IN THIS ISSUE:

• NCGA Calls New York Waiver 'Highly Unlikely'
• Ohio Corn Growers Take the Nation's Capitol by Storm
• NCGA Continues to Open Marketing Doors by Signing Polyols Contract
• NCGA Recognizes Richard Peterson for Years of Service to State, National Corn Growers
• NCGA Encourages Members to Meet Farm Bill Sign-Up Deadline
• NCGA's Danielson Reports Progress on Corn Genome
• Farmers Can Network and Grow on the 'Classic Track'
  

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REMINDER: There are only 34 more days before the 2003 Commodity Classic! Visit www.commodityclassic.com <http://www.ncga.com> to register!
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NCGA Calls New York Waiver 'Highly Unlikely'

The NCGA said Friday it is highly unlikely New York will be granted a waiver on the reformulated gasoline requirement. The state recently asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be exempted from the gasoline standard, which requires the use of gasoline mixed with a pollution-reducing additive. New York City, among eight other high-smog U.S. urban areas, is required by the Clean Air Act to use reformulated gas. New York banned the additive MTBE last year, which will take effect Jan. 2004. With ethanol left as the only alternative, New York officials feel the 'de facto ethanol mandate' will be too costly due to shipping expenses. Yet, New York officials also say they are not trying to get rid of ethanol in gasoline, only the mandated waiver.

Ohio Corn Growers Take the Nation's Capitol by Storm

Ohio growers got a taste of Washington politics this week when the Ohio Corn Growers Association (OCGA), accompanied by NCGA President and Plain City, Ohio, grower Fred Yoder, attended a series of Capitol Hill meetings and industry briefings. NCGA played host to OCGA members during their three days in Washington. OCGA leaders spent the majority of their time on Capitol Hill visiting with staff from the House agriculture and energy committees and the Ohio congressional delegation. Legislative issues such as the renewable fuels standard, disaster assistance, transportation, and trade were among topics of discussion at each of the congressional meetings. Ohio growers also met with Farm Service Agency Administrator James Little in a meeting Yoder called "a great benefit in terms of discussing implementation of the farm bill and program sign-up time restrictions. Also on the agenda were briefings with the presidents of U.S. Grains Council, Corn Refiners Association and Renewable Fuels Association. These organizational meetings provided a forum for OCGA leaders to talk about trade, biotech and ethanol with other industry leaders.

NCGA Continues to Open Marketing Doors by Signing Polyols Contract

"This is a milestone."

So said a majority of the participants involved in signing a licensing agreement between NCGA, the Battelle Memorial Institute, and Michigan State University (MSU). The recently signed contract concerns Phase II of NCGA's polyols project, a multi-year study working to develop the use of inorganic catalysts as a vehicle for the conversion of under-utilized sugars resulting from corn processing that may then be separated into chemicals with industrial applications, such as polyols.

Simply put, the target products of polyols are propylene glycol (PG), ethylene glycol (EG) and glycerol. These three substances are higher-value chemicals used in the manufacture of many household consumer goods such as anti-freeze, plastic compounds, personal and health care products and food products.

Dr. Richard Glass, NCGA vice president of research and development, said the signing is another step in a continuing journey to provide the nation's corn growers new markets for their product. For example, the total domestic market for PG and EG is approximately 8 billion pounds annually, said Glass. The value associated with these commodity chemicals varies with market conditions and product quality.

NCGA Recognizes Richard Peterson for Years of Service to State, National Corn Growers

NCGA President Fred Yoder recognized the contributions of Mountain Lake, Minn., corn grower Richard Peterson for his many years of service, both to his state association and to NCGA during a speech at the Minnesota Ag EXPO banquet Jan. 14. Yoder was in Minnesota to honor the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) on their 25th anniversary. Yoder paused during his remarks to honor Peterson, a member of the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council, who recently concluded his tenure on the NCGA Corn Board.

"Richard Peterson has been responsible for recruiting 1,700 members to the NCGA - he doesn't only recruit here in Minnesota but wherever he goes," said Yoder. "There's never any doubt or question about where Richard stands in his politics, but when it comes to what's best for the NCGA, he has always been willing to meet in the middle and do what needs to be done."

Peterson, who was unaware he was to be recognized, almost didn't make the event. "They were worried I wasn't coming because my wife got sick," he said. "I didn't know anything about (the honor). I was completely surprised." He said while he was honored by the recognition, his years of contribution to the corn growers of Minnesota were not made for personal glory.

NCGA Encourages Members to Meet Farm Bill Sign-Up Deadline

NCGA is urging it members who have not already signed up for the direct and countercyclical program to act quickly. Growers can apply to receive program benefits allotted to them under the 2002 farm bill, but they must meet the April 1 deadline.

NCGA members are also concerned with what seems like a lack of efficiency at the county level. In Ohio, for example, there are not enough Farm Service Agency employees to handle the tremendous workload of signing up farmers. The application process will take five to eight weeks.

NCGA's Danielson Reports Progress on Corn Genome

NCGA Research and Business Development Manager Nathan Danielson said he was encouraged to see advances that are being made on the corn genome at the 11th Annual Plant and Animal Genome Conference Jan. 11-15 in San Diego. Danielson said a lot of work is being directed toward understanding the maize genome, but due to its complexity, it is lagging behind the rice, sorghum, barley and other grass genomes. He further explained that is not necessarily a bad thing, though, due to a high level of synteny between corn and these other grasses. Synteny, or the similar nature and arrangement of gene architecture between species, is well described in grasses.

Farmers Can Network and Grow on the 'Classic Track'

With several thousand people expected to participate in Commodity Classic in Charlotte, N. C., Feb. 27-March 1, 2003, corn and soybean growers will have a unique opportunity to network with top producers and industry leaders from throughout the United States. They will hear the latest information about issues and concerns that affect their farming operation and agriculture in general. Commodity Classic is the eighth annual convention and trade show of the NCGA and American Soybean Association (ASA). The Commodity Classic convention and trade show offers producers a valuable opportunity that occurs only once a year. It's an opportunity that conveniently gives them access to a large number of agriculture businesses and organizations, as well as educational and learning seminars. Former pro football coach Joe Gibbs will be the keynote speaker at the General Session. He'll talk about the elements that contribute to teambuilding and success. For complete details about Commodity Classic, go to www.commodityclassic.com or call 636-928-3700 for a registration kit.

NCGA THIS WEEK

• Jan. 26-28 NCGA Officers and staff will attend the NCGA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
• Jan. 28 NCGA Chairman Tim Hume will attend the National Association of Wheat Growers 2003 Wheat Industry Conference in Albuquerque, N.M.
• Jan 28-30 NCGA Livestock Programs and Information Manager Tracy Snider will attend the National Cattlemen Beef Association convention in Nashville
• Jan. 30-31 NCGA Communications Director Mimi Ricketts and Strategic Communications and Marketing Manager Gary Bradley will attend the NAMA Golden/ARC Awards in Kansas City

© 2003 National Corn Growers Association

ST. LOUIS OFFICE

WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE