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The 2011 ABA Convention, "Enriching Bodies and Lives," March 26-30, 2011, at the J.W. Marriott San Antonio Hill Country, is dedicated to celebrating the 70th anniversary of the enrichment of flour and bringing attention to this important historic landmark for the baking industry. Hotel room cut-off is Feb. 25, book your room soon!
 

Have questions about soaring ingredient costs? Need answers on what is driving the commodity markets? If so, sign up to receive ABA's Eye on the Market Daily Updates. These daily updates include:

• USDA and Market Updates from FC Stone
• Daily Commodity Reports by Trilateral, Inc.
• Political, policy and other news that impacts the market

ABA has made it simple to sign up to receive these daily reports. You can sign up online (CLICK HERE) or contact Cory Martin, ABA Senior Manager of Government Relations, at (202) 789-0300 or cmartin@americanbakers.org. 

FC Stone's Weekly Update: Millions of acres in CRP are set to expire in over the next couple of years. Some will get renewed and some will go out of the program. Any new acreage will have to meet the highly erodible land criteria. As we move through the budget process one might hope that this program gets its haircut with the rest of the programs. CRP hurts the budget and rural America by removing productive land that will provide more bushels and in the process more money and jobs. Hopefully, some lower number for the program's full entitlement will be achieved in the current budget haggling. More...

Please note: These weekly updates will no longer be featured in What's New. To continue receiving them, you must sign up here! 

ABA is very concerned with the USDA's approval to deregulate Syngenta's 3272 Amylase Corn Trait.  "Data is still being gathered regarding the potential impact of 3272 on food production should there be cross contact," said Lee Sanders, ABA senior vice president, government relations and public affairs.  "ABA is concerned that should even a small amount of this new amylase corn trait make it into food grains, and subsequently finished products, it could dramatically impact food production processes and final product quality."

Read the full press release

ABA Committee Meetings Discuss Food Safety, Market Volatility, Nutrition, Sugar Reform

ABA Food Technical Regulatory Affairs Committee (FTRAC) and Commodity & Agricultural Policy Committee (CAPC) members met in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 8 and 9 to hold several meetings with members of Congress and discuss key baking industry issues, including implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, continuing market volatility, nutrition legislation and regulation, and sugar reform opportunities in the 112th Congress.

Click here for full meeting highlights and pictures. 

For copies of meeting presentations, please e-mail Greg Feldman at

gfeldman@americanbakers.org  

On Feb. 14, ABA, along with other industry partners, sent a letter of opposition to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the proposed changes to the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. The letter detailed the adverse effects that the rule would have on short haul and intermodal trucking sectors.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced it will hold a public listening session on its regulatory proposal that would revise HOS requirements for commercial truck drivers on Feb. 17. The session will be held at the Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport Hotel, 1480 Crystal Dr., Arlington, Va. Additionally, the entire session will be Webcast live at www.fmcsa.dot.gov. FMCSA officials will take online comments and questions from the public starting at 12 noon until 12 midnight EST. ABA encourages all members to participate in this important session and opportunity to submit questions.

Read the letter 

 

For additional information, please contact Legislative & Regulatory Manager Deah Shaw at 202-789-0300 or dshaw@americanbakers.org. 

The National Association of Wheat Growers' message to Congress: Don't cut our funding!

Click here to see a copy of last week's press release. 

ABA's comments to the EPA on its proposed amendments for the Section 608 Leak Repair requirements question the agency's cost benefit analysis. The EPA characterizes its cost/benefit analysis as $135 million annual incremental costs but only $2.5 million in benefits. This is a concerning proposal at a time when President Obama has directed the federal agencies to promote economic growth in an effort to help stimulate the economy. 

Read the letter

Allied Member in the Spotlight: Belshaw Adamatic Bakery Group

World leader in the manufacture of donut production, bakery and foodservice equipment.

 

www.belshaw.com  

 

Contact: President Roger Faw | (206) 322-5474