Fall 2003

The AAGIWA 2004 Winter Meeting is rapidly approaching, with plenty of opportunities to interact with others and learn about current issues that are impacting the official inspection system.

This year's AAGIWA Winter Meeting will spotlight issues concerning insurance, mechanical samplers, neural networks and various FGIS updates regarding boundaries, fee schedule and progress on the IT/Web based Inspection System.

The meeting kicks off with a Welcome Reception on Sunday, January 25, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Monte Carlo Pub & Brewery.

Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 26-27) AAGIWA will host several speakers on topics of interest, as well as updates from FGIS and Canadian Grain Commission.

Be sure to sign up as soon as possible! A registration form is included with this issue of the CHAFF, and it can be sent to Bill Davis by mail or fax. The Monte Carlo Resort & Casino has offered special rates for AAGIWA meeting attendees: Saturday: $129; Sun-Tues: $69/nt.

Contact the Monte Carlo for your room reservations at (800) 311-8999. Be sure to mention AAGIWA's rate code: XAAGIWA. If you have special accommodation needs, please ask for Pam Lorenzo at the Monte Carlo sales office.

AAGIWA Lowers Member Dues

AAGIWA President Tom Meyer recently recommended that the board implement a decrease in members' dues. Tom's suggestion, which was heard at the AAGIWA 2003 Summer Meeting in Kansas City, was to lower the cost from $0.03 to $0.02 per certificate, resulting in a 30% reduction which would apply to all members. The new fee structure passed unanimously. The 2004 Membership Renewal will reflect these changes.

David Ayers and Tom Meyer were in Washington D.C. on August 18th to review the requirements for approval of mechanical samplers. Due to the fast load-out capabilities of newly designed facilities, the current practice of using a pelican is not practical or safe.

Official agencies may request an exemption from testing a sampler if the following items are provided for review:

1. Detailed drawings and diagrams of the installation. (Provide this information prior to installation)

2. Detailed description of the equipment (primary and secondary samplers) to be installed.

3. A completed questionnaire for proposed diverter-type mechanical sampler.

4. Review by Official agency to ensure sampler was installed according to drawings and that sampler and delivery system is functioning properly.

Send this information, as it becomes available, to the Policies and Procedures Branch and to your local Field Office.

Exemptions are considered based on the merits of the information, the sampler design and location, and the simplicity of the grain flow system. The Field Management Division will confirm exemptions in writing.

The GIPSA Advisory Committee is scheduled to meeting this fall in Kansas City, Missouri. The meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites Country Club Plaza. The hotel is located at 220 West 43rd Street. Reservations may be obtained by calling the Embassy Suites at (800) 362-2779. Kansas City, MO 64111 US. Reservations may be obtained by calling the Embassy Suites at (800) 362-2779.

www.aagiwa.org

Be sure to visit the AAGIWA web-site as the grain-gram is posted on the site along with other information. If you have news of interest and would like to share it with other AAGIWA members send it to one of the officers or board members and it will be sent to be posted on the site.