July 16, 2004 * Volume 11* Number 27

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:

• Memorable Corn Congress Event Draws to Close
• National Corn Growers Association Honors President Bush With Friend of Corn Growers Award
• NCGA Honors Stenholm with President’s Award for Support of Corn Growers Issues
• Corn Congress Delegates Elect New Corn Board Members
• Corn Congress Delegates Expect Increased Yields, According to NCGA Survey
• NCGA: Maize Genome Data is Now Available to Scientists
• Japanese Association Approves Use of PLA in Products that Contact Food

Memorable Corn Congress Event Draws to Close
NCGA strengthened its foothold in Washington, D.C., this week with another extremely successful Corn Congress. NCGA President Dee Vaughan said this week’s event proves well-orchestrated grassroots efforts can have an incredible influence on policy decisions. (More On This Story)

National Corn Growers Association Honors President Bush With Friend of Corn Growers Award
NCGA on Wednesday bestowed its Friend of Corn Growers Award upon President George W. Bush for his dedication to energy legislation and other key issues important to U.S. corn growers. More than 150 NCGA members filled a briefing room at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to watch Vice President Dick Cheney accept the award on behalf of the president. (More On This Story)

NCGA President Dee Vaughan, left, presented the association’s President’s Award to Rep. Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas), right, Wednesday at Corn Congress.

NCGA Honors Stenholm with President’s Award for Support of Corn Growers Issues
NCGA on Wednesday presented Rep. Charles Stenholm (D-Texas) its prestigious NCGA President’s Award for his steadfast support and true commitment to U.S. corn growers. (More On This Story)

NCGA President Dee Vaughan congratulated newly elected Corn Board members today at Corn Congress in Washington, D.C. From left are: Vaughan, Garry Niemeyer, Charles "Jamie" Jamison, Ron Litterer and Theresa Schmalshof.

Corn Congress Delegates Elect New Corn Board Members
NCGA elected four growers to the Corn Board Tuesday at the organization’s July Corn Congress in Washington, D.C. The group also ratified Minnesota grower Gerald Tumbleson as its incoming first vice president. (More On This Story)

Corn Congress Delegates Expect Increased Yields, According to NCGA Survey
Nearly two-thirds of NCGA Corn Congress delegates expect their yields to be better than last year's yield or about the same, according to a crop survey conducted today at the association’s July Corn Congress in Washington, D.C. (More On This Story)

NCGA: Maize Genome Data is Now Available to Scientists
Valuable maize (corn) data is now available to research scientists working to sequence the maize genome, the NCGA announced Tuesday. Ceres, Inc., Monsanto Company and DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., have transferred maize sequencing information to a searchable database on the Internet hosted at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. (More On This Story)

Japanese Association Approves Use of PLA in Products that Contact Food
The Japan Hygienic Olefin and Styrene Plastics Association (JHOSPA) last month approved the use of polylactic acid (PLA) in products that come into contact with food, such as plates and bowls. The U.S. Grains Council expects the action to increase the commercialization of and demand for PLA products in Japan – good news for the U.S. corn trade, which helps sustain Japan’s PLA market. “Not being on JHOSPA’s positive approval list was a major constraint for PLA market development in Japan in the food container and food packaging sector,” said Hiroko Sakashita, the council’s associate director in Japan. “Overcoming this constraint will open up PLA to possibly the largest potential sector for PLA use.” Japan’s PLA market has grown about 40 percent each year since 1998 and is expected to utilize 120,000 metric tons of PLA (equivalent to 12.5 million bushels of corn) by 2010.
Story Courtesy of U.S. Grains Council.


Want the Inside Scoop? Our weekly “Washington Perspectives” e-mail newsletter gives NCGA members an inside glimpse into what’s happening on Capitol Hill. To begin your free subscription, contact Rhondalee Dean-Royce at (202) 628-7001 or dean-royce@dc.ncga.com.

Take Your Best Shot with NCGA’s Photo Contest. NCGA invites its members, their families, affiliated state organization members and employees to showcase the nation’s top crop through the NCGA “Gallery of Corn” Photo Contest. A grand prize of $500 will be awarded as well as cash prizes in each of seven categories. For more information call (636) 733-9004.

— For Complete Stories, log on to www.ncga.com —

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© 2004 National Corn Growers Association

ST. LOUIS OFFICE

WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE