NCGA News












September 10, 2004 * Volume 11* Number 35

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:

• USDA Pegs Record Corn Crop at 11 Billion Bushels
• Ethanol Industry Sets Another Monthly Production Record in June, NCGA Notes
• National Corn Growers Association Encourages Congress to Address Energy and Natural Resources Crises
• NCGA President to Address Biotechnology, Ethanol at World Corn Congress
• NCGA’s Glass Attends Opening of Value-Added Pilot Plant
• NCGA Condemns Cargill’s Plan to Proceed with El Salvador Dehydration Plant
• NCGA Requests Independent Review of All Science Related to Hypoxia

USDA Pegs Record Corn Crop at 11 Billion Bushels
The U.S. corn crop could reach 11 billion bushels for the first time in history, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) monthly crop production report released today. Yields are expected to average 149.4 bushels per acre, a 7.2 bushel increase from last year’s record yield of 142.2 bushels per acre. (More On This Story)

Ethanol Industry Sets Another Monthly Production Record in June, NCGA Notes
The ethanol industry set another monthly production record in June, proving that the market expansion efforts of the NCGA and other renewable energy proponents are indeed paying off. The U.S. ethanol industry produced 222,000 barrels per day (b/d) in June, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (More On This Story)

National Corn Growers Association Encourages Congress to Address Energy and Natural Resources Crisis
In testimony Thursday before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, NCGA Chairman Fred Yoder urged Congress to address the mounting energy and input costs facing America's farmers and ranchers. (More On This Story)

House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) talks with NCGA Chairman Fred Yoder, who testified before the subcommittee Thursday urging Congress to address mounting energy and input costs facing America's farmers and ranchers.

NCGA President to Address Biotechnology, Ethanol at World Corn Congress
While the United States is the world’s top producer and consumer of corn, countless other nations around the globe recognize the immeasurable value of corn as a source of feed, food, fuel and industrial and commercial products. One of those countries – France – has invited NCGA President Dee Vaughan to participate in its World Corn Congress next week. (More On This Story)

NCGA’s Glass Attends Opening of Value-Added Pilot Plant
Dr. Richard Glass, NCGA vice president of research and business development, joined government officials, academic researchers and industry representatives last week in Peoria, Ill., to celebrate the $20 million renovation of the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR). (More On This Story)

NCGA Condemns Cargill’s Plan to Proceed with El Salvador Dehydration Plant
The NCGA today expressed disappointment in Cargill’s decision to proceed with investment plans for an ethanol dehydration plant in El Salvador. The decision undermines the relationship Cargill has established with U.S. corn growers and circumvents the intended purpose of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), according to a letter sent by NCGA to Cargill President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Page. (More On This Story)

NCGA Requests Independent Review of All Science Related to Hypoxia
New research by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 4 office calls into question most of the science underlying the Hypoxia Action Plan, prompting the NCGA to demand an independent review of all of the science related to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. (More On This Story)

 
AROUND THE CORN BELT
News from State Associations

COLORADO: Colorado Corn Board member Ken Guenzi rode with five generations of his family in the Logan County Fair parade in Sterling recently. Ken and his family fixed up a trailer for the Colorado Corn car which featured corn stalks and signs about Colorado ag. The car is boldly colored and features a corn field and a slogan on the back that reads, "Go Ahead. Sniff my Tailpipe" to show the negligible emissions from driving a car on E85.

MICHIGAN: Producers interested in attending the annual Illinois Commodity Conference are encouraged to register as soon as possible to take advantage of the low, early registration fee. "The Future Begins Now" conference will be held Nov. 23 at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Center in Bloomington. The conference features a variety of sessions on livestock industry development and revitalization, including "Seven Revolutions," a research initiative that identifies policy challenges that Illinois leaders will contend with over the next two decades.

KANSAS: Bob Timmons, of Fredonia, was elected chairman of the Kansas Corn Commission at its summer meeting last week. Timmons represents growers in the 9th crop reporting district in southeast Kansas. Timmons farms near Fredonia in a partnership with his brother. They grow corn, soybeans and wheat. He serves on the FSA county committee and on the Kansas Corn Growers Association Board of Directors. Timmons and his wife, Rebecca, have two daughters.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Crop commodity groups took center field Sept. 11 at SDSU’s 9th Annual Cereal Bowl. During halftime of the Jacks vs. Winona State University game, the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council will be recognized for their monetary contributions to SDSU through grants, scholarships and research funding. SDCUC and other commodity groups have award grants and scholarships totaling nearly $1.2 million this year.

IOWA: A farmer-owned ethanol venture known as the Amaizing Energy Cooperative held a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 10 for a new fuel ethanol plant. The plant is located near Denison, Iowa, and will produce 40 million gallons annually.

 

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. 13 NCGA Director of Public Policy Hayden Milberg attends USTR Work Day in Quad Cities, Iowa.
Sept. 13-19 NCGA President Dee Vaughan and Director of Communications Mimi Ricketts attend World Corn Congress in Lyon, France. 
Sept. 14-15

NCGA Director of Public Policy Betsy Croker attends LandCare U.S. meeting in Philadelphia.

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

© 2004 National Corn Growers Association



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