Volume 9, Number 1 - January 2003

New officers elected for AAGIWA recently were:

Tom Meyer, Kansas Grain Inspection Service - President
Tom Dahl, Sioux City Grain Inspection & Weighing - Vice President
Bill Davis, Plainview Grain Inspection - Director & Secretary/Treasurer
Dave Reeder, Lincoln Inspection Service - Director
Barry Hibbets, Enid Grain Inspection Company - Director
Randy Deike, Washington State Dept. of Ag. - Director
Tim Adams, Memphis Grain Inspection Service - Immediate Past President

The AAGIWA by-laws were amended to include the position of Secretary/Treasurer. Bill Davis currently has the honor of filling this position.

Donna Reifschneider, GIPSA Administrator, addressed the 60+ attendees at the meeting in Las Vegas. In her presentation she made it clear that many changes are necessary in the future to ensure the use of official inspection. Dave Orr, Director - Field Management Division, described GIPSA's vision of a web-based inspection system. He also touched on user fees, as the only increase will be ships. The contracting of AMA services was discussed and will probably be available in nine months to a year.

Steve Tanner, Director - Technical Services Division, provided information on the progress of the central monitoring lab. Time frame is possibly FY 2005. This summer information concerning physical facilities should be completed. He explained what procedures are necessary to develop Line Prints.

Ohaus has submitted an Adventurer scale to NTEP for approval. The scale weighs to 410 grams and has divisions of .01. This scale if approved can be used for small portions. It is expected to take 4 months for the approval from NTEP.

Received from Dale

After nearly 38 years the footsteps I hear are not mine. There is never a good time to leave work that you enjoy. I came to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection Division in October of 1990, after over 25 years in another agency. It has been an enjoyable time filled with great associations; challenges without end and in some cases without logic. But it is time for someone else to continue with this fine state operation which is one of the largest and oldest (1885) in the country, staffed with dedicated and capable employees. My leaving is easier with the strong commitment of the department to continue as the official agency through the whole state.

The willingness of AAGIWA to welcome me and form friendships are a major part of the enjoyment I had with this work and the enthusiasm I could bring to it. Thank you all and best wishes.