AgriTalk radio host Mike Adams, right, interviews Missouri Corn Growers Association President Sam Creed, left, during an Ethanol Pump Tour stop in St. Joseph, Mo., in July. Volunteers pumped approximately 26,000 gallons of ethanol-blended fuel at 10 locations. (photo courtesy AgriTalk)

AgriTalk, NCGA Conclude Most Successful Ethanol Pump Tour Ever
The notion of using ethanol as a motor fuel dates back as far as the early 1900s. Henry Ford, who believed fuel made from renewable biological materials would be the principal source of energy for all automobiles, designed his 1908 Model T to run on corn-based ethanol. (More On This Story)

Cool Weather Slows Crop Progress; Corn Ratings Drop Slightly, NCGA Notes
Unseasonably cool weather in the northern Corn Belt has slowed development of this year’s corn crop, and the overall condition of the crop has dropped off slightly during the last week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest crop progress report. (More On This Story)

NCGA President-Elect Discusses Key Issues with Washington, D.C., Staff and Media
As he prepares to assume the reins of the nation’s top commodity group, NCGA President-Elect Leon Corzine met with NCGA staff and national media this week in Washington, D.C., to discuss the legislative priorities of the nation’s corn growers. (More On This Story)

NCGA Membership Continues to Increase as Growers Face Critical Issues
As this year’s remarkable corn crop continues to grow by leaps and bounds, so does the NCGA membership. NCGA ended July with 32,852 members, up more than 300 members from June. (More On This Story)

ILLINOIS: Tom Martin, a grain producer from Mt. Pulaski, Ill., has been elected chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) for 2004-2005. Martin replaces Kenneth Hartman, Jr. of Waterloo. Other officers elected to ICMB leadership are: Vice Chairman Bryan Fogerson of Sidell; Secretary Ron Gray of Claremont; and Treasurer Wendell Shauman of Kirkwood. A new director elected to the board effective Aug. 1 was Gary Schmalshof of Adair.

MISSOURI: Matt Blunt, Republican candidate for Governor and Missouri's current Secretary of State, announced his plan to implement a statewide automobile fuel program utilizing 10 percent ethanol blended with gasoline during his first term if elected. Gary Marshall, CEO of the Missouri Corn Growers Association, called the plan "innovative and forward thinking" and pledged the commitment of MCGA leaders to see the plan implemented.

NEBRASKA: State Attorney General Jon Bruning and the Nebraska Corn Board today announced that the state’s $110 million class action settlement with StarLink corn will include interest that has been accruing at a rate of 4 percent since Sept. 24, 2002. The announcement follows the Nebraska Corn Board’s request that the Attorney General review details of the settlement on behalf of farmers who are concerned about delays in its disbursement.

NORTH DAKOTA: Corn in northwestern North Dakota was hurt by last week's early frost. The frost could devastate the state’s crop that is already struggling to reach maturity. Much of the loss occurred to tops of plants and outside field rows. Ward County alone took a major hit to its corn crop, as 10,000 acres were damaged in some capacity, according to local extension services.

MINNESOTA: The latest promotion to put E-85 on the "radar screen" for Minnesota motorists is the "Pump E-85 and Win" contest, sponsored by the members of the Minnesota E-85 Team, including Minnesota Corn Growers Association. The contest uses a "frequent fill card" to offer rewards to drivers. Minnesota now has 97 outlets where E85 can be purchased by the public, and more than 100,000 "flexible-fuel" engine equipped vehicles on the road that can utilize the fuel.