Energy Independence

By Rick Tolman
CEO, National Corn Growers Association

July 2: Another Fourth of July is upon us and as we prepare to celebrate this nation’s independence it is also a good time to reflect on our dangerous reliance of imported petroleum and ask what more we should we be doing to assure our energy independence.

Conservation Rewarded

July 2: The National Corn Growers Association thanked Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-Md.) for his work to secure $1 billion in additional compensation for the nation’s corn growers for certain conservation efforts in the pending climate change legislation.

Meet Mark Schwiebert

Last in a series of profiles of candidates for the National Corn Growers Association Corn Board. The election will be held at July’s Corn Congress in Washington.

July 2: Mark Schwiebert, of Hamler, Ohio, is running for re-election to the NCGA Corn Board. He is a board member of the Ohio Corn Marketing Program and a former president of the Ohio Corn Growers Association.

Webinar Draws Crowd

July 1: With the enrollment deadline for the Average Crop Revenue Election Program being a little over a month away, over a thousand growers participated in a free webinar this morning to get updates from ACRE experts and get their questions answered. The webinar was hosted by DTN and co-sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association, the American Soybean Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers.

Corn Acreage Up

June 30: Despite weather challenges at key planting times, U.S. corn growers planted 2 million more acres this season than previously expected, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported today. In its annual report on planted acres, USDA estimated 87 million acres planted in corn and projects a harvest of 80.1 million acres. Once again, our nation’s corn farmers are showing their resilience, the National Corn Growers Association said.

Ethanol Resources

U.S. corn growers are proud to work hard and be able to meet the demand for corn for food, feed, fuel and fiber. We’re also proud of the important role corn ethanol plays in reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, in helping protect the environment and in boosting our nation’s economy. These resources were prepared to help you understand the truth regarding ethanol’s positive impact.

Sustainability

As the original environmentalists, corn farmers are continuing their work as stewards of the earth’s natural resources. The recent Field to Market report cites growth in sustainability by corn farmers across five areas (water use and quality, land use and biodiversity, soil loss, energy use and climate impact).

Click here for more information about land use and other sustainability issues.

Audio report.

ACRE Resource Center

Free July 1 Webinar to Offer ACRE Answers

The Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program, adopted by Congress in the 2008 Farm Bill, represents a fundamental reform in U.S. farm policy. With rising input costs, greater market volatility and other operational challenges, this program provides an additional risk management tool for producers. While federal crop insurance offers substantial protection for crop failure, ACRE is intended to address less significant losses not adequately covered otherwise.

Corn Farmers Coalition

Corn farmers representing 10 state associations as well as the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) have joined together to form the Corn Farmers Coalition to educate policymakers in Washington about how innovative farmers are growing more corn every year with fewer resources while protecting the environment. The coalition has launched a Web site, an advertising campaign and a statistical abstract on America’s biggest crop.

Click here for more information.

Know Before You Grow

Seed Retailers Click Here!

NCGA recommends that as you select hybrids you do so with the full knowledge of whether the number is conventional, one approved for EU export or one not yet approved for EU export.