Spring 2002

AAGIWA's 2002 Summer Meeting will return our organization to the nation's capital for the first time since 1993. This meeting will focus on deepening the level of cooperation and understanding between those providing official inspections, the users of those inspections, and those who oversee the official inspection system.

Official activities begin with a meeting of the board of directors on Sunday afternoon to which all members are invited, followed by a cocktail reception for members and guests.

Monday morning will provide an overview of the meeting agenda and goals, along with a welcome to participants and an introduction to GIPSA's new administrator, Donna Reifschneider. GIPSA officials will provide updates on issues such as policies and procedures, user fee increases and implementation, standardization activities, as well as discussing compliance and budget issues.

Speakers will include Kendall Keith of the National Grain & Feed Association, Jula Kinnaird of the National Grain Trade Council, Dr. Eluned Jones, professor of agricultural economics at Virginia Tech., and Albert Schatzke, Assistant Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has selected an appointee for the administration of GIPSA. Donna Reifschneider began her term as Administrator on April 15, 2002.

"Donna Reifschneider brings to USDA unique experiences in the private sector that will be beneficial in administering important marketing programs," said Veneman in a news release.

Reifschneider's experience includes membership on the executive committee of the Meat Export Federation since 1999, as well as being a past president for the National Pork Producers Council. Reifschneider graduated from Southern Illinois University, and served in leadership roles in various groups, such as the Pork Quality Assurance Committee, the Pork Food Safety Committee and the Pork Trade Committee, where she participated in international trade missions to China, Japan, Argentina and Brazil.

AAGIWA welcomes Ms. Reifschneider to her new post, and is pledged to working with and helping her in her mission to facilitate the marketing of grain and promote American grain exports, by insuring the integrity and quality of the official inspection system.

AAGIWA member and past president David Ayers was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of the GIPSA Advisory Committee. Dave is the president and chief inspector of Champaign-Danville Grain Inspection Departments, and has been serving as an alternate member. He joins AAGIWA president Tim Adams on the 15 member committee, and his appointment marks the first time that two AAGIWA members have served simultaneously on the committee.

The Advisory committee represents all segments of the grain industry, including grain producers, processors, merchandisers, handlers, exporters, grain inspection agencies, and scientists. It was established under the authority of the United States Grain Standard Act to provide advice to the Administrator with respect to implementing the provisions of the Act. Other current members are Tim Paraus, of Cenex-Harvest States, Consultant Dennis Strayer, Mark Scholl of ExSeed Genetics, Randel Cartmill of Columbia Grain, Warren Duffy, Jr., of ADM/Growmark, Kansas farmers Gillan Alexander and Rod Bradshaw, Dr. Lowell Hill of the University of Illinois, and Paul Lautenschlager of the Hi-Line Grain Company. Along with Ayers, new members are Lisa L. Curran, of General Mills, March Schuler of Schuler Lands, Inc., Robert Smigelski of the Andersons, and David Swinford of Dumas Co-op Elevator.

The next meeting of the committee will be held May 15-16, at the Radisson Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Questions regarding the meeting should be addressed to GIPSA's Joanne Peterson, 202 720-8087, or Terri Henry, 202 720-0219.

Signed up for the AAGIWA Summer Meeting?

Click here for Registration Form or call Tim Adams at Memphis Grain Inspection (888) 570-9225.

AAGIWA Winter Meeting Featured New Technologies & International Perspectives

AAGIWA met in Las Vegas once more for its Annual Meeting January 20-22 at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino. Though the location was familiar, this year's meeting took a look into the future with new technologies and a discussion of the issues facing international grain quality testing.

Albert Schatzke, Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission, spoke with attendees, and introduced Jim Stuart, who was recently selected as Director of Industry Services for the Canadian Grain Commission

Todd Middaugh and Jonathia Ang presented an online solution for official certificates to be created and transferred via a secure location on the web. Originals Online specializes in high security document processing that would allow official agencies to create and submit authentic certificates electronically.

The winter meeting was a look toward the future with a technology that will improve the efficiency of official agencies, and a look at international grain quality issues that affect our business every day.

AAGIWA Enlists Jim Baker as Industry Liaison

Former GIPSA Administrator Jim Baker was appointed as a consultant to AAGIWA at the annual meeting in January, 2002. He was assigned the task of increasing the visibility and use of the official inspection system. Mr. Baker will use his ties to industry, and to the feed markets in particular, to encourage growth in the utilization of official inspection services.

During his tenure as GIPSA Administrator, that agency was transformed into a more customer-oriented organization that stressed cooperation with its stakeholders, both in the grain trade and among the state and private agencies providing official inspection services. AAGIWA is excited about the opportunity to continue our partnership with a man who has contributed so much to our industry.

AAGIWA extends a warm welcome to Mr. Baker as he joins our efforts to grow the official grain inspection business and bring awareness to new market segments that will benefit from our services.