NAMA celebrates FDA withdrawal of guidance for StarLink testing
On April 25 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew its guidance for testing shipments of yellow corn and dry-milled yellow corn intended for human food use for the presence of Cry9C protein residues. FDA withdrew its guidance in response to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “white paper” and to an independent assessment of StarLink exposure, both of which found the U.S. corn supply is essentially free of StarLink.

The action comes after seven years and the testing of more than four million corn samples. NAMA’s vice president, Jim Bair, led the association and coalition of impacted organizations through the seven year process to end the testing. Read NAMA’s news release.
Read the FDA announcement.
Read the EPA white paper.

NAMA welcomes SignalDemand as an Associate Member

We are pleased to welcome SignalDemand, Inc. as an Associate Member of NAMA. Shannon Hughes, director of marketing, will represent the company in association activities. Shannon’s contact information is:

SignalDemand, Inc.
301 Howard Street, Suite 1950
San Francisco, CA 94105
415.356.0800 x591
shannon.hughes@signaldemand.com
www.signaldemand.com

SignalDemand delivers margin optimization software to process manufacturers including the milling industry.

Commodity Markets Council meets with NAMA
NAMA members met with representatives of the Commodity Markets Council (CMC) and the Chicago Board of Trade, Kansas City Board of Trade and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange April 3 in Chicago. The meeting was held to discuss what is perceived by many to be poor futures market performance. CMC and the futures exchanges have formed a task force to study the issue. They invited NAMA to provide input. NAMA does not have an official position, but facilitated participation by several members.

Farm Bill in its final stages
While the President is expected to veto the 2008 Farm Bill, both the House and Senate have passed the Bill with enough votes to override a veto. The House approved the conference report by a vote of 318 to 106. 218 Democrats and 100 Republicans voted in favor of the report, while 15 Democrats and 91 Republicans voted against it. The Senate passed the bill 81-15. 44 Democrats, 35 Republicans, and 2 Independents voted in favor of the conference report, while 13 Republicans and 2 Democrats opposed it. The Bill should be sent to the President in the next day or two and an override is expected before Congress adjourns for the Memorial Day recess.

Following repeated delays in the bill and complaints from the Administration that there was not sufficient ‘reform’ in the package being discussed, the conference has included controversial provisions for use of US sugar for ethanol; payment limitations for large farmers, but at income limits far above the Administration’s preferred $200,000 maximum income level; and a Local/Regional Purchase (LRP) ‘Pilot Program’ paid for from Commodity Credit Corporation funding. NAMA has adamantly opposed the LRP proposal, but believes this pilot will be far less onerous than the Administration’s original proposal.

Leading up to the Conference action, NAMA participated in a coalition letter addressed to Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, asking the conferees to reject the food aid flexibility proposed in a letter from the President that warned of certain necessary factors to prevent a veto. Remarkably, this was the first time anyone can remember a food aid issue being so prominent in the final days leading to a farm bill. Read the letter in its entirety.

Defense against emerging plant diseases and epidemics threatened
In a letter to the U.S. Senate, NAMA and other concerned agricultural groups expressed “grave concerns” over cuts in the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funding to the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). CGIAR is an alliance of fifteen research centers. The work of the research centers has resulted in worldwide deployment of new technologies and improved crop varieties, dramatically increasing food supplies and food security of the developing world. Presently, CGIAR is working furiously to prevent a disaster from a stem rust epidemic (Ug99) developing in south and west Asia. The epidemic, if left unabated, has the potential to reach the US. The timing couldn’t be worse for withdrawing funds for CGIAR. Low grain stocks, high prices, and erratic weather events are already impacting grain production.

A similar letter was also sent to all members of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Another letter was sent to Henrietta Fore, Administrator of USAID. Read the letter in its entirely.

Planning begins for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines
The US Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) are forming the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Nominations must be submitted by May 24, 2008. Grain Foods Foundation, Wheat Foods Council, NAMA and the American Bakers Association are collaborating to make nominations. The committee will evaluate whether a revision of the 2005 guidelines is necessary. The first meeting is expected in the Fall of 2008.

USDA and HHS are required to publish the Dietary Guidelines for Americans at least every five years. The first guidelines were published in 1980. They contain nutrition and dietary information for persons over two years of age. The guidelines form the basis for Federal food and nutrition policy and education activities. Information and recommendations contained in the guidelines is based on current scientific and medical knowledge.

NAMA participates in the 10th annual IFAC
Jane DeMarchi, NAMA’s director of government relations, was a panelist at the 10th Annual International Food Aid Conference, hosted by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Her presentation focused on the challenges of bringing new commodities into the food aid procurement system. More than 700 participants from 25 countries participated in the conference. Participants included private voluntary and non-governmental organizations, trade associations, grain and processed commodity vendors, steamship and domestic transportation lines, U.S. ports, government officials, and others. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, USDA Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Mark Keenum, and USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore were featured speakers.

Through the conference, USDA and USAID hope to improve communication and cooperation among government, private voluntary and non-government organizations, agricultural and transportation industry representatives involved in food aid delivery. Program topics included the Farm Bill, WTO negotiations, commodity and transportation issues, supply and demand trends, emergency and development aid, nutrition and supply chain management.

Members of NAMA’s International Trade Committee attended the conference. While gathered in Kansas City, the committee members took the opportunity to meet to discuss committee issues and to host an informal reception for our colleagues involved in food aid delivery.

DeMarchi works with the USWBSI on scab initiative
NAMA’s director of government relations, Jane DeMarchi, is a member of the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI) Executive Committee. USWBSI is working to develop as quickly as possible effective control measures that minimize the threat of Fusarium head blight (scab) to the producers, processors, and consumers of wheat and barley. The committee met in late April to review strategies and budget aspects for fighting scab.

NAMA well represented on GFF Board of Trustees
The Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) held their Annual Membership and Board of Trustees Meetings in Phoenix, Arizona. The following NAMA members were elected to the Board of Trustees:

• John Gillcrist, Bartlett Milling Company rotated off as Ex-Officio member and was replaced by Charlie Stout, Milner Milling Company
• Brian Rothwell, Bay State Milling Company, was named as Trustee replacing Charlie Stout
• Breck Barton, Cereal Food Processors, Inc., was named co-chair succeeding Charlie Stout

Other NAMA members serving as trustees of the Foundation include: Don Brown, ConAgra Mills; Guy Shoemaker, Horizon Milling LLC/Cargill; and Rick Siemer, Siemer Milling Company.

GFF and MOD team up for a PSA
The Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) and the March of Dimes (MOD) teamed up for a public service announcement about the benefits of enriching grains with folic acid as can be seen by the number of babies born without a neural tube birth defect. The PSA has had great success. In just four months, the PSA has reached 3,331 airings, surpassing the total airings of last year’s PSA. These airings add 7.6 million audience impressions and nearly $350,000 in total media value to the Ten Years of Saving Babies campaign. The PSA has been approved for rotation on the Captivate Network, which is a network of video screens in elevators across the country.

NAMA and ABA March for Babies
As part of the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) public relations campaign, NAMA and the American Bakers Association (ABA) participated in the March for Babies in Washington, DC as the Grain Foods DC team. March for Babies is a program of the March of Dimes and the GFF is a national sponsor. The GFF booth in DC was manned by NAMA and ABA staff.

The Grain Foods Foundation works closely with the March of Dimes to raise awareness for the important role that B vitamins and folic acid, found in enriched grains, play in preventing some birth defects. March for Babies is the March of Dimes’ largest fundraising event that supports all babies – those born healthy as well as those who need help to survive and thrive.

In Memory of Phil Weisenberger
NAMA remembers Phil Weisenberger, fourth-generation owner of Weisenberger Mills in Midway, KY who passed away following triple heart bypass surgery. He was 81 years old.

Phil represented Wiesenberger Mills on the Boards of Directors of the Millers’ National Federation and American Corn Millers Federation until 1998. At that time, although continuing his work at the mill, he turned the association representation over to his son, Mac Weisenberger, who is on the current NAMA Board.

The mill's current site was purchased in 1862. It is the oldest commercial water-powered mill in Kentucky, a state landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Phil worked in the mill as a boy until he began full-time in the mid-1940s. He worked every day until last month. In addition to Mac, Phil was also joined at the mill by his grandson Phil.

NAMA in the news
NAMA says FDA drops guidance for StarLink testing
World-Grain.com
April 29, 2008

Conference calendar
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_04_30_08.cfm.

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