NAMA's Board meet in Washington to advocate for the milling industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 5, 2011 – Top level executives from NAMA member companies met in Washington this week with legislators and regulators to discuss the important role that grain milling plays in providing abundant, affordable and nutritious food and the impact that federal policies have on this industry. NAMA Board members discussed international food aid, government nutrition guidance, public access to flour production data and mill sanitation.

NAMA Chairman Paul Maass, president Commercial Foods, ConAgra Foods said “NAMA members enjoy working with the entire grain chain to insure that government regulation is based on sound science, transparency, and is evenly applied and respectful of the financial cost to the industry. Our members take time from their busy schedules to come to Washington annually to personally discuss these concerns with decision markets.”

“NAMA members are engaged in public/private partnerships to address a variety of current and future challenges. We think it is essential for our regulators and legislators to hear from NAMA leaders on these projects and other issues that are important to the industry,” said NAMA President Mary Waters.

NAMA members had meetings in the offices of Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE), Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Lawrence Elworth, Agricultural Counselor to the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They discussed the supply benefits that could result from technology advances in wheat production, including biotechnology, with senior flour milling officials visiting from Japan. Members also met independently with their Congressional representatives. Briefing papers about the issues discussed are posted in the Issues section of NAMA’s website at http://www.namamillers.org/issues . Members participating in the meetings were:

George Allard, vice president and general manager, Bunge Milling, Inc., St. Louis, MO
Dan Dye, president, Horizon Milling LLC/Cargill, Inc., Wayzata, MN

Wade Ellis, vice president, Bunge Milling, Inc., Woodland, CA

Dan Fetherston, vice president, SEMO Milling LLC, Scott City, MO

John Gillcrist, chairman, Bartlett Milling Company, Kansas City, MO

Robert Harper, president, Hopkinsville Milling Company, Hopkinsville, KY

Paul Maass, president Commercial Foods, ConAgra Foods, Omaha, NE, NAMA Chairman

Luke Marano, CEO, Minot Milling Company, Philadelphia, PA

James Meyer, executive vice president, Italgrani U.S.A., Inc., St. Louis, MO

Thomas Rogers, Co-CEO, Wilkins-Rogers, Inc., Ellicott City, MD

Richard Siemer, president, Siemer Milling Company, Teutopolis, IL

William Stoufer, president, ConAgra Mills, Omaha, NE

Charles Stout, president, Milner Milling/PFM, Chattanooga, TN

Vance Taylor, president and general manager, North Dakota Mill and Elevator, Grand Forks, ND

NAMA Board Members Vance Taylor, North Dakota Mill & Elevator; Jim Meyer, Italgrani, U.S.A.; Rick Siemer, Siemer Milling; Robert Harper, Hopkinsville Milling; Tom Rogers, Wilkins-Rogers; and Luke Marano, Minot Milling met with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Lawrence Elworth, Agricultural Counselor to the Administrator, EPA to discuss mill sanitation.	Members of the North American Millers’ Association Board of Directors with top level executives of major Japanese milling companies and the executive director of the Japanese Flour Millers Association.
NAMA International Trade Committee Chairman Wade Ellis, Bunge Milling, Inc., meets with Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to discuss food aid.	NAMA Chairman Paul Maass, ConAgra Foods (right) presents NAMA Board member Rick Siemer, Siemer Milling, with a framed copy of NAMA’s Annual report cover – a photo of the Siemer Milling Pembrok facility in Hopkinsville, KY. The presentation was made during NAMA’s Capitol View Rooftop Reception, held on the rooftop terrace of NAMA headquarters. The reception was attended by members in town for NAMA’s Leadership Meeting, allied associations, and industry colleagues located in Washington, DC.

NAMA is the trade association representing 43 companies that operate 170 wheat, oat and corn mills in 38 states and Canada. Their collective production capacity exceeds 175 million pounds of product each day, more than 95 percent of the total industry production.

###Contact: Terri Long, NAMA, [email protected]

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 Mary Waters, President, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 825W, Washington, DC, 20024 or call 202.484.2200 ext. 13. NAMA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.