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 Calls on Grassroots to Join Action Teams and Committees
- NCGA Participates in Biofuels Workshop
- NCGA Brochure Highlights Ethanol-based Aviation Fuel
- NCGA Applauds Food Quality Protection Act Anniversary
- NCGA Supports Systemic Flood Protection
- NCGA Alerts Growers to Conservation Listening Tour
- NCGA Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Natural Gas Legislation
- NCGA Discusses Goals, Opportunities with Animal Ag Coalition
- Despite Drought, Corn Crop Still Ahead of Last Year, NCGA Notes
- NCGA Applauds U.S.-Mexico HFCS Agreement
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NCGA Calls on Grassroots to Join Action Teams and Committees
NCGA First Vice President Ken McCauley is looking for a few good growers to join the organization’s action teams and committees for fiscal year 2007 and contribute to the future of NCGA and agriculture. (More On This Story)
NCGA Participates in Biofuels Workshop
The NCGA participated in a two-day workshop in Washington, D.C., this week aimed at setting initiatives to reduce the nation’s dependence on imported oil by increasing the usage of renewable fuels like ethanol in the transportation sector. (More On This Story)
NCGA Brochure Highlights Ethanol-based Aviation Fuel
The NCGA is taking aim at “getting the lead out” of aviation gasoline with a new brochure detailing facts and figures about ethanol-based aviation fuel (EBAF), a cleaner, environmentally friendly and affordable alternative fuel. (More On This Story)
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Minnesota corn grower Curt Watson (far left) shows an ear of corn to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) (second from left) at Farm Fest, near Redwood Falls, Minn. Minnesota corn grower Ron Obermoller (second from right) and Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) (far right) look on. Pelosi, Peterson, NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson, Director of the Minnesota E85 Team Tim Gerlach, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and others also participated in a forum on the future of renewable fuels at Farm Fest. |
NCGA Applauds Food Quality Protection Act Anniversary
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) marked the 10-year anniversary of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), a law that required the agency to complete a massive review and reassessment of the tolerances (maximum permitted residues) for all food-use pesticides within a decade. (More On This Story)
NCGA Supports Systemic Flood Protection
In comments sent to U.S. Army Engineer District Commander Col. Michael R. Morrow, the NCGA fully supports the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan Flood Control Plan G, which may make system-wide protection available and achievable. (More On This Story)
NCGA Alerts Growers to Conservation Listening Tour
The NCGA encourages its grower members to attend the listening sessions on cooperative conservation that President George W. Bush’s administration has planned this summer. (More On This Story)
NCGA Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Natural Gas Legislation
With demand for natural gas increasing and production levels not keeping pace, the NCGA today applauds passage of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, S. 3711, which would allow expanded natural gas production in the outer continental shelf (OCS). (More On This Story)
NCGA Discusses Goals, Opportunities with Animal Ag Coalition
The NCGA, as a member of the Animal Ag Coalition, met with key stakeholders in the livestock industry in St. Louis last week to discuss future goals of the coalition and outline some challenges facing the industry. (More On This Story)
Despite Drought, Corn Crop Still Ahead of Last Year, NCGA Notes
The NCGA notes the National Agriculture Statistics Service’s (NASS) latest crop report has the corn crop condition receding slightly from the previous week, mainly because of drought conditions across the Corn Belt.(More On This Story)
NCGA Applauds U.S.-Mexico HFCS Agreement
The NCGA welcomes an agreement reached by the United States and Mexico allowing the United States duty-free access to the Mexican market for U.S. high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) beginning Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2007. (More On This Story)
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AROUND THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
Iowa: An initiative by Iowa’s corn checkoff to promote Iowa’s dairy industry is producing economic growth in northwest Iowa and increasing the demand for corn. Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) leaders saw practical evidence of the progress being made on a tour of livestock operations in Sioux and O’Brien counties.
“It’s exciting to see a young couple starting a new dairy in Iowa,” said Larry Peelen, an ICPB director and grower from Sanborn, Iowa. “Area corn producers will benefit because the 400 cows they milk are going to eat 400 acres worth of corn each year.” He emphasized that corn growers won’t be the only ones who see positive results, because livestock operations produce good jobs and economic growth in their counties. As an example, he noted that building and stocking a confinement dairy facility costs $10,000 per head. Ethanol plants and dairying also create mutual benefits, because the growing supply of distillers grains from ethanol production offer a real benefit in dairy rations. The livestock tour included stops at a new dairy relocating to northwest Iowa from Canada, two typical northwest Iowa dairies that have operated in the area for several generations, and one large dairy of several thousand cows. The group also visited livestock-related industries in the area, including a dairy heifer replacement operation, a feed company that is expanding its operations, and a poultry facility that supplies replacement layers.
Minnesota: The 24th Annual Corn Cob Open will draw well over 500 golfers from around the country to Jackson, Minnesota on Thursday, August 10. The event takes place at Jackson Public Golf Course, Emerald Valley Country Club and Loon Lake Golf Club, lasting from sunup to sundown, wrapping up with various golf shooting contests and an awards ceremony that begins at 8 p.m. The excitement grows as the day concludes and shoot-out contests take place. The contests include a Big Shootout, from around 100 yards out; the Pitch and Run; the Trap Shoot and the putt off-where contestants vie to get the ball closest to the pin from the same spot somewhere on the green. The list of prizes will also create lots of excitement: Pioneer will sponsor a trip for two to the Commodity Classic in Florida this coming winter. Other prizes include two sprayers available free for a year's lease, a one year lease of a Ziegler four-wheel drive tractor, a free one-year lease of a rider-mower from Toro, 100 acres of farm chemical and 100 acres of seed corn. For registration or further information call 507-847-3010. |
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KEY ISSUES
