IN THIS ISSUE:

• NCGA Welcomes New Bipartisan Senate Biofuels Caucus
• NCGA Calls Final EQIP Rule Reasonable
• NCGA Notes Swift Action of USDA in Canadian Mad Cow Discovery
• NCGA Represented at World Ag Forum
• NCGA Notes Signs of Increased Grain Production
• Boisen Testimony Outlines NCGA Trade Objectives in Western Hemisphere
• Congress Poised to Pass Substantial Tax Relief for Farmers
• NCGA's Snider Reports Positive Grain Outlook From Sparks Livestock Convention
• NCGA Past President Marion Hartmann Dies After Lengthy Illness
  

NCGA Welcomes New Bipartisan Senate Biofuels Caucus

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) welcomes the formation of a new Senate Biofuels Caucus to promote the use and development of renewable fuels. Announced Thursday, the caucus is led by Sens. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Jim Talent (R-Mo.). (More On This Story)

NCGA Calls Final EQIP Rule Reasonable

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) final rule on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is reasonable. NCGA compared the final rule, issued May 15, to its EQIP comments submitted March 12 and is pleased with the outcome. (More On This Story)

NCGA Notes Swift Action of USDA in Canadian Mad Cow Discovery

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is pleased with how quickly the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has responded to the incident of a cow in Canada afflicted with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. (More On This Story)

NCGA Represented at World Ag Forum

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) was among agricultural leaders from throughout the world who participated in the 2003 World Congress, convened by the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) this week in St. Louis. (More On This Story)

NCGA Notes Signs of Increased Grain Production

NCGA is encouraged to learn feed grain production is expected to rebound from last year’s drought thus increasing exports and expanding domestic use, according to the USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) released this week.

U.S. corn exports are projected up 225 million bushels due to less competition from foreign corn exporters and reduced global feed wheat supplies, the report stated. The U.S. 2003/04 corn crop is projected at 10.06 billion bushels, up almost 12 percent from last year.

While the larger corn crop is partially offset by smaller forecast carrying stocks, total 2003/04 corn supplies are projected to be up around 5 percent. Larger supplies are also projected for sorghum, barley, and oats. Although U.S. stocks will rise, on a global basis expectations are for use to exceed production and coarse grain stocks to once again decline. According to the report, U.S. corn exports are expected to expand significantly due to tightening corn supplies and higher prices in China and the replacement of feed wheat with increased corn imports by several Asian countries.
--U.S. Grains Council provided information for this story

Boisen Testimony Outlines NCGA Trade Objectives in Western Hemisphere

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Trade Task Force Chair and Nebraska Corn Development, Utilization and Marketing Board member Doug Boisen testified Tuesday before Congress on the future of U.S. economic relations in the Western Hemisphere. Boisen addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs. (More On This Story)

Congress Poised to Pass Substantial Tax Relief for Farmers

The House and Senate have completed work on their respective tax relief and economic stimulus bills and now must resolve their differences. Congressional leaders hope to get a bill to the president before Memorial Day. (More On This Story)

NCGA's Snider Reports Positive Grain Outlook From Sparks Livestock Convention

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Livestock Information and Programs Manager Tracy Snider returned from the Sparks Companies Annual Spring Conference in Memphis, Tenn., reporting the potential for a strong corn and feed outlook in the livestock industry. (More On This Story)

NCGA Past President Marion Hartmann Dies After Lengthy Illness

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Past President Marion Hartmann died last week after a lengthy illness. He was 73 years old. (More On This Story)

NCGA THIS WEEK
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• May 26 NCGA Offices closed in observance of Memorial Day holiday
• May 29 NCGA CEO Rick Tolman, Director of Development Tom Slunecka, and Acting Director of Production and Economics Dr. Robert McIntyre are meeting with Al Johnson and John Aquavella of Monsanto to discuss the Monsanto Family Farm Pesticide Exposure Study
  

© 2003 National Corn Growers Association

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