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 3, Issue #7 - 3/27/2007

 

Topics in this Issue:

 1. 27th Annual Country Elevator Council Meeting - Register NOW
 2. PNWGFA Scholarship Program - Deadline Right Around the Corner!
 3. Annual June Convention - Location & Dates
 4. I Need More Pictures of Member Facilities!
 5. Columbia River Channel Deepening Gets $30 Million in 2007
 6. USDA - Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Loans and Grants
 7. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns Remarks to the NGFA 
 

 

Association News:

1.   27th Annual Country Elevator Council Meeting & Golf Tournament
Our managers meeting is right around the corner.  If you have not attended in the past, it is a FUN and informative event that discusses issues that affect the grain & feed industry right now.  

Schedule of Events for Thursday, April 19th:

  • 9:00 am until Noon -- Speakers

  • 12:30 pm until 5:00 pm -- Golf Tournament

  • 5:30 pm -- Reception & Golf Prizes at Hotel

Schedule of Events for Friday, April 20th:

  • 9:00 am until 1:00 pm -- Speakers & Lunch

Below are the essentials for the meeting:

  • Click here for the Registration Form (pdf)

  • Topics &/or Speakers:  The Agenda is still being finalized, we are currently planning on the following topics for the Conference.

    • River Issues -- Carl Christianson, USACE (confirmed)

    • Biofuels -- Mike Dunlap, Inland Empire Oilseeds (confirmed)

    • White Wheat Issues -- Glen Squires, WA Wheat Commission (confirmed)

    • CW and P&L Line Purchases -- Scott Witt, WADOT (invited)

    • Update on the 2007 Farm Bill -- Speaker TBD

    • Man Lifts -- Becky Ernstes, WA Department of Agriculture (invited)

    • Ethanol Plant in Portland -- Chuck Carlson (invited)

  • Hotel Information: 

    • Quality Inn & Suites

    • 700 Port Drive

    • Clarkston, WA  99403

    • $69/night + tax

    • Each adult registered with the hotel will receive a made-to-order breakfast in hotel restaurant.

    • Make your reservations by calling 1-509-758-9500, let them know you are with the Country Elevator Council to be placed in our room block.

  • Golf Information:

    • Quail Ridge Golf Course

    • 3600 Swallows Next Loop

    • Clarkston, WA  99403

    • We played this course in 2004 and had a GREAT time!!!

    • We are shaking things up this year, in order to mix the group up a bit more we will be assigning teams by handicap.  Jeff Young with Industrial Systems & Fabrication has volunteered to be the Golf Chairman for this event.


2.   PNWGFA Scholarship Program - Deadline is Approaching!
It's that time again...we are gearing up for the Scholarship Program and we need your help.  We need you to distribute this application to your members and try to get another great group of candidates for our four $1,000 Scholarships to be awarded this June.  Applications must be POSTMARKED by April 15, 2007.  Follow this link for the Application.  (This file is big, if you would prefer, please call or write me and I will fax or mail it to you.)


3.   90th Annual Convention & Golf Tournaments:

Coeur d’Alene Resort, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Thursday, June 28th & Friday, June 29th
For Reservations call:  (800) 688-5253 
Traditional Room:  $199.00/night + tax 
Deluxe Room:  $229.00/night + tax

(Don't forget...at this year's Reception we will have an Auction for Advertising Space on the Back Cover of our Annual Directory.)  


4.   I Need Pictures of Your Facility
We have been updating the photos that flash on our main webpage and want to include as many member facilities as possible.  I have received a couple new pictures that have been added and Hans Meere, here at the Merchant's Exchange, will be adding captions to them soon.  If you could please e-mail me (Becky@pnwgfa.org) your photos and identify the location of your facility, I will load them ASAP.  Thanks so much!

 

Industry News:

5.  CRCC Update - The Channel Deepening will Receive $30 Million in 2007
Our good friends at the Columbia River Channel Coalition sent us the following update on the status of channel deepening funding:


"Specific funding levels for projects like Columbia River Channel Deepening were uncertain after last year's federal budget process broke down.  President Bush's proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget included $15 million for this project and the House and Senate (led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray) allocated the same amount.  But the final Continuing Resolution for FY2007 eliminated specific project earmarks.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray

Last week, however, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that Channel Deepening will receive $30 million in FY2007!  This additional investment will quicken the pace of deepening the Columbia River navigation channel from 40 to 43 feet between the ocean and Portland/Vancouver -- enabling businesses and farmers to fully load their cargo and lower their transportation costs even sooner than expected.

Over 41 of the 103 miles in the lower Columbia River have already been deepened since construction began in 2005.  The Corps of Engineers' Portland District announced last Wednesday that they anticipate this critical project will be completed by 2009."

6.  USDA Announces Rural Development Funding for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Loans and Grants
On March 22nd the Washington Department of Agriculture released information on rural development funding for renewable energy.  Follow this link for more Information.  The USDA website has quite a bit more information at this link.


7.  Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns Remarks to the NGFA
On March 19th Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns was a guest speaker at the National Grain & Feed Association annual meeting.  Follow this link for the Full Transcript. 

 

Contact Us:

Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed Association
Becky Andrews, Director

200 SW Market Street, Suite 190, Portland, Oregon 97201
Phone: (503) 227-0234, Fax: (503) 227-0059, e-mail: Becky@pnwgfa.org