NGFA Annual Convention Preview

Among issues discussed by this top-notch panel of experts will be the participation and impacts of investment capital; the role played by U.S. regulators and impacts of financial regulatory reform legislation; and effects of changes to futures contracts in enhancing performance.

Friday, March 5

NGFA Chairman’s Address — At the conclusion of his two-year term as elected industry chairman of the NGFA, Tom Coyle, Chicago & Illinois River Marketing LLC, will deliver the traditional Chairman’s Address focusing on major accomplishments of the organization and significant challenges facing the industry in the year ahead.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is the largest association representing U.S. farmers and ranchers and plays a key role in agricultural policy decision-making in Washington. AFBF began an aggressive campaign last fall opposing Congressional attempts to pass a “cap-and-trade” climate change bill based primarily on analytical work highlighting the myriad costs to U.S. agriculture, including the potential conversion of large numbers of acres from cropland to forest. Dr. Bob Young (invited), chief economist for AFBF, is at the forefront of this research and will give his perspectives on likely outcomes of the public policy debate on climate change and its impacts on the future of U.S. agriculture.

Marc Fleischaker, chairman of the Washington, D.C., law firm Arent Fox, has served for many years as the NGFA’s outside counsel and is a recognized expert on association and non-profit legal matters. Fleischaker will present a review of significant legislative, regulatory and policy initiatives currently underway in Washington that have the potential for major impacts on the grain, feed and processing industry. Among Fleischaker’s topics will be legislative and regulatory efforts to address climate change; OSHA initiatives on combustible dust; card-check and other labor-related issues; and activities related to the international biosafety protocol on biotechnology-enhanced commodity shipments.

Global Trade/International Customers Panel — A high-level panel of international grain and feed customers is being invited to address new and ongoing challenges to trade in major international markets. Key issues discussed will include disruptions in trade caused by problems in the global regulatory environment for biotechnology-enhanced products, the use of non-tariff trade barriers under the guise of non-science based phytosanitary issues, and the opportunities associated with a more diverse and more sophisticated global customer base.