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Increase Opportunities for Corn Growers
This is Corn Commentary, the weekly newsletter for state and national
grower leaders of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). For
complete stories and updated NCGA information, visit www.ncga.com or
the NCGA Leader Resource Center, www.insidencga.com.
IN THIS ISSUE:
- NCGA Notes Introduction of American Fuels Act
- USDA Prospective Plantings Bearish on Corn Acres, NCGA Notes
- Grassley to Speak on Agriculture and Trade at NCGA Trade School
- NCGA Welcomes USDA’s Farm Bill Forum Comments
- Ethanol May Help Fill the Void, NCGA Notes
- CUTC Early Registration Deadline is March 31, NCGA Notes
- NCGA Commends Action on Free Trade Agreement with Korea
- NCGA Action Teams Tour PLA Manufacturer in Ohio, Hold Spring Meetings
- NCGA Reminds Members of CRP Sign-up Deadline
- NCGA Reminds Growers of CSP Sign-up Period Deadline of March 31
- NCGA Mourns Loss of Team Ethanol Driver Paul Dana
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USDA Prospective Plantings Bearish on Corn Acres, NCGA Notes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released its “Prospective Plantings” report predicting a 5 percent reduction in corn acres, the NCGA notes. (More On This Story)
Grassley to Speak on Agriculture and Trade at NCGA Trade School
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) will be the featured speaker at the NCGA trade school March 31. (More On This Story)
NCGA Welcomes USDA’s Farm Bill Forum Comments
The NCGA welcomes the release this week of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Bill Forum Comment Summaries, which highlighted a broad array of opinions from producers and other stakeholders about what they need and want to see in future farm policy. (More On This Story)
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Jon Doggett, NCGA vice president of public policy (center), met with Ivank Milenkovic (left), President of Agromreza, an association representing farmers in Serbia. The representative was in Washington, DC meeting with a variety of industry and government representatives including NCGA. The discussions centered on the farm programs in the United States, how NCGA growers are involved in setting and implementing policy, and advancing value added agriculture among other issues. Also pictured is Inda Swanke (right), an interpreter with the U.S. Department of State. |
Ethanol May Help Fill the Void, NCGA Notes
As the U.S. gasoline industry continues to phase out methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from the nation’s fuel supply, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) points out that ethanol will continue to fill the increasing volume void created by MTBE elimination. (More On This Story)
CUTC Early Registration Deadline is March 31, NCGA Notes
The NCGA is encouraging growers to beat the early registration deadline of March 31 and sign up for the 2006 Corn Utilization & Technology Conference (CUTC) in Dallas, June 5-7. CUTC, sponsored by NCGA, is the premier technology conference on corn products. (More On This Story)
NCGA Commends Action on Free Trade Agreement with Korea
Negotiation of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Korea will positively impact the agriculture industry, according to the NCGA, which recently commended U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman for pursuing this FTA. Korea is the fifth largest agriculture market for U.S. agricultural exports and is the United States’ seventh largest trading partner. (More On This Story)
NCGA Action Teams Tour PLA Manufacturer in Ohio, Hold Spring Meetings
The NCGA’s Ethanol Committee and Research and Business Development Action Team met in Columbus, Ohio, where the highlight of the trip was visiting a plastics manufacturer that is using polylactic acid (PLA) as a major part of its operations. (More On This Story)
NCGA Reminds Members of CRP Sign-up Deadline
The NCGA, longtime advocates for stewardship and environmentally beneficial land conservation programs, is reminding corn growers the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up period began March 27 and continues through April 14. The CRP offers become effective Oct.1. (More On This Story)
NCGA Reminds Growers of CSP Sign-up Period Deadline of March 31
The NCGA is reminding corn growers that this is the final week to sign-up for the 2006 Conservation Security Program and is encouraging those growers in an eligible watershed to apply for the program, complimenting the on-going stewardship of their lands. The sign-up period is Feb. 13-March 31. (More On This Story)
NCGA Mourns Loss of Team Ethanol Driver Paul Dana
The NCGA mourns the loss of Indy Racing League (IRL) driver Paul Dana, one of the biggest promoters of ethanol as a fuel source. (More On This Story)
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AROUND THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
Ohio: Widespread availability of E85 and biodiesel is closer than ever in Ohio with Senate passage of HB 245, “The Biofuels Bill.” By a unanimous vote of 31–0, the Senate approved the appropriation of $1 million for biofuels. This legislation is expected to invigorate the Ohio biofuels market by enabling consumers throughout the state to purchase E85 and biodiesel for their vehicles. It will provide retailers of the fuels with grants to be used for infrastructure purchases. The legislation will also allocate grants for other storage and blending facilities.
With unanimous House passage late last year and now with Senate passage, it awaits the concurrence of the House. The House is expected back in session in early May to take this step and send it on to the governor for his signature.
Kansas: A bill that will lower the fuel tax on E85 passed the Kansas House and Senate and is on its way to the governor. The Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association worked for passage of the bill. The bill would change the way the state taxes E85 by basing the tax on energy content instead of a flat tax rate. The result is a drop in the tax for E85 from 24 cents per gallon to 17 cents per gallon.
Minnesota: The 5th Annual Strategic Animal Ag Conference takes place April 7 at the Willmar Conference Center in Willmar, Minn. The morning programs will focus on issues of biosecurity, including what producers are doing to prevent losses from avian flu. Experts also will discuss how to communicate with consumers to reassure them that avian flu in animals poses no threat in cooked foods. Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has been an ardent supporter of the livestock industry, will address the group as well. Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, who represents the Willmar area, will offer comments at the conclusion of the day. The afternoon program gives an overview of the livestock industry in Minnesota, with practical information about livestock siting issues.
Nebraska: The Nebraska Corn Board is committed to the expansion of the livestock industry in Nebraska, for a number of reasons. Among them is an expected doubling of the output of the ethanol coproduct known as distillers grains. Up to this point, the demand for distillers grains as a livestock feed has kept pace with supply. However, as ethanol production continues to increase, consumption of the coproduct could become more of a challenge. “The acceptance of distillers grains by the cattle industry in Nebraska has been outstanding. This is a testament to the progressive nature of our state’s cattle feeders,” Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, said. “Credit for this rapid adoption rate also needs to be given to the corn producers of Nebraska. Corn checkoff dollars have helped fund distillers grains feeding trials at the University of Nebraska, and these trials have given cattle feeders important information about feeding distillers grains. They have demonstrated to cattle feeders that it is possible to increase the percentage of distillers grains in feed rations.”
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KEY ISSUES
