NCGA Recruiters on the Roll
In an effort to promote membership, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently held a drawing and awarded a year’s use of an E85 Flex-Fuel 2008 Chevrolet Silverado to three qualified recruiters and one state NCGA affiliate.
Individual winners were Tom Durand of Michigan, Terry Hilgedick of Missouri and David Cramer of Ohio. The winning state association was the South Dakota Corn Growers Association.
“We’re always looking for some fun ways to increase membership while rewarding our recruiters for their great work,” said Matt Gibson, chairman of NCGA’s Grower Services Action Team. “These flex-fuel vehicles do just that, while serving a very practical purpose down on the farm.”
The winners were selected in a random drawing involving qualified recruiters who met certain targets based on the size of their state. The state drawing was open to affiliates who met a certain percentage increase in membership at the close of the 2007 membership year, compared to the previous three-year average. This program was sponsored by Syngenta Agrisure™.
NCGA Hopeful Progress Will Be Made On the Farm Bill
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is pleased that members of the Senate Agriculture Committee named farm bill conferees. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) will chair the conference committee. The House has not yet named their conferees.
“NCGA is encouraged by the selection of the Senate farm bill conference committee members,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer. “Corn growers need a farm bill that delivers a more market-oriented safety net that ensures assistance when it is most needed. We hope this farm bill includes an improved risk management tool for our growers.”
The list of Democratic senators selected for the conference committee include: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (Mont.), Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (N.D.); Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (Vt.); Senate Agriculture Committee member Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), and Senate Agriculture Committee member Senator Debbie Stabenow (Mich.).
The following Republican Senators were selected for the conference committee: ranking member Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), former Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (Ind.), Senate Finance Committee ranking member Charles Grassley (Iowa); Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Thad Cochran (Miss.); and Senator Pat Roberts (Kan.).
In a statement released yesterday, Chairman Harkin reiterated the need to work together with leadership to produce a farm bill. “This group of senators represents diversity in terms of geography, leadership posts and expertise,” said Chairman Harkin. “I look forward to working with chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Colin Peterson as well as the new Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer in reaching our goals of a farm bill that makes important investments in conservation, renewable energy, nutrition and rural development.”
Chambliss made the following comments: “I am pleased to join Sen. Harkin in naming the senators that will serve on the conference committee to complete the farm bill. Our farmers and ranchers are in the midst of making important planting decisions and we must complete this bill as soon as possible.”
Once House conferees are appointed, NCGA will work with members of the conference committee and the administration to quickly resolve policy differences in the farm bill.
Commodity Classic Offers Over Twenty WIN Sessions on New Innovations for Growers
Eleven “What Is New” (WIN) sessions and 12 shorter “Mini WIN” sessions will showcase new innovations and services critical to agriculture’s future at Commodity Classic, the annual convention and trade show of the American Soybean Association (ASA), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), to be held Feb. 28-March 1 in Nashville, Tenn.
“Some of the most popular events at Commodity Classic are the WIN sessions, where companies introduce their new product lineups and give us a sneak preview of the new technology they are putting out,” said NAWG President John Thaemert. “These sessions are something that I, myself, am very interested in.”
“The WIN sessions highlight emerging and break-through products and services and give growers an exciting glimpse into the future,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer.
During the 40-minute WIN and five-minute Mini WIN sessions, corn, soybean and wheat growers will learn about new and next-generation technology, marketing opportunities, profitability, product launches, maximizing crop performance, investing in renewable energy and more.
“The WIN sessions provide an important education opportunity for improving the profitability and competitiveness of U.S. growers,” said ASA President John Hoffman.
Commodity Classic will also feature a trade show, association banquets, entertainment events, and important networking opportunities. For more information or to register, please visit www.commodityclassic.com.
NCGA Announces Corn Board Candidates
Six leaders in the U.S. corn industry are nominees for open positions on the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Board for the 2009 fiscal year, it was announced today. Three of the candidates are running for re-election.
The candidates are, in alphabetical order:
Martin Barbre, Carmi, Ill. Barbre is the chair of NCGA’s Biotechnology Working Group and is a former president and board member of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. He also serves as a member of the White County, Ill., Farm Bureau Board. He is a partner in Chestin Farms with his son and son-in-law, where they grow 4,200 acres of corn, soybean, wheat, alfalfa and export tobacco.
Don Glenn, Hillsboro, Ala. Glenn is a former president and board member of the Alabama Soybean and Corn Association, and served on the state’s soybean checkoff board. He is a member of NCGA’s Ethanol Committee. Glenn farms in a partnership with his brother, raising corn, wheat and soybeans on 1,500 acres strictly as a family farm with no hired labor.
Daryl Haack, Primghar, Iowa. Haack seeks re-election to the NCGA Corn Board and is a former chair and board member of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. He serves as liaison to the NCGA Biotechnology Working Group. Haack farms 400 acres of corn and 400 acres of soybean with his wife, Alyda.
Darrin Ihnen, Hurley, S.D. Ihnen is seeking re-election to the NCGA Corn Board. He is also a board member of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council. Ihnen is liaison to the NCGA Ethanol Committee. He is a fourth-generation farmer, raising corn, soybean and wheat, and has a contract hog finishing operation and a cow/calf enterprise.
Jerry Larson, Elbow Lake, Minn. Larson is chairman of the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council and a member of NCGA’s Ethanol Committee. He is also a former president of the Minnesota Coalition for Ethanol. Larson farms 1,300 acres in a corn-soybean rotation and is invested in five processing plants utilizing corn and soybeans.
David Nelson, Belmond, Iowa. Nelson is running for re-election to the NCGA Corn Board. He is a board member of both the national Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Nelson serves as liaison to the NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team. He farms 5,000 acres of corn and soybeans with his two brothers.
The Corn Board supervises and directs the affairs of the NCGA. It defines, implements or interprets policy determined by the Corn Congress and serves as the official policy spokesperson for the organization. Election of the candidates for the Corn Board will be held at the Corn Congress, July 16-17, in Washington, D.C. NCGA members can visit the Corn Board section of the NCGA Leader Resource Center for more information.
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