In addition to a prestigious lineup of speakers — including just-confirmed Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. — the NGFA’s 123rd Annual Convention provides a unique chance to sit in on meetings of various NGFA committees and contribute to the decision-making and agenda-setting processes of the Association. Most of NGFA’s 16 committees meet during the annual convention to cover priority issues specific to their areas of specialty. For example, the Country Elevator Committee will discuss implementation of the 2018 farm law bill and new “waters of the United States” rule, while the Trade Rules ... Read More
Subject-focused News
OSHA Form 300A due March 2
Grain, feed and processing facilities must electronically submit data from their Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses forms to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) by March 2. Facilities can submit OSHA Form 300A using the Injury Tracking Application on OSHA’s website. The deadline differs from past years as the phase-in period for the Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses rule comes to an end. For each year hereafter, the 300A Form will be required to be electronically filed no later than March 2. Employers should have ... Read More
Researchers examine infectious dose of African Swine Fever Virus when consumed in liquid or feed
By David Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services Researchers at Kansas State University have published results from a study that evaluated the infectious dose of African swine fever virus (ASFV) when it is consumed in liquid or feed. The “ahead-of-print” research article is posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. The results of the study demonstrated that ASFV can be experimentally transmitted through liquid or feed. The research reported that the minimum infectious dose (MID) of ASFV required to result in infection of greater than one pig after ... Read More
NGFA joins coalition in support of crop insurance funding
The NGFA joined 59 other farm and agribusiness groups in signing a letter urging Congress not to propose cuts to federal crop insurance in the next budget proposals. In the Feb. 19 letter addressed to the House and Senate Budget committees, agricultural stakeholder groups noted that farm income has dropped more than 45 percent over five years. “An over-reliance on budget savings from the agriculture community and from crop insurance will unquestionably undermine rural economies,” the letter stated. “It’s also important to note that in a time of uncertainty in the farming and ... Read More
Grain dust explosions rose in 2018, while injuries and fatalities declined, according to Purdue report
The number of grain dust explosions increased in 2018, but the resulting injuries and fatalities decreased from the previous year, according to an annual report issued by Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. There were 12 grain dust explosions in 2018, compared to seven in 2017 and a 10-year average of 8.4 per year. There was one fatality and four injuries nationwide in 2018, compared to five deaths and 12 injuries in 2017. Explosions occurred at two feed mills, two ethanol plants and eight grain elevators, the report said. Grain dust ... Read More
U.S., China developing multiple MOUs on trade issues as talks progress
U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators reconvened Friday for a final day of scheduled trade talks this week, with reports that the two countries are developing a series of memoranda of understanding to codify agreements to resolve long-festering trade irritants. There were reports that after more than nine hours of talks on Thursday, negotiators continued work on developing agreements in principle on structural reforms and potential enforcement mechanisms on intellectual property protection, forced technology transfers, cyber theft, currency manipulation, agriculture, services and non-tariff ... Read More
U.S.-China trade talks scheduled to resume in Washington next week following Beijing round
The ongoing, tedious negotiations between the United States and China to resolve long-festering trade disputes are scheduled to resume next week in Washington following this week’s discussions in Beijing, China. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement issued today that this week’s “detailed and intensive discussions led to progress…(but) much work remains.” Meanwhile, China’s state-owned news agency Xinhau said the two countries had reached a “consensus in principle” on some issues, and that the two sides had discussed a potential memorandum ... Read More
FDA unveils new course on FSMA Intentional Adulteration rule
By Dave Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made a new online training course available for facilities that are required to comply with the agency’s final rule for Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration. FDA developed the new course – Intentional Adulteration (IA) Identification and Explanation of Mitigation Strategies – through a partnership with the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance’s (FSPCA) Intentional Adulteration Subcommittee. The course provides one way to meet the IA rule’s ... Read More
FDA issues final guidance for public recall warning and notification
By Dave Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Feb. 8 announced the availability of a final guidance for industry and FDA staff regarding the use, content and circumstances for issuance of public warnings and public notification of recalls. FDA’s intent in issuing the guidance, entitled “Public Warning and Notification of Recalls under 21 CFR Part 7, Subpart C,” is to increase and expedite the appropriate and accurate use of public warnings and public notification and to increase public health protection by better informing the ... Read More
Grassley says Trump must revoke Section 232 tariffs to get USMCA approval
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media Canada and Mexico are unlikely to ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) unless the United States lifts its tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, emphasized this week. “The Senate in Mexico is not going to take it up until the tariffs are off,” Grassley said during a Feb. 12 media call. “The House of Commons in Canada’s not going to take it up if it’s not there soon after March 1 and it’s not going to be there unless the tariffs are off. And even ... Read More
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