ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S. — The American Feed Industry Association's (AFIA) annual Equipment Manufacturers Conference (EMC), Nov. 5-7, brought attendees to St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S., to discuss "Global Warming: Don't get Burned in a Sizzling World Market."

Trade experts Joel G. Newman, AFIA president and chief executive officer, and Gina Tumbarello, AFIA director of international policy and trade, led this year's educational seminar, covering trade-related topics on Capitol Hill —such as passage of Trade Promotion Authority— and trade barrier issues members are experiencing.
 
"This year has been quite the year for global trade changes and it was convenient, yet pertinent, that this year's EMC theme was centered around just that," said Gary Huddleston, AFIA manager of feed manufacturing safety and environmental affairs. "AFIA wants its members to be ahead of the global trade markets and it is important everyone fully understands what TPA and future trade negotiations mean for the market."

EMC guest speakers included: Carlos Campabadal, Kansas State University; Rick Held, Held & Associates; Eric Johnson, U.S. Department of Commerce-International Trade Commission; Angela Lambert, Clarion Safety Systems; Joanne Loce, Loce Consulting; and Jay O'Neil, Kansas State University. Speaker presentations addressed the cost of exporting, international trade risks, International Organization for Standardization/Technical Committees 293 (ISO/TC 293), safety labels and how culture is changing the trade market and workplace.
 
During Loce's presentation, "Preparing for Generational Workforce Impacts," she explained different generations have a lot in common. However, it can appear different based on experience. She said, "The needs and wants of employees are evolving to match the evolving workplace," and aspects of a company's hiring process need to be refined to identify top talent.

The Equipment Manufacturers Committee Scholarship Fund, partnered with AFIA's foundation, the Institute for Feed Education & Research, offers scholarships to assist students pursuing feed related degrees.

Next year's EMC will be in Tucson, Arizona, U.S., Nov. 3-5, 2016.