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November
5, 2004 * Volume 11* Number 43
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
President Addresses Governors’ Ethanol Coalition
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NCGA Unites with Industry to Improve Ethanol Production Efficiencies
•
Soggy Conditions Slow Harvest Progress, NCGA Notes
•
Rural Vote Helps Secure a Second Term for President Bush
•
Farmers Reach for New Limits at 2005 Commodity Classic
•
Ethanol Industry on its Way to Shattering 2003 Production Mark,
NCGA Notes
NCGA
President Addresses Governors’ Ethanol Coalition
Hybrid corn seed developed specifically for ethanol, corn fiber conversion
and new coproducts are just a few of the technological advances that
are helping corn farmers and ethanol producers become increasingly
efficient, NCGA President Leon Corzine told members of the Governors’ Ethanol
Coalition (GEC) at a meeting Thursday in Springfield, Ill. (More
On This Story)
NCGA Unites with Industry to Improve Ethanol Production Efficiencies
The NCGA has entered a licensing agreement with Pioneer Hi-Bred International,
Inc., a DuPont subsidiary, that will allow NCGA to use Pioneer’s
high total fermentable (HTF) near infrared (NIR) rapid assay technology.
NCGA plans to utilize the Pioneer technology and other industry resources
to conduct research that will eventually lead to an industry-wide
standard for measuring the fermentation characteristics and ethanol
yield potential of corn. (More
On This Story)
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| Farmers
have harvested 65 percent of what is expected to be a record
corn crop, according to USDA. |
Soggy Conditions Slow Harvest Progress, NCGA Notes
Corn growers have harvested 65 percent of what is expected to
be a record corn crop, despite being slowed last week by
moderately
wet weather in many parts of the Corn Belt, according to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest crop bulletin.
This fall’s harvest progress is 16 percentage points behind
last year’s pace and 15 points off the five-year average.
(More
On This Story)
Rural Vote Helps Secure a Second Term for President Bush
The NCGA congratulated President George W. Bush on his re-election
after a hotly contested presidential race. The organization sent
a congratulatory telegram to the president today wishing him
success during his second term. (More
On This Story)
Farmers Reach for New Limits at 2005 Commodity Classic
Corn and soybean farmers who attend Commodity Classic, Feb. 24-26,
in Austin, Texas, will be “reaching for new limits.” Through
powerful educational sessions, growers will learn from respected
industry leaders about how to improve farm efficiency and profitability.
(More
On This Story)
Ethanol Industry On its Way to Shattering 2003 Production Mark,
NCGA Notes
The U.S. ethanol industry is well on its way to surpassing last
year’s record production of 2.81 billion gallons, according
to the NCGA. If production continues at its current pace, the industry
will generate approximately 3.35 billion gallons this year, up
19 percent from 2003. (More
On This Story)
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AROUND
THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
KANSAS: With heavy equipment working in the background,
organizers of East Kansas Agri-Energy broke ground on a 35
million gallon ethanol plant at Garnett. EKAE plans to complete
the $46.5 million project and begin production by the end of
May, 2005. Jere White, Executive Director of the Kansas Corn
Growers Association and Commission said the state could double
its ethanol production in the next year.
MINNESOTA: Delegates, probably more than 100 in all, will
come from every county corn grower association in the state,
to set the political agenda for the coming year at the Minnesota
Corn Growers Association (MCGA) pre-resolution meetings. The
meetings will be held Dec. 6 and 7, in Willmar and Owatonna
respectively. Rodney Moe, a farmer in Mower County who serves
as vice president of MCGA, will chair the meetings.
SOUTH
DAKOTA: The South Dakota Corn Growers Association recently
distributed a survey to all candidates for state legislature
and found the support for ethanol, biotechnology and livestock
agriculture is strong. One-hundred seventeen candidates responded
to questions regarding ethanol producer incentives, the value
and direction of the ethanol industry, a 10 percent ethanol
mandate and support for biotechnology and livestock development.
MICHIGAN: Four Michigan corn producers have once again shown
that the state’s corn growers are leading the way for
farmers across the nation, as they were recently selected
to represent corn growers from across the U.S. on NCGA Action
Teams. Clark Gerstacker was named Chair of the Research and
Business Development Action Team; Bruce Noel, Vice Chair
of the Ethanol Committee; Brian Kreps, Public Policy Action
Team; Alan Peters, Joint Trade-A Policy Team.
NEBRASKA: CH Energy Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Central
Hudson Enterprises Corporation, has committed to invest $10.7
million in a $78 million ethanol production plant in Lexington,
Nebraska. Currently classified as a pilot facility, the Cornhusker
Energy Lexington plant will be expanded to produce 40 million
gallons per year, and is expected to go into commercial operation
in the fourth quarter of 2005.
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Of
Special Interest:
Next Week:
| Nov.
9-10 |
Vice President of Research Richard Glass and
Director of Commercialization John Caupert attend National Distillers
Grains Conference at Edwardsville, Ill.
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| Nov.
11-12 |
President
Leon Corzine attends Farm Journal Forum in Washington, D.C. |
| Nov.
11 |
Research Manager Nathan Fields attends Kansas
State University research meeting at Manhattan, Kan. |
More calendar information is available on the NCGA Leader Resource
Center, http://www.insidencga.com
© 2004 National Corn
Growers Association
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