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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:
- Dr. Vijay Singh To Focus On Dry Grind Processing at CUTC
- Corn Growers See Win with WTO Biotech Ruling
- Effort to Pass WRDA Gathers More Senate Support, Notes NCGA
- FY 2007 Corn Board Candidates Announced
- NCGA Reminds Growers of Feb. 9 Early Registration Deadline for 2006 Commodity Classic
- President’s Budget Proposals Could Harm Farm Safety Net, NCGA Notes
- NCGA’s Tolman Visits Japan to Discuss Renewable Fuels
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Dr. Vijay Singh to Focus on Dry Grind Processing at CUTC
Dr. Vijay Singh of the University of Illinois will give a glimpse into the future of dry grind processing at the 2006 Corn Utilization Technology Conference (CUTC), sponsored by the NCGA, as he chairs a session dry grind processing. The conference will be held June 5-7 in Dallas. (More On This Story)
Corn Growers See Win with WTO Biotech Ruling
The NCGA is pleased with a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling this week that states the European Union (EU) placed an illegal moratorium on biotechnology crops. (More On This Story) |
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| Iowa corn growers Dean Taylor (far left) and Warren Kemper (second from left) flew to Washington, D.C., to join other WRDA advocates to educate congress on the importance of upgrading the waterway infrastructure on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Tade Sullivan (second from right) and NCGA Director of Public Policy Lisa Kelley (far right) joined Taylor and Kemper for their visits to Capitol Hill Senate offices.
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Effort to Pass WRDA Gathers More Senate Support, Notes NCGA
The NCGA and Iowa growers Warren Kemper and Dean Taylor joined members from MARC2000 this week on the first of many “fly-ins” scheduled to encourage passage of S. 728, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) this spring. (More On This Story)
FY2007 Corn Board Candidates Announced
The NCGA Nominating Committee has selected the list of candidates for the fiscal year 2007 Corn Board, noting the candidates represent a wide variety of corn growers who want a chance at the opportunity to help strengthen the future of NCGA and the corn industry. (More On This Story)
NCGA Reminds Growers of Feb. 9 Early Registration Deadline for 2006 Commodity Classic
The early registration period for 10th annual Commodity Classic, the annual convention and trade show of the NCGA and the American Soybean Association (ASA), ends Thursday, Feb. 9. (More On This Story)
President’s Budget Proposals Could Harm Farm Safety Net, NCGA Notes
President George W. Bush’s proposed reductions for fiscal year 2007 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) spending programs –-- including across-the-board cuts in crop payments to farmers by 5 percent – could harm the farm safety net put in place by the 2002 farm bill, the NCGA states. (More On This Story)
NCGA’s Tolman Visits Japan to Discuss Renewable Fuels
NCGA CEO Rick Tolman attended the Japan Biomass Ethanol Fuel International Symposium in Misasawa, Japan, last week to give a presentation on the history of ethanol in the United States and the future of the ethanol industry. Tolman also gave the presentation at a seminar for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Tokyo. (More On This Story)
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AROUND THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
Illinois and Missouri: Ford will launch a “Midwest Ethanol Corridor” – expanding E85 ethanol fuel availability by approximately a third throughout the states of Illinois and Missouri this year through the company’s ongoing partnership with VeraSun Energy, a renewable energy company. Actions to increase the availability of ethanol in neighboring states are planned as well. The first phase in the creation of the Midwest ethanol corridor is to convert existing gasoline fuel pumps in Illinois and Missouri to E85. Ford estimates there are 50,000 owners of Ford flexible fuel vehicles in Illinois and 28,000 in Missouri. Ford will work with fuel providers and officials in other states to develop the ethanol corridor.
Nebraska: Beef buyers from Hong Kong and China were treated to samples of Nebraska beef at a special “Beef from Nebraska” reception in Hong Kong this week. The event was organized by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, and was co-sponsored by the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Beef Council. Hong Kong recently reopened its borders to U.S. beef after a two-year hiatus caused by the BSE scare in December 2003. The Nebraska beef promotion was designed to reintroduce choice and prime Nebraska beef cuts to approximately 150 retailers, restaurateurs, chefs, and other key beef buyers in Hong Kong and China.
Iowa: A proposal by the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to require that one quarter of Iowa’s motor fuel be from renewable resources is readily achievable, according to a new study by LECG LLC, an independent market analysis firm. John Urbanchuk, economist and LECG LLC director, looked at current levels of ethanol use in Iowa, E85 availability, the number of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) operated in Iowa, and average fuel use per vehicle to calculate total fuel use and renewable fuel market share for each year from 2004 to 2015. Adoption of biodiesel was also included in the calculations. Key factors in his analysis are the effects of the national Renewable Fuels Standard, which is expected to increase the use of 10% ethanol blended fuel, and the Iowa RFS, which will increase the number of E85 fueling locations in the state. By 2015, more than one out of five vehicles in Iowa is expected to be an FFV capable of using E85. By 2015, the study foresees renewable fuel use outstripping RFS requirements by 50 million gallons. |
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KEY ISSUES
