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 2, Issue #6 - 5/9/2006

 

Topics in this Issue:

1. Country Elevator Conference - Wrap Up & Presentations 
2. PNWGFA Scholarship Program - Update
3. Minneapolis Grain Exchange Celebrates it's 125th Anniversary!
4. Army Corps of Engineers - Navigation Locks on Snake & Columbia Rivers
5. L&I Press Releases - Fines, Teen Safety, Forklift Rodeo & February Tragedy

 

 

Association News:

1.  Country Elevator Council Conference

Planning...First off, let me THANK the planning committee, who put together such a TERRIFIC program for our two day event!  Special Thanks to Jim Bafus who was instrumental in getting most of the speakers lined up! 

2006 Planning Committee:
Tim Siler, Chairman (Wheat Growers of Endicott)
Jim Bafus, Speaker Contact (Almira Farmer's Warehouse)
Damon Filan, Golf Chairman (Tri-Cities Grain)
Ted Lowe (Columbia County Grain Growers)
Beau Duff (St. John Grain Growers)

Sponsors...Next I would like to Thank the GENEROUS Sponsors who made it possible to offer great CASH prizes for the golf tournament and also a hosted bar at the Reception on Thursday evening!  

Pictures...Check out our website later in the week, I will have some pictures of the event loaded.

Presentations...Below are 6 of the presentations that were offered at our Conference this year.  With some additional updates from the Washington Department of Transportation.  Beware...Some of these presentations are quite large and it might take a few minutes to download them.

Ty Meyer, Spokane County Conservation District, spoke to our group about Biodiesel issues.  (SCCD Oilseed Presentation)

Barbara Ivanov, WA State Department of Transportation, spoke to the Council about the CW and the P&L Railroad Line Purchases from Watco.  Attached is her presentation (WSDOT_Ivanov), an Update and Attachment she sent out today regarding the lines.

Ian Flagg, US Wheat Associates discussed the importance of White Wheat to our market.  Follow this link for the Presentation.

Dan Mader, Chairman of Idaho Barley Commission talked with our group about the quality concerns of Peas Commingling in the Barley we ship to other Countries.  Check out the entire Presentation.

Jerry Snyder, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, talked about the possibilities for the 2007 Farm Bill.

Dave Hunt, Columbia River Channel Coalition, gave us an update on the Channel Deepening project.


2.  PNWGFA Scholarship Program - We are reviewing the Applications
As always, we received some really GREAT applications this year.  We are processing the applications to send on to our Scholarship Committee for review.  We will notify all applicants with the outcome.  

The application is posted on our webpage and you can also download it here.   


3.  MGEX Celebrates it's 125th Anniversary!
Longtime member of the PNWGFA, The Minneapolis Grain Exchange will celebrate its 125th Anniversary on Saturday evening, October 7, 2006 at the Depot in Minneapolis .  Gala details will be announced in the coming weeks.  If you would like to be on the invite list and did not receive a “save the date” notice from the MGEX, please contact Jesse Marie Bartz at jbartz@mgex.com or 612-321-7122.

 

Industry News:

4.  US Army Corps of Engineers - Navigation Public Notice
The Corps of Engineers sent the following Public Notice regarding 2006 Seasonal Lockage Schedule for Locks on the Snake & Columbia Rivers.


5.  L&I Press Releases From the Last Two Weeks
The Washington Department of Labor & Industries issues the following press releases:

May 9, 2006 - L&I lowers fine, penalties against self-insured contractor.  This is an update on an investigation regarding workers' compensation claims and Skanska USA Building Inc.

May 9, 2006 - L&I urges job safety for teens as summer hiring season nears.  Some rules and regulations regarding teen workers.

May 4, 2006 - Competitors needed for Central Washington Forklift Rodeo.  This is a fun event with cash prizes.

April 28, 2006 - L&I investigation finds elevator tragedy a preventable accident.  This is the report following the investigation into the death of Jeremy Johnson at Bellevue's Lincoln Square.

 

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