NCGA News












September 3, 2004 * Volume 11* Number 34

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’s Pat Dumoulin Accepted into the USDA’s Conservation Security Program
• NCGA Leaders ‘Tell the Story of NCGA’ at Farm Progress Show
• NCGA’s Corzine Discusses Importance of Energy Bill with President Bush
• NCGA Harvest Provides Opportunity for Great Photos
• China Non-Compliant with WTO Obligations, According to Coalition Letter
• NCGA, CRA Oppose Dominican Republic Proposal to Tax HFCS – Sweetened Beverages
• NCGA Meets with Ethanol Groups to Discuss Advancement of E-85
• NCGA Discusses Progress on Maize Genome Initiative with Key Stakeholders

NCGA’s Pat Dumoulin Accepted into the USDA’s Conservation Security Program
For National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) member Pat Dumoulin and approximately 190 other farmers in the Kiswaukee Watershed in Illinois, the recent announcement of the participants in U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Security Program (CSP) was news they had been waiting for since the initial announcement in June. (More On This Story)

NCGA Leaders ‘Tell the Story of NCGA’ at Farm Progress Show
Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) had the opportunity to tell the association’s story to a wide array of audiences at the Farm Progress Show this week in Alleman, Iowa. (More On This Story)

NCGA President-Elect Leon Corzine, center in tan cap, shook hands with President George W. Bush Tuesday at the Farm Progress Show in Alleman, Iowa. Corzine had an opportunity to meet briefly with Bush to discuss the energy bill and other issues. 

NCGA’s Corzine Discusses Importance of Energy Bill with President Bush
During a campaign stop Tuesday at the Farm Progress Show in Alleman, Iowa, President George W. Bush underscored the need for a comprehensive energy bill and thanked key agricultural leaders – including National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President-Elect Leon (Len) Corzine – for their continued efforts to promote the interests of U.S. farmers. (More On This Story)

NCGA: Harvest Provides Opportunity for Great Photos
As farmers throughout the Corn Belt ready their combines for this year’s harvest, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) reminds them to ready their cameras as well, and take photos for entry in the NCGA “Gallery of Corn” Photo Contest. (More On This Story)

China Non-Compliant with WTO Obligations, According to Coalition Letter
New policies implemented by China inappropriately manage trade flows and are non-compliant with World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, according to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and five other agriculture groups who recently sent a joint letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and U.S. trade Representative Robert Zoellick. (More On This Story)

NCGA, CRA Oppose Dominican Republic Proposal to Tax HFCS-Sweetened Beverages
In a letter sent today to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Corn Refiners Association condemned legislation under consideration in the Dominican Republic that would tax beverages containing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). (More On This Story)

NCGA Meets with Ethanol Groups to Discuss Advancement of E-85
E-85 motor fuel, an environmentally friendly mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent conventional gasoline, is still relatively unknown in many parts of the country, but the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and other advocacy groups believe it may be the fuel of choice in the not-so-distant future. (More On This Story)

NCGA Discusses Progress on Maize Genome Initiative with Key Stakeholders
Members of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) joined a broad range of stakeholders, including academics, industry representatives and government officials last week in Des Moines, Iowa, to discuss progress on cooperative efforts to sequence the maize genome. (More On This Story)

 
AROUND THE CORN BELT
News from State Associations

Illinois: Illinois Corn Growers Association is encouraging ICGA members and others interested in upgrading the states river transportation system to contact their U.S. Senators while they are back in Illinois on recess.

Missouri: On Aug. 25, the 6th Congressional District Ag Tour lead by Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) stopped at Craig Evans' farm near Lathrop, Mo., to visit the MCGA-ERC Ag Technology Demonstration Site and Quality Trait Research Trial. MCGA and affiliated Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC) sponsor Ag Technology Demonstration Sites as a part of MCGA's production stewardship program

Minnesota: Jim and Peggy Pahl, who farm three miles west of Vernon Center in south central Minnesota, took part in a historic moment on Thursday, Aug. 26, when they signed the nation's first Conservation Security Program contract. The contract will reward them over the next five years for best management practices they follow on 138 acres of land they rent from Jim's father Lyle.


REMEMBER!!

Grower Leaders Encouraged to Apply for NCGA Action Team and Committee Positions

NCGA First Vice President Leon Corzine, who will become president of the association Oct. 1, is encouraging grower members to apply for several open positions on NCGA Action Teams and Committees.

“ Our grassroots structure is what makes NCGA such an effective and influential association,” Corzine said. “These groups have the important responsibility of determining and carrying out NCGA’s policy.” Positions are available on the following NCGA action teams and committees:

    Production and Stewardship
    Research and Business Development
    Public Policy, Grower Services
    Biotechnology Working Group
    Ethanol Committee
    Joint Trade Policy A-Team

The Joint Trade Policy A-Team consists of both NCGA and U.S. Grains Council members and reports to the boards of both organizations. Action team and committee applications are mailed each year to current team and committee members, as well as state organization offices, NCGA Corn Congress delegates and alternates. A maximum of 14 voting members will be appointed to each team or committee. Members will be appointed in early October.

Applications should be completed and returned to Leon Corzine, c/o Kathy Baker at baker@ncga.com; fax, (636) 733-9005. Applications are due no later than Sept. 10 and may be obtained on the NCGA Leader Resource Center or by calling Kathy Baker at (636) 733-9004.

 

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:

Sept. 6 Monday, the NCGA St. Louis and Washington, D.C. offices will be closed for the Labor Day Holiday
Sept. 8-9 NCGA Vice President of Research and Business Development Richard Glass will attend the Iogen meeting in Spokane, Wash.
Sept. 9

NCGA Chairman Fred Yoder and CEO Rick Tolman attend the USGC Strategy Meetings in Washington, D.C.

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

© 2004 National Corn Growers Association



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