NAMA News December 2007
| Inside this Issue Register for the March Division Meetings NOW! Methyl bromide available to CUE holders for 2008 Congress extends the 2002 Farm Bill to March 15 NAMA’s 2008 Committee Chairmen Ag groups seek more funding for aflatoxin research Letter to President Bush urges release of funds for FMD and MAP GFF launches “Ten Years of Saving Babies” February is the HBA promotion of Bake for Family Fun Month In Memoriam Conference calendar Since the last newsletter |
The New York Stock Exchange closing bell ceremony. Included on the podium are NAMA member and co-chair of the Foundation, Charlie Stout, Pendleton Flour Mills, LLC; NAMA Chairman Rick Schwein, Grain Millers, Inc.; NAMA Executive Committee member, Paul Maass, ConAgra Mills; and NAMA President Betsy Faga. |
Register for the March Division Meetings NOW!
| NAMA's 2008 division meetings are in Palm Coast, Florida at the Ginn Hammock Beach, March 15-18. Palm Coast is on the Atlantic Ocean, the eastern shore of northeast Florida. Jacksonville, Florida is one hour 15 minutes north and Daytona Beach, Florida is 30 minutes south. Historic St. Augustine is a short 15 minute drive from Palm Coast. Please register now. You, your family and guests are invited to attend. Please invite your customers as well. | 
The Ocean Course, site of NAMA's March 2008 Golf Tournament. |
You also need to register for the meeting with NAMA. Complete the registration form for your division’s meeting. The forms can be found on NAMA’s web site at http://www.namamillers.org/2008_Div_General_Info.html. Scroll to the bottom of the page to download the registration form for your division. Return the form to NAMA by email to jweems@namamillers.org or by fax, 202.488.7416. Mail your registration fee to: the North American Millers' Association, Dept. 759039, Baltimore, MD 21275-9039. We do not take credit card payments at this time.
For information about the meeting schedule, go to http://www.namamillers.org/2008_Div_Program.html. For any additional information about the meeting, contact Terri Long at 202.484.2200, ext. 11 or tlong@namamillers.org
Methyl bromide available to CUE holders for 2008
The Environmental Protection Agency signed the rule making methyl bromide available to Critical Use Exemption (CUE) holders like NAMA for 2008. 676,920 pounds were authorized for post-harvest structural uses. This is a decline of 16 percent from the 2007 level. NAMA had voluntarily reduced our request by five percent.
Methyl bromide was to be banned with no exceptions January 1, 2001. However, in 1998 NAMA successfully got Congress to amend the law and set a new phase-out date of January 1, 2005 with opportunities to apply for exemptions. NAMA is now entering the fourth year of receiving such exemptions.
Next month, the U.S. government will be submitting documents to the United Nations Environment Program defending our 2010 exemption request. The 2009 exemption request was forwarded to the UN parties a year ago. It will be reviewed and presumably approved later this year.
Congress extends the 2002 Farm Bill to March 15
Congress extended the 2002 Farm Bill to March 15 to give conferees time to complete a new Farm Bill. Conferees are members of the House and Senate who are appointed to iron out the differences in the two bills. After the two bills have been reconciled, the bill heads to the President for signature enacting it into law, or his veto. President Bush has been threatening to veto the bill because of what he believes are budget gimmicks included to pay for certain provisions.
While informal discussions at the staff level have been ongoing, serious work on the conference will be ramping up in the next couple of weeks. It is likely that House-Senate conferees will complete their work sometime in February.
Of interest to NAMA members are farm policies, food aid, agricultural research and a grain pilot program. As the bill moves into its final stages NAMA will continue to look for opportunities to press its priorities.
NAMA’s 2008 Committee Chairmen
Many thanks to those who are volunteering to serve on the committees. We appreciate your time and expertise.
- Biofuels Committee - Gary Duncan, Bunge Milling, Inc.
- Budget/Finance Committee - Paul Maass, ConAgra Mills
- Corn Dry Milling Conference Committee - Keith Smith, Cargill Corn Milling
- Food and Facility Security Committee - Art Loeffler, Star of the West Milling Company
- International Trade Committee - Stephen H. Wickes, Agricor, Inc., Chairman; Roderick J. Geiger, Bartlett Milling Company, Vice Chairman
- Kansas State Committee - Chairman – To Be Named
- Meeting Committee - James M. Meyer, Italgrani USA
- Product Promotion Committee - Charles B. Stout, Pendleton Flour Mills, LLC
- Technical Committee - R. Don Sullins, ADM Milling Company
- Wheat Issues Committee - Richard C. Siemer, Siemer Milling Company
- Ad Hoc Committee on Farm Bill - Rick Cole, General Mills, Inc.
- Ad Hoc Committee on Methyl Bromide - Richard C. Siemer, Siemer Milling Company
- Ad Hoc Committee on Production Data - James Sharp, C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc.
- Ad Hoc Committee on Whole Grains - Craig Hagood, House-Autry Mills, Inc.
Ag groups seek more funding for aflatoxin research
Previously reported in the December 24, 2007 issue of Feedstuffs
Representatives from the National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council of America, Peanut Foundation, and the Almond Board of California met with representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to seek more funding and research to eliminate aflatoxin. The groups discussed the future of Multi-crop Preharvest Elimination Research and the industry perspective on research priorities. Pre-harvest elimination research led to the development of competitive atoxigenic fungus strains that crowd out the toxin-producing fungus in field environments. This has led to commercialized products in cotton and peanuts and is being studied in corn, almonds, and other tree nuts. Additionally, collaborative ARS and university research through this program is looking at how to move naturally resistant germplasm into commercially acceptable corn hybrids.
Letter to President Bush urges release
of funds for FMD and MAP
The Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports, of which NAMA is a member, sent a letter to President Bush emphasizing the importance of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program and Market Access Program (MAP) funds to ongoing efforts to open, expand, and maintain overseas markets for U.S. products. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has delayed the release of $200 million in MAP funds and $34.5 million in FMD funds. The delay may force companies to cancel export programs and lay off overseas staff. NAMA receives funds under the FMD program. Read the letter at http://www.namamillers.org/word/ Bush_FMD_Funds.doc.
GFF launches “Ten Years of Saving Babies”
The Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) launched the “Ten Years of Saving Babies” campaign this week. The campaign celebrates and recognizes the ten year anniversary of folic acid fortification to enriched grain foods. This week is Folic Acid Awareness Week. GFF has partnered with the March of Dimes and well-known women’s health expert, Dr. Judith Reichman to promote the importance of folic acid through a national publicity effort that includes television, radio and print. As part of the launch, representatives from NAMA, American Bakers Association, GFF and the March of Dimes rang the closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange on January 10.
February is the HBA promotion
of Bake for Family Fun Month
During the month of February, the Home Baking Association (HBA) encourages families to bake together by promoting “Bake for Family Fun Month.” Each week during February new family baking recipes and activities will be posted on the HBA web site, www.homebaking.org.
Members have the opportunity to promote family baking by sharing unique recipes, baking ideas or lesson plans. HBA will publicize them on the Bake for Family Fun Month web page and link to your web site for additional information. This event is promoted through Chase’s Calendar of events, press releases, e-newsletter and to youth organizations and baking educators.
Email recipes, images, baking activities, lesson plans or the links from your web site to hbapatton@aol.com for posting on the HBA web site. If you have questions or would like additional information contact Charlene Patton at hbapatton@aol.com or 785.478.3283
Final copy should be provided by Friday, January 25.
In Memoriam
It is with great sadness that NAMA reports the passing of Sam Kuhl and Martin Sorkin.
 Sam and Alma Kuhl pictured at the 1983 Annual Meeting of Millers National Federation. |
Sam Kuhl passed away December 28. Sam was in management at North Dakota Mill for 31 years. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Millers’ National Federation in 1988 attesting to the contributions he made to the industry and the association. |
In recognition and in honor of Martin’s lifelong passion for agriculture and for learning, Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has worked with the National Future Farmers of America Foundation to endow a scholarship in his name. This scholarship will provide agricultural education opportunities to students interested in agricultural careers. Donations may made payable to the National FFA Foundation, noting the Martin Sorkin Memorial Scholarship Fund on the memo line, and sent to P.O. Box 68960, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268-0960.
Conference calendar
2008 Division Meetings, Palm Coast, FL
The Club at Hammock Beach
Visit the resort's web site at http://www.hammockbeach.com
March 15-18, 2008
49th Corn Dry Milling Conference
Peoria, IL
May 29-30, 2008
May 28, 2008 NAMA member meeting
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
2010 Division Meetings, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
W Fort Lauderdale
Visit the resort's web site at http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1522
March 20-23, 2010
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_12_30_07.cfm.
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