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 #9 - 6/20/2006

 

Topics in this Issue:

1. 89th Annual Convention & Golf Tournaments **** Updated Agenda****
2. PNWGFA Fiscal Year - Membership Renewal Time 
3. More Information on PNWGFA Scholarship Winners
4. Regional 2007 Farm Bill Hearings Planned for Summer 
5. Comment Online About 2007 Farm Bill
6. Elevator Fee Increase - Effective June 30th 
7. Snake Plain Aquifer Update

 

 

Association News:

1.  89th Annual Convention & Golf Tournaments (June 29th & 30th)
AGENDA CHANGE - On Thursday at 9:00 a.m. the 2005/2006 PNWGFA Board of Directors will meet for the last time.  Our Annual Membership meeting will take place on Friday morning at 9:00 am.  There will be a continental breakfast for those members who are in attendance.  We will be voting in a new Board of Directors.  We will have a meeting of the NEW Board of Directors following the membership meeting.  

Don't miss the FUN!  We are planning TWO Golf Tournaments at the 89th Annual Convention.  The first Tournament will benefit the PNWGFA Scholarship Fund.  We will be playing at Indian Canyon Golf Course on Thursday, June 29th.  The second Tournament will be played at Qualchan Golf Course on Friday, June 30th. 

I'd like to thank the Planning Committee for their help in putting together two days of FUN and lining up all these FABULOUS Sponsors!!!

2006 Convention Planning Committee:
Sterling Haskins, Chairman (The Haskins Company)
Jeff Young (Industrial Systems & Fabrication)
Brian Gordon (Ritzville Warehouse Company)

Hotel Accommodations...Please call the Davenport Hotel in Spokane Washington and tell them you are with our group in order to get the discounted room rate.  We have been offered Deluxe Rooms at $135/night + tax.  Call today to make your reservations!  (800) 899-1482  

Registration...With a small change to the Agenda, Most delegates will start Thursday at the Golf Course and we will have our Annual Membership meeting on Friday morning at 9:00 am.  

Golf/Lunch...We will have boxed lunches and drinks at each Tournament.  On Thursday our tee times start at 11:30 a.m.  On Friday they start our at 10:30 a.m.  Visit the following link for the Registration Form and full details about the event.


2.  PNWGFA Membership Renewal Time
Members of the Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association are entitled to the following services and more:   

  • Regular copies of the NewsBulletin and other periodic mailings to keep you up-to-date on all things that affect the industry

  • One FREE copy of the PNWGFA Directory

  • Discounted advertising rates in the Directory

  • Discounted registration fees for our Workshops & Conferences

  • Discounted fees for Exhibitors at our Trade Shows

Associate Membership is available to any allied industry supply and service firm or individuals.  Associate Member dues are $375 annually. 

Direct Membership includes the country grain elevator companies, feed and flour milling operations and export grain merchandising firms throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Direct members are assessed annual membership dues based on the company's gross annual sales volume.  The Association's dues structure was created by the Board of Directors and is subject to periodic review as budget conditions require.  (See attachment for dues structure.)

Subsidiary Membership includes corporate divisions of, or partners with, other Direct member firms.  Subsidiary members enjoy full voting privileges, but annual dues are one-half the contribution of their corporate parent, or $700, whichever is greater.  

The Merchants Exchange accounting department has already started to send out invoices to current members, watch your mail for your copy.


3.  PNWGFA Scholarship Winners
Each year we get a wealth of highly qualified candidates that apply for our four $1000 Scholarships.  This year was no exception, with difficulty the committee narrowed it down to the following students:

Melissa Bughi, Sponsored by Northwest Grain Growers 
Melissa is currently enrolled at Washington State University, her major is Agricultural Economics.  
 
Julia Esser, Sponsored by Genesee Union Warehouse
Julia is currently enrolled at Gonzaga University with a major in Marketing. 
 
Tyler Llewellyn, Sponsored by Central Washington Grain Growers
Tyler is currently enrolled at Western Washington University with a double-major in Environmental Science & Business Administration.
 
Stacie Schultz, Sponsored by Reardan Grain Growers
Stacie plans to attend Whitworth College or Washington State University, with the hopes of a career in Nursing.

 

Industry News:

4.  Regional 2007 Farm Bill Hearings Planned for Summer
A couple weeks ago the Senate Agriculture Committee announced that they would be holding a series of farm bill regional hearings throughout the summer.  For more information follow this link.


5.  Comment Online About the 2007 Farm Bill
You always have the option to make your comments on online.  House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) recently announced a way to give your comments online about the 2007 Farm Bill.  Please visit the following webpage www.agriculture.house.gov/.  The Form is a large button on the right hand side of the webpage labeled "Farm Bill Feedback".


6.  Elevator Fee Increase - Effective June 30th
There will be a fee increase for L&I building services that goes into effect Friday, June 30, 2006.  Follow this link for the entire press release.  If you are interested in more information on the Elevator program, inspections, the calendar of events and more, follow this link.


7.  Snake Plain Aquifer Update
Idaho & US Department of Agriculture announce $258 million agreement.  Check out the Press Release and accompanying information on the Snake Plain Aquifer.  This release outlines 4 pages of Q & A on the project.


 

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