NGFA Director, Safety, Education and Training Jim Seibert will lead a “Plan to Prevent Fires & Explosions” webinar on June 23 at 1 p.m. CST. Hosted by the Feed & Grain Live, the webinar will feature Seibert hosting a discussion on how to prevent grain dryer fires and dust explosions by having an emergency plan in place. “Whether a fire emergency allows for an orderly facility shutdown or requires a ‘cut-and-run’ evacuation, maintaining control is possible,” notes the webinar description. “This webinar will help you establish a plan to avoid confusion and mistakes that lead to ... Read More
Newsletter
NGFA safety resources available to Safety Made Simple clients
NGFA and Safety Made Simple (SMS) announced on June 1 a new partnership allowing SMS clients access to NGFA’s library of Safety Tips Sheets and online training modules within SMS’s learning management system. “NGFA and Safety Made Simple share similar missions to help workers go home safe every day,” said Jess McCluer, NGFA’s vice president of safety and regulatory affairs. “This partnership will ensure NGFA’s safety training materials are shared as widely as possible by being featured on Safety Made Simple’s professional and robust online training platform. We hope this partnership can ... Read More
NGFA announces new staff roles
During the NGFA’s 25th annual convention on June 2-4, the Association announced several new titles and committee re-assignments for its staff members. Todd Kemp will transition into a new role, effective July 1, as NGFA Executive Director of Member Services and Outreach. [His job description is updated as follows: Responsible for the overall management of member relations. Lead efforts for retention and recruitment of existing and new members. Facilitates understanding of membership benefits, opportunities for engagement, and works with Association staff to address concerns brought ... Read More
More than 400 members celebrate 125 years of ‘Transforming America’s Harvest’ at NGFA’s annual convention
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director, Communications and Digital Media; with contributions by Bobby Frederick, Vice President, Legislative Affairs and Public Policy; and Max Fisher, Vice President, Economics and Government Relations More than 400 people gathered in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the NGFA’s 125th annual convention on June 2-4 where NGFA members met with industry leaders and joined together in-person for the first time since March 2020! All registered convention attendees can access full recordings of the June 3-4 General Sessions, the June 2 Transportation and Technology Open Forum ... Read More
FDA issues report detailing inspection activity during COVID-19 pandemic
By David Fairfield, Senior Vice President, Feed The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued a report titled, “Resiliency Roadmap for FDA Inspectional Oversight,” outlining the agency’s inspectional activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and its plan for future inspections. In March 2020, FDA announced that it was temporarily postponing all domestic and foreign routine surveillance facility inspections, while continuing mission-critical inspections when possible. Beginning the week of July 20, 2020, FDA began to work toward resuming prioritized domestic inspections using its ... Read More
NGFA urges USDA to prioritize working land conservation programs as it develops ‘climate-smart’ policies
By Max Fisher, Vice President of Economics and Government Relations In comments submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on April 29 regarding climate policy priorities, NGFA urged the agency to implement “climate-smart” policies in a manner that allows U.S. agricultural producers and agribusinesses to enhance income without idling land or distorting planting and marketing decisions. NGFA submitted the comments in response to USDA’s request for input on its climate strategy, published on March 16 in the Federal Register. NGFA noted its support of working land ... Read More
CAPs get a virtual ‘D.C. Experience’
NGFA’s current Committee Apprentice Program (CAP) class participated in two days of virtual meetings with NGFA staff, government agencies and lawmakers this week. April 20-21 marked the annual “CAP D.C. Experience,” during which CAPs advocate for NGFA priority issues with lawmakers and their staff and visit with staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and other relevant agencies. Keynote speakers kicked off each day of meetings by addressing the full group of CAPs. Speakers included Eyang Garrison, chief of ... Read More
NGFA finalizes new Climate Change and Sustainability Task Force
To assist NGFA in addressing the significant issues of climate change and sustainability, NGFA Chairman JoAnn Brouillette has appointed the following individuals to serve on the newly created Climate Change and Sustainability Task Force: Fernando Adler, head of Gradable Commercial Services, an FBN Company Meg Belcher, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Scoular Jay Burns, sustainability ambassador, COFCO INTL Ben Fargher, managing director of sustainability, Cargill North America Supply Chain Mark Hobrock, senior profit center manager, The ... Read More
NGFA urges Congress to alleviate truck driver shortage
NGFA and 117 other stakeholder groups this week urged lawmakers to help alleviate a nationwide shortage of commercial truck drivers by providing new opportunities for younger drivers. “Seventy percent of the nation’s freight is carried by commercial trucks, and while demand is projected to increase over the next decade, the threat posed by the driver shortage stands to disrupt the continuity of the supply chain,” stated an April 14 letter to leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This is especially problematic as the nation and ... Read More
NGFA urges DoD to reinstate Inland Waterways Users Board
NGFA urged the Department of Defense this week to reinstate the Inland Waterways Users Board (IWUB) as soon as possible. In an April 7 letter to DoD leaders, NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert noted that the U.S. inland waterways system is financed in part by a diesel fuel tax that commercial users pay, deposited into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF). “The users who help pay for the maintenance and modernization of this system should continue to have their voice heard through the IWUB,” he noted. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a “zero-based review” of all DoD ... Read More
Lacy Holleman
National Grain and Feed Association
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