AROUND THE CORN BELT
News from State Associations

ILLINOIS: The Western Corn Rootworm threat in rotated corn continues to grow in Illinois, according to ongoing research at the University of Illinois by Kevin Steffey and Mike Gray. In fact, their assessment shows the presence of this destructive pest in its adult stage in soybean fields in 59 counties in Illinois. Their work will be showcased later this month when the Illinois Corn Growers Association’s “Corn 2005: A Producers Guide To Seed Selection” is published on the ICGA web site at: www.ilcorn.org.

MINNESOTA: In January, when the Minnesota legislature convenes, Gov. Tim Pawlenty will present legislation to make the requirements to locate or expand a livestock operation in Minnesota more consistent and reasonable. In addition, he will offer laws to encourage renewable energy use, including a measure to require Minnesota's gasoline supply to be 20 percent ethanol by the year 2010. Pawlenty outlined his agricultural program Tuesday at the 2004 Minnesota Agri-Growth Council annual meeting.

MICHIGAN: The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan (CMPM) is teaming up with the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) to help promote food bank donations during the holidays. FBCM’s 14th Annual Michigan Harvest Gathering Food and Fund Raising Drive runs through Thanksgiving. The drive benefits the Food Bank Council of Michigan and 100% of the funds raised are used to transport donated food in and around Michigan, or to purchase staple food items. The 2004 goal is to raise $250,000 and 250,000 pounds of food.

SOUTH DAKOTA: A new technique patented by Broin Companies eliminates the "cooking" step in ethanol production, a process that requires a lot of energy. The new method eventually could be licensed to plants across the nation and around the world, said Jeff Broin, the company's chief executive officer. After three years of research in the company's lab in Sioux Falls, the technique is being used at Broin's plant in Scotland and at two other plants in the region.