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:
- Senate Kicks Off WRDA Debate, Notes NCGA
- NCGA, Other Ag Groups Send Conservation Positions to Congress
- NCGA Urges Corn Growers to Help Missouri River Flood Efforts
- Warm Weather Helps Planting in Some Areas, While Storms Delay in Others, Says NCGA
- NCGA Takes to the Air with Good News About Corn and the Environment
- NCGA Urges Congress Improve BioPreferred Program
- NCGA Discusses Challenges, Opportunities and Needs at Trucking Conference
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Senate Kicks Off WRDA Debate, Notes NCGA
Senate debate is under way on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), legislation that will modernize an antiquated river infrastructure and provide for major ecosystem restoration, notes the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). (More On This
Story)
NCGA, Other Ag Groups Send Conservation Positions to Congress
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) along with several other agricultural producer groups and organizations sent comments to both the Senate and House this week, providing views and positions on the Conservation Title of the farm bill. (More On This
Story)
Corn Growers See Missouri River Flooding Ease
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said today that flood damage from the Missouri River may have peaked in the Kansas City area. However, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) warns growers that the river is still rising in other areas. (More On This
Story)
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| Staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service visited NCGA Wednesday to talk about the upcoming 2007 agriculture census, which will be conducted at the end of the year. From left: Gene Danekas, director, Missouri Agriculture Statistics; Carol House, deputy administrator for programs and products; Ray Garibay, staff director; and Ellen Dougherty, section head, marketing section.
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NCGA Urges Corn Growers to Help Missouri River Flood Efforts
The sudden flooding on the Missouri River is putting a strain on emergency providers and relief organizations. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) urges corn growers to help in any way they can. (More On This
Story)
Warm Weather Helps Planting in Some Areas, While Storms Delay in Others, Says NCGA
Last week’s warmer weather helped speed planting in parts of the Corn Belt, while excessive rain limited opportunities for fieldwork in the central Plains and much of the Midwest, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says. (More On This
Story)
NCGA Takes to the Air with Good News About Corn and the Environment
The next time you’re on an airplane, you may be in for a little “shop talk” about corn. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is takings its environmental/stewardship message to the “skyways” with a segment on Sky Radio’s Environmental Watch Program. (More On This
Story)
NCGA Urges Congress Improve BioPreferred Program
Beyond biofuels, biobased products are part of the solution to reliance on foreign oil. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and five other agriculture and biofuel groups sent a letter to House and Senate leaders this week, urging improvements and revisions to the 2002 Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement (Biopreferred) Program. (More On This
Story)
NCGA Discusses Challenges, Opportunities and Transportation Needs at Trucking Conference
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has told the nation’s truckers that improvements must be made to the U.S. transportation network if agriculture is to continue to flourish through new opportunities and markets. (More On This Story)
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AROUND THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
Minnesota: Even with rains, as of May 6, 70 percent of Minnesota's corn crop had been planted. This compares to 55 percent planted by that date last year and 69 percent on the five-year average, according to the latest report from National Agricultural Statistics Service-Minnesota Field Office. Conditions for rapid germination were in place, according to the NASS report. Most of the corn-growing region of the state has enough moisture, but two major areas along the western border of the state have surplus water. Counties in these areas include Traverse, Big Stone, Swift, Grant, Stevens Douglas, Pope, Yellow Medicine, Lincoln, Pipestone and Rock. Many areas in west central Minnesota got well above an inch of rain. Two areas lack moisture-a pocket in the eastern metro area including Washington, Anoka and Ramsey counties-as well as a small region by the Iowa border that includes parts of Freeborn, Mower, Steele and Dodge counties, according to NASS. Other crops have also progressed in a timely way, according to NASS.
Nebraska: The number of cattle on feed in Nebraska has grown over the past 18 months and, when it comes to total cattle on feed, Nebraska has moved ahead of Kansas and into second place behind Texas. As ethanol production and the availability of distillers grains grows in Nebraska, it makes sense to have more cattle close to ethanol plants because it eliminates the cost of drying and shipping distillers grain to other parts of the country, said Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. “We are thrilled to see more cattle being put on feed in Nebraska,” he said. Increasing the number of cattle on feed in Nebraska furthers the economic benefits of ethanol production by adding value to distillers grains—which is value-added corn, Hutchens said. “This is a trend corn producers would like to see continue because it’s good for them, good for ethanol plants and good for the state. We rely heavily on cattle producers and couldn’t survive without them,” Hutchens said. “The ethanol industry is growing, the corn industry is growing and now, the beef cattle industry is expanding, too. We are so fortunate to have all three here in Nebraska—probably the only state in the country that can say that.”
Ohio: Ohio’s corn crop is getting a late start this growing season compared to recent years with nearly 20 percent behind last year's planting schedule, according to the Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service. Not surprisingly, the weather is being blamed for the lag. From a cold snap in early April followed by severe rain showers throughout parts of the state, growers have had difficulty getting their crop in the ground. The longer a grower waits to plant, the more a ceiling is being put on yields. Optimum planting dates for Ohio are April 10-May 10 for southern counties and April 15-May 10 for northern counties. |
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KEY ISSUES
