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2 

 This commitment is embodied in our Association's Mission Statement, which states 

 in part that the NGFA is dedicated to "[ejnsurfmg) a wholesome, high-quality and abundant 

 food supply for domestic and world consumers.... ' That Mission Statement is buttressed by 

 two of our Association's specific Member Goals, namely to: 



— preserve the U.S. system for ensuring a safe and high-quality food supply 

 responsive to customer needs; and 



— conununicate with the public and government to improve the image and 

 promote the role of the grain-based food system that provides the most 

 abundant, most economical and safest food supply the world has ever known. 



Geographically, the incidence of naturally occurring mycotoxins varies greatiy Irom 

 crop year to crop year. Their occurrence is not a perennial or pervasive problem. In fact, 

 even when weather conditions within a geographic region create the possibility of mycotoxins 

 in a given crop year, the actual occurrence and extent of contamination vary dramatically. 



Since this year's weather conditions created sporadic occurrences of aflatoxin and 

 vomitoxin, I will confine my remarks to our industry's response to these two challenges. 

 However, the same principles apply to situations of a similar nature, in which grain elevator 

 managers, feed millers and processors confront the task of handling grains and oilseeds in 

 accordance with the law while meeting the quality needs of end-users, managing market risk 

 and providing a fair competitive maiicet for weather-damaged grain delivered by our nation's 

 Sumers. 



Aflatoxiii 



Let me start by discussing aflatoxin. 



