October 29, 2004 * Volume 11* Number 42

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 Invests in Chromatin Program to Develop Mini-Chromosome Technology
• NCGA CEO Discusses Natural Gas Issues, New Uses for Corn at Fertilizer Institute Meeting
• NCGA Growers Discuss Energy Management Issues at CSP Meeting
• NCGA Photo Contest Postmark Deadline is Nov. 1
• Biotechnology Crop Study Shows Boost to U.S. Grower Income, Other Benefits
• NCGA Encouraged by Completion of EU Food Approval Process for Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Corn 2 Technology
• USDA Proposal Calls for Earlier Release of Conservation Funding, NCGA Notes
• USDA Seeks Members for Grain Inspection Advisory Committee
• USDA Announces First Partial 2004 Crop Year and Final 2003 Crop Year Countercyclical Payments; NCGA Notes

NCGA Invests in Chromatin Program to Develop Mini-Chromosome Technology
The NCGA and several other investors recently contributed a total of $7.3 million in financing for Chromatin, Inc., a Chicago-based biotechnology firm, to support the advancement of mini-chromosome technology for improved commercial crops. (More On This Story)

NCGA CEO Discusses Natural Gas Issues, New Uses for Corn at Fertilizer Institute Meeting
Increasing natural gas and fertilizer prices are affecting the profitability of corn producers across the country, NCGA CEO Rick Tolman told attendees at this week’s Fertilizer Institute annual meeting in Annapolis, Md. (More On This Story)

NCGA Growers Discuss Energy Management Issues at CSP Meeting
NCGA members Pat Dumoulin and Terry Hilgedick last week participated in a Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) listening session on the conservation security program’s (CSP) contribution to energy management on farms and ranches. (More On This Story)

NCGA Photo Contest Postmark Deadline is Nov. 1
They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words. But in the case of the NCGA “Gallery of Corn” photo contest, your favorite picture of corn might also be worth $500. (More On This Story)

Biotechnology Crop Study Shows Boost to U.S. Grower Income, Other Benefits
The NCGA is encouraged by the results of a new study that found biotech crops, including corn, increased farmer income, boosted yields, reduced pesticide use and spurred greater use of environmentally friendly no-till agriculture in 2003. (More On This Story)

NCGA met this week with leaders from Informa Economics to discuss a multi-client study on future trends in farming. From left are: Sam Willett, NCGA senior director of public policy; Bill Motts, senior vice president of Informa Economics; Mark Jekanowski, vice president Informa Economics; Rick Tolman, NCGA CEO; and Jon Doggett, NCGA vice president of public policy NCGA Encouraged by Completion of EU Food Approval Process for Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Corn 2 Technology The European Commission today approved the use of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Corn NK603 and its processed products as food and food ingredients under the Novel Foods Regulation. The NCGA is encouraged by the decision and advises growers to check with local grain handlers to find out how this decision may affect their marketing plans. (More On This Story) USDA Proposal Calls for Earlier Release of Conservation Funding, NCGA Notes Growers participating in federal conservation programs could receive funding earlier in the fiscal year under a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposal. The recently announced proposal will provide $1.6 billion in conservation funding shortly after Congress approves the fiscal year (FY) 2005 USDA appropriations bill, notes the NCGA. (More On This Story) USDA Seeks Members for Grain Inspection Advisory Committee The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is seeking nominations for its Grain Inspection Advisory Committee. Nominations are being sought for five members and five alternate members. Appointees will serve three-year terms beginning in March 2005. (More On This Story) USDA Announces First Partial 2004 Crop Year and Final 2003 Crop Year Countercyclical Payments, NCGA Notes With the recent announcement of advance countercyclical (CC) payments by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ann Veneman, the 2002 farm bill continues to provide a well balanced, market-oriented range of benefits to producers, according to the NCGA. (More On This Story)

AROUND THE CORN BELT News from State Associations MISSOURI: On Oct. 1, the Missouri Department of Agriculture submitted their preliminary FY06 budget request for the Missouri ethanol program to the Missouri House of Representatives, Senate and Office of Administration. The request included an estimated $10.53 million in repayment of deferred funding, and nearly $9.42 million for estimated FY06 production of five, Missouri farmer-owned ethanol facilities. MINNESOTA: Local farmers in Waseca, Minn., once again proved the power of grassroots involvement when they helped convince a local fuel retailer to add E85 to the choices he offers the driving public. Vernon Wilkening, president of the Waseca County Corn Growers, organized a letter-writing campaign to help convince Jay Nicolin, owner of Sportsman Stop to offer E85. ILLINOIS: Representative Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.) recently congratulated northern Illinois farmers on a significant contract to sell Colombia 20,000 tons of corn. Manzullo worked with Colombian Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno in brokering the deal and invited the ambassador to join him in announcing this agreement to farmers in Ogle and Winnebago counties. The contract was procured by Fenavi (the National Federation of Colombian Poultry Breeders) and ANDI (the National Association of Industries). OHIO: A $58 million state-of-the-art ethanol plant is scheduled to be built in Perry County starting next year. According to Peg Grannis, executive director of the Community Improvement Corp., Perry Ethanol of Farmers Ethanol LLC plans to locate the plant in the eastern portion of the county. About 100 full-time employees will be at the plant, and an additional 175 positions will be needed for transporting plant byproducts. NEW YORK: A group of Finger Lakes farmers are announcing today the location of a new plant that will produce ethanol from corn. The announcement will take place this afternoon at the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency office in the county office building in Waterloo. The plant will be built by Empire Biofuels and is expected to produce 50 (m) million gallons of ethanol a year.farmland, restore fences and conservation structures, and grade and shape farmland damaged by a natural disaster.

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© 2004 National Corn Growers Association

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