NGFA’s 2019 Trading, Trade Rules and Dispute Resolution Seminar (Trade Rules Seminar) will feature a special barge trade session focused on the new and currently underway Barge Digital Transformation project. This initiative launched last year in response to industry-generated demand to replace the current costly, cumbersome and outdated (paper- and FedEx-based) process to apply barges and transfer bills of lading. For about a year, a diverse coalition of companies in the industry have been working to develop a prototype digital system, which it widely is anticipated will be available ... Read More
Arbitration
Register now to save on NGFA’s Trade Rules Seminar
Offered only once every-other-year, NGFA’s 2019 Trading, Trade Rules and Dispute Resolution Seminar (Trade Rules Seminar) will be conducted May 6-7 at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. Register here by today – Friday, April 5 – to receive an early bird discount! NGFA’s Trade Rules Seminar provides attendees with a primer on contracting principles and trading practices designed to minimize costly trade disputes and contract non-performance. “[The Trade Rules Seminar] is a great way to really gain exposure to the trade rules and their application to what we use every ... Read More
NGFA membership ratifies arbitration rule changes
During the NGFA’s 123rd annual convention in Amelia Island, Fla., NGFA members ratified changes to arbitration rules voted on by the NGFA Board of Directors in September 2018. At the annual business meeting on March 19, NGFA members ratified amendments to the NGFA Arbitration Rules and NGFA Rail Arbitration Rules related to NGFA membership categories. Additionally, the amendments expand the Rail Arbitration Committee to accommodate additional members while maintaining the even split on the committee between railroads and rail customers. View more details about the ratified changes in the ... Read More
NGFA’s Trade Rules Seminar is May 6-7
Offered only once every other year, NGFA’s Trade Rules Seminar provides attendees with a primer on contracting principles and trading practices designed to minimize costly trade disputes and contract non-performance. NGFA’s 2019 Trading, Trade Rules and Dispute Resolution Seminar (Trade Rules Seminar) will be conducted May 6-7 at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. Register by April 5 to receive an early bird discount! WATCH: What is the NGFA Trade Rules Seminar? Designed for those involved in trading operations or responsible for merchandising grains, feed ... Read More
NGFA rail arbitration, mediation service available to resolve disputes
By Charlie Delacruz, Senior Vice President and General Counsel The Feb. 1 edition of the NGFA Newsletter contained an article about the availability of the widely respected and effective Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Rail Customer and Public Assistance Office as an excellent venue that rail users can use – on a strictly confidential basis – to resolve a wide range of rail disputes with their carriers. Another too-often-overlooked forum is available through NGFA itself – the unique Rail Arbitration and Mediation Service that celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018. ... Read More
Supreme Court decision favors arbitration access
By Charlie Delacruz, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 8 decided another case strongly in favor of access to arbitration for resolution of disputes involving commercial contracts. In the case – Henry Schein, Inc. v. Archer & White Sales, Inc., (No. 17-1272) – the Court rejected the “wholly groundless” exception used by some lower courts to preclude arbitration even if the parties had agreed in their contracts to have an arbitrator – not the court – decide whether their arbitration agreement applied to a particular ... Read More
Updated NGFA Trade Rules and Arbitration booklet available
The NGFA has published a new, updated version of its popular Trade Rules and Arbitration Rules booklet that is available now for purchase. The new booklet includes the latest changes ratified by the membership during the March convention. View the Trade Rules, Arbitration Rules, Rail Arbitration Rules and Bylaws changes here. These changes already are in effect, after having been approved previously by the Board of Directors. The new booklet also includes the changes to the Trade Rules regarding Canadian Official Weights that the Board approved during its meeting at the March convention. ... Read More
NGFA’s Grain Trade Rules online course finalized
The NGFA recently finalized its Grain Trade Rules online course, which is designed to provide a summary of the 30 NGFA Grain Trade Rules and serve as a primer for the bi-annual NGFA Trade Rules Seminar. This course – the first of its kind for the NGFA – provides registrants with a digital copy of the Grain Trade Rules, as well as several case studies and commentary on the rules for reference. Online education is one of the many benefits of an NGFA membership, and an area the Association is particularly focused on expanding. The course is available here for $35, with options to enroll ... 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
NGFA Arbitration Lauded
The American Coalition for Ethanol recently presented "NGFA Arbitration – The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Alternatives," a webinar that outlined why the association’s arbitration process may appeal as a method of dispute resolution. “While NGFA was not a part of the webinar, it’s a nice reminder for our members about how we can help – if needed,” said NGFA Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Charlie Delacruz. “Over the years, NGFA’s Trade Rules and Arbitration System have facilitated the resolution of thousands of cases, which when challenged in court have been continually ... Read More
National Grain and Feed Association
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