NAMA News February 2010
More than 200 members and industry friends registered
for the Division Meetings
Next month NAMA will hold the annual Division Meetings in sunny and warm Fort Lauderdale, Florida. More than 200 members and industry friends are registered to attend. The program will give attendees opportunities to network with their friends and colleagues and provide information important to their businesses. From crop forecasts and outlooks to information about building consumer trust in our food system, the commodity markets, and food safety regulations, the program promises to be interesting and informative. More details about the meeting are on NAMA's web site at http://www.namamillers.org/2010_Div.html.
NAMA holds BRC seminar
The NAMA sponsored BRC Implementation Course led by John Kukoly, BRC (British Retail Consortium) Global Standards, was held January 19-20 in Overland Park, KS. More than 30 NAMA members attended the two-day course, which covered the requirements needed for anyone implementing or working the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety. The focus was on the scope and structure of the standard; individual clauses within the standard; interpretation and guidelines; and report writing and dealing with non-conformities. During the session Mr. Kukoly indicated 9-12 months was a reasonable amount of time for companies to prepare for the BRC audit.
FDA reviews Reportable Food Registry with NAMA members
NAMA held a conference call with Ted Elkin, Deputy Director of the Office of Food Defense at FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, on January 11 to discuss concerns with the Reportable Food Registry (RFR). In addition to an overview of the RFR, Mr. Elkin stated that he is expecting FDA to release a new guidance document early this year as well as a more user-friendly version of the portal later in the year. To view a summary of the discussion, please contact Jane DeMarchi at jdemarchi@namamillers.org.
Revisions to combustible dust standards are not necessary
NAMA submitted comments in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) regarding combustible dust hazards in the workplace. NAMA opposes the incorporation of National Fire Protection Association standards to combat dust hazards as they have not been approved through a public process and include contradictory standards. The letter states, "We do not believe revisions are necessary. The current standards are understood and accepted throughout the industry, and relevant programs in place are clearly successful. We do not support the creation of a brand new, potentially duplicative, standard." To view the comments in full, please visit NAMA's web site at http://www.namamillers.org/NewsArchives10/Comments_Dust.html.
Proposed food aid packaging requirements
need closer scrutiny
NAMA submitted comments on a set of proposed specifications for future packaging requirements that would apply to all blended and fortified products currently in use in the U.S. food aid program. (This proposal was attached to an ICSB Sources Sought document released late last year.) NAMA urged USDA's Farm Service Agency/Deputy Administrator of Commodity Operations to "reissue a more comprehensive proposal and call a public meeting of stakeholders to discuss and gather expertise from industry sources on how the scope of the proposal can meet the perceived objectives."
In the comments, NAMA addressed specific concerns regarding the proposed packaging's ease and safety of handling; shelf life/protection from insects and vermin; effectiveness of stacking/warehousing; and consistency of size, shape and material. An additional concern is that application of "FAR regulations to the international food aid program are likely to cause several unintended consequences that will increase costs and negatively effect the program's goals of assisting the most needy human beings on the planet." To view the comments in full, visit NAMA's web site at http://www.namamillers.org/NewsArchives10/PackagingRequirements.html.
Millers ask for more wheat research funding
Millers traveled to DC to participate in the National Association of Wheat Growers-National Wheat Improvement Committee (NAWG-NWIC) trip to encourage more funding for wheat research. Dave Green, ADM Milling; Brian Walker, Horizon Milling; Carl Schwinke, Siemer Milling; Kent Wilson, from the General Mills DC office; and Jane DeMarchi, NAMA participated in meetings with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leadership and Senate and House staff. The NAWG-NWIC research priorities are available at http://cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/wheat/reports/NWIC/.
 |
During the visit, NAMA arranged for Jim Peterson, Oregon State University Wheat Breeder and NWIC chairman, to give a presentation to Hill staffers on Ug99 for the opening National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NC-FAR) Lunch 'n Learn seminar for 2010. |
Siemer receives 2010 Citizen of the Year award
Rick Siemer, president of Siemer Milling Company and member of the NAMA Board of Directors, was selected as Effingham's 2010 Citizen of the Year. He was honored during the annual Greater Effingham Chamber of Commerce & Industry banquet. Rick was praised for his outstanding commitment to his community including being a founder and past president of Effingham County Community Foundation, past board member and president of Teutopolis Unit 50 Board of Education, past member and president of Effingham County United Way Board, and past member of the Illinois Wheat Association.
Rick has lead Siemer Milling Company for more than 20 years and has been actively involved with the Millers' National Federation/North American Millers' Association as past chairman, Board member, and committee chair and member. Carl Schwinke, also with Siemer, captured the place Rick holds in the milling industry "well respected, recognized as a leader, thoughts and insights highly regarded."
Congratulations, Rick!
Industry urges easing of restrictions on
U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba
A coalition of industry organizations, including NAMA, urged Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to cosponsor the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act sponsored by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Representative Jerry Moran (R-KS). The bill was introduced on February 23 with 28 additional co-sponsors. If passed, the legislation "will ease restrictions on U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba and allow U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba." The legislation aims to increase agriculture exports to Cuba, which is increasingly looking to other countries, like Vietnam, for their commodities imports. To view the letter in full, please visit http://www.namamillers.org/trade_cuba100129.html.
Kansas State University CEO update
Dr. Fred Cholick, Dean of the Kansas State University College of Agriculture, has accepted the position of President and CEO of the KSU Foundation as of February 4. Don Boggs, current Associate Dean for Academic Programs, has been named Acting Dean. The position, which oversees 220 faculty members within eight departments, is expected to be filled in six to nine months.
Before leaving, Dr. Cholick was able to allay fears over budget constraints limiting faculty positions within the Department of Grain Science including the Department of Grain Science and Industry. There was concern that Kansas State would not fill two faculty positions after Dr. Ekramul Haque and Dr. Keith Behnke retired in June 2010. However, Dr. Cholick announced that these positions are included in next year's budget.
CNMA requests OTA and DON compliance suspension
The Canadian National Millers Association (CNMA) requested that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) suspend premature compliance and enforcement actions with regard to DON and ochratoxin A (OTA). CNMA states "there are no regulations for DON and OTA and no immediate threat to health . . . given that it is not feasible for millers and further processors to prevent the presence of DON and OTA in cereal grains and cereal grain products, CNMA hereby requests that CFIA suspend any further enforcement action in relation to the two mycotoxins until such time as comprehensive measures are available to the cereal grain sector to prevent the incidence of and/or manage levels of DON and OTA." NAMA Vice President Jim Bair is working with CNMA on this issue.
Senate proposes reauthorizing chemical facility
security legislation
In early February a Senate bill was introduced to reauthorize existing chemical facility security legislation. When introducing the bill Senators Collins, Pryor, Voinovich and Landrieu stated that DHS should be given "sufficient" time to fully implement the current law. The current Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards are set to expire this year and the new legislation would extend the current law through 2015. The Senate version is preferable to the House version of the bill, H.R. 2868 which passed last year and expands DHS's authority.
GFF prepared for Atkins re-launch
In preparation for the release of a "A New Atkins, A New You" in March, Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) has created a communications plan to "proactively communicate GFF messages during the Atkins re-launch; the plan includes outreach to health and nutrition reporters as well as direct outreach to consumers via the GFF social media channels."
The GFF has also seen success with their 2009 "Bread Trail" broadcast PSA (public service announcement). The PSA aired 9,052 times on 186 stations earning a total of 162,322,385 viewer impressions—equaling $4.8 million in ad value. The PSA aired on networks such as A&E, Biography, CNN Airport, CNN Headline News, History Channel, NBC Universal HD, Sleuth and USA Network.
The PSA has been redistributed for 2010 and continues to air on national networks resulting in 5.4 million viewer impressions and more than $400,000 in ad value since November.
Scientists identify specific barley tissues infected by scab
Source: ARS News Service, February 22, 2010
Fusarium graminearum, the fungal culprit behind scab disease in wheat and barley, could have fewer places to hide. Using genetic transformation techniques, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have pinpointed specific tissues that the fungus attacks in grain crops, opening the door to improved methods of controlling it.
Ron Skadsen, a plant molecular geneticist at the ARS Cereal Crops Research Unit in Madison, WI, infected barley seed with Fusarium containing a green fluorescent protein. This revealed the fungus' sites of attack -- namely, the protruding seed tip of the developing seed, the soft tissue connected with it and, to a lesser extent, the seed’s outer hull.
Knowing which parts of the barley plant Fusarium attacks gives insight into how the infection process works and where to target breeding and biotechnology strategies
Join NAMA on Facebook
NAMA has a page and a group on Facebook. Become a fan of NAMA. Join the NAMA group.
Conference calendar
2010 Division Meetings, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
W Fort Lauderdale
March 20-23, 2010
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