National Grain and Feed Association
 
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National Grain and Feed Association –
Keeping Feed Companies Competitive

…Affordable, Effective, Grass Roots and Industry-Driven…

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) represents and provides services for commercial feed manufacturers, integrators and other feed-related companies. Everything the NGFA does has one common goal: To create a business environment in which its feed-related member companies can become more efficient and competitive, and experience economic growth.

Government Representation

How does the NGFA help shape actions taken by Congress and regulatory agencies at the federal and state levels that affect your feed business?

  • In Congress: The NGFA’s unmatched grass-roots network of 1,000 member companies – including nearly 300 feed manufacturers and 36 State and Regional Grain and Feed Associations – makes a huge difference on Capitol Hill.

    The NGFA has successfully worked to encourage Congress not to enact legislation that would undermine the science-based U.S. government approach for keeping the United States free of BSE and other animal diseases. The NGFA also supports legislation to encourage animal drug manufacturers to develop and seek FDA approval of medications for such “minor species” as fish, zoo animals, sheep and goats, farmed deer and elk, and game birds. And the NGFA supports legislation that would expand the exemption from the Department of Transportation’s truck driver hours-of-service regulations to include delivery of manufactured feed.

  • At FDA: The NGFA is actively involved in the Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing rulemaking on whether it should change its current animal feeding regulations designed to prevent the introduction or spread of BSE in the United States.

    Guided by its Board-adopted BSE-Prevention Policy, the NGFA supports FDA’s current science-based regulations. The NGFA also strongly supports private-sector assurances, such as contractual guarantees, combined with government-based inspections, as a preferable alternative to fee-based third-party certification programs that are impractical and costly given the breadth and scope of the feed manufacturing industry. The NGFA also led a joint effort with the rendering, rail and truck industries to develop best management practices to assist transportation providers in complying with FDA’s BSE-prevention rules.

    At FDA, the NGFA also is spearheading a pioneering pilot program for self-regulation of the medicated feed industry.

  • At DOT: The NGFA was successful in working with the trucking industry to change the agency’s proposed rules that apply to truck driver hours-of-service. The revised rules retained the agricultural exemption that allows states to exempt commercial truck transportation of agricultural commodities and certain farm supplies from the driving-time limits if such movements occur within a 100-mile radius of a farm or distribution point. And the agency dropped plans to require replacing driver log books with expensive electronic on-board recording devices.

  • At EPA: The NGFA is actively involved in the reassessment currently being done by the Environmental Protection Agency concerning the potential health effects of dioxin. The outcome could influence the establishment of dioxin limits in animal feed. An NGFA member is the only industry representative to serve on a prestigious National Academy of Sciences panel charged with recommending national strategy for minimizing dioxin in the food supply.

  • At State Feed Agencies: The NGFA is an active participant in the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which is important since most states adopt AAFCO's model feed law and regulations. The NGFA successfully opposed efforts to undermine AAFCO's well-established process for approving so-called “novel” ingredients in animal and pet food. The NGFA currently is involved in AAFCO’s deliberations on whether to develop model process controls for ingredient suppliers and feed manufacturers.

Business Services

The NGFA provides specialized services, programs and educational opportunities to meet the operational and business needs of feed-related companies:

  • The NGFA’s twice-monthly NGFA Newsletter, twice-weekly electronic E-Alert newsletter, monthly Feed and Feeding Digests, and web site provide the latest information important to feed businesses. These information resources cover regulatory and operational issues, as well as trends and developments in the feed and animal agriculture industries.
  • Model Feed Quality Assurance Program and Training Workshops: The NGFA was the first trade organization to develop a Model Feed Quality Assurance Program. And its regional educational workshops, led by industry faculty, bring managers and mill employees together for professional development in quality assurance principles, and safety, health and environmental compliance.

    The “reach” of these workshops is extended through a comprehensive notebook and a series of four videos that serve as valuable training tools for employees.

  • Improving Feed Mill Productivity: The NGFA cooperates with agricultural universities to develop and promote industry programs to help member feed manufacturers compare and improve their operational productivity and reduce costs.

  • Feed Consultation Services: The NGFA in 2004 will launch specialized on-site consulting services for feed manufacturers on quality assurance and mill productivity, efficiency and profitability.

  • Trade Rules and Arbitration Services offered by the NGFA enhance market efficiency and allow feed companies to resolve trade disputes with grain and ingredient suppliers and feed customers in a timely, cost-effective way, without resorting to court.

  • Loss Control/Insurance Seminars supply feed mills with the needed information and tools to develop an effective loss-prevention/safety program that can help control product liability and property/casualty insurance costs.

  • NGFA’s Feed Industry Council provides an annual educational and information forum, bringing manufacturers and integrators together to discuss the hot-button issues facing the feed industry.

  • NGFA Committees set the agenda and priorities for our industry-driven Association. Three committees specifically focus on issues important to feed manufacturers and livestock/poultry integrators – Animal Agriculture Committee; Feed Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee; and Feed Manufacturing/Technology Committee. Many of the NGFA's other 14 committees address issues important to feed manufacturers (e.g., Safety, Health and Environmental Quality; Rail Shipper/Receiver; Risk Management; Agricultural Policy/International Trade, etc.)

  • Excellent Value: Membership in the NGFA is a solid investment and excellent value for member companies. Thanks to its broad membership base, frugal management and rock-solid financial condition, the NGFA's membership dues are a great value proposition. What are your dues? Visit the NGFA's web site at www.ngfa.org -- click on "Join NGFA" to fill out your confidential worksheet.