Five-time drag racing champion Mark Thomas showcased his ethanol-powered drag car Wednesday at an NCGA-sponsored event on Capitol Hill. >From left are: Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dineen; Ohio Corn Marketing Program Executive Director Mike Wagner; Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.); Mark Thomas; Missouri corn grower Brent Rockhold; and NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett.

NCGA, RFA and Funny Car Champ Race onto Capitol Hill with Ethanol Message
Five-time International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Funny Car champion Mark Thomas joined the NCGA, Ohio Corn Marketing Program (OCMP) and Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Wednesday on Capitol Hill to challenge lawmakers to rev up their efforts to pass important ethanol legislation. (More On This Story)

NCGA Urges Administration, Congress to Complete VEETC Legislation
The Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) under consideration in Congress would contribute to energy independence, cleaner air, safer highways and a stronger agriculture sector, according to a letter sent Tuesday to President George W. Bush by the NCGA and more than 100 other organizations. (More On This Story)

In Wake of Hurricanes, NCGA Cites Need for Long-Term Disaster Solutions
In the wake of three hurricanes that have wreaked havoc on farms and ranches throughout the Southeast, NCGA leaders today urged legislators to act on crop disaster assistance proposals developed by NCGA and introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2003. The call for action came as legislation to fund homeland security appropriations for hurricane victims was amended to include payments to farmers and ranchers who suffered weather related losses in either 2003 or 2004. (More On This Story)

NCGA Joins Leading Agriculture Groups to Form ‘Home Grown’ Coalition
The NCGA today announced it is joining forces with seven other influential agricultural groups to create Home Grown, an aggressive new public information effort to better educate consumers on the invaluable contributions today’s farmers make to the U.S. economy, the marketplace and America’s cultural identity. (More On This Story)

KANSAS: The Kansas Corn Growers Association reaffirmed its support for disaster assistance for the 2003 crop year. The disaster assistance package was co-sponsored by Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.). Disaster aid recently approved by the Senate would help Kansas farmers recoup losses incurred in 2003. KCGA continues to push for long-term disaster solutions, such as those offered in a House bill introduced by Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) last year.

MISSOURI: MFA Oil, a farmer coop with a history of promoting homegrown fuels, will celebrate the opening of its second E85 fueling facility on September 29 in Macon, Mo., with a discounted fuel promotion. E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, will sell for 85 cents per gallon from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Petro-Card 24 at 1805 North Missouri in Macon.

ILLINOIS: The Illinois Corn Growers Association applauded the Senate Appropriations Committee for approving legislation this week that block Missouri River flow restrictions, and thus assuring that navigation levels on the Mississippi River will remain high enough to export grain. Numerous ICGA members called Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to weigh in on this important issue.

MINNESOTA: Gene Sandager, a corn and soybean farmer from Hills, Minn., was elected president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) board of directors during the board’s September meeting. Other officers elected by the board include: Rodney Moe of Waltham, vice president; Curt Watson of Renville, treasurer; and Roger Moore of Blue Earth, secretary. Sandager also serves on the NCGA Corn Board.

NEBRASKA: The Nebraska Agriculture Statistics Service reports corn harvest has begun in parts of the state and above normal temperatures pushed much of the crop to maturity. The state is expected to produce 1.24 billion bushels this year, trailing only Illinois and Iowa.

KENTUCKY: Ethanol-blended fuels will now be sold at Max Fuel Express stores in Kentucky. The Max Fuel Express in Hopkinsville held a “valve opening” ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the availability of ethanol to Kentucky drivers. The fuel distributor plans to purchase at least 1 million gallons of ethanol over the next year from Commonwealth Agri-Energy, which is partially owned by the Kentucky Corn Growers Association.