The U.S. Department of Labor announced Jan. 29 that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued stronger worker safety guidance recommending what employers should do to protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus. The guidance fulfills President Joe Biden’s executive order directing OSHA to release “clear guidance” for employers designed to keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure. The guidance, entitled “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace,” details key measures for limiting the spread of COVID-19, ... Read More
Issue Advisory
SBA to resume receiving paycheck protection applications Monday
(Member Alert sent April 25, 2020) The White House announced Friday night (April 24) that the Small Business Administration (SBA) will resume receiving applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) at 10:30 am Eastern time on Monday (April 25) following the infusion of an additional $320 billion into the popular program in legislation enacted by Congress. NGFA-member companies interested in applying for the program may wish to contact their lenders immediately, including those whose applications have been pending with their lender after the PPP ran out of funds on April ... Read More
NGFA elects Board members and industry officers
ARLINGTON, Va., March 16, 2020 -- During its annual business meeting on March 10 at the NGFA’s 124th annual convention in Austin, Texas, the National Grain and Feed Association’s (NGFA) members elected JoAnn Brouillette, president of Demeter LP in Fowler, Ind., as NGFA chairman. “I'm deeply humbled to serve this industry that is very near and dear to my heart and my family's heart,” Brouillette said during convention. Her father, Don Brouillette, served as NGFA president – formerly the chairman title – from 1984-1986. During its annual business meeting the Association’s members elected ... Read More
Notice on NGFA Office Operations
(This post was updated on 3-30-2020) "Given the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation in the United States, including within the Washington, D.C., region, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) is adapting its already-existing telework policy to provide staff members with the flexibility to work primarily from their home offices until at least April 30. Because NGFA has an existing telework policy and the necessary technology already in place, NGFA staff members who telework are able to monitor and respond to inquiries and requests from NGFA members promptly. The preferred method to ... Read More
Message to NGFA-Member Companies on Convention
As communicated previously, based upon the latest public health information available about COVID-19 as of today, including from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as after consulting with the NGFA officers today, NGFA is proceeding with its 124th annual convention on March 8-10 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Austin Texas. The health and safety of NGFA members is of paramount importance. NGFA has experienced some attrition in its registration numbers, resulting mostly from blanket corporate policies being implemented by several member companies that have ... Read More
Do you have what it takes to be a USMCA Advocacy All-Star?
NGFA members: Last week, nearly 1,000 broad-based organizations representing U.S. food and agriculture went to bat for ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Now it’s your turn to amp up your advocacy for USMCA! Make sure your voice is heard by your members of Congress by using NGFA’s easy advocacy tool. It takes just minutes to: • Send a pre-drafted email to your members of Congress, • Tweet your senators and representative, and • Call the office of your representative and senators by using NGFA’s ... Read More
USDA temporarily reopens FSA offices during government shutdown
(Updated Jan. 18, 2019) Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Jan. 16 announced that about half of Farm Service Agency (FSA) personnel temporarily will return to work to reopen offices to perform limited services for farmers and ranchers. FSA offices in certain locations reopened on Thursday, Jan. 17; Friday, Jan. 18; and will re-open Tuesday, Jan. 22. Among other things, during these three days, FSA staff is available to release proceeds from the sale of loan security by signing checks jointly payable to FSA that are brought to the county office by producers. The re-opening of FSA ... Read More
NGFA Member Alert: Update on Resolving Section 199A Tax Issue
Feb. 9, 2018 By Randy Gordon, NGFA President and CEO As NGFA member companies likely are aware, legislation to correct the unforeseen impacts of Section 199A of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was not included in the continuing budget resolution that Congress enacted early this morning. Efforts to arrive at an equitable solution were nonstop during the past week, and the NGFA and other stakeholders were very close to reaching an agreement with legislators but just ran out of time to resolve one or two remaining issues. In fact, discussions were occurring late into the evening ... Read More
FDA issues FSMA final rule on intentional adulteration
FDA issues FSMA final rule on intentional adulteration; animal/pet food and grain storage facilities exempt By Jess McCluer, Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Affairs; and Randy Gordon, President The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 26 released the final version of its regulations implementing the intentional adulteration provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Details of the FDA final rule are available online. The final rule’s requirements will take effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register, which is expected to occur May 27. But the ... Read More
NGFA Board approves final set of new trucking-related trade rules
On May 20, 2016, the NGFA Board of Directors voted to approve final a version of NGFA’s newest trading rules – related to the transportation of grain and feed products by truck. The new truck-related additions amend NGFA Grain Trade Rule 12 to spell out the responsibilities of both buyers and sellers for grain transported by truck and sold based upon either destination or origin grades. The newly adopted provisions also amend NGFA Feed Trade Rule 18 regarding truck shipments of feed products whose condition is guaranteed upon arrival at destination. These new rules, which are designed ... Read More
Lacy Holleman
National Grain and Feed Association
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