Grain is the single most important export commodity shipped through four important Canadian ports on the Pacific Coast. Recent rapid growth in these exports have strained present facilities close to capacity. Therefore the necessity has arisen to study the problem of future requirements for grain handling facilities in British Columbia. Furthermore the over-all development of British Columbia ports has been widely discussed in recent years and because grain is such an important export, the problem of port development requires specific study of grain handling facilities. Investigation of future grain handling requirements relied on both library and field sources. Field work, mainly in the form of interviews with people in port administration and grain handling and selling were especially useful in gaining first-hand knowledge of the actual problems of grain exporting. Facts and opinions gained from field work were also invaluable to interpretation of a large mass of statistics that were available from various library sources. The results of the research have led to several conclusions. The most important is that the Pacific Coast of Canada requires new grain handling facilities in the near future. In addition improvements in handling are possible within existing facilities and throughout the extensive system of grain gathering which begins on the farms, hundreds of miles from the export point. In addition to the above findings there are several important secondary conclusions. First, the markets for grain are likely to continue growing in the foreseeable future. Because the markets of greatest growth are near the Pacific Ocean, Canada's West Coast ports are well situated to serve them. Second, the United States Pacific ports are also well situated to provide direct competition with Canada. If and when this competition becomes more direct, Canada will require the best facilities to keep its customers. Third, Canadian ports have definite advantages to ship operators over the United States ports in the form of lower charges for port use, but maintenance of efficiency in Canadian ports is essential to maintaining this advantage. Finally, the main Canadian Pacific ports are physically suitable for the expansion of grain handling facilities. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

The objective of this study is to evaluate the configuration of China's grain production pattern and the implications for agricultural trade. A spatial equilibrium model is developed to optimize grain production and distribution in China and its trade relationship with its trade partners. This study focuses on four grain crops: rice, wheat, com, and soybeans. The model divides China into 31 producing regions and 31 consuming regions. The model also includes seven exporting countries and six Asian importing regions. Results indicate that China can improve its grain production and social welfare through production specialization under a free-trade environment. China could become a major wheat and soybean importer, and a com and rice exporter to Asian countries. The study also provides perspectives on U.S. exports to China and other Asian countries.

This study traces the evolution of the wheat industry in Zimbabwe and draws historical lessons for a food policy aimed at self-sufficiency in wheat. An activity analysis approach to the problem of wheat production is presented. The approach employs questionnaire survey data to construct wheat enterprise budgets. The budgets as well as direct statistical tests are discussed as means of evaluating hypotheses on resource use. The study suggests that economies of size exist in wheat production in Zimbabwe. / Master of Science

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on December 18, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)--StellenboschUniversity, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The protection that agriculture in South Africa enjoyed under the Marketing Act was terminated in 1996 when the controlled marketing of agricultural products was abolished. The grain industry and individual winter-grain producers in the Western Cape is now compelled to be competitive internationally. The ability of local producers to compete effectively can be improved by increased yields, a reduction in production costs, higher import levies, import control and the weakening in the exchange rate of the rand. This investigation focuses on strategies aimed at reducing production costs as a means of improving competitiveness. The field of this study is the winter-grain producing sub-regions of the Southern Cape which are severly affected by the deteriorating situation. In the course of this investigation typical farming units were identified that can be regarded as representative of farming activities in the specific sub-regions of the Southern Cape. Existing literature as well as the opinions of authorities (group of experts) on the subject were used as sources of information in the study of cost-saving methods of production. The emphasis was therefore on the identification and evaluation of appropriate alternative production practices. The practice of minimum tillage with accomanying reduced input costs proved to have merit. The current situation was evaluated with the assistance of a group of experts and possible alternative practices were discussed. A financial cost-benefit analysis was used to compare the current production practices with practices proposed in this study in order to ascertain its feasibility. Directives are offered to producers in order to reduce the production costs and thereby become more cost-effective. Based on the results of the case studies in the different sub-regions the conclusion was reached that the suggested alternative practices can result in a reduction in production costs and thereby make a marked contribution towards the ability of winter-grain farmers in the Southern Cape to improve their competitive position. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die deregulering van die Suid-Afrikaanse landbou in 1996, is aile beskerming vanaf beheerrade aan produsente geskrap. Die graanbedryf in die Wes-Kaap is nou onder groot druk om meer mededingend te wees teenoor internasionale produsente en elke individuele produsent moet dus poog om so mededingend as moontlik te wees. Die mededingende posisie van plaaslike produsente kan verbeter word deur, onder andere, 'n verhoging in die eenheidsopbrengs, 'n verswakkende wisselkoerswaarde van die Rand, invoertariewe en -kwotas en deur die verlaging van insetkoste. Hierdie ondersoek fokus op strategiee gemik op die verlaging van insetkostes ten einde mededingendheid te verbeter. Die kleingraanproduserende sub-streke van die Suid-Kaap, wat ook deur hierdie verswakkende mededingendheid-situasie geraak word, dien as ondersoekgebied vir hierdie studie. In die ondersoek is daar gefokus op die identifisering van tipiese boerdery-eenhede wat as verteenwoordigend beskou kan word van die boerderybedrywighede in die ge'identifiseerde sub-streke van die Suid-Kaap. Bestaande literatuur en menings van bedryfskenners is gebruik as inligtingsbronne vir die ondersoek na koste-besparende produksiemetodes. Die klem val dus op die identifikasie en evaluasie van toepaslike alternatiewe produksiepraktyke. Die praktyk van verminderde bewerking met die gepaardgaande verlaagde bewerkings- en ander insetkoste het veral op die voorgrond getree. Die gedetailleerde ontleding van die produksiepraktyke en gepaardgaande winsgewendheid van die huidige situasiesketse van die verskillende gevallestudies dien as vertrekpunt vir die ontledings. Deur gebruik te maak van 'n groep bedryfskenners (ekspertgroep) word die huidige situasie beoordeel en moontlike alternatiewe praktyke wat gevolg kan word, word bespreek en beoordeel. Die huidige produksiepraktyke word vergelyk met die voorgestelde verbeterde produksiepraktyke met behulp van 'n tinansiele voordeel-koste ontleding ten einde die haalbaarheid daarvan te evalueer. Daar word in hierdie ondersoek dus riglyne aan produsente verskaf waarvolgens te werk gegaan kan word ten einde hul mededingende posisie deur middel van koste-besparende produksiemetodes te verbeter. Vanuit die evaluering van die gekose gevallestudies in die verskillende sub-streke is dit duidelik dat die alternatiewe praktyke, soos voorgestel deur die bedryfskenners, kan lei tot 'n verlaging van insetkoste en dus tot 'n verhoging in die mededingendheid van die Suid-Kaapse kleingraanprodusent.

Digitized by Kansas State University Libraries

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Successful strategy implementation is necessary in order for a strategic plan to be worthwhile for a business. Research has indicated that companies are often weak at strategic execution and it is held that weak execution is often the reason for a failed strategy or business. The execution of a strategy is, however, far more complex and difficult than the formulation of a good strategy. A reason for this is the fact that relatively few conceptual models for strategy execution exist while this field attracts less attention in research than the field of strategy formulation. Recent publications focus narrowly on specific areas such as leadership or performance measurement and fail to integrate these traditional views on business management into a single model for strategy implementation. GrainCo Group, a grain supply chain management company, does not follow a pre-defined strategy execution methodology and could, as a result, be missing out on profitable business opportunities. The group’s management team agrees that its ability to successfully execute strategy is hampered by a lack of such a methodology. This forms the basis for this research report where the question asked is the following: What framework can GrainCo Group adopt in an effort to improve strategy execution in the Group? It was found that strategy execution spans all aspects of business management and cannot be viewed in isolation. Strategy implementation should therefore be seen as an integrated, boundary-less set of activities where information flows unrestricted between all business units and constant focus is placed on both “hard” and “soft” management issues. Information flows and clarity about decision rights are of critical importance when applying a process perspective to business management. Strategy implementation cannot be viewed as a distinct event and should become inherent in the company’s management style. It was further suggested that the GrainCo Group adopt a combination of two of the most representative strategy implementation methodologies together with changes to a number of important elements of management style. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vermoë om ‘n sakestrategie suksesvol uit te voer is ‘n noodsaaklike voorvereiste vir ‘n strategiese plan om van waarde te wees. Navorsing het aangedui dat maatskappye dikwels nie goed vaar in die uitvoering van sakestrategie nie en dat swak uitvoering dikwels lei to die ondergang van ‘n besigheid of strategie. Die uitvoering van ‘n strategie is egter baie meer kompleks as die blote formulering daarvan. ‘n Rede vir bogenoemde is die feit dat daar relatief min konseptuele modelle vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie bestaan terwyl hierdie veld minder aandag trek in navorsing as die formulering van strategie. Onlangse publikasies fokus op spesifieke areas soos leierskap en prestasiemeting en slaag nie daarin om hierdie tradisionele areas van bestuur te kombineer in ‘n enkele model vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie nie. GrainCo Groep, ‘n graan-voorsieningsketting bestuursmaatskappy, maak tans nie gebruik van ‘n spesifieke model vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie nie en die groep se bestuurspan stem saam dat sy vermoë om strategie suksesvol uit te voer hierdeur ondermyn word. Voorgenoemde vorm die basis van hierdie navorsingsverslag waarin die volgende vraag gevra word: Watter raamwerk vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie kan die GrainCo Groep aawend om meer suksesvol te wees met die uitvoering van strategie? Navorsing het getoon dat die uitvoering van strategie alle aspekte van sakebestuur aanraak en dat dit nie in isolasie gesien kan word nie. Uitvoering behoort gevolglik gesien te word as ‘n grenslose, geïntegreerde reeks van aktiwiteite waar inligting onbelemmer vloei tussen alle sake-eenhede terwyl gereelde aandag gegee word aan die “harde” en “sagte” aspekte van sakebestuur. Die vloei van inligting en duidelikheid oor besluitnemingsregte is van kritieke belang in so ‘n geïntegreerde model. Die uitvoering van strategie kan ook nie in isolasie gesien word nie en behoort ‘n integrale deel te vorm van ‘n onderneming se bestuurstyl. Dit word voorgestel dat die GrainCo Groep ‘n kombinasie van die twee mees verteenwoordigende modelle vir die uitvoering van sakestrategie aanneem tesame met die aanpassing van ‘n aantal belangrike elemente van die maatskappy se bestuurstyl.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 222-235) Develops a coherent theoretical framework to analyse the formulation of grain procurement policy for the entire history of the PRC. An optimization model is constructed to capture Chinese policy makers' preferences regarding the competing objectives of sectoral income distribition and food security, as well as the factors governing the trade-off between thes two objectives and the choice of policy instruments. Also analyses the impacts of China's accession to WTO on its grain sector. To explain the numerous failures of China's grain policy, studies the problems arising from policy formulation and implementation.

This thesis examines the efficiency of the price discovery mechanism in small regional markets utilizing the feed grain markets in the Maritime Provinces of Canada as a case study. Through the application of the Law of One Price (LOP), price transmission symmetry and Vector Error Correction Models (VEC), the author determined the price relationships that exist between the feed grain market in the Maritime Provinces and those in Western and Central Canada as external sources of supply. / The results suggest that there exists a relatively high degree of arbitrage between Maritime feed grain prices and those of Thunder Bay or Chatham for equivalent quality, price transmission being strictly from West to East. Although the LOP hypothesis must be rejected in the short run, in most cases, it was found to hold in the long run. Local markets appear to be highly integrated and price adjustment occurs within a period of four to six weeks, generally corresponding to the lead time of feed grain orders and transportation from Western Canada. A price transmission analysis found no evidence of the exercise of market power in the pricing of local grain. / In general, the pricing of local grains in the Maritimes may be judged as efficient considering that the lag in price response corresponds to the replacement period for Western grains.