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 Outraged By Administration’s Lack Of Support For WRDA
- NCGA President Highlights Future Of Agriculture At USDA Ag Outlook Forum
- Phone-A-Thons Help States, NCGA Recruit Growers
- NCGA Leadership Attends U.S. Grains Council Annual Meeting
- Countdown To Classic – Just 15 Days Until Commodity Classic
- Growers Encouraged To Tell Their Favorite NCGA Stories At 2006 Commodity Classic
- Missed Trade School? Second NCGA Trade School Slated For March 30
- Quartet Of Speakers Headline Commodity Classic General Session
**********************************
NCGA Outraged by Administration’s Lack of Support for WRDA
The NCGA is outraged by public comments made by the Bush administration indicating a lack of support for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). From the administration’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget proposal to comments made yesterday by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns that the crumbling, 70-year old lock and dam system on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers can be viable for another 50 years or more, NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson said these actions do not match the president’s campaign promises made to corn growers. (More On This Story)
NCGA President Highlights Future of Agriculture at USDA Ag Outlook Forum
NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson joined top officials, industry analysts, business leaders, farmers and ranchers, and agricultural experts at the 82nd Agriculture Outlook Forum in Washington, D.C., Thursday where the focus was on making rural America prosperous. (More On This Story)
Phone-a-thons Help States, NCGA Recruit Growers
The NCGA encourages its members to find creative ways to recruit and retain membership. Last night, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) did just that, possibly bumping its membership totals by 272 thanks to a phone-a-thon by its growers and checkoff representatives. (More On This Story)
|
 |
| NCGA members and Illinois corn growers Greg Guenther (second from left) and Garry Niemeyer (second from right) and Illinois Corn Growers Association Field Services Director Jim Tarmann (far right) visited Senate offices in Washington, D.C., this week touting the need for an improved navigation system and the importance of passing the Water Resources Development Act, which includes congressional authorization for lock improvements on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. NCGA Director of Public Policy Lisa Kelley (far left) joined them in the Senate meetings.
|
NCGA Leadership Attends U.S. Grains Council Annual Meeting
NCGA leadership attended the 46th Annual U.S. Grains Council (USGC) membership meeting in Tucson, Ariz., this week to discuss trade issues, the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks and crafting a trade-compliant farm bill. (More On This Story)
Countdown to Classic – Just 15 Days Until Commodity Classic
In two weeks, NCGA members from around the country will gather at the 10th Anniversary Commodity Classic, in Anaheim, Calif., March 2-4, 2006, for an experience that will educate, enlighten and entertain them. It’s an experience that can provide benefits for a grower’s farm operation and profitability for years to come. (More On This Story)
Growers Encouraged to Tell Their Favorite NCGA Stories at 2006 Commodity Classic
Plans are under way for the National Corn Growers Association 50th anniversary celebration in 2007, and growers to this year’s Commodity Classic in Anaheim, Calif., will have the opportunity to share their favorite association stories. (More On This Story)
Missed Trade School? Second NCGA Trade School Slated for March 30
The importance of trade to the agriculture sector and to the nation’s economy is highlighted at the second Trade School sponsored by the NCGA. (More On This Story)
Quartet of Speakers Headline Commodity Classic General Session
Renewable energy, the environment and music will highlight the 2006 Commodity Classic General Session in Anaheim, Calif., March 3. Commodity Classic, the combined trade show and convention of the NCGA and the American Soybean Association, will be held March 2-4 in Anaheim, Calif. (More On This Story)
|
AROUND THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
Iowa: More than 500 renewable fuels supporters from around the state flooded the halls of the Iowa Statehouse today to urge passage of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard – legislation that will require 25% total renewable fuel usage in Iowa by 2015. Supporters, who rode in buses from 20 locations across the state, included farmers, ethanol plant investors, plant workers, economic development officials, community leaders, FFA students and others. Rally participants converged at the capitol to meet with lawmakers and continue their grassroots efforts to expand ethanol use in Iowa. The event was sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). Last week, the bill unanimously passed out of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. SF 2184 has now been referred to the Senate Agricultural Committee. A 25% renewable fuels requirement could result in as much as 300 million gallons per year of increased ethanol usage.
South Dakota: Producers can learn to market crops in a fun, realistic market-simulation workshop, “Winning the Game” sponsored by the South Dakota Corn Growers Association and the USDA Risk Management Agency.
“Using Technology to Maximize Your Inputs” is the topic of seminars planned for Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ramkota Inn in Sioux Falls and Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Watertown Events Center Ramkota Inn. The programs will focus on marketing and precision farming. The seminars are free and include lunch, but pre-registration is requested. For more information or to pre-register for the seminars, please call the SDCGA office at 604-334-0100. Seminar brochures are also available for viewing or to download from the SDCGA Web site, www.sdcorn.org under calendar events.
Missouri: Feb. 14 proved to be a sweet day for ethanol as members of the Missouri House Agriculture Policy Committee unanimously approved legislation to establish a statewide renewable fuel standard. The Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) applauded committee members for moving forward House Bill 1270 & 1027, which will require nearly all gasoline sold in the state contain 10 percent ethanol. To allow ample time for implementation, this Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard (MoRFS) measure would take effect Jan. 1, 2008. Exemptions for motorboats, antique vehicles and aviation fuel have been included, as well as compromise language to address supply concerns of small and independent petroleum marketers.
|
|
| |
 |
To
View Your Local Weather Forecast, (Click
Here) |
Next Week |
|
Feb 18-22: |
NCGA Director of Public Policy Samantha Slater, Director of Commercialization Geoff Cooper and Ethanol Committee Chairman Bruce Noel attend Renewable Fuels Association National Ethanol Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. |
Feb. 20-24: |
NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team meeting in Anaheim, Calif. |
Feb. 16-17: |
NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson and NCGA Director of Biotechnology Paul Bertels attend the Ag Outlook Forum in Arlington, Va. |
Feb. 21-22: |
NCGA Director of Research and Business Development Nathan Fields attends corn genome meeting in Washington, D.C. |
Feb. 21: |
NCGA Corn Board member Ron Litterer attends ATAC meeting in Washington, D.C. |
Feb. 22: |
NCGA Chairman Leon Corzine attends APAC meeting in Washington, D.C. |
Feb. 22-23: |
NCGA CEO Rick Tolman attends MARC 2000 Board meeting in Washington, D.C. |
Feb. 24: |
NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson attends Focus on Farm Policy in Ames, Iowa. |
Calendar information is available
on the NCGA Leader Resource Center, http://www.insidencga.com
© 2005 National Corn Growers Association |
|
|
KEY ISSUES
