The mission of Pacific Northwest Grain and Feed Association is to organize, promote and serve the mutual needs of firms involved in the processing, handling and merchandising of grain, feed, and other agricultural commodities within the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association

 

 

Bi-Weekly NewsBulletin                         Volume 1, Issue #8 - 10/11/2005

 
Topics in this Issue:
1. FDA Proposes Additional ''Mad Cow'' Safeguards
2. Minimum Wage increase in Washington 
3. Port of Portland Launches NEW Interactive T-6 Web Site
4. USDA Announces Reenrollment, Extensions of CRP Contracts 
5. Propeller Club of Portland Plans Meeting on Transportation
6. PNWGFA Annual Directory
7. Warehousemen's Conference Dates & Location

 

Industry News:
FDA Proposes Additional BSE Safeguards
On October 4th the Food and Drug Administration announced new measures to help further protect consumers against the agent thought to cause BSE or "Mad Cow" disease.  Follow this link for the full FDA Press Release.

Minimum Wage Increase in Washington (Sept. 30, 2005)
TUMWATER - Washington's minimum wage will increase 28 cents to $7.63 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2006.

The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) recalculates the state's minimum wage each year in September as required by Initiative 688, which was approved by Washington state voters in 1998.  The law requires that the state minimum wage be adjusted each year according to the change in the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) during the 12 months ending each Aug. 31.

The CPI-W measures the average change in prices on a fixed "market basket" of goods and services such as food, shelter, medical care, transportation and other goods and services people purchase for day-to-day living. It increased 3.8 percent during the12-month period ending Aug. 31, compared to a 2.6 percent increase during the same period in 2004.

That increase, applied to Washington's current minimum wage of $7.35 an hour, generated a 28-cent increase in next year's minimum wage. Washington's minimum wage applies to workers in both agricultural and non-agricultural jobs, although 14- and 15-year-olds may be paid 85 percent of the adult minimum wage.

For more information on Washington's minimum wage, go to Wages.LNI.wa.gov and select "Minimum Wage." Employers and workers may also call 360-902-5316 or toll-free 1-866-219-7321 for more information.

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Port of Portland Launches New Interactive Terminal-6 Web Site
Get information on international trade via a new interactive section on the Port of Portland's Web site. Virtually drop into the heart of the region's main cargo hub with a step-by-step tour of commerce.  Follow this link for the Press Release.

USDA Announces Reenrollment, Extensions of CRP Contracts 
On September 28th, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced procedures under which approximately 28.5 million acres in Conservation Reserve Program contracts expiring in 2007 through 2010 will be allowed to be reenrolled or extended. Check the USDA web page for the full story .

Propeller Club of Portland Meeting
Rex Burkholder, Metro Deputy Council President, will be speaking to the Propeller Club on October 18th at the Holiday Inn - Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. Check out all the details on Propeller Club flyer.

 

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