May 7, 2004 * Volume 11* Number 17

NCGA's Mission: To Create and Increase Opportunities
for Corn Growers in a Changing World

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:

• NCGA Welcomes Corps Plan For River Improvements
• NCGA Expresses Concern Over Federal Crop Insurance SRA
• Need for RFS Highlighted in NCGA Testimony to House Subcommittee
• Indiana Assistant Commissioner of Ag to Deliver CUTC Keynote Address
• NCGA Explains Francis Childs’ Disqualification From 2003 National Corn Yield Contest
• Energy Bill, Lock Modernization Dominate NCGA President’s Capitol Hill Agenda
• NCGA Members Take Advantage of Favorable Planting Conditions
• NCGA President Participates in Farm Broadcasters’ Issues Forum

NCGA Welcomes Corps Plan for River Improvements

NCGA today applauded the release of an Army Corps of Engineers’ draft proposal outlining the agency’s plans to improve navigation infrastructure on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. After a public comment period, the Corps’ recommendation will be finalized and submitted to Congress. (More On This Story)

NCGA Expresses Concern over Federal Crop Insurance SRA

In a letter addressed to members of the Senate and House Agricultural Committees, NCGA and 10 other leading commodity organizations voiced concern over the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) second draft of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA). (More On This Story)

Need for RFS Highlighted in NCGA Testimony to House Subcommittee

In testimony this week before the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Enterprise, Agriculture and Technology, NCGA member Duane Adams urged lawmakers to expeditiously pass a national energy policy that includes a Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).(More On This Story)

Indiana Assistant Commissioner of Ag to Deliver CUTC Keynote Address

Joseph R. Pearson, Indiana’s assistant commissioner of agriculture, will be the keynote speaker for the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) June 7-9 in Indianapolis. The conference is sponsored jointly by NCGA and Corn Refiners Association. (More On This Story)

NCGA Explains Francis Childs’ Disqualification From 2003 National Corn Yield Contest

For 38 years the nation’s top corn producers have entered NCGA’s National Corn Yield Contest. Last year’s contest was no exception: more than 3,500 producers from 20 states entered, including six-time contest champion Francis Childs, a producer from Manchester, Iowa. (More On This Story)

NCGA leaders met with Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, this week to discuss the importance of a comprehensive energy bill. From left are: NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett, Sen. Domenici and NCGA President Dee Vaughan.

Energy Bill, Lock Modernization Dominate NCGA President’s Capitol Hill Agenda

Swift passage of a comprehensive energy bill with a Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and improvements to the nation’s transportation infrastructure were at the top of Dee Vaughan’s agenda this week as NCGA’s president met with several key legislators and Capitol Hill decision-makers in Washington, D.C. (More On This Story)

NCGA Members Take Advantage of Favorable Planting Conditions

Despite a recent cold snap across much of the Midwest, corn planting continues at a record pace, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) May 3 crop progress report. Moderate freezes earlier this week affected emerged corn in some areas, but NCGA members across the Corn Belt say weather and soil conditions have otherwise been favorable. (More On This Story)

NCGA President Dee Vaughan is interviewed by Brownfield Network’s Cyndi Young May 2 at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters’ annual “Washington Watch Issues Forum” in Washington, D.C.

NCGA President Participates in Farm Broadcasters’ Issues Forum

NCGA President Dee Vaughan fielded questions from farm broadcasters on a wide variety of topics May 2 at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters’ (NAFB) annual “Washington Watch Issues Forum” in Washington, D.C. (More On This Story)

Of Special Interest:
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Next Week

More calendar information is available on the NCGA Leader Resource Center, http://www.insidencga.com

© 2004 National Corn Growers Association

ST. LOUIS OFFICE

WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE