Mike Pearson takes a look at an ancient technology Cargill is turning to in order to get their grains across the ocean.

Cargill commissioned a company in England to create 123 feet fiberglass foldable sails for their bulk cargo ship, Pyxis Ocean.

The sails will rely on wind to help cut fuel costs for the ship. IT was recently sent on a short trip from Shanghai to Singapore. The next stop for the ship will be Brazil.

If all the tests go as planned, Cargill plans to add 10 more ships with the foldable fiberglass sails.

The idea is that wind is free and that with increasing fuel costs, the ships with the sails will pay for themselves within seven to ten years depending on fuel costs.

The downfall for the ships is that shipping routes may have to adapt so that they use the routes with the most wind.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, a farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.