NCGA News












August 6, 2004 * Volume 11* Number 30

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:

• Predictions of Record Corn Crop and Yield Continue as Ideal Weather Conditions Persist
• USDA Bioenergy Program Offers $150 Million to Qualified Producers, NCGA Notes
• NCGA Announces Support for Caribbean Basin Initiative Legislation
• NCGA Leaders Explore Trade Issues at U.S. Grains Council Meeting
• NCGA Applauds World Trade Organization Agreement
• NCGA Members to Share Expertise Through Volunteers for Prosperity Program
• Modernization of Locks, Rivers Issues Focus of Barge Tours

Predictions of Record Corn Crop and Yield Continue as Ideal Weather Conditions Persist
As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prepares to release its updated crop production report Aug. 12, predictions of a record corn crop and record yields continue to circulate throughout the Corn Belt. (More On This Story)

USDA Bioenergy Program Offers $150 Million to Qualified Producers, NCGA Notes
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement Wednesday that it will award up to $150 million in incentives to commercial bioenergy producers who increase production in fiscal year 2005. (More On This Story)

NCGA Announces Support for Caribbean Basin Initiative Legislation
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today announced support for S. 2762, legislation recently introduced by Senate Finance Chair Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) that would lower the cap on the amount of duty-free ethanol imported into the United States from the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) countries. (More On This Story)

NCGA Leaders Explore Trade Issues at U.S. Grains Council Meeting
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) leaders discussed trade policy, biotechnology, advancements in value-added technology and other issues important to the corn industry last week at the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Montreal. (More On This Story)

NCGA Applauds World Trade Organization Agreement
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today applauded the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) framework text that will lead to increased market access and the elimination of export subsidies. The WTO announced the agreement Saturday. (More On This Story)

NCGA Chairman Fred Yoder, center, joined Jack Hawkins, director of Volunteers for Prosperity, left, and Desiree T. Sayle, presidential aide and director of USA Freedom Corps, right, Monday to discuss NCGA’s involvement in President George W. Bush’s Volunteers for Prosperity program.

NCGA Members to Share Expertise Through Volunteers for Prosperity Program
Under an initiative announced Monday, members of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) will share their agriculture production expertise with farmers in developing nations around the world. (More On This Story)

Modernization of Locks, Rivers Issues Focus of Barge Tours
Media, businesses and government officials will get a close-up look at the need for modernized locks on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers during a series of barge tours, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Rick Tolman said today. (More On This Story)

 
AROUND THE CORN BELT
News from State Associations

OHIO: Gov. Bob Taft recently presented the Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award to the Ohio Corn Marketing Program, which administers a one-half cent per bushel checkoff on the state’s corn. Ohio is the sixth-largest export state in the United States.

COLORADO: The Colorado Corn Growers Association reached a milestone in late July as the 500th member joined the organization. Cody Eubanks of Evans became the 500th member of CCGA, which is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer.

ILLINOIS: Efforts to site an ethanol production facility in the Channahon- Morris area took a step forward with the selection of Burns & McDonnell as the firm that will conduct the preliminary engineering for the project. The proposed 40-60 million gallon plant is expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs.

IOWA: A Latin American delegation will participate in the Iowa Export Tour Aug. 16-19 to view corn and soybean production and build trade relationships. Sponsors are the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board, Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Iowa Dept. of Economic Development.

KANSAS: E-85 is now available at the Power Plus station in Hays. The station, formerly affiliated with Texaco, offers both E85 for flexible fuel vehicles, and E-10 unleaded, 10 percent ethanol fuel for use in all vehicles. The Kansas Corn Commission provided funding to help the station add E85 fuel.

MINNESOTA: Despite below average temperatures across the state, the overall rating of the crop improved a notch over the course of the past week. Continued dryness appears to be aiding the condition of the crop, which inched up to 68 percent in the good-to-excellent rankings, from 67 percent the previous week.

MISSOURI: During a three-hour AgriTalk Ethanol Pump Tour stop July 23, MCGA farmer-leaders and staff of AgriTalk, Break Time and MFA Oil Company, Golden Triangle Energy Cooperative, KFEQ Radio pumped a Missouri record of 3,469 gallons of ethanol-blended fuel and cleaned many dirty windshields. The ethanol promotion included a 10-cent-per-gallon rebate.

 

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.

Of Special Interest:

To View Your Local Weather Forecast, (Click Here)

Next Week:

Aug. 10-11 NCGA Director of Commercialization and Business Development Tom Slunecka attends American Coalition for Ethanol trade show and meeting in Duluth, Minn.
Aug. 7-11

NCGA President Dee Vaughan and Corn Board member Scott Wall attend International Sweetener Symposium in Vail, Colo.

Aug. 11 NCGA First Vice President Leon Corzine, First vice President-Elect Gerald Tumbleson and CEO Rick Tolman attend Corn Cob Open in Jackson, Minn.

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

© 2004 National Corn Growers Association



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