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December
10, 2004 * Volume 11* Number 47
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:
• USDA
Increases Projections Of Corn Used For Ethanol
• Farmers Reach For New Limits With The Commodity Classic Experience
• NCGA President Visits Capitol Hill To Discuss Legislative Priorities
• NCGA’s Identity Preservation Calculator Assists Growers In Estimating Costs
• NCGA Photo Contest Winners Announced
• Proposals Calls For 10 Percent Ethanol In Idaho Gasoline
• NCGA Supports Dialogue On Natural Gas, Energy Legislation
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USDA Increases Projections of Corn Used for Ethanol
More than 12 percent of this year’s record corn crop will be
used for ethanol, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
(USDA) World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates released today.
(More
On This Story)
Farmers Reach for New Limits With the Commodity Classic Experience
The Commodity Classic experience will provide corn and soybean farmers
with an opportunity to “reach for new limits,” in Austin,
Texas, Feb. 24-26, 2005. Commodity Classic is an annual event that
makes it possible for growers to reap the benefits of top-notch educational
seminars and a highly praised trade show. The Commodity Classic experience
offers lasting benefits for a farmer’s business operation and
bottom line. (More
On This Story)
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| Among
the leaders on Capitol Hill that NCGA President Leon Corzine,
left, met with was Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.). |
NCGA
President Visits Capitol Hill to Discuss Legislative Priorities
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Leon Corzine got a
head start on the commencement of the 109th Congress by meeting Wednesday
with key policy makers on Capitol Hill. At the top of Corzine’s
agenda were discussions on corn grower legislative priorities pertaining
to the energy debate and modernization of locks and dams on the upper
Mississippi and Illinois rivers. (More
On This Story)
NCGA’s
Identity Preservation Calculator Assists Growers in Estimating
Costs
As this fall’s harvest comes to an end and growers begin planning
for next year, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) reminds its
members that the Identity Preservation (IP) calculator is available online
to assist them in estimating their production and IP costs next year.
(More
On This Story)
NCGA
Photo Contest Winners Announced
Iowan Ann Jorgensen snapped up the National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) grand prize in the NCGA “Gallery of Corn” photo contest
with her image of an ear of corn. Jorgensen’s grand prize entry
also took first place in the Harvest category. (More
On This Story)
Proposal
Calls for 10 Percent Ethanol in Idaho Gasoline
A recent proposal by the Idaho Farm Bureau (IFB) would require every
gallon of gasoline sold in the state to contain at least 10 percent ethanol
by 2010. If the plan is adopted, Idaho would join Minnesota and Hawaii
as the only states with statewide ethanol requirements. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Supports Dialogue on Natural Gas, Energy Legislation
As the U.S. agriculture sector continues to contend with high natural
gas prices and tightening supplies, the National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) Wednesday commended members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee for encouraging open dialogue on natural gas and energy legislation.
(More
On This Story)
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AROUND
THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
NEBRASKA: To
help accelerate efforts to rebuild U.S. beef exports to Asia,
the Nebraska Corn Board has approved a special $100,000 allocation
to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports
suffered a severe blow in 2003, after a single case of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was reported in Washington
State.
MICHIGAN: The
Corn Marketing Program of Michigan (CMPM) will team up with
the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee (MSPC) and Michigan
State University Extension (MSUE) to update the state’s
producers on check-off funded research results. For a list
of meeting dates and times, call (517) 668-2676.
WISCONSIN: Utica
Energy LLC has completed a 24 million gallon per year expansion
to its ethanol plant near Oshkosh, Wis. The plant will process
over 16 million bushels of corn into 48 million gallons of
ethanol and 200,000 tons of wet distillers grains annually.
C/R Meyer, of Oshkosh, Wis., provided construction management
and incorporated a process design provided by Delta-T Corporation,
of Williamsburg, Va.
MISSOURI: The
Missouri Corn Growers Association recently applauded governor-elect
Matt Blunt for reaffirming his support of ethanol and other
renewable fuels during a speech before the Missouri Farm
Bureau Federation. The ethanol incentive program encourages
the production of ethanol by Missouri farmer-owned facilities
with financial assistance for the first five years of operation,
which helps Missouri producers compete with ethanol produced
in other states and highly subsidized petroleum products,
such as gasoline and diesel.
SOUTH
DAKOTA: The South Dakota Corn Growers Association
is hosting Risk Management Seminars in four South Dakota
locations. Open to all ag producers, the seminars are
designed to help producers manage risk and take advantage
of profit-generating techniques in their farm or ranch
operation. The Risk Management Seminar series kicks off
in Rapid City, S.D. on Dec. 14 at the Holiday Inn Rushmore
Plaza. For more information or to pre-register for the
seminars, please call the SDCGA office at 604-334-0100.
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Of
Special Interest:
Next Week:
| Dec.
12-15 |
NCGA President Leon Corzine, CEO Rick Tolman and
Public Policy Director Hayden Milberg attend U.S. Grains Council
meeting in Cancun, Mexico. |
More calendar information is available on the NCGA Leader Resource
Center, http://www.insidencga.com
© 2004 National Corn
Growers Association
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