“It is by far the best way to get the most good out of your membership. It lets you find an area that really matters to you, that’s impactful to what you do and what your interests are, and to contribute in a much more meaningful way.”
– Cathy Bandyk, AFIA Member
The American Feed Industry Association has 20 member interest groups that represent specific areas of interest and expertise across the AFIA membership. They are designed to provide members with an opportunity to share information with their colleagues throughout the industry and provide input and data that assists AFIA staff in developing issue positions, comments to government requests or other member services.
MIGs do not require regular meetings or appointments and anyone can join. Read the MIG descriptions below and email the staff contact if you would like to join or click here for instructions on how to join online.
Alfalfa: Promotes the usage of processed alfalfa products and other forage crops; disseminates commercial and economic information; supports alfalfa research and updates members. Staff contact: Leah Wilkinson
Aquaculture: informs members of opportunities within the aquaculture industry; assists in solving industry-related problems; educates membership on needed products, technologies and services. Staff contact: Leah Wilkinson
Equine: Provides a forum for AFIA members to represent the regulatory, legislative and trade interests regarding the equine feed and ingredient industry and educate members regarding the changing regulatory environment related to equine feeds and ingredients. Staff contact: Louise Calderwood
Equipment Manufacturers: Represents the interests of equipment manufacturing members. Activities include Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Environmental Protection Agency regulatory compliance. Staff contact: Gary Huddleston
Feed Regulatory: Monitors the federal and state regulatory agencies. Meets with the Food and Drug Administration and Association of American Feed Control Officials to represent the interests of the feed industry on manufacturing practices, labeling requirements and the uniform feed law. Staff contacts: Leah Wilkinson and Louise Calderwood
Federal Government Affairs: Address issues related to animal food at a federal level. Staff contact: Leah Wilkinson
Global Affairs: Informs members of challenges, developments and opportunities in the global area impacting the ability of U.S. feed, feed ingredient and pet food producers, suppliers and distributors to import and export; assists in solving global regulatory- and policy- related constraints; and serves as a platform for collecting critical industry input. Staff contact: Gina Tumbarello
Human Resources: Identifies information related to the hiring of staff with a focus on online opportunities and data trends in today’s marketplace. Staff contact: Sarah Novak
Information Technology: Serves as the nucleus for assessing IT opportunities that may enhance regulatory compliance; provides direction and education to member companies. Staff contact: Sarah Novak
Ingredient Approval and Definition: Provides a forum for members regarding the feed ingredient approval/recognition process to discuss the changing regulatory environment related to feed ingredient approval/recognition. Staff contact: Leah Wilkinson
Integrators: Identifies and addresses feed-related issues specific to integrated animal production operations. Staff contact: Paul Davis
Laboratory: Updates those interested in information impacting the analytical capabilities and requirements of the animal food industry. Staff contact: Paul Davis
Liquid Feed: Identifies and addresses issues related to the production of liquid feeds and other molasses-based supplements. Staff contact: Paul Davis
Marketing and Communications: Stay on top of the latest AFIA communications resources and be one of the first to know about issues popping up in the news or social media that warrant industry response as well as emerging trends shaking up the communications landscape. The MIG also supports marketing the value of AFIA’s products, services and events. Staff contact: Victoria Broehm
Networking, Education and Mentoring in Agriculture: 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. Staff contact: Sarah Novak
Nutrition: Offers a medium through which feed and pet food industry personnel responsible for information, research, quality control, technological services and regulatory compliance can explore new technologies and issues affecting animal nutrition. Staff contact: Paul Davis
Pet Food: Monitors and provides feedback on pet food-specific legislative and regulatory issues. Develops educational programs for the pet food industry. Staff contact: Louise Calderwood
Plant Manager: Sends regulatory information that specifically impacts an animal food manufacturing facility. This is an ideal distribution list for plant managers and assistant plant managers. Staff contact: Gary Huddleston
Production Compliance: Represents the production and manufacturing facility segments of the industry as well as the industry’s interests before appropriate regulatory agencies. Staff contact: Gary Huddleston
Quality and Animal Food Safety: Examines quality and food safety issues of animal feed, feed ingredients and pet food. Provides input to AFIA’s Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program and other globally recognized programs designed for animal food. Staff contact: Paul Davis State Government Affairs: Address issues related to animal food at a state level. Staff contact: Leah Wilkinson