NAMA News February 2008
| Inside this Issue NAMA weighs in on the wheat market Ag community supports railroad study NAMA pushes for more federal funding for oat research Board quarterly conference call NAMA’s ITC meets in Washington NAMA discusses folic acid on the Hill NAMA presses for grain pilot program “Ten Years of Saving Babies” in the news Oat research results in the news CNPP launches Project M.O.M. Fabiosa named Fulbright Scholar NAMA in the news Conference calendar Since the last newsletter |
 Gordon Brockmueller, right, an oat grower near Freeman, South Dakota, pictured with John Thune (R-SD). Brockmueller said, "It was a special pleasure and honor to meet with Senator Thune directly." Senator Thune supports federal funding of critical oat research. Brockmueller met with the Senator during NAMA's annual oat research lobbying effort. |
NAMA weighs in on the wheat market
NAMA published a briefing paper on wheat availability. The paper states “The North American Millers’ Association supports free and unrestricted markets. We believe wheat prices will find a market-clearing range within which growers will be willing to sell, millers will be able to buy, and food manufacturers will continue to be supplied with the quality flour they require to make the wholesome grain foods consumers enjoy. NAMA members are willing to pay market prices for their wheat. Of concern to the millers is the availability of wheat, regardless of price.”
Read NAMA’s statement on wheat availability
Ag community supports railroad study
Members of the ag community, including NAMA, sent a letter to the leadership of the House Committee on Agriculture supporting the inclusion of a railroad study in the final version of the Farm Bill. The group requested some modifications to streamline
the study and make it more manageable for USDA. The goal is to have the language incorporated into the final Farm Bill.
Millers, researchers and producers were in Washington in February to lend support to President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget that included federal funding for critical oat research projects. For several years this NAMA effort has been netting $4.6 million for the projects. There was an important distinction this year in that the President asked for the money, unlike previous years when NAMA had to ask Congress to fund the projects over the President’s objection. Hopefully, now that they have been converted into Administration priorities they will be easier to achieve in subsequent years.
Three teams visited the offices of 28 Senators and Representatives. Team members were:
- John Bollingberg, grower, Bremen, ND
- Gordon Brockmueller, grower, Freeman, SD
- Mac Ehrhardt, Albert Lea Seed House, Albert Lea, MN
- Cullen Harder, Grain Millers, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN
- Stephen Harrison, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
- Mike McMullen, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
- Paul Murphy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Lynn Rundle, 21st Century Grain Processing Company, Manhattan, KS
- Rick Schwein, Grain Millers, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN
- Omar Vargas, PepsiCo/Quaker Oats, Washington, DC
- Kent Wilson, General Mills, Inc., Washington, DC
The teams were led by NAMA staff members Jim Bair, vice president; Jane DeMarchi, Director of Government Relations; and Betsy Faga, president.
The teams visited these offices:
| Senate:
Sam Brownback (R-KS) |
House of Representatives:
Rodney Alexander (R-LA) |
For more information about the production of oats in the U.S. and research priorities, visit NAMA's web site.
Board quarterly conference call
21 members of the Board of Directors met with NAMA staff by conference call to discuss current industry issues. This was the third call aimed at adding value to NAMA membership. Topics included: wheat availability, the Farm Bill, activities of NAMA’s Wheat Issues Committee, food safety issues, the emergency approval of wheat fungicides, and draft standards for sustainability in agriculture.
We realize that at times it is difficult for our members to get away from their office to attend meetings. We hope that the quarterly conference call will provide Board members with another way to stay involved in the association.
NAMA’s ITC meets in Washington
Members of NAMA’s International Trade Committee came to Washington to meet with government agencies and others involved in U.S. food aid programs. Committee members met with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency, the Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Food for Peace, and the Alliance for Food Aid. They discussed bags and bag markings, changes in procurement due to Federal Acquisition Regulations, and the Farm Bill. The committee began planning for NAMA members to travel to countries that benefit from the food aid program.
NAMA discusses folic acid on the Hill
Betsy Faga, NAMA president; Lee Sanders, senior vice president, American Bakers Association; and Judi Adams, president, Grain Foods Foundation visited Congressional offices to talk about folic acid. Their message included information on “10 years of saving babies;” the contribution of grain producers, millers and bakers to one of the country’s largest health initiatives; and the value of enriched grains in delivering this health benefit through the fortification of folic acid.
They met with staff in the offices of members of the Congressional Grains Caucus – Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Congressmen Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Earl Pomeroy (D-ND). They also met with staff in the offices of Congressman Joe Baca (D-CA) and Hilda Solis ((D-CA), members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. They explored with each office opportunities for a press event, possibly at the time of the DC March for Babies.
NAMA presses for grain pilot program
NAMA is working in coalition with the American Bakers Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, Retail Bakers of America and the Biscuit and Crackers Manufacturers Association to get a grain pilot program included in the Farm Bill. Language for the program is included in the Senate version of the bill, but not in the House version. NAMA president Betsy Faga and representatives from ABA, NAWG, RBA, and BCMA have been meeting with Congressional staff to urge the provision be retained during conference. The grain pilot program amends the National School Lunch Act by adding a pilot program to provide eligible grain products for the after school snack program in up to 125 elementary or secondary schools in each of 6 states and 1 Indian reservation in needy areas. It is a $4 million program to be administered by USDA beginning July 2008.
“Ten Years of Saving Babies” in the news
The Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) launched the “Ten Years of Saving Babies” campaign last month to coincide with the 10th anniversary of folic acid enrichment. GFF reports great media coverage for their satellite media tour, folic acid seal, and both the print and television public service announcements (PSA's).
Between the television and radio segments GFF estimates it has reached an audience of 14.8 million. A new broadcast PSA has been shown on 1,250 stations with a media value of over $114, 000.
Oat research results in the news
The results of a recent oat research study received media coverage through the work of the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF). The study verifies that the fiber in oats has a beneficial impact on lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
Read an article by Mercury News
The Agriculture Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture distributed three news releases on the study results:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/071130.htm
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2006/060206.htm
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jun04/oats0604.htm
CNPP launches Project M.O.M.
The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)/USDA has launched “Project M.O.M. – Mothers & Others & MyPyramid.” The goal of this campaign is to transform the way America eats. The strategy is to empower all nutritional gatekeepers by giving them the skills and information they need to model a healthy lifestyle and make “family-healthy” food choices.
CNPP is asking private industries and educational institutions to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and to consider using MyPyramid information on packaging.
Read more about partnering with CNPP
Read more about Project M.O.M.
Fabiosa named Fulbright Scholar
Jacinto Fabiosa, co-director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute in the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State, has been named a Fulbright Scholar to conduct research at Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt. Fabiosa was a speaker at NAMA’s 2007 Division Meeting in Sarasota, Florida. He presented, “Corn-Based Ethanol - Its Impact on the Grain, Oilseed, and Livestock Sectors,” at the General Session.
Read more about his appointment
NAMA in the news
Growers release brakes on biotech wheat
Capital Press, Salem, OR
February 7, 2008
... there was no discussion at the biotech committee of revisiting Roundup Ready wheat. The North American Millers Association, which has expressed concern ...
Days of big price drops may be over for farmers
The Register, Philip Brasher
February 10, 2008
"If we're going to go from 8 billion gallons of biofuels in '07 to 15 billion gallons, more than doubling in eight years, that's certainly going to offer strength to the market," said Jim Bair, vice president of the North American Millers' Association.
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_02_29_08.cfm.
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