Member Interest Groups:
Member Interest Groups (MIG) are officially recognized groups which are specific to areas of responsibility and expertise across the AFIA membership. The role of the Member Interest Groups is to share information with member representatives specific to the group and also gain their input and data which will assist AFIA staff in developing issue positions or member services.

Member Interest Groups are established for each of the following business areas, including those represented by a committee. As noted below, each of the Member Interest Group has a designated staff leader. AFIA strongly encourages each member company to identify the appropriate persons within their business that can represent them and participate in the Member Interest Group that is focused on their responsibilities and expertise.

Committees:
As a membership-driven organization, AFIA depends heavily on the dedication, commitment and involvement of its members to ensure the vitality and success of the Association’s mission, objectives and programs. Hundreds of member volunteers serve on the association’s committees every year. Committees oversee ongoing activities, interests and programs in very specific disciplines and reflecting all segments of the total feed industry. The committees’ objectives are focused on supporting AFIA’s core legislative and regulatory representation and/or various member services. 

Below is a list of the Association’s Member Interest Groups and committees, their functions and their staff liaisons are listed below.

Alfalfa MIG: Promotes the usage of processed alfalfa products and other forage crops; disseminates commercial and economic information; supports alfalfa research and updates members The AFIA staff contact is Leah Wilkinson.

Aquaculture Committee: Informs members on opportunities within aquaculture industry; assists in solving industry-related problems; educates membership on needed products, technologies and services. The AFIA staff contact is Richard Sellers.  

Equine Committee: Provides a forum for AFIA members to represent the regulatory, legislative and trade interests regarding the equine feed and ingredient industry and to educate members regarding the changing regulatory environment related to equine feeds and ingredients. The primary objectives are to address and communicate key issues and concerns with stakeholders and to impact the policies impacting equine feeds and ingredients. The AFIA staff contact is Leah Wilkinson.

Equipment Manufacturers Committee: Represents the interests of equipment manufacturer members. Activities include OSHA and EPA regulatory compliance. Sponsors a national safety sign program and the continuing development of new safety signs and placement guidelines. Also conducts an annual conference. The AFIA staff contact is Keith Epperson.

Feed Regulatory Committee: Monitors the federal and state regulatory agencies. Meets with FDA and AAFCO to represent the interests of the feed industry on manufacturing practices, labeling requirements, and the uniform feed law. Maintains a Good Manufacturing Practices subcommittee and liaisons with all segments of the feed industry. The staff contacts are Richard Sellers and Leah Wilkinson.

Human Resource (HR) MIG: Identifies information related to the hiring of staff with a focus on online opportunities and data trends in today’s marketplace. The staff contact is Sarah Novak.

Information Technology (IT) Committee: Serves as the nucleus for assessing IT opportunities that may enhance regulatory compliance; providing direction and education to member companies. The XML standards and the electronic traceability pilot are current projects. The staff contact is Andy Timmins.

Ingredient Approval & Definition (IADC) Committee: Composed of member companies interested in the approval or recognition of new feed ingredients or new “intended use.” The Committee exists to provide a forum for AFIA members to represent regulatory and legislative interests regarding the feed ingredient approval/recognition process to government officials and to educate members regarding the changing regulatory environment related to feed ingredient approval/recognition. The primary objectives are to address and communicate key issues and concerns with stakeholders and to impact the approval/recognition and definition process of feed ingredients. The staff contact is Leah Wilkinson.

Integrators Committee: Identifies and addresses feed related issues specific to integrated animal feed operations. The committee consists of over 20 integrated producers, including broiler, layer, turkey, beef and swine operations. The staff contact is Keith Epperson.

International Trade MIG: Offers a platform for members to discuss the exchange of goods and services between countries, the rise to a world economy, supply and demand, and the affect on our industry as well as global events and partnerships. The staff contact is Gina Tumbarello. 

Liquid Feed Committee: Represents the interests of liquid feed manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. Responsible for the annual Liquid Feed Symposium and the liquid feed tonnage survey. Works with AFIA staff providing regulatory representation for the liquid feed industry, maintains subcommittees for research and education, finance and sponsorship, and membership. The staff contact is Leanna Nail.

Marketing Committee: Provides counsel and assists in marketing the value of AFIA, develops strategic marketing recommendations, and supports the Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program, offers information current and basic to identifying broad based industry issues, and promotes the use of market information to the industry. The staff contact is open. If interested, contact Sarah Novak. 

Networking, Education & Mentoring in Agriculture (NEMA) Committee: Provides networking, education and mentoring opportunities for those in agribusiness, conducts programs and discussion of topics of interest to members and promotes exchange of ideas among industry and related groups. The staff contact is Sarah Novak.

Nutrition Committee: Offers a medium through which feed and pet food industry persons responsible for information, research, quality control, technological services, and regulatory compliance can explore new technologies and issues affecting animal nutrition. The staff contact is Richard Sellers.

Pet Food Committee: Offers a venue for regulatory and legislative updates on specific issues and develops educational programs specific to the pet food industry to be addressed. Sends regulatory and legislative updates on specific issues and develops educational programs specific to the pet food industry. The staff contact is Leah Wilkinson.

Production Compliance Committee: Represents the production and manufacturing facility segments of the industry as well as the industry’s interests before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as it writes regulations affecting the feed industry. Conducts production schools and provides compliance leadership for the members. The staff contact is Keith Epperson.

Purchasing & Ingredient Suppliers Committee: Oversees feed ingredient activities; sponsors the Feed Industry Institute (FII) and the Purchasing & Ingredient Suppliers Conference (PISC); provides representation to the Soybean Trading Rules Committee of the National Oilseed Processors Association. The staff contact is Veronica Rovelli.

Quality Committee: AFIA formed this committee to examine and develop model quality programs for the production of animal feed and feed ingredients, and to develop an AFIA Quality Management Guideline, based on ISO principles recognized around the world. The guidelines are being established for use in developing quality programs for manufacturing operations, including on-farm feed production. Workshops are conducted. The staff contact is Keith Epperson.

Membership on Committees
Members who are interested in serving on a committee should notify the appropriate staff contact. Elections to all committee seats are traditionally made with the approval of AFIA’s official contact for a candidate from a specific member company. For some groups, there is a waiting list.

Last updated 4/28/2011