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Phone: (636) 733-9004
FAX: (636) 733-9005

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Washington, DC 20001

Phone: (202) 628-7001
FAX: (202) 628-1933

©National Corn Growers Association | corninfo@ncga.com

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 Continues Push for WRDA Passage
NCGA to Participate in International Biotechnology Conference
NCGA’s McCauley Calls Renewable Energy Conference a Success
Corn Growers Projected to Harvest Third-largest Corn Crop, NCGA Notes
NCGA Pleased with Addition of Biobased Products to BioPreferred Program
NCGA’s McCauley Says Renewable Fuels Conference off to Great Start
NCGA Reminds Corn Growers to Properly Channel Market Choices-labeled Grain

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NCGA Continues Push for WRDA Passage
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) urges members to contact their congressmen and ask them to secure passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) conference report before the 109th Congress adjourns at the end of the year. (More On This Story)

NCGA to Participate in International Biotechnology Conference
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) will participate in the fifth annual International Biotechnology Information Conference in Iowa and Nebraska Oct. 15-21 to highlight biotechnology to an international group of policymakers. (More On This Story)

NCGA CEO Rick Tolman was the Master of Ceremonies on Wednesday at the Advancing Renewable Energy Conference in St. Louis. The conference, jointly held by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy, brought together stakeholders in renewable energy. President George W. Bush addressed the conference on Thursday, highlighting ethanol’s role in making the United States energy independent.

NCGA’s McCauley Calls Renewable Energy Conference a Success
NCGA President Ken McCauley declared the first-ever Advancing Renewable Energy Conference in St. Louis this week a success and said President George W. Bush’s speech restating his pledge to use more renewable energy resources was well-received. (More On This Story)

Corn Growers Projected to Harvest Third-largest Corn Crop, NCGA Notes
Corn growers are expected to harvest 10.9 billion bushels of corn this fall, making it the third-largest crop on record, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) monthly crop production report released today. Yields are expected to average 153.5 bushels per acre, 5.6 bushels higher than in 2005. (More On This Story)

NCGA Pleased with Addition of Biobased Products to BioPreferred Program
NCGA President Ken McCauley said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement Wednesday proposing 10 biobased products be added as part of a federal program is an important step in providing more renewable products for consumers as alternatives to petroleum-based items. (More On This Story)

NCGA’s McCauley Says Renewable Fuels Conference off to Great Start
NCGA President Ken McCauley said the commitment to renewable fuels is “very clear” at the first day of the Advancing Renewable Energy Conference in St. Louis today. (More On This Story)

NCGA Reminds Corn Growers to Properly Channel Market Choices-labeled Grain
The NCGA reminds growers of the importance of developing marketing plans for grain with the Market Choices logo, which helps growers and grain handlers identify non-European Union approved corn hybrids.(More On This Story)

AROUND THE CORN BELT
News from State Associations

South Dakota: The South Dakota Corn Growers Association (SDCGA) will provide educational opportunities for South Dakota ag producers through a grant awarded to the organization by the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA). Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced awards of close to $21 million in agricultural risk management partnership agreements throughout the United States. The USDA partnership agreements provide funds for projects to develop new risk management tools for farmers and ranchers, as well as outreach and education opportunities. RMA administers these projects as well as the federal crop insurance program. The SDCGA was awarded nearly $140,000 of those grant monies to provide risk management education, farm financial planning workshops, farm bill information and planter calibration clinics. The grant monies will be used for the following programs:
• “Growing Forward in 2007” – Risk Management Seminars, partnering with Farm Credit Services (Nov. 27-Dec. 1 and Feb. 19-22)
• “Farm Bill: Myths & Reality” (Dec. 5)
• SDCGA Annual Meeting Seminars (Jan. 6)
• Planter Calibration Clinics (Jan. 15-19)
• Business Planning Workshops (TBA)

Nebraska: The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) helped cosponsor a weeklong workshop in the United States for the Chief Veterinary Officers (CVO) and other animal health officials of several Caribbean countries. The purpose of the presentations and tours was to update the officials on U.S. BSE safeguards and garner loyalty to U.S. beef products in a region that is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. In addition to the NCB, workshop sponsors included the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), Nebraska Beef Council, Nebraska Cattlemen and Nebraska Farm Bureau. Caribbean officials have considerable influence over importation regulations, including age restrictions, signature requirements and other standards. The workshop included presentations in Washington, D.C. from the USDA agencies of FSIS, APHIS, FDA and AMS. The group then took tours in Nebraska of Tyson, Circle 5 Beef, Aurora Cooperative Feed Mill and the U.S. Meat Animal Research. The meetings concluded with a tour and information session with Quirch Foods in Miami.

Of Special Interest:
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Next Week
Oct. 16-17:	NCGA Director of Production, Stewardship and Livestock Max Starbuck attends hypoxia meeting and EPA meeting in Washington, D.C.
Oct. 16-18:	NCGA Director of Biotechnology Paul Bertels and Director of Public Policy Lisa Kelley attend Multi-crop Aflatoxin Elimination Workshop in Fort Worth, Texas.
Oct. 18-19:	NCGA Director of Research and Business Development Nathan Fields attends Williamsburg Field Days in Williamsburg, Iowa.
Oct. 18-21:	NCGA First Vice President Ron Litterer and NCGA Director of Biotechnology Paul Bertels attend International Biotechnology Information Conference in Iowa and Nebraska.
Calendar information is available on the NCGA Leader Resource Center, http://www.insidencga.com © 2005 National Corn Growers Association