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March
18, 2005 * Volume 12 * Number 10
NCGA's
Mission: To Create and Increase Opportunities
for Corn Growers
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’s Hilgedick Highlights Impacts of Rising Natural Gas Prices
on Growers
•
NCGA Calls Bipartisan RFS Legislation a Major Step Toward Sound Energy
Policy
• Regulatory Challenges, New Innovations Discussed at NCGA’s
Second Generation Ag Biotech Conference
• NCGA Members Complete Leadership Course
• NCGA Applauds Passage of RFS through Senate EPW Committee
• NCGA Members Interact with Researchers at Maize Genetics Conference
• NCGA Applauds Senate Bill to Improve Small Ethanol Producer
Credit
• NCGA Discusses Value-Added Ag Opportunities with Japanese
Visitors
• Maize Genome Database Earning Acclaim from Researchers, NCGA
Says
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NCGA’s
Hilgedick Highlights Impacts of Rising Natural Gas Prices on Growers
As
world oil prices rose to record highs this week, the NCGA testified
Thursday on the impact high natural gas prices are having on corn growers
and their production operations, while also emphasizing the need for
comprehensive energy policy. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Calls Bipartisan RFS Legislation a Major Step Toward Sound Energy Policy
The
NCGA today hailed the introduction of S. 650, the Fuel Security Act
of 2005 by a bipartisan group of 21 senators led by Dick Lugar (R-Ind.)
and Tom Harkin (R-Iowa). The legislation would establish a national
Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) requiring 8 billion gallons by 2012.
(More
On This Story)
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| Attendees
at Tuesday’s Second Generation Ag Biotech Conference, including
Biotech Working Group Chair Darrin Ihnen, right, discussed
anticipated regulatory challenges associated with new biotech
products. |
Regulatory
Challenges, New Innovations Discussed at NCGA’s Second Generation
Ag Biotech Conference
Discussions
on the impact of biotech products on the regulatory system and
how the industry can get those products to market without disrupting
trade highlighted the NCGA Second Generation Ag Biotech Conference
Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Providing smaller markets with biotechnology
products and streamlining current regulatory systems also were
hot topics at the one-day event. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Members Complete Leadership Course
Twelve
NCGA members spent three days in Washington, D.C., this week where
they focused on the importance of grassroots involvement as they
completed the second segment of the NCGA Leadership Academy. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Applauds Passage of RFS through Senate EPW Committee
The
NCGA today applauds the passage of the Reliable Fuels Act (S.
606) by the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee.
This legislation would establish a national Renewable Fuels Standard
(RFS) requiring 6 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended
into our nation’s fuel supply annually by 2012. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Members Interact with Researchers at Maize Genetics Conference
NCGA
member Pam Johnson restated the importance of completing the maize
genome sequence and increasing funding for plant genome research
last week at the 47th Annual Maize Genetics Conference in Lake
Geneva, Wis. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Applauds Senate Bill to Improve Small Ethanol Producer Credit
The
NCGA commends Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) and a bipartisan group of
cosponsors for introducing legislation last week that redefines
“small ethanol producers” and extends the recently
enacted tax credit for biodiesel producers. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Discusses Value-Added Ag Opportunities with Japanese Visitors
A
delegation from Japan’s Research Institute of Science and
Technology for Society (RISTEX) met with NCGA staff members last
week in St. Louis to discuss how agriculture can help create sustainable
societies in the future. (More
On This Story)
Maize
Genome Database Earning Acclaim from Researchers, NCGA Says
The
NCGA today said the effort to map the maize genome is gaining
critical momentum, as more than 120 researchers from 35 academic
institutions have now accessed maizeseq.org, a web-enabled database
that features previously unavailable corn genome sequencing information.
(More
On This Story)
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AROUND
THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
MINNESOTA:
More than 200 farmers, ethanol industry representatives
and other supporters of renewable fuels converged on the state
capitol Wednesday to show their support for legislation that
would more than double the use of renewable fuels in Minnesota
in the next seven years. The rally, organized by Minnesota
Corn Growers Association and other Minnesota farm groups,
filled the state capitol, and featured a "pep talk"
by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
MICHIGAN:
Nearly 70 corn growers and industry leaders
are prepared for the upcoming year, thanks to the 2005 Michigan
Corn Growers Association (MCGA) Annual Meeting. With discussion
ranging from corn stoves to renewable fuels to the Farm Bill
to trade, those in attendance got a head start on the issues
awaiting them in the coming months.
NEBRASKA:
With the price of gasoline creeping to more than $2 recently,
Southeast Nebraska Corn Growers Association members found
a way to ease the pain just a little bit for motorists on
Thursday. While the 10-cent-per-gallon discount the association
was offering on E-10 Unleaded gasoline at several area gas
stations was popular, the corn growers also spent time educating
the public about ethanol products, from the benefits the corn-based
fuel has for car engines to the boost higher ethanol consumption
could give Nebraska's economy.
KANSAS:
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is phasing in
the use of O2Diesel’s ethanol-diesel blend in the 75-bus
fleet serving Johnson County, KS, which falls within the authority’s
purview.
Phase
one of the implementation, beginning immediately, involves
a trial with 11 Johnson County buses, and is expected to last
approximately three months before the beginning of phase two,
which would see the balance of the Johnson County fleet switch.
ILLINOIS:
Representatives of the Illinois Corn Growers
Association were in Washington, D.C., this week and one of
their top issues is finalizing and passing the WRDA Bill to
keep river transportation competitive. In talking to congressmen
and to others working on the river issue, there is a sense
of optimism that the locks issue can be finalized this year.
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Of
Special Interest:
Next
Week:
| Mar.
21-23 |
Production and Stewardship Action Team meeting in Annapolis, Md. |
| Mar.
21-23 |
Ethanol Committee
and Research and Business Development Action Team meetings in New
Orleans, La. |
More calendar information
is available on the NCGA Leader Resource Center, http://www.insidencga.com
© 2005 National
Corn Growers Association
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