NAMA News
July 2007

Inside this Issue
House approves 2007 Farm Bill
Packaging Task Force formed
Chemical registration requirements moved back
NAMA petitions EPA for access to methyl bromide
NAMA hosts first quarterly conference call for the Board
InStyle magazine publishes a GFF PSA
Wheat Foods Council celebrates 35 years
Ag community wants duty free exports to ATPA nations
NAMA in the news
Conference calendar
Since the last newsletter

Schedule
Registration Form

House approves 2007 Farm Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) by a vote of 231 to 191. The Senate has yet to propose its version of the bill, making it unlikely it will go to the Senate floor before October. It could be the end of the calendar year before the farm bill is finalized and signed into law by the President.

NAMA has been working for a rebalancing of commodity support programs with the goal of eliminating, or at least minimizing, the distortions the programs cause in planting decisions. Unfortunately, the House bill increases the malting barley loan rate by 35 percent (to $2.50 per bushel) and the minor oilseed loan rate by 15 percent (to $10.70 per cwt), while only increasing the oat loan rate by 10 percent (to $1.46 per bushel) and the wheat loan 6.9 percent (to $2.94 per bushel). We believe this would make a bad situation worse by causing another shift out of oat and wheat acres, this time into barley and oilseeds. Already, nearly one million North Dakota acres have been shifted out of wheat and oats and into field peas and lentils in just the last five years.

We will continue to fight for market neutrality as the Senate begins its farm bill debate. Packaging Task Force formed
In response to concerns raised by the U.S. Government Accountability Office; NAMA and other commodity groups, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) formed a Packaging Task Force to address various packaging issues for food aid products. The task force will establish forums to discuss possible packaging changes.

NAMA previously expressed concern to USDA and USAID about multiple marking requirements used to identify different programs and agencies. For example, a bag containing a food aid product may read “Gift of the People of the United States of America” or it may read “Gift of the American People.” Multiple marking requirements decrease the efficiency for producers and effectiveness for recipients. We are pressing the agencies to change bag markings to limit the number of bag types for each product.

Chemical registration requirements moved back
The Department of Homeland Security is requiring the registration of “chemicals of concern” as part of new chemical security regulations. The deadline for completing the Top Screen to register the chemicals is 60 days after the Appendix A listing of chemical thresholds is finalized. It was expected to be finalized in July. Sources close to NAMA say the appendix will not be released until late August or early September.

NAMA petitions EPA for access to methyl bromide
In July NAMA submitted its petition for a Critical Use Exemption to allow members continued access to methyl bromide through 2010. This is the sixth year NAMA has submitted such a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). NAMA requested 562,000 pounds of the fumigant, down from its 2009 request of 592,000 pounds. The petition is now under review and analysis by EPA entomologists, biologists and economists. Then it is reviewed for political and policy implications before being bundled together with all other CUE applications and forwarded to the members of the United Nations with a (we expect) positive recommendation. There it begins a whole new analysis and approval process.

Methyl bromide has been banned since January 1, 2005. However, under U.S. and international law, parties are allowed to apply for a so-called Critical Use Exemption where there is a lack of alternatives that are both technically and economically feasible. Methyl bromide-using industries have cut their use of the compound by more than 70 percent since 1994. According to EPA, more than 99.5 percent of all ozone-depleting substances have been eliminated.

NAMA hosts first quarterly conference call for the Board
To communicate more personally with members, NAMA is implementing quarterly conference calls that update members on current association issues. Topics on the agenda of the first call included Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chemical regulations, the Commodity Title of the Farm Bill, methyl bromide, information about the September Technical Committee meeting and information about NAMA’s 2007 Annual Meeting.

InStyle magazine publishes a GFF PSA

A joint Public Service Announcement (PSA) of the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) and the March of Dimes was published in the August issue of the InStyle magazine. The PSA features Susie Castillo, MTV veejay and former Miss USA, reminding women that consuming folic acid pre-pregnancy may help prevent some birth defects.

The PSA has also appeared in other top women’s magazines such as Allure, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Hispanic Trend, Jane, Lucky, Self and Vogue. Television stations in major cities across the country have aired the PSA as have Wal-Mart’s in-store television networks. The announcements reached nearly 390 million consumers. The value of the placements is approaching $1 million. The August issue of InStyle hit newsstands across the country in mid-July – look for it on your newsstands.

Wheat Foods Council celebrates 35 years
In 1972 a group of wheat producers formed the Wheat Foods Council (WFC) to promote wheat and wheat products. Since then the organization has expanded to include millers and the allied industry. The Council is an industry-wide partnership dedicated to increasing wheat and other grain foods consumption through nutrition information, education, research and promotional programs. July 1, 2007 marked the 35th anniversary of the WFC that will be celebrated throughout the coming year. Congratulations to WFC for this impressive accomplishment!

Ag community wants duty free exports to ATPA nations
NAMA, along with 41 other food and agricultural organizations, sent a letter to Congress urging passage of the Colombia and Peru Trade Promotion Agreements. The trade agreements allow U.S. exporters to ship products to these nations duty free.

Earlier, Congress extended the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) which provides duty free access into the U.S. for most products from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Read the letter. NAMA in the news
With Market Declining, Oats Could Be Cover Crop
“However, a study released by North American Millers Association, contracted with Informa Economics, advises oats could have a place as a favored cover crop ...”
Wisconsin Agriculturist – WI, July 21, 2007
Wallace's Farmer – IA, July 18, 2007

Study Recommends Using Oats as a Cover Crop for Conservation ...
Grainnet - Decatur, IL
July 18, 2007

Department of Homeland Security's Regulations on Chemical Security Could Potentially Affect U.S. Millers
Grainnet – Decatur, IL
July 16, 2007 Conference calendar 2007 Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA The 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 2009 Division Meetings, Ft. Myers, FL Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa March 21-24, 2009

Conference calendar
2007 Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA
The 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

2009 Division Meetings, Ft. Myers, FL
Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa
March 21-24, 2009

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_07_30_07.cfm.

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