Port of South LouisianaPort of StocktonViganGeneva DryTelestackCimbria
  • TBA Group
  • Bühler GmbH
  • Sailors Society
  • Geneva Dry
  • TMS Awards 2023
  • Van Aalst

Support for U.S. Grains Act

Support for U.S. Grains Act

(Posted on 25/06/20)

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) in the USA and North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) have said they strongly support legislation that would reauthorize and improve the U.S. Grain Standards Act.

The Senate Agriculture Committee will consider the bill reauthorizing the U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act for another five years during a June 24 business meeting.

The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) establishes official marketing standards for grains and oilseeds under the authorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act, which was first signed into law in 1916. The existing authorization law, which passed in 2015 and included provisions to ensure uninterrupted export inspections, expires Sept. 30.

“Stakeholders – ranging from producers to grain handlers and processors to end-users and consumers – benefit when (FGIS) and its delegated and designated state and private agencies provide state-of-the-art, market-responsive Official inspection and weighing of bulk grains and oilseeds, and do so in a reliable, uninterrupted, consistent and cost-effective manner,” NGFA and NAEGA said in a June 23 support letter to Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

NGFA and NAEGA said they support reauthorizing all expiring provisions of the current law for another five years, including: the ability for Congress to appropriate funding for standardization and compliance activities that have broad societal benefits, including to farmers and consumers; authorization for the USDA Grain Inspection Advisory Committee to operate; and the current statutory limitation on the amount of money FGIS can spend on administrative costs not associated with direct inspection and weighing activities.

USGSRA 2020 also includes a number of improvements advocated by NGFA and NAEGA that they said will promote increased data and information-sharing to benefit the system and its users, including:

Requiring delegated state agencies to notify users of Official inspection or weighing   services at least 72 hours in advance of any intent to discontinue such services;

Ensuring FGIS user fees are directed solely to inspection and weighing services;

Reporting requests for waivers, exceptions and other specific services received and granted by FGIS; and

Directing FGIS to complete a comprehensive review of the current boundaries for the officially designated grain inspection agencies in the domestic marketplace.

NGFA and NAEGA also highlighted their concerns about ongoing non-tariff trade barriers that have restricted exports of U.S. grains and oilseeds, noting that the reauthorization bill retains the provision that prohibits the “use of false or misleading grade designations” for U.S. grain exports.

The NGFA, established in 1896, consists of more than 1,000 grain, feed, processing, exporting and other grain-related companies that operate more than 7,000 facilities and handle more than 70 percent of all U.S. grains and oilseeds. Its membership includes grain elevators; feed and feed ingredient manufacturers; biofuels companies; grain and oilseed processors and millers; exporters; livestock and poultry integrators; and associated firms that provide goods and services to the nation’s grain, feed and processing industry.

Latest News

Cargill moves to take full control of SJC Bionergia

(Posted on 07/02/25)

Cargill continues to advance its growth strategy in the Brazilian market and reinforces its investment... Read more


Anglo American completes sale of minority interest in Jellinbah for A$1.6 billion

(Posted on 31/01/25)

Anglo American plc has announced the completion of the sale of its 33.3% minority interest in Jellinbah... Read more


Rivera now MD of Cremer Erzkontor Mexico

(Posted on 30/01/25)

Rafael Rivera has been appointed the new Country Manager Mexico of the end-to-end raw materials supplier... Read more


Rio Tinto provides Iron Ore update following Tropical Cyclone Sean

(Posted on 24/01/25)

Tropical Cyclone Sean delivered record rain along parts of the Pilbara coastline of Western Australia... Read more


Rio Tinto shows greater consistency across key operations

(Posted on 19/01/25)

Rio Tinto has released fourth quarter production results. Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said: &ldquo... Read more


Trafigura publishes 2024 Sustainability Report

(Posted on 19/01/25)

Trafigura Group Pte Ltd. has published its 2024 Sustainability Report, highlighting the Group’... Read more


NGFA comments on US East and Gulf Coast port labour deal

(Posted on 10/01/25)

The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. have... Read more


Vitol completes acquisition of Noble Resources

(Posted on 07/01/25)

Further to the announcement of 2nd August 2024, Vitol B.V.  has now completed the acquisition of... Read more


Rio Tinto progresses development of Quebec gallium extraction process

(Posted on 17/12/24)

As part of a research and development programme, Rio Tinto is assessing the potential for extracting... Read more


Trafigura publishes 2024 Annual Results

(Posted on 17/12/24)

Trafigura Group Pte Ltd, a market leader in the global commodities industry, has released results for... Read more


TMS Awards 2023Van AalstTBA GroupSailors SocietyBühler GmbH
  • Port of Stockton
  • Vigan

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping