July 10, 2008
Morton Sosland
Editor-in-Chief
Sosland Publishing
4800 Main Street, Ste. 100
Kansas City, MO 64112
Dear Morton:
Thank you for your cogent editorial on the need to revive comity between participants in the grain chain. You could not be more correct; open, cordial discussions on key grain chain issues are very important to ensure a productive future for the entire grain chain. We strongly believe the grain chain has exemplified this type of open working relationship. While there have been agreements to disagree in some areas, those dialogues have been useful in flushing out the real issues that the chain needs to address and resolve. As a result of our excellent working relationship, bakers, millers and wheat growers have achieved many key accomplishments for the betterment of the entire grain chain.
Bakers, millers and wheat growers, along with the entire grain chain, were able to work together to include a grain promotion program in the 2008 Farm Bill. Because the grain chain worked together so very effectively, this language survived the lengthy House and Senate conference debates and is now a reality that will improve the diet of children in the most need in our country. Members of the grain chain look forward to working together to further increase funding for this important, grain-based program.
In addition, it is important not to forget that bakers, millers and wheat growers have worked together for years on wheat research issues. Research conducted by the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) is extremely important to the baking industry. As such, when proposals came forth to cut funding to the dramatically lower wheat research funding and alter the basic function of the ARS, the grain chain once again teamed-up to lobby members of Congress on the negative impact of such proposals. Through these efforts, Congress did not alter the function of the ARS in the 2008 Farm Bill.
Regarding the recent Wheat Summit meetings - these meetings are not the cause of any contention between members of the grain chain, but allow good communications between the groups involved and industry press on these ongoing dialogues. There is a strong need to ensure an open atmosphere for these critical wheat chain meetings, as there was concern that making such meetings open events could seriously deter participants from speaking up.
While differences will always exist between partners in the grain chain, much more can be gained by focusing on the successes the grain chain has been able to accomplish and will continue to achieve in the future. We look forward to continue working together to improve wheat competitiveness, quality, supply and promotion.
Sincerely,
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Robb MacKie |
Betsy Faga President North American Millers' Association |
Daren Coppock Chief Executive Officer National Association of Wheat Growers |
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