Leon Corzine, a fifth-generation farmer from Assumption, Ill., begins his term as president of the National Corn Growers Association today.

NCGA Letter Opposes Dominican Republic Tax on HFCS-Sweetened Beverages
The NCGA and two other U.S. corn organizations sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick expressing strong opposition to legislation approved by the Dominican Republic Congress that will impose a 25 percent tax on all beverages sold in that country that are sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) joined NCGA in sending the letter. (More On This Story)

Harvard Study: Snack Foods, Soda Not Linked to Childhood Obesity
A new study by six Harvard University researchers found snack food and soda are not primary causes of childhood obesity, further validating the NCGA assertion that lack of physical activity is a main cause of obesity in children. (More On This Story)

NCGA Reminds Lawmakers to Look at Ethanol as Alternative to $50 Oil
The price of crude oil rose above $50 a barrel Tuesday, prompting NCGA President Dee Vaughan to call on lawmakers to revive the stalled energy bill. (More On This Story)

NCGA Urges EPA to Uphold Clean Air Act’s Oxygenate Requirement
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has requested a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would allow Atlanta-area fuel retailers to disregard the Clean Air Act’s oxygenate requirement. A NCGA letter to the EPA says granting such a waiver would be an affront to the nation’s expanding ethanol industry and would decrease environmental quality, rural economic strength and U.S. energy security. (More On This Story)

Talent Discusses Importance of Modern Infrastructure with NCGA Members
Inefficient navigation locks on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers not only affect the livelihood of U.S. farmers, but also American consumers, skilled workers and businesses, Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) told members of the NCGA and others attending a National Waterways Conference luncheon last week in St. Louis. (More On This Story)

Vaughan Discusses NCGA Initiatives at European Corn Congress
Common ground was the theme of talks between NCGA President Dee Vaughan and representatives from Maiz Europ recently in Lyon, France. Vaughan represented NCGA at the European Corn Congress where he outlined the association’s efforts regarding bioproducts, research and energy. (More On This Story)

NCGA Names Slunecka VP of Marketing; Mansfield Director of Administration
Tom Slunecka has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing for the NCGA, which represents more than 33,000 members and approximately 300,000 corn farmers across the country who contribute to state checkoff programs. He will have oversight of NCGA’s marketing, communications and membership programs. (More On This Story)

NCGA Encourages Members to Participate in Political Process
The upcoming elections offer rural Americans an important opportunity to make their voices heard at the local, district, state and national levels, according to NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett. NCGA has developed a campaign Web site that explains how the two major presidential candidates view issues important to corn growers. (More On This Story)

Michigan -- Members of the Michigan Corn Growers Association (MCGA) and their guests gathered for the 2004 MCGA Annual Meeting at Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run on September 10th. The Annual Meeting is a way for MCGA members to remain informed and educated about the policies and issues affecting the corn industry. “The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for the state’s corn growers to learn about what issues may affect them throughout the next year,” said Jody E. Pollok, Executive Director. “It is our goal to keep the growers in Michigan on the leading edge of the corn industry.”

Illinois -- A Japanese information technology company started selling personal laptop computers this month containing polylactic acid (PLA), a corn-based polymer. Officials with NEC Corporation say all of their personal computers will contain up to 10 percent PLA material by 2010. The world’s PLA production is currently based in the U.S., however, Japan and other Asian markets continue to set the pace for PLA utilization. Japan’s PLA market has grown about 40 percent each year since 1998 and is expected to utilize 120,000 metric tons of PLA (equivalent to 12.5 million bushels of corn) by 2010.

Minnesota -- When Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced Monday he would support legislation to require 20 percent ethanol in Minnesota's gasoline supply, he told the crowd of reporters and officials that he was "sending letters to all major auto manufactures that sell vehicles in Minnesota to request that they update their warranties to include the use of E-20."

Missouri -- On Sept. 22, U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) informed relieved Missouri River supporters that his colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee had adopted his legislative language to overturn a harmful provision in another bill which would starve Missouri and other downstream states of Missouri River water. As reported in the last edition of StalkTalk, advocates from upstream states quietly inserted a disastrous provision in the Senate Interior spending bill the previous week that orders the Army Corps of Engineers to hold water behind the upstream dams, threatening transportation of grain and fertilizer on both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

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.

Oct. 4-7