NCGA's Mission: To Create and
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:
- Schott Pledges to Represent Corn Growers Equally, Improve Corn Industry
- NCGA Reminds Growers of Early Entry Deadline for Corn Yield Contest
- NCGA’s Willingham Encourages Funding for Mycotoxin Research
- NCGA Participates in Biobased Initiatives Workshop
- NCGA Corn Board Elects Ron Litterer as First Vice President
- NCGA Joins Alliance for Biobased Economy
- NCGA Praises Louisiana’s Work in Securing RFS
- NCGA Emphasizes Market Access in Meeting with WTO Director-General Lamy
- Slater Talks Ethanol Legislation with National French Farmers Organization
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Schott Pledges to Represent Corn Growers Equally, Improve Corn Industry
If elected to the NCGA Corn Board, Bart Schott promises to represent corn growers from all states equally and fairly. His goals are to increase corn production in new areas of the nation, promote fair trade and ethanol and improve crop insurance coverage. He looks forward to planning the vision of NCGA. (More On This)
NCGA Reminds Growers of Early Entry Deadline for Corn Yield Contest
The NCGA reminds growers the July 1 early bird entry deadline is looming for producers to enter the 41st annual National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC). (More On This Story)
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National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) member Danny Willingham and staff visited senate and government agency offices this week encouraging inclusion of funding for mycotoxin research in the Senate agriculture appropriations bill. Pictured left to right: Tate Izlar, NCGA legislation assistant; Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.); NCGA grower Danny Willingham; and Lisa Kelley, NCGA director of public policy. |
NCGA’s Willingham Encourages Funding for Mycotoxin Research
NCGA Mycotoxin Task Force member Danny Willingham and NCGA staff met with several senators and their staffs this week in Washington, D.C., including Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), seeking an increase in aflatoxin research dollars. Willingham also met with Gale Buchanan, U.S. Department of Agriculture under secretary for research, education and economics. (More On This Story)
NCGA Participates in Biobased Initiatives Workshop
The NCGA and biobased economy advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., at the Biobased Product Stakeholders meeting to highlight the emerging industry and promote more use of biobased products by the U.S. government and consumers. (More On This Story)
NCGA Corn Board Elects Ron Litterer as First Vice President
The NCGA Corn Board elected Ron Litterer of Greene, Iowa, as its next first vice president. The election took place Wednesday at the NCGA Corn Board meeting in St. Paul, Minn. (More On This Story)
NCGA Joins Alliance for Biobased Economy
The NCGA in an effort to further policy and usage of biobased products announced today it is joining the new Alliance for a Biobased Economy (ABE). The American Soybean Association and American Farm Bureau Federation are among the 32 organizations belonging to the coalition. (More On This Story)
NCGA Praises Louisiana’s Work in Securing RFS
The NCGA congratulates the work of the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board and Farm Bureau Federation on securing a 2 percent renewable fuels standard (RFS) for Louisiana. Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) signed the legislation into law on Tuesday, making the state the sixth to establish an RFS. (More On This Story)
NCGA Emphasizes Market Access in Meeting with WTO Director-General Lamy
NCGA Chairman Leon Corzine emphasized market access during a meeting today with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Pascal Lamy. (More On This Story)
Slater Talks Ethanol Legislation With National French Farmers Organization
The increased use of ethanol in our nation’s fuel supply is not the singular answer for the United States’ dangerous addiction to foreign oil, but ethanol can and will continue to play an important role in the overall energy policy and solutions, according to NCGA Director of Public Policy Samantha Slater, who was in Chicago last week presenting an overview of ethanol issues and legislation before a French agribusiness retailers group. (More On This Story)
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AROUND THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
Illinois: Since 1991, more than 3,800 Illinois educators have completed a Summer Agricultural Institute (SAI). The course is designed for pre-school through high school educators who wish to expand their curriculum to include topics related to agriculture. The course focuses on how to integrate available resources and hands–on activities about agriculture and the environment into an existing classroom curriculum. More than 30 SAI are being conducted this summer throughout the state. Support for this program is funded by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and checkoff dollars. The SAI are supported by funding from the IAA Foundation and endorsed by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Committee on Agricultural Education. For more information, visit www.agintheclassroom.org.
Nebraska: June is Dairy Month, an opportunity to celebrate the great taste and nutritional benefits of dairy products like milk, cheese and ice cream. It is also a good time to recognize the importance of the dairy industry to the state of Nebraska, according to Randy Klein, director of market development for the Nebraska Corn Board. “The dairy industry is a valuable market for Nebraska’s corn producers,” Klein said. “Even though Nebraska’s dairy cow numbers have slipped some in recent years, dairy remains an important customer for our product. And, in addition to in-state feeding, a high percentage of the corn we sell to California each year is being fed to dairy cows.” Jeff Keown, University of Nebraska-Lincoln dairy specialist, said the dairy industry brings tremendous economic benefits to Nebraska and to its rural communities. “Every 1,000-cow dairy means one million dollars worth of feed purchased annually, and each dairy requires one worker for every 100 cows,” Keown explained. “And a 1,000-cow dairy is a $4 million taxable entity that is helping support local schools and businesses.” Klein said the Nebraska Corn Board has been working in partnership with other dairy interests in Nebraska to identify ways to reverse the downward trend in dairy cow numbers.
Minnesota: The Minnesota Corn Growers Association and the American Lung Association of Minnesota, under the auspices of the Minnesota E85 Team, have again teamed up to underwrite mass media and outdoor media messages during the height of the driving season in order to promote the message that E85 is a smart, renewable, clean-air fueling choice.
Among other media, the messages have been running on the Twins Radio Network around the region. A complementary television ad, which touts the cleaner burning, renewable aspect of E85, is running on Twin Cities stations over the summer as well.
DID YOU KNOW?
NCGA CEO Rick Tolman hit the road last week to check out E85 infrastructure and pricing in Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
Visit http://ncga.com/news/notd/index.asp to read about his trip. |
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KEY ISSUES
