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:
- National Corn Yield Contest Winners to be Announced Monday
- McCauley in Washington, Driving Corn Grower Legislative Items
- NCGA Announces Ambitious 2007 Membership Drive
- Latest Crop Reports Show Growers Able to Meet Demand, NCGA Says
- NCGA Welcomes Mississippi Corn Promotion Board
- NCGA Hails End of Year Legislative Victories
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National Corn Yield Contest Winners to be Announced Monday
The entries are in. Results are being tabulated, and results for the 41st annual National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) will be announced in just three days. (More On This Story)
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NCGA President Ken McCauley (right) made the rounds in Washington, D.C., this week, meeting with Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), incoming House Agriculture Committee chairman. The two discussed corn growers’ farm bill proposal as well as other key corn grower issues. McCauley met with a variety of government and industry officials. |
McCauley in Washington, Driving Corn Grower Legislative Items
Farm policy and programs, trade, renewable fuels and other key legislative priorities of the nation’s corn growers dominated the agenda of the NCGA President Ken McCauley this week as he met with key congressional members and administration officials while in Washington, DC. (More On This Story)
NCGA Announces Ambitious 2007 Membership Drive
While membership in other agricultural organizations declines, the NCGA continues to grow. For 2007 NCGA is its most aggressive membership drive ever. Growers, recruiters and state affiliate recruiters each have the opportunity to win one year’s use of an E-85 flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) along with other incentives. (More On This Story)
Latest Crop Reports Show Growers Able to Meet Demand, NCGA Says
Corn supplies held steady in the latest World Agriculture Supply and Demand report, released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). NCGA President Ken McCauley, of White Cloud, Kan., said the report reflects confidence in U.S. corn production. (More On This Story)
NCGA Welcomes Mississippi Corn Promotion Board
Mississippi became the 21st state to establish and maintain a Corn Promotion Board (CPB). Governor Hayley Barbour has signed into law the legislation enabling a one cent per bushel checkoff fund and appointed a 12-member board to oversee research and promotion efforts. The new organization will complement the existing Mississippi Corn Growers Association (MCGA) in serving the needs of the state’s corn producers. (More On This Story)
NCGA Hails End of Year Legislative Victories
Legislation to open up domestic natural gas and oil production, extend ethanol tax incentives and grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Vietnam highlight the NCGA end of year legislative victories. (More On This Story)
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AROUND THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
Iowa: Grower leaders from the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB and Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) provided a “real world” perspective on corn supplies during a media teleconference on Dec. 8. Bob Bowman, ICGA president, who farms in DeWitt, said the current uproar over corn supplies is nothing new. “We’ve seen this debate before, as recently as 1995/96. I’m no economist, but I can tell you that when we see strong demand and good prices, corn farmers respond with higher production.”
Kansas: For the first time, the entire agriculture industry in Kansas has come forward with a common list of recommendations for the 2007 federal agriculture legislation. The Kansas Farm Bill Coalition consists of 20 Kansas agriculture organizations that have come together to achieve agricultural policy. The Coalition’s recommendations can be seen here.
Kentucky: Register today for the Kentucky Commodity Classic, the annual meeting of the Kentucky Corn Growers, Kentucky Small Grain Growers and Kentucky Soybean Associations. The Classic will take place Jan. 19 at the Executive West Hotel in Louisville. Details are at http://www.kycorn.org/news_events/ kcc.htm.
Minnesota: Minnesota Corn Growers Association delegates from about 40 county corn grower organizations brought forward resolutions that had been passed on the county level. At the same meeting they took note of what’s happening in Washington, thanks to the presence of Tom Sell, a partner in Combest, Sell and Associates, a Washington-based advocacy firm that focuses on agriculture. The MCGA will advocate for a 2007 farm bill substantially similar to the one now in place, but also adding more support for bioenergy and creating a permanent disaster response mechanism.
Michigan: Michigan Corn and Soybean Winter Meetings 2007 will be held at four locations around the state from Jan. 15-23. For information and registration click here .
Clark Gerstacker, from Midland, was reappointed to serve on the NCGA Research & Business Development Action Team. Bruce Noel, from Leslie, was reappointed as chair of the NCGA Ethanol Committee. Larry Nobis, from St. Johns, will serve on the Production and Stewardship Action Team, and Betsy Atherton, membership and programs coordinator for the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, was reappointed to serve as the team’s state staff representative. |
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KEY ISSUES
