NAMA News April 2010
Inside this Issue
|
 Oat researchers and NAMA members are briefed on the progress of the North American Collaborative Oat Research Enterprise (NA CORE) field trials during the American Oat Workers Conference in Baton Rouge, LA. Pictured in the front row: Fred Kolb, University of Illinois; NAMA member Lynn Rundle, 21st Century Grain Processing; Jane DeMarchi, NAMA Director of Government Relations; NAMA members Rick Schwein, Grain Millers, Inc. and Mark Ramsland, General Mills, Inc. |
NAMA welcomes C-Shore International Milling Company, LLC as milling member
NAMA is pleased to welcome C-Shore International Milling Company, LLC as a new milling member. C-Shore mills wheat into organic and conventional whole-wheat flour. Jacques Isaac, executive director for business development, will represent the company in association activities.
Contact information is:
Jacques Isaac, Executive Director for Business Development
C-Shore International Milling Company, LLC
1247 Poole Street, Building 137
Mojave, CA 93501
818.720.2033 / wholewheatflour@yahoo.com
Food Safety Bill negotiations continue
A few outstanding issues are still being negotiated leading up to a Senate vote on food safety legislation. The Senate Bill S.510 was expected to be voted on in May/June but debate on financial regulatory reform has delayed that schedule. The House bill, HR.2749 is final.
A group of associations, including NAMA, sent a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Enzi expressing our concern that new provisions on traceability in S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act, must not restrict the comingling of agricultural commodities. 28 organizations representing a broad spectrum of the food industry signed on in support of the letter.
A coalition of industry organizations also sent a letter to Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Enzi supporting language to classify irradiation as a food safety technology rather than a food additive.
Grain chain disputes DGAC recommendation to replace grains with starchy vegetables
NAMA joined the American Bakers Association, American Institute of Baking, Grain Foods Foundation, Grains for Health Foundation, Independent Bakers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Pasta Association, USA Rice Federation and Wheat Foods Council in disputing the recommendation of the Nutrient Adequacy Subcommittee of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) to replace two servings of grains with two servings of vegetables. The recommendation came as a result of the DGAC review of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines are reviewed every five years.
The comments were submitted April 29. To read the comments in full, go to NAMA's web site at http://www.namamillers.org/Comments_DGAC_042910.html. The final meeting of the DGAC is May 12, after the entire report is written. The DGAC will issue a report to the Secretaries of U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services and the report will be published in the Federal Register and made available to the public for comment.
K-State to offer distance learning courses
The meeting of NAMA’s Kansas State Committee was held April 14-15 in conjunction with the Grain Science and Industry Department's Advisory Board meeting. The Department is in the process of developing several distance learning courses that college students will be able to take from K-State for college credit. The first one (GRSC 101 - Introduction to Grain Science) will be available starting this fall semester. In the future a student could transfer up to 60 credits from their local college plus having taken 6-12 KSU introductory distance education courses thus having a running start as a sophomore or junior.
Events on April 14th included an Outstanding Alumni and Service Awards Luncheon, and Centennial Lecture Series & Reception with a presentation from Steven C. Nelson, executive vice president of AACC International. To view the program, go to http://www.namamillers.org/NewsArchives10/KSUProgram2010.jpg.
 The Kansas State University Advisory Board. |
 Betsy Faga, NAMA and Mary K. Waters, NAMA (front row) at the Kansas State Committee Meeting with milling science majors Regan Doyle, Drew Petijohn, Josh Groene, Kelsey McGie, and Megan Holton (back row). |
Georgia removes wheat flour from new finished-product testing regulations
Earlier this year Georgia's Department of Agriculture published rule 40-7-18-01 creating additional regulations for food processing facilities in compliance with Senate Bill 80. In response, NAMA submitted comments stating that wheat flour produced in Georgia should not be subject to new state regulations requiring finished product testing because it is a "raw agricultural commodity requiring further processing." Agreeing with NAMA's position, Georgia recently responded stating, "Section 40-7-18-10 Exemption states this chapter shall not apply to any food processing plant: (E) Producing raw agricultural products requiring further processing as specified under 40-7-18-02(37). Wheat flour would fall under this exemption and would not be held to the finished product testing requirements in Section 40-7-18-06." To view NAMA's comments and the Georgia Department of Agriculture's response, please visit, http://www.namamillers.org/Comments_GADA_Apr2010.html.
Oat and barley byproducts should be eligible for BCAP payments
The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) was passed in the 2008 Farm Bill with the purpose of encouraging the use of biomass as an energy feedstock. BCAP presents s a unique opportunity to promote an increase in U.S. production of oat and barley (crops that are experiencing a sharp decline in acreage) and support byproducts as renewable fuel sources at the same time. BCAP issued a new proposed rule to which NAMA submitted comments expressing support for the inclusion of agriculture residue materials from Title 1 crops without a cap as a collection, harvest, storage and transportation (CHST) eligible material in the BCAP program. NAMA also recommended that in addition to oat and barley hulls, screenings should be allowed as CHST eligible material as a processing byproduct. Importantly NAMA believes that any regulations that would require identity preserved storage and handling would be detrimental to the program.
In conclusion NAMA stated, "If USDA were to clarify through its BCAP rules that oat and barley byproducts processed in U.S.-mills are eligible for BCAP payments without unnecessary investment in additional segregation equipment and storage capacity, we believe it would, over time, slow or reverse [decreasing acreage] trends by developing new market demand for growing and processing oats and barley in the U.S." To view the comments in full, please visit NAMA’s web site at http://www.namamillers.org/Comments_BCAP_Apr2010.html.
Conference calendar
2010 Corn Dry Milling Conference, Peoria, IL
Embassy Suites Peoria
May 19-20, 2010
2010 Annual Meeting, Del Mar, CA
L'Auberge Del Mar Resort
October 14-16, 2010
2011 Division Meetings, Marco Island, FL
Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa
March 12-14, 2011
2011 Annual Meeting, Colorado Springs, CO
The Broadmoor Colorado Springs
October 6-8, 2011
2012 Division Meetings, Naples, FL
Naples Grande Beach Resort
March 10-13, 2012
The North American Millers' Association prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact NAMA at 202.484.2200 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Betsy Faga, President, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 825W, Washington, DC, 20024 or call 202.484.2200 ext. 12. NAMA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Back to Top