IN THIS ISSUE:

• NCGA RFS Rally March 18-19 Takes Grassroots to D.C.
• NCGA Yoder Says Farm Bill Should Not be Opened
• NCGA Applauds House Members' Resolve on HFCS Issue
• DDGS Marketing Opportunities to be Focus of National Distillers Grains Marketing Conference and Regional Workshop
• NCGA Gains Insight on International Grains Market at PRX Conference
• NCGA Urges Locally Led, On-the-Ground Conservation Tactics in EQIP Rule
• NCGA Hosted NeCGA Leadership Meetings in Washington This Week
• NCGA's Snider to present at Indiana Corn to Dairy Summit March 20
• Former Durbin Aide Joins NCGA Staff

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMINDER: Be sure to visit the "Of Special Interest" section at www.ncga.com <http://www.ncga.com> to view the photo album of the 2003 Commodity Classic!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

NCGA RFS Rally March 18-19 Takes Grassroots to D.C.

The grassroots will meet new heights March 18 and 19 when a variety of representatives from agriculture, government and industry converge on Washington, D.C., for the NCGA Rally for the RFS - designed to build enthusiasm for passage of a renewable fuels standard (RFS) in the 108th Congress. On Feb. 13, South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle (D) introduced into the Senate the Fuels Security Act of 2003. One part of this legislation is a national RFS that is expected to double the use of renewable fuels over the next 10 years. NCGA has made passage of an RFS its top legislative priority this year. The agenda for the Rally for the RFS draws together an impressive list of presenters:

• Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.)
• Rep. Tom Osborne (R-Neb.)
• Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.)
• Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.)
• Michael Whatley, staff director, Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio)
• Chris Schepis, National Farmers Union
• Sara Glenn, Shell Oil Company
• Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association
• John Massie, Alpine Group

In addition, the rally will include presentations on exposing the myths by John Urbanchuk, director of consulting group LEGC, and Bruce Dale of Michigan State University. Ed Murphy of the American Petroleum Institute will answer the question, "What is RFS?" The rally will conclude on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 19, when participants move to Capitol Hill where they will personally urge members of Congress to pass an RFS this year. Registration information is available on the NCGA web site at www.ncga.com <http://www.ncga.com>; or call 636-733-9004.

NCGA Yoder Says Farm Bill Should Not be Opened

In a statement Thursday, NCGA President Fred Yoder reiterated NCGA policy against opening the farm bill. According to Yoder, NCGA is concerned with the House Budget Committee's decision earlier this week that significant spending be cut from agriculture, including farm bill programs.

Yoder said NCGA would continue to work through the budget process to ensure there are adequate funds to secure the viability of the farm safety net and preserve the integrity of the farm bill. The Senate Budget Committee is expected to complete action on its budget resolution this week.

NCGA Applauds House Members' Resolve on HFCS Issue

NCGA Friday applauded 31 U.S. House of Representatives members for their letter to Mexican Ambassador to the United States Juan Jose Bremer urging immediate action in the ongoing sweetener dispute with Mexico. The bi-partisan letter, spearheaded by House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, and Rep. Cal Dooley, D-Calif., advocates the need to reach an agreement that would restore sweetener trade between Mexico and the United States.

In a joint statement with the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) Friday, NCGA President Fred Yoder commented on the issue, "The corn industry has been held hostage for over a year in search of a resolution to this dispute. Corn growers stand ready to reach an agreement and resume a normal trading relationship with Mexico. This is the right thing to do and we should not delay any longer." For every 300,000 metric tons of HFCS access into Mexico, U.S. corn producers have lost market opportunities for more than 20 million bushels of corn from 142,000 acres annually, said Patrick Mohan, CRA chairman

DDGS Marketing Opportunities to be Focus of National Distillers Grains Marketing Conference and Regional Workshop

Key stakeholders in the marketing of distillers grains (DDGS), including representatives from NCGA, will explore new opportunities in the ethanol by-product at the National Distillers Grains Marketing Conference April 7-9 and NCGA Regional Distillers Grains Workshop April 10 in Des Moines, Iowa. Experts at the conference and workshop will provide critical information about marketing and feeding distillers grains. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, one of the nine sponsors of the two-day conference, will provide overview results of a recent survey to feeders regarding what they expect from DDGS and whether or not they are familiar with the product. The workshop, sponsored by NCGA, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, will feature researchers from major land grant universities with experience in using distillers grains, as well as feed industry professionals who know how to best use this valuable ethanol co-product. Registration information is available by clicking on the DDGS conference and workshop icon on the NCGA web site <http://www.ncga.com>. On-site registrations will also be available.

NCGA Gains Insight on International Grains Market at PRX Conference

Agriculture industry representatives, including the NCGA, gained new insights on issues affecting the international grain market during the ProExporter Network (PRX) 15th Annual World Grain Workshop and Market Outlook. The two-day conference, held in Kansas City, Mo., focused on grain exports to countries such as China and Mexico, the effects terrorism could have on world trade, and the prospects for ethanol, among others. Bill Hudson, PRX president, said the meetings are provided to those involved in agriculture so they can see how what they do in the United States affects the rest of the world.

NCGA Urges Locally Led, On-the-Ground Conservation Tactics in EQIP Rule

NCGA submitted written comments Wednesday urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support locally led conservation efforts through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett provided comments to an NRCS proposal to revise and update EQIP as authorized under the 2002 farm bill. EQIP is an NRCS program designed to provide farmers and ranchers means to address natural resource needs. NCGA is concerned that as the proposal currently stands as few as one to two states could be directed EQIP funding. Further, NCGA believes funds should be allocated to producers for land management and conservation practices and not directed to the program's administrative and salary costs.

NCGA Hosted NeCGA Leadership Meetings in Washington This Week

NCGA hosted several meetings of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA), in Washington, D.C., this week for the Nebraska organization's annual leadership program. Leaders of NeCGA spent March 11-14, meeting with federal government representatives, industry leaders and the Nebraska congressional delegation.

One key meeting was with NCGA staff, which briefed the Nebraska delegation on legislative issues prior to their congressional meetings. In addition to visits with key decision-makers on Capitol Hill, NeCGA has scheduled meetings with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Ag Statistics Service and Pesticide and Chemical Service. The group is also meeting with leaders from the U.S. Poultry and Export Council, North American Corn Millers Association, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Renewable Fuels Association, and the U.S. Grains Council.

NCGA's Snider to present at Indiana Corn to Dairy Summit March 20

NCGA Livestock Manager Tracy Snider will take part in the Indiana Corn to Dairy Summit March 20 in Tipton, Ind. The event, sponsored by the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Iroquois Bio-Energy Co-op (IBEC), looks at new markets and opportunities for corn growers. Livestock is a growing market in the state. In northwest Indiana a concentration of dairies have been under development and more is under way. The summit will inform attendees of the opportunities with medium to large-scale dairies and how farmers can increase profits through cooperations with dairies. Top experts in the animal nutrition and the livestock industry will explain the benefits of DDGS for livestock. In addition to Snider, the slate of speakers includes dairy nutritionist Gordon Jones and dairy farm manager Carl Ramsey. Cost is $15 for Indiana Corn Growers members and $35 for non-members. The non-member registration fee includes a one-year membership into the Indiana Corn Growers Association. To register contact Mike Shelby at NCGA at 636-733-9004, ext. 120.

Former Durbin Aide Joins NCGA Staff

NCGA Monday welcomed Mark Palmer to its staff as legislative director for ethanol and energy. Palmer previously served as legislative assistant to Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), where he covered appropriations, energy and agricultural issues.
Palmer has spent the last seven years on Capitol Hill. He worked three of those years for Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and had been with Durbin the past four years.

Originally from Quincy, Ill., Palmer holds a master of arts in government from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor of arts in political science from Western Illinois University.

NCGA THIS WEEK

• March 17 NCGA President Fred Yoder will attend the North Dakota Corn Growers Association Board Meeting in Fargo.
• March 17-18 The NCGA Ethanol Committee will meet in Washington, D.C.
• March 17-19 NCGA Livestock Information and Programs Manager Tracy Snider will attend the American Society of Animal Scientists Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa.
• March 18-19 NCGA will host the RFS Rally at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
• March 20 Snider will attend the Corn Dairy Summit in Kokomo, Ind.
• March 20-21 The NCGA Corn Board will meet in Washington, D.C.
  

2003 National Corn Growers Association

ST. LOUIS OFFICE

WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE