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:
- NCGA’s Ethanolfacts.com Celebrates One Year on the Web
- NCGA Supports Continued Work on Free Trade Agreements
- Japan Reopens Market to U.S. Beef, NCGA Notes
- NCGA Officers Attend USGC Annual Meeting
- NCGA’s Noel Gives Corn Growers Perspective at 25 x 25 Meeting in Washington
- NCGA Responds to Mandelson’s Farm Policy Statements Following Suspension of
Doha
- NCGA-sponsored AgriTalk Ethanol Pump Tour to Stop Twice in South Dakota
- NCGA Notes Registration Now Open for USDA-DOE National Renewable Energy
Conference
- Postmark Deadline for NCGA National Corn Yield Contest is Aug. 1
- NCGA Supports U.S. Negotiators in Holding Firm for Market Access in Doha Talks
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NCGA’s Ethanolfacts.com Celebrates One Year on the Web
Ethanolfacts.com, sponsored by the NCGA, celebrates its one year anniversary today as a comprehensive
source of basic facts about ethanol and its benefits to the U.S. consumer. (More On This Story)
NCGA Supports Continued Work on Free Trade Agreements
Though the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round talks are suspended, the NCGA voices support
for continuing bilateral free trade agreements and negotiations. (More On This Story)
Japan Reopens Market to U.S. Beef, NCGA Notes
Japan lifted its ban on U.S. beef shipments today, allowing beef producers the opportunity to recapture their
largest market, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) notes. (More On This Story)
NCGA Officers Attend USGC Annual Meeting
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) officers attended the U.S. Grains Council 46th annual meeting in
Newport, R.I., this week, spreading the message to USGC delegates that there will be enough corn for all
markets. (More On This Story)
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Fred Yoder (left), Ohio Corn Growers Association, and Bruce Noel, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Ethanol Committee chairman, attended the 25 x 25 stakeholders’ implementation planning meeting this week in Washington, D.C. Both offered corn growers’ perspectives as the coalition begins developing the plan to implement the vision of meeting 25 percent of the nation’s energy needs using renewable sources by 2025. |
NCGA’s Noel Gives Corn Grower Perspective at 25 x 25 Meeting in Washington
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Ethanol Committee Chairman Bruce Noel joined a diverse coalition of energy and agricultural leaders at a 25x25 meeting in Washington, D.C., this week to give NCGA’s perspective and discuss the next steps for meeting the goal of supplying 25 percent of the nation’s energy needs through renewable sources by 2025. (More On This Story)
NCGA Responds to Mandelson’s Farm Policy Statements Following Suspension of Doha Trade Talks
Calling European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson’s comments about the failure of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round talks “irresponsible,” NCGA Chairman Leon Corzine said negotiators should be focusing on restarting talks to secure an agreement. (More On This Story)
NCGA-sponsored AgriTalk Ethanol Pump Tour to Stop Twice in South Dakota
The AgriTalk Ethanol Pump Tour, sponsored by the NCGA, makes two stops in South Dakota this week. The South Dakota Corn Utilization Council (SDCUC) will be promoting the use of ethanol as a fuel source at both locations. (More On This Story)
NCGA Notes Registration Now Open for USDA-DOE National Renewable Energy Conference
The NCGA alerts growers that registration is now open for “Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance,” a national renewable energy conference that will be hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Oct. 10-12 at America’s Center in St. Louis. (More On This Story)
Postmark Deadline for NCGA National Corn Yield Contest is Aug. 1
The NCGA reminds growers that all entries for the 41st annual National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) must be postmarked by Aug. 1. (More On This Story)
NCGA Supports U.S. Negotiators in Holding Firm for Market Access in Doha Talks
Disappointed a market access agreement could not be reached in the World Trade Organization Doha Round talks, the NCGA today said no deal is better than a bad deal. (More On This Story)
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AROUND THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
Texas: An information-packed field day offering something for most agriculture producers is scheduled Aug. 9 at the North Plains Research Field southeast of Etter, Texas, said John Sweeten, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station resident director in Amarillo. The program begins at 8 a.m. with registration. Field tours will run from 8:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m., followed by a luncheon, said Thomas Marek, research engineer and North Plains Research Field superintendent. Experiment station and extension personnel will discuss cotton, alternative crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, forage production and dust control at confined animal feeding operations during the morning field tour. Producers can get three continuing education units, one in integrated pest management and two in general. Certified Crop Advisor credits also will be offered. For more information, contact a local county extension agent.
Michigan: The Michigan Corn Growers Association salutes Gov. Jennifer Granholm for signing legislation that will provide economic incentives to encourage the use of ethanol and biodiesel throughout the state. The seven-bill package reduces the gas tax to 12 cents per gallon on E85 and on diesel fuel that contains at least 5 percent biodiesel. The legislation also provides grants to service station owners who want to renovate or expand their existing stations to make E85 and biodiesel available and allows for the creation of new agriculture renaissance zones to help spur additional ethanol and biodiesel refineries. The legislation would also: require the state’s approximately 1,350 fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles to use E85 fuel; create E85 infrastructure development, which would financially support, through a cost-share program, the conversion of an existing pump or the construction of a new E85 pump; require the governor to appoint an alternative fuels commission to investigate and recommend strategies the state can take to encourage the use of ethanol and biodiesel.
Minnesota: With congressional elections ahead in November, FarmFest will provide the perfect opportunity to ask questions and listen to incumbents and challengers for Federal office talk about the Farm Bill. Minnesota Corn Growers Association will focus information in its Farm Fest booth on the goal of its 5,000-plus farmer members-to keep the current farm bill intact. FarmFest, one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the Midwest, is an open-air trade and education show with hundreds of exhibitors and a full schedule of forums covering politics, renewable fuels and the current number one public health concern in agriculture-Avian Flu. FarmFest takes place Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 1-3 at the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls, Minn. |
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KEY ISSUES
