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March
25, 2005 * Volume 12 * Number 11
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:
•
USDA Announces Conservation Security Program Sign Up and Renewable
Energy Incentives, Notes NCGA
• Gillen Discusses RFS with Sen. Thune
• NCGA, Financial Planners Association Partner on Education
Mission
• NCGA Notes Disappointments in WTO Agriculture Negotiation
Setback
• NCGA Fact-Finding Tours Bring Midwest, East Coast Farmers
Together
• NCGA Announces Leadership Academy Class for 2005-06
• NCGA, Ohio Corn Growers Association Applaud Nomination of
Rep. Rob Portman as USTR
• NCGA Emphasizes Importance of Agriculture to Economy During
National Ag Week
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USDA
Announces Conservation Security Program Sign Up and Renewable Energy
Incentive, Notes NCGA
The
NCGA reminds growers the Conservation Security Program (CSP) signup
period begins March 28. The program, available to approximately 235,000
farmers and ranchers in 220 watershed areas, includes a new renewable
energy component. (More
On This Story)
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| NCGA
Public Policy Action Team member David Gillen met with Sen.
John Thune (R-SD) in the South Dakota Corn Growers Association
offices last week to discuss the RFS and energy legislation.
Gillen, who is SDCGA president, said it’s critical to understand
how important the RFS is both nationally and on a state level.
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Gillen
Discusses RFS with Sen. Thune
NCGA
Public Policy Action Team member David Gillen met with Sen. John
Thune (R-SD) in Sioux Falls, S.D., Monday to explore future strategy
for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and the energy bill moving
through Congress. (More
On This Story)
NCGA,
Financial Planners Association Partner on Education Mission
In
its quest to provide additional valuable services to its members,
the NCGA today announced an agreement with the Financial Planning
Association (FPA) that will allow NCGA to incorporate financial
literacy into educational programs for NCGA’s membership
of 33,000. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Notes Disappointment in WTO Agriculture Negotiation Setback
The
NCGA today expressed disappointment in the setback in World Trade
Organization (WTO) agriculture negotiations when members last
week broke off talks on establishing a common methodology for
farm tariff conversions. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Fact-Finding Tours Bring Midwest, East Coast Farmers Together
Members
of the NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team (PSAT) were
in Annapolis, Md., this week conducting committee business and
touring eastern shore agriculture industry facilities. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Announces Leadership Academy Class for 2005-06
The NCGA has announced its class and dates for the 2005-2006 NCGA
Leadership Academy. (More
On This Story)
NCGA,
Ohio Corn Growers Association Applaud Nomination of Rep. Rob Portman
as USTR
The
NCGA and the Ohio Corn Growers Association (OCGA) today applauded
President George W. Bush’s nomination of Rep. Bob Portman
(R-Ohio) for U.S. Trade Representative. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Emphasizes Importance of Agriculture to Economy During National
Ag Week
This
week begins National Agriculture Week, March 20 - 26, giving Americans
the opportunity to recognize the contributions agriculture has
on the U.S. economy, notes the NCGA. (More
On This Story)
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AROUND
THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
ILLINOIS:
Illinois Corn Growers Association will be able to take E85
promotions up a notch thanks to General Motors announcement
today that it will provide an E85-capable Chevrolet Avalanche
to market the fuel in Illinois. The high profile vehicle,
with a special paint job showcasing corn, was presented at
an event at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOTÒ) to mark
the launch of the CBOT Ethanol futures contract. The vehicle
will remain on display with CBOT until March 31.
MINNESOTA:
Leaders of the Minnesota Corn organizations personally called
on all members of Minnesota's congressional delegation to
ask them to support the renewable energy provisions in the
2005 energy bill and to urge them to do what they can to preserve
the integrity of the 2002 Farm Bill, as it was passed. The
MCGA leaders said that because the nation's farmers have planned
and made financial commitments based on the farm bill safety
net, to re-open it now would be the reneging on a promise.
IOWA:
The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) has signed its first
commercial license with Battelle to produce a new plastic
additive made from corn that offers a variety of commercial
advantages. Battelle operates the Department of Energy’s
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) based in Richland,
Wash., where the research will occur. The compound, isosorbide,
can be used to improve the properties of plastic materials
such as bottles.
KANSAS:
During Kansas Agriculture Day activities Monday, Gov. Kathleen
Sebelius and Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky accepted
the keys to a flexible fuel Avalanche from GM officials. Kansas
was the first state to receive the vehicle. The states receiving
Avalanches belong to the Governor’s Ethanol Coalition.
Kansas Governor Sebelius is vice chair of GEC and will become
chair of GEC next year.
NORTH
DAKOTA: Drivers in North Dakota who use ethanol
for fuel could have a tax break coming their way. This week
the North Dakota Senate approved a tax incentive for E-85
fuel. Right now both E-85 and regular gasoline have a 21-cent
state fuel tax. Under the bill, the tax on E-85 would be knocked
down to a penny a gallon.
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Of
Special Interest:
Next
Week:
Mar.
30 -
Apr. 2 |
NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Dogget will attend the
Makhteshim Agan Seminar in San Francisco, Calif. |
More calendar information
is available on the NCGA Leader Resource Center, http://www.insidencga.com
© 2005 National
Corn Growers Association
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