growing the footprint of traditional grain origination

dc.contributor.authorPloeger, Dustin
dc.date.accessioned2010-12-17T16:05:23Z
dc.date.available2010-12-17T16:05:23Z
dc.date.graduationmonthDecember
dc.date.issued2010-12-17
dc.date.published2010
dc.description.abstractThis thesis focuses on the rapid growth of new generation contracts used by grain producers. Specifically, the research studies a potential customer base of producers not using Cargill’s new generation contracts. A survey was conducted to uncover possible customer demand for Cargill’s marketing solutions. Those surveyed do not have the opportunity to use these solutions because their operations typically lay outside the footprint of existing Cargill grain facilities. With Cargill’s Flex Delivery Program, sales professionals have the ability to sell grain marketing solutions, like new generation contracts, to farming operations outside of existing asset footprints. From the experiences of current sales professionals offering new generation contracts via Cargill’s Flex Delivery Program, the author hypothesized that there are three primary variables influencing the likelihood of a customer finding value in the Flex Delivery Program. The size of farming operation, the number of facilities they deliver grain to and the importance they place on forward marketing are critical components to determining if a farming operation may market grain through Cargill’s Flex Delivery Program using a new generation contract. The survey results revealed the percentage of the sample population fit the criteria of a Flex Delivery candidate. The survey questions were also designed to uncover farmer demographics, current marketing styles, competition, and, in general, provide good background information useful for making follow-up sales calls on those selected to survey. The results show roughly a third of those surveyed are Flex Delivery candidates.
dc.description.advisorAllen M. Featherstone
dc.description.degreeMaster of Agribusiness
dc.description.departmentDepartment of Agricultural Economics
dc.description.levelMasters
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2097/7024
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherKansas State University
dc.rights© the author. This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
dc.subjectRisk Management
dc.subjectContract
dc.subjectFutures
dc.subjectGrain
dc.subject.umiAgriculture, General (0473)
dc.subject.umiBusiness Administration, Marketing (0338)
dc.subject.umiEconomics, Agricultural (0503)
dc.titleGrowing the footprint of traditional grain origination
dc.typeThesis

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