The Rock Island District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to begin closures of the following locks and dams for substantial repairs starting next month. Below is the current schedule from the Rock Island District’s website: LaGrange Lock and Dam – Major Rehabilitation & Lock Machinery Replacement: Full closure scheduled July 1-Sept. 30 Peoria Lock and Dam – Dewatering for Maintenance and Inspection: Full closure scheduled July 6 - Sept. 30 Starved Rock Lock and Dam – Upper & Lower Miter Gate Installation: Full closure ... Read More
News
Join NGFA for a webinar on ag transportation costs
NGFA is hosting a webinar on July 9 with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which recently completed a study for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) identifying transportation costs associated with agricultural goods. “Transportation costs are a core component within the soybean, corn and related agricultural products supply chains,” TTI notes. “Congestion and wait times lead to delays that increase those costs and reduce efficiency.” Join TTI’s David Ellis, Brianne Glover and Max Steadman on July 9 at 3 p.m. EST for an in-depth look at the ... Read More
New study urges clarification of RR common-carrier obligation
By Randy Gordon, President and CEO A new study issued June 24 recommends that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) take steps to better define the so-called “common-carrier obligation” of rail carriers to provide shippers with service upon reasonable request under reasonable conditions and at reasonable rates. “It is clear that the (common-carrier obligation) must be preserved for economic and environmental reasons…, but there needs to be a better definition of the concept and clarification of its meaning and applicability in today’s transportation environment,” the report ... Read More
House merges highway bill into larger infrastructure package
By Max Fisher, Vice President of Economics and Government Relations; and Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media House Democrats this week merged their nearly $500 billion highway bill into a larger infrastructure package (H.R. 2, The Moving Forward Act) that includes $1.5 trillion in funding for the nation’s roads, bridges, transit, rail, schools, housing, broadband, drinking and wastewater systems, postal service, clean energy sector, and health care infrastructure. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee already had approved the $494 billion highway ... Read More
NGFA and NAEGA support U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020
ARLINGTON, Va., June 23, 2020 -- The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) today said they strongly support legislation that would reauthorize and improve the U.S. Grain Standards Act. The Senate Agriculture Committee will consider the bill reauthorizing the U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act for another five years during a June 24 business meeting. 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 ... Read More
CEC Replay – Take the survey to help NGFA with future events
During NGFA’s virtual conference – CEC Replay – on June 17 in partnership with Grain Journal, attendees heard updates from 2019 Country Elevator Conference speakers and received a sneak preview of the upcoming CEC in December 2020. The free CEC Replay webinar featured: Michele Payn, principal of Cause Matters Corp.; Seth Meyer, research professor at the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri; and Kevin Van Trump, president and founder of Farm Direction and the Van Trump Report. Member feedback is highly valuable on this first-of-its-kind, virtual ... Read More
Agriculture groups request funding for animal disease prevention in wake of COVID-19
In a June 19 letter to congressional leaders, NGFA and Animal Agriculture Coalition groups urged Congress to provide animal disease prevention funding as Congress continues deliberations to address the challenges of COVID-19. The groups urged lawmakers to include $300 million for the 2018 Farm Bill Animal Health Provisions program to bolster routine surveillance and preparedness for foreign animal disease, while supplementing the costs associated with the surge capacity to respond to COVID-19. “As we reflect on how to prepare for and respond to outbreaks like COVID, it’s clear that the ... Read More
Senate Ag Committee schedules meeting to reauthorize U.S. Grain Standards Act
By Bobby Frederick, Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy The Senate Agriculture Committee has scheduled a meeting for June 24 to consider reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 (USGSRA 2020). This meeting will mark the first time the committee has gathered in-person since the COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered operations on Capitol Hill. As a result, the committee’s business meeting will be conducted in a large room within the Dirksen Senate Office Building to allow for more adequate social distancing than what would be possible in ... Read More
Reminder on CME delivery procedures during Illinois River closures
By Todd Kemp, Senior Vice President and Treasurer Following consultation with the NGFA’s Risk Management Committee and other customers, the CME Group in 2019 updated its rule that governs delivery procedures – and, more specifically, barge load-out procedures at elevators regular for delivery – during anticipated closures of the Illinois River waterway for lock-and-dam repairs scheduled this summer. Provisions of the rule will take effect if repairs result in a majority of regular shipping stations being obstructed for 15 days. CME has stressed that the rule is designed to have ... Read More
NGFA joins ag groups, companies in reiterating importance of China Phase One Trade Agreement
The NGFA on June 16 joined more than 190 national and state agricultural organizations and companies in reiterating the importance of the U.S.-China Phase One Trade Agreement in a letter to President Trump. NGFA was responsible for generating nearly half of the signatories on the letter, which includes many NGFA Affiliated State and Regional Trade Associations and member companies. “As you know, the U.S.-China Phase One Trade Agreement is critical to both the near- and longer-term success and growth of American agriculture – and the millions of American jobs the agricultural sector ... Read More
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