Bi


Bi-Weekly NewsBulletin Volume 1, Issue #7 - 9/27/2005
Topics in this Issue:
	1. Legislative Meeting This FRIDAY in Pasco 2. USDA Farm Service Agency to Reorganize in Washington 3. Additional Emerson Trust Wheat Sales 4. Deadline Extended in Post-Hurricane Initiatives 5. Minnesota Discontinues Grain Inspection Services 6. Workshop: Building Living Snow Fences 7. Wheat Marketing Center Offers Workshop 8. BNSF Railway Cuts Grain Shipping Rates in Montana 9. FGIS Bill Would Not Allow Private Inspections 10. GREAT Job Opportunity in the Industry 11. PNWGFA Bi-Weekly NewsBulletin 12. PNWGFA Annual Directory 13. Warehousemen's Conference Dates & Location
Industry News:
	Legislative Meeting This FRIDAY This Friday, September 30th, four legislative committees are having a joint hearing in Pasco on the "Economic Impacts of Energy Prices on Agriculture/Possible Solutions/Targeted Relief". Goals: 1) To learn from farmers, processors, and related businesses the effects that current energy prices are having on production, processing, transportation, inputs, and other aspects of agriculture; and 2) to discuss recommendations for solving or relieving these impacts. Date and Time: Friday, September 30, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Place: Columbia Basin College Theater, Pasco Committees: House Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade; House Technology, Energy and Communications; Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development; and Senate Water, Energy and Environment. Meg VanSchoorl House Office of Program Research Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade 360-786-7105 USDA Farm Service Agency On September 27th, the USDA Farm Service Agency issued a press release stating that there would be a review of their office structure. Executive Director James F. Fitzgerald in Spokane said "Due to our current structure, Washington state will experience minimal impact compared to many states". Follow this link for the full Press Release . Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust The USDA announced that they will sell an additional 189,190 metric tons of wheat from the Emerson Trust. See the entire Press Release. Post-Hurricane Initiatives Randy Gordon with the National Grain & Feed Association informed us that the USDA will extend the deadline for submitting offers in response to post-hurricane initiatives designed to ease grain transportation. Please see these links for Randy's report as well as the USDA press release on Grain Transportation & Storage Incentives. Minnesota Discontinues Services The State of Minnesota will no longer be offering domestic grain inspection services as of January 1, 2006. Several state offices will be closing at that time. Please see entire Press Release . Building Living Snow Fences Spokane, Washington - The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is putting together a workshop (October 4-5) to teach others how to build living snow fences. See the entire Press Release . Wheat Marketing Center A new pilot program at the Wheat Marketing Center will be offering a workshop for "Wheat Quality & Risk Management Assessment for Elevator Operators". They will also address the big economic impact of segregation to assure wheat quality. Please see the full Press Release. BNSF Railway Cuts Rates in Montana Please see the Associated Press article that outlines the rates for 52-car trains. Grain Standards Act Senators Chambliss & Harkin offer new Grain Standards Act without private inspectors. A new bill to reauthorize the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) was introduced on Thursday by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss (R., Georgia) after ranking member Tom Harkin (D., Iowa) objected to provisions that would permit some ports to use private inspectors. The new draft bill would not permit a return to private inspections. The House Agriculture Committee already approved its version of the legislation that would allow privatization. The House was slated to consider its bill but Republican leaders pulled it after some lawmakers raised concerns about the return to private inspections. The revised Senate bill would reauthorize FGIS until 2015. The current law expires a the end of the month. Please click this link to see what Senator Tom Harkin had to say on the topic. Job Opportunity Odessa Union Warehouse Co-Op Seed Division Manager 200,000 bushels annual retail, 120,000 bushels annual whole sale. Certified seed facility plus one branch location. Progressive company with full benefits and growth opportunities. Salary DOE. Please contact Keith Bailey Odessa Union Warehouse P.O. Box 247 Odessa, WA 99159
Association News:
	PNWGFA Annual Directory It is time to start assembling the Annual Directory. We are in the process of updating company listings and starting to work on the advertisements. The advertising contract is posted on our website for you to download. I have also mailed it to all current and past advertisers. Please call if you have any questions! Warehousemen's Conference The Planning Committee will be meeting in October to outline some of our speakers and topics for the 2006 Warehousemen's Conference. As many of you already know, we will be at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in February 2006 for our Warehousemen’s Conference. Please mark your calendar with the following dates: February 9-10, 2006 . Our conference rate is $89 for economy rooms, $109 for Deluxe rooms and $119 for Premier rooms. (They are in the process of renovating their economy rooms, so all rooms will be great.) For reservations please call 1-800-688-5253.
Contact Us:
	Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association Becky Andrews, Association Director 200 SW Market Street, Suite 190, Portland, Oregon 97201 Phone: (503) 227-0234, Fax: (503) 227-0059, e-mail: Becky@pnwgfa.org