NAMA News - August 2007
Inside this Issue |
Millers who attended the 2004 Annual Meeting in Kiawah Island, SC will remember speaker Rich Galen who shared his analysis of the political landscape. Galen is currently a senior paid advisor to the Fred Thompson for President campaign, and was part of Thompson’s announcement of his candidacy Wednesday on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. |
Census changes reporting of state flour production
As a result of discussions between NAMA and the Bureau of the Census, the Census changed how it reports state flour production. The Census now supplies reports on a regional basis for a number of areas, which includes states not previously included due to a federal mandate about disclosing information on individual companies.
NAMA provides funding to the Census Bureau to collect the data on flour milling production and wheat grind. Milling & Baking News also participated in the discussions.
Oats and the Farm Bill
With the House of Representative’s passage of its version of the farm bill, attention now turns to the Senate. NAMA believes the House bill, with a large increase in program support for barley, would mean further declines in already record-low U.S. oat production since the two crops have nearly identical yields and usually compete for the same acres, especially in North Dakota.
NAMA does not have a position on a preferred level of federal support for commodity programs. But NAMA has been advocating a policy that, whatever amount Congress decides to spend on those programs, it should spend it in a way that does not distort growers’ planting decisions. Currently, the programs for peas and lentils have done just that, at the expense of oat and wheat acres. The House incentives for barley would make that bad situation worse.
NAMA Director Bruce Roskens, NAMA vice president Jim Bair, and two representatives of PepsiCo/Washington spent two days visiting key Senate offices to explain the situation and press for a more market-neutral bill. They had productive meetings in the offices of Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), agriculture committee chairman; Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), ranking Republican on the committee; Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Mike Crapo (R-ID).
Technical Committee meets in Kansas
Members of NAMA’s Technical Committee met September 11-12 in Manhattan, Kansas. Maureen Olewnik, vice-president for audit and technical services at AIB International, gave a presentation on sustainability and sustainability audits to the group. Committee members attended briefings by the staff of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, GMPRC (Grain Marketing and Production Research Center) and the Kansas State University Department of Grain Science. The briefings covered many new tools to assist breeders development of varieties with improved disease resistance and milling and baking quality. The meeting concluded with a tour of the new K-State mill. NAMA hosted a dinner at the university for colleagues from AIB, Kansas State University, Kansas Wheat Commission and USDA-ARS. Copies of all the presentations will be available shortly on the NAMA web site.
GFF launches healthy snacking campaign
The Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) launched the fall public relations campaign with a satellite media tour in New York City featuring Food Network’s Robin Miller. She conducted sixteen interviews with radio and television stations across the country, and met with editors from American Baby, Family Circle and Fitness. Robin Miller's interview with the “Daily Buzz” is on the Internet at http://streaming.vmsnews.com/media/wsxtemp/92C5BAA1-9F3C-459F-BC55-09B60DDEDEAD.wsx. "Daily Buzz" is a nationally syndicated morning program that reaches 2,243,537 viewers. The advertising value for this segment is $267,085.
WFC develops consumer resources on biotechnology
The Wheat Foods Council (WFC) has developed a fact sheet on biotechnology. The fact sheet contains the latest information on biotechnology and provides links to several websites on the issue. Download the fact sheet at http://www.wheatfoods.org.
Biotechnology was recently the topic of discussion on the WFC blog, “Grain Talk.” Read the blog on the WFC web site.
BIO Excellence Through Stewardship Program
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has announced the first industry-coordinated stewardship program, Excellence Through Stewardship: Advancing Best Practices in Agricultural Biotechnology that will promote the responsible management of plant biotechnology. It is the latest in a long line of industry stewardship programs that BIO and its members have developed and supported. While many companies already have quality management programs in place, Excellence Through Stewardship takes these programs to the next level. It will provide industry guidelines for the adoption of stewardship principles and third-party audits of quality management practices.
NAMA’s statement at the time of release: The North American Millers’ Association is very pleased BIO has developed the “Product Life Cycle Stewardship Quality Management Program.” We are particularly gratified that the program encompasses the full life cycle of products derived from biotechnology as well as a third-party audit component. It is clear a great deal of effort went into its creation, and it will enhance any individual company program already in place. We strongly support BIO’s plans to reach out to academics and non-BIO members to encourage their participation in this program. BIO is taking an important step toward stewardship of an evolving science, and NAMA congratulates them for it.
For more details visit www.ExcellenceThroughStewardship.org.
Around the NAMA membership
Mennel Milling Company – The ribbon cutting for Mennel Milling’s new plant in Roanoke, VA took place August 14. The new mill replaces an older flour mill in another part of the city that was tapped by the city for redevelopment.
ADM Milling Company – Craig Fischer, ADM’s representative to NAMA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee for six years, has retired from the company. Craig also chaired the Kansas State Committee and served on the Meeting Committee. Mark Kolkhorst has been appointed to succeed Craig as president and will assume his leadership roles in NAMA. We wish Craig well in the new phase of his life and welcome Mark to NAMA.
Congratulations to:
Mike Pate, Bay State Milling Company – Mike Pate has been appointed vice president of milling quality assurance. Mike is former chairman and current member of NAMA’s Technical Committee.
George Schember, Horizon Milling, LLC – George Schember Vice President Commercial Manager/Order Fulfillment, has accepted a position with Cargill, Inc. as vice president North American transportation. George has been an active participant in the Soft Wheat Division meeting for nine years and was a member of the Biofuels Committee.
NAMA in the news
North American Millers' Association Petitions EPA for Access to Methyl Bromide
Read the article at http://zeus.grainnet.com/enewsletterpro/t.aspx?S=4&ID=280&NL=8&N=325&SI=20952&URL=http://www.grainnet.com/info/articles.html?ID=47045Grainnet
August 12, 2007
Interview with North American Millers' Association President Betsy ...
Read the article at http://www.grainnet.com/articles/Interview_with_North_American_Millers__Association_President_Betsy_Faga__Millers_Face_Upcoming_Challenges-47627.html
Grainnet
“...Changes in plantings, concerns about weather conditions, and the impact on quality may produce challenges to corn and wheat millers. ...”
August 11, 2007
NAMA's Annual Meeting Is Just Over a Month Away; General Session Speakers Confirmed
http://zeus.grainnet.com/enewsletterpro/t.aspx?S=4&ID=280&NL=8&N=325&SI=20952&URL=http://www.grainnet.com/info/articles.html?ID=47079Grainnet
August 9, 2007
NAMA petitions for methyl bromide extension
Bakingbusiness.com
“. . . The North American Millers’ Association recently submitted its petition for a Critical Use Exemption (C.U.E.) to allow members . . .”
August 09, 2007
North American Millers' Association Assists in Creating a ...
http://www.grainnet.com/articles/North_American_Millers__Association_Assists_in_Creating_a_Packaging_Task_Force_for_Better_Food_Safety-47048.html
Grainnet
“... In response to concerns raised by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO); the North American Millers' Association (NAMA) and other ...”
August 8, 2007
NAMA petitions EPA for access to methyl bromide
World-Grain.com
“ ... In July, the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) submitted its petition for a Critical Use Exemption (CUE) to allow members continued access to methyl bromide through 2010. ... "
August 08, 2007
North American Millers' Association's 10-Year Anniversary Is Next ...
http://www.grainnet.com/articles/North_American_Millers__Association_s_10_Year_Anniversary_Is_Next_Year__President_Betsy_Faga_Looks_at_the_Past__Present__and_Future_of_the_Association-46988.html
Grainnet
“... One year later, the American Oat Association was added. There were some definite challenges in bringing all of these associations together. ...”
August 7, 2007
Conference calendar
2008 Division Meetings, Palm Coast, FL
The Club at Hammock Beach
Visit the resort's web site at http://www.sanibel-resort.com
March 21-24, 2009
2008 Annual Meeting, Lake Tahoe, NV
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe
Visit the resort's web site at http://laketahoe.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
September 25-27, 2008
2009 Division Meetings, Ft. Myers, FL
Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa
Visit the resort's web site at http://www.sanibel-resort.com
March 21-24, 2009
2009 Annual Meeting, Washington, DC
Sofitel Lafayette Square Hotel
Visit the hotel's web site at http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/3293/fiche_hotel.shtml
October 19-21, 2009
Since the Last Newsletter
Members who would like to review the activities of NAMA staff during the past month go to http://www.namamillers.org/mbr_SLN_08_30_07.cfm.
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