Submissions will be accepted until Nov. 25, 2020, for the NGFA’s annual photo contest! Winners will be announced during the 49th annual Country Elevator Conference on Dec. 6-8 in Kansas City, Mo. Entrants, who must be employed by an NGFA-member company, have the chance to win $500. Photos should be emailed to sgonzalez@ngfa.org and must be identified within one of three categories: Technology, Teamwork or Weather. Judges include NGFA staff and third-party professionals in communications, marketing or photography. Read the rules and view last year’s winners. ... Read More
News
NGFA joins ag groups in urging continued funding of border inspections of ag products
By Randy Gordon, President and CEO The NGFA on June 29 joined more than 150 other agricultural and trade organizations in urging Congress to continue to fund agricultural quarantine inspections. The letter to Congress, spearheaded by the National Pork Producers Council, warned of a funding shortfall that could reduce agricultural inspections at ports of entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The funding shortfall looms because agriculture quarantine inspection (AQI) user fees collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ... Read More
Economists outline impacts of COVID-19 on ag supply chain
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media The COVID-19 pandemic, while demonstrating the crucial importance of the agri-food supply chain, has inflicted economic shocks to the global food system that will last for several years, said agricultural economists in a new 44-page issue paper released on June 29. The Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) partnered to publish the report, entitled “Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Food and Agricultural Markets,” a collection of various authors’ ... Read More
House approves massive infrastructure bill
By Max Fisher, Vice President of Economics and Government Relations The House on July 1 approved the so-called “Moving Forward Act,” which includes $1.5 trillion worth of infrastructure investments across a number of U.S. economic sectors, such as transportation, energy, education, housing and healthcare. The bill passed on a 233–188 party line vote. Embedded in the legislation is the highway reauthorization bill that NGFA reported on in last week’s Newsletter. At a high level, the Moving Forward Act contains the following provisions: $494 billion in surface transportation ... Read More
USMCA officially governs North American trade
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) officially entered into force on July 1, after all three countries had taken the necessary measures to implement the agreement. In a statement issued that day, NGFA said the trade deal is “a model 21st century trade accord that will contribute to growing, robust North American trade and serve as a strong foundation for the next generation of trade agreements.” USMCA replaces the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and its completion seals one of President ... Read More
Congress votes to extend Paycheck Protection Program to Aug. 8
By Randy Gordon, President and CEO Congress this week voted to extend the application period for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by five weeks – to Aug. 8. The Senate’s action came on June 30, less than four hours before the program was scheduled to end. The House followed suit on July 1 shortly before recessing for the Independence Day holiday. After a rush of early demand — the initial $349 billion set aside for the program was gone in 13 days — borrowing slowed significantly and there is approximately $130 billion in untapped funds ... Read More
NGFA commends, congratulates U.S., Mexico and Canada on entry-into-force of USMCA
ARLINGTON, Va., July 1, 2020 – The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) said the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which enters into force today, is a model 21st century trade accord that will contribute to growing, robust North American trade and serve as a strong foundation for the next generation of trade agreements. NGFA commended and congratulated the U.S., Mexican and Canadian governments for negotiating a modernized North American trade agreement, as well as the legislative chambers in all three countries that ratified it by strong, bipartisan votes. For grains, oilseeds ... Read More
FDA Launches New Online System to Assist Industry with Exporting Animal Products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) on June 22 announced the availability of a new online system – CVM Export Certification Application and Tracking System (CVM eCATS) – that will for the first time enable animal food, drug and device manufacturers to electronically apply for, track and receive export certificates. FDA anticipates that the newly available electronic certificates will help facilitate exports by assisting industry in fulfilling importing country requirements for certification by CVM of CVM-regulated animal products. In addition, ... Read More
Senate Agriculture Committee advances U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020
The Senate Agriculture Committee on June 24 advanced legislation supported by NGFA and North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) that would reauthorize and improve the U.S. Grain Standards Act. During a June 24 business meeting, the committee favorably reported the bill – the “U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020” – reauthorizing the law for another five years. The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) establishes official marketing standards for grains and oilseeds under the authorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act, ... Read More
NGFA publishes new arbitration decision
The following decision was published and distributed on June 24 and made available on the NGFA website: Case No. 2848: Allen Hoger, Hoger Farms, Hoger LTD Partners v. Premier Cooperative For a full listing of arbitration decisions, visit NGFA’s Arbitration page. ... Read More
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