Wheat Flour (Soft, Biscuit/Confectionery Grade)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (Chicago IL; NYSE: ADM; ~$85B revenue FY2023; founded 1902) is the world's largest agricultural commodity processor and a major corn merchandiser supplying livestock feed. ADM's AG Services and Oilseeds segment operates 270+ facilities including corn origination elevators throughout Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, and Minnesota. ADM's Animal Nutrition segment produces lysine, threonine, and other amino acid feed additives used in swine feed premixes globally. ADM's corn wet milling operations (Decatur IL flagship plant; Cedar Rapids IA) produce corn starch, corn syrup, corn oil, ethanol, and DDGS (distillers dried grains with solubles) — DDGS is sold as a protein-energy supplement in swine diets at inclusion rates of 10-20%. ADM is simultaneously the largest US corn merchandiser, a producer of DDGS feed ingredients, and a supplier of amino acid additives that enable lower-protein corn-soy diets in hog production. ADM faced a significant accounting investigation in 2023-2024: the company disclosed that its Nutrition segment had misreported results; CEO Juan Luciano resigned in January 2024 amid DOJ/SEC inquiry, creating management uncertainty during a period of corn market volatility.

Largest US flour milling company (~17.8% of US flour milling revenue); formed May 2014 as JV of Cargill (44%), ConAgra (44%), CHS (12%); operates 40+ mills and bakery-mix facilities across US, Canada, Puerto Rico; supplies commercial bakeries, food manufacturers, and foodservice

Major oilseed crusher and edible-oil processor (the "B" of the ABCD traders).

Largest privately held company in the US by revenue (~$160B in FY2024). Cargill Protein – North America processes beef and pork with major plants at Dodge City KS (one of the world's largest beef plants), Schuyler NE (4,800 cattle/day, 2.7M lbs/day), Wichita KS (beef). ~22% of US beef packing (mid-2000s estimate; current share may be slightly lower). Also a major agricultural commodity trader, animal feed maker, and food ingredient supplier. Cargill's private structure means no public financial disclosure — making supply chain risk assessment harder. The Cargill family holds the majority of shares, making it the wealthiest private US company.