NAMA News
April 2007
Inside this Issue
- NAMA advocates farm program reform
- Microbiologic paper published in Journal of Food Protection
- Oats not a prohibited grain for gluten-free labeling
- USDA urged not to expand CRP
- Food Aid/Farm Bill meetings with the House and Senate
- NAMA speaks out at the USAID International Food Aid Conference
- Wheat Summit II another success
- NAMA and ABA team up to WalkAmerica
- Help promote the 2007 HBA Educator Award Program
- First e-version of Fusarium Focus published
- Around the NAMA membership
- NAMA in the news
- Conference calendar
- Since the Last Newsletter
NAMA advocates farm program reform
NAMA testified before Congress in two hearings convened to gather information for crop provisions in the 2007 Farm Bill. NAMA advocated for the reform of farm programs to reduce government-caused distortions of production decisions, a reduction in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) by allowing sustainable acres back into production and investments in research to give growers better crop options.
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Rick L. Schwein testified in behalf of NAMA in a hearing before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. Schwein is senior vice president of Grain Millers, Inc. and NAMA’s Chairman. Lynn Rundle presented similar testimony before the full Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry in behalf of NAMA. Rundle is the Chief Executive Officer of 21st Century Grain Processing and a member of NAMA’s Board of Directors. Read more |
Microbiologic paper published in Journal of Food Protection
In a scientific paper based on data submitted by members of NAMA, microbiological specifications and lot acceptance criteria were shown to not be necessary for milled grain products. The paper, “The Role of Microbiological Guidelines in the Production and Commercial Use of Milled Cereal Grains – A Practical Approach for the 21st Century, ” was authored by Dr. William H. Sperber and NAMA’s Microbiology Working Group. It was published in the April 2007 issue of the Journal of Food Protection. Link to Journal abstract
Members received reprints of the paper. For additional copies, contact Jane DeMarchi at 202.484.2200, ext. 15 or jdemarchi@namamillers.org.
Oats not a prohibited grain for gluten-free labeling
The Food and Drug Administration published a proposed definition of “gluten-free” for public comment to which NAMA responded. NAMA supported FDA’s decision to not include oats in the list of prohibited grains and to provide a mechanism for oat producers who take the necessary steps to limit the gluten content of oat containing products to communicate that benefit to consumers.
Gluten-free labeling comments
USDA urged not to expand CRP
NAMA and other members of AAGC (Alliance for Agricultural Growth & Competitiveness) signed a letter urging Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Deputy Secretary Charles Conner not to expand the conservation reserve program (CRP) through a general sign-up in 2007 and 2008. Instead, the group encouraged USDA to limit new enrollments to targeted situations with the highest environmental value.
AAGC Comments
Food Aid/Farm Bill meetings with the House and Senate
In a series of meetings with the House of Representatives and the Senate Agriculture Committee staffs, NAMA advocated for food aid principles in the 2007 Farm Bill. In summary, NAMA continues to support the current US food aid programs and believes those programs work best in the fight against malnutrition around the world.
Food Aid Principles 2007
NAMA speaks out at Food Aid Conference
Betsy Faga, NAMA president; Paul Green, NAMA trade consultant; and Jane DeMarchi, NAMA director of government relations; members of NAMA’s International Trade Committee; and NAMA associate members involved in food aid attended the USAID International Food Aid Conference in Kansas City, MO. It is the largest gathering devoted to food aid in the US. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns addressed an audience of more than 700 people representing 28 countries. In his remarks, Johanns supported use of US food aid budgets for Local and Regional food purchases (LRP).
Green countered Johanns and advocated NAMA’s position that without the win-win nature of using US food products as the base for the programs, the constituency will be lost and both appropriations in the US agriculture budget and authorizations will be jeopardized. See “NAMA in the News” below. NAMA opposes the diversion of funds from US food aid program(s) for the purchase of products from other countries.
Wheat Summit II a success
Wheat Summit II was another success. The summit brought together representatives from all aspects of the wheat industry, from growers to end-users and retail stores, including representatives from NAMA staff and member companies. Wheat Summit participants discussed a broad array of subjects in the areas of domestic competitiveness; domestic farm policy; exports, transportation and infrastructure; and research and technology. The group considered proposed position statements currently being reviewed by participants and being prepared for public release in the near future. NAWG and NAMA hosted a teleconference for the media immediately following the summit. See “NAMA in the news” below. (The first Wheat Summit was held in September 2006.)
NAMA and ABA team up to WalkAmerica
| As part of the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) public relations campaign, NAMA and ABA participated in WalkAmerica DC as the Grain Foods DC team. WalkAmerica is a program of the March of Dimes and the GFF is a national sponsor. This partnership gives a credible way of highlighting the benefits of enriched white bread. The GFF provides literature to all 1,100 walks and has a booth at 15 of the walks.
The GFF booth in DC was manned by NAMA, ABA and GFF staff. Walking for NAMA were president Betsy Faga and administrative assistant Maria Williams and six members of her family. A special thanks to GFF and NAMA member Wilkins-Rogers, Inc. who provided Washington Quality Food Products plastic bags for walkers to carry all the items they picked up at the various booths. Bagels were donated by H&S Bakeries and breakfast bars by McKee Foods, also GFF members. |
Maria Williams, NAMA's Administrative Assistant and member of the NAMA/ABA WalkAmerica team pictured with Slice. |
Other GFF walk sites included Phoenix, Dallas, Nashville, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, DC, Boston, Oklahoma City, Seattle, and Kansas City. The walks provided GFF members the opportunity to conduct product sampling and distribute literature on the benefits of grain-based foods.
Help promote the 2007 HBA Educator Award Program
Your assistance in placing information about the 2007 Home Bakers Association Educator Award Program in newsletters, web sites, etc. is appreciated. HBA annually recognizes outstanding classroom or community educators for development of youth baking programs. The award winner receives $1,000 for baking programs. The deadline for entering is May 31, 2007. Entries may be mailed or entered online.
Previous winning programs
Award information
First e-version of Fusarium Focus published
The U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI) published the first e-version of Fusarium Focus, Volume 7 (1). The last issue of this newsletter was published in Spring, 2004 as a printed newsletter. Future issues will be loaded on the USWBSI website and the URL will be distributed via the 'Fusarium Focus' list server. For more information contact Sue Canty.
Jon Luikart, J.R. Short Milling Company – Jon Luikart was named president and chief executive officer of J.R. Short Milling Company effective March 5. He joined the company from Primera Foods Corp., where he was president and c.e.o. Prior to that he was with McCormick & Co. and Protein Technologies, a division of Ralston Purina Corp. We welcome Jon to the company and to NAMA.
Will Duensing, Bunge Milling, Inc. – Will Duensing, director of technical services, has retired from Bunge Milling after 30 years with the company. He has been named president of Cereal Process Technologies, LLC, a company offering corn fractionation technologies to the ethanol industry. Will has a long, active history with NAMA. He has served as chairman of the Technical Committee and Corn Dry Milling Conference Committee. He was also on the biotechnology, mycotoxins and microbiologics, and allergen working groups of the Technical Committee serving as convener of the latter group. Will provided technical advice on the many quality initiatives undertaken by the International Trade Committee as well as on StarLink corn. He was also one of the “go to” members for the myriad of technical questions that come across the desk of the NAMA staff. He will be missed within NAMA, but we wish him well in this new opportunity.
Don Shields, Cereal Food Processors, Inc. – Don Shields, vice president of sales and corporate director of technical services, retired April 30 following a 40-year career in grain-based foods. Twenty-two years were spent at CFP. After graduation from Kansas State University he worked for Holsum Baking Company, Statesville Milling Company and Bay State Milling Company. Don was actively engaged on the Board and Executive Committee of the Wheat Foods Council. We wish Don well as he looks forward to time with his family and visits to the family home and summer home on the Lake of the Ozarks.
NAMA in the news
Wheat Summit II given ‘two thumbs up' by those taking part
Bismarck Farm & Ranch Guide - Bismarck, ND
John Miller of the North American Millers' Association gave the summit high ratings. “Speaking for the group, I think we had a very successful day today,” ...
April 27, 2007
NAMA Members Testify Before Congress Subcommittee on the Need for ...
Grainnet - Decatur, IL
The North American Millers' Association (NAMA) called on Congress this week to reform farm programs to reduce government-caused distortions ...
April 27, 2007
Farm policy driving US imports of oats, wheat
Brownfield - Jefferson City, MO
That's what Rick Schwein, Chairman of the North American Millers' Association and Senior Vice President of Grain Millers, Inc., told the House Ag ...
April 27, 2007
Wheat Summit II moves toward consensus
High Plains Journal - Dodge City, KS
Officials from the National Association of Wheat Growers and the North American Millers' Association and summit organizers said the second summit helped. ...
April 27, 2007
Wheat Summit II Moves Industry Toward Concensus
Grainnet - Decatur, IL
The meeting was planned by the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and the North American Millers' Association (NAMA). ...
April 23, 2007
Second Wheat Summit a Success
Mid-South Farmer - AR
Representatives from throughout the wheat industry met Thursday for the second Wheat Summit to discuss issues relating to everyone from farmers to millers ...
April 20, 2007
Johanns defends strong corn prices
Brownfield - Jefferson City, MO
Paul Green, International Trade Counsel for the North American Millers Association, pointed out to Johanns that the purchasing power of the food aid dollars ...
April 19, 2007
Survey Shows Excellent Microbiological Profiles for Milled Cereal ...
Grainnet - Decatur, IL
In a scientific paper based on data submitted by members of the North American Millers' Association (NAMA), microbiological specifications ...
April 19, 2007
North American Millers' Association Forms Biofuels Committee
Grainnet - Decatur, IL
Members of the committee include: Gary Duncan, Bunge Milling Inc.; John Griffith, American Italian Pasta Company; Alan Koenig, Milner Milling Inc.; ...
April 12, 2007
Corn Demand Could Further Trim Durum Supply
Farm Futures - Carol Stream, IL
According to North American Millers' Association vice president Jim Bair, US durum production does not typically meet demand, on average coming up around 35 ...
April 10, 2007
KFYR-TV News
KFYR-TV - Bismarck, ND
Jim Bair is vice president of the North American Millers` Association says US durum production does not meet demand in a "normal" year. ...
April 8, 2007
Corn demand may cut into durum supplies
Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck, ND and
CELIA W. DUGGER, New York Times
Jim Bair, vice president of the North American Millers' Association, said US durum production does not meet demand in a normal year. ...
April 8, 2007
Even as Africa Hungers, Policy Slows Delivery of US Food Aid
Tuscaloosa News - Tuscaloosa, AL
“It would be at extreme risk of being diminished,” said Paul B. Green, a consultant to the North American Millers’ Association, a trade group for the ...
April 7, 2007
Conference calendar
2007 Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA
Mansion on Forsyth Park
September 27-29, 2007
2008 Division Meetings, Palm Coast, FL
The Club at Hammock Beach
March 15-18, 2008
2008 Annual Meeting, Lake Tahoe, NV
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe
September 25-27, 2008
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_07.cfm.
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