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April
8, 2005 * Volume 12 * Number 13
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 President To Join Ag Officials At Press Briefing On CAFTA-DR
• Comprehensive Energy Bill Should Address High Natural Gas
Prices, Senators Say
• House Begins Energy Bill Mark-Up, Notes NCGA
• Lock Modernization Issues Raised At Connor’s Confirmation
Hearing, Notes NCGA
• NCGA Applauds Introduction Of WRDA Legislation That Includes
Lock Modernization Provisions
• NCGA Notes Drive Clean And Green Event Kicks Off Today
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NCGA
President to Join Ag Officials at Press Briefing on CAFTA-DR
NCGA
President Leon Corzine and other agriculture leaders will join Agriculture
Secretary Mike Johanns and other officials at a press briefing Monday
to advocate passage of the Central America and Dominican Republic Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The group will highlight the agricultural
trade benefits of CAFTA-DR, which is expected to create new opportunities
for U.S. producers of meats, grains and specialty crops.
(More
On This Story)
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| A delegation
of Turkish agriculture leaders met with NCGA staff members
today to discuss the role of biotechnology in crop production. |
Comprehensive
Energy Bill Should Address High Natural Gas Prices, Senators Say
The
NCGA commends Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.)
for urging the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to
address the impact of high natural gas costs on the U.S. agriculture
sector as the committee considers comprehensive energy legislation
in the coming weeks. (More
On This Story)
House
Begins Energy Bill Mark-Up, Notes NCGA
The
House Energy and Commerce Committee began its mark-up yesterday
on the House version of the comprehensive energy bill. Following
brief opening statements, the committee began the mark-up process,
which will run through next week. It is expected the bill will
make its way to the House floor the week of April 18. (More
On This Story)
Lock
Modernization Issues Raised at Connor's Confirmation Hearing,
Notes NCGA
The
importance of lock modernization was discussed during Wednesday’s
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee nomination
hearing of Chuck Connor as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA). The National Corn Growers Association commends
Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) for raising the issue during the hearing
and asking Connor for the administration’s support on lock
modernization issues. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Applauds Introduction of WRDA Legislation that Includes Lock Modernization
Provisions
The
NCGA applauds the Senate for introduction today of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2005 (WRDA), which includes legislation authorizing
seven new locks for the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
(More
On This Story)
NCGA
Notes Drive Clean and Green Event Kicks Off Today
The
NCGA notes that “Drive Clean and Green Across Missouri,”
an event sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’
Energy Center, St. Louis Regional Clean Cities and Kansas City
Clean Cities coalitions, gets under way today. The event focuses
on hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, including flexible fuel
vehicles that run on E-85. (More
On This Story) |
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AROUND
THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
SOUTH
DAKOTA: The South Dakota Corn Utilization Council
elected Brian Woldt as its president during the board of directors
meeting recently held in Sioux Falls. Woldt, a native of Wentworth,
S.D., previously served as vice president for the SDCUC and
has been on the board since 1999. Woldt said the most important
issue facing corn producers today is determining what role
the producer will play in the future of corn production and
utilization.
ILLINOIS:
The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA)
offered formal support this week for a new private landowner
program to help species at risk and in the greatest need of
conservation. ICGA is backing the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources in its bid to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service
to fill gaps in existing conservation initiatives that limitations
in eligibility or practice standards.
KANSAS:
Ethanol is now available in Bourbon County, Kan. Three stations
are selling E-10 unleaded thanks to efforts by the Kansas
Corn Growers Association, Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers and
Kansas Farm Bureau. Drivers can buy E-10 unleaded at the three
Hills Service stations in Fort Scott. Visit the Ethanol Information
web site at www.ksgrains.com to find E-10 stations near you.
MINNESOTA:
Conservation Security Program (CSP), the innovative
USDA program that rewards farm operators for the conservation
they already practice, will be re-opened for farmers with
a majority of their land in Blue Earth watershed, and sign-up
will begin for the first time for farmers with the majority
of their land in the watersheds of the Red Lake, Redeye, Redwood,
Root and Sauk Rivers. Sign up for CSP began March 28 and runs
through May 27.
MICHIGAN:
Pat Feldpausch, a corn producer from Fowler and the Michigan
Corn Growers Association (MCGA) Vice President, recently participated
in a program to sharpen his leadership skills and get hands-on
experience lobbying in Washington, DC. The second session
provided participants with experience in communicating with
other farmers, industry leaders and legislators, and also
covered a review of parliamentary procedure.
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Of
Special Interest:
Next
Week:
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Apr. 11 |
NCGA President Leon Corzine will attend CAFTA Media Event in Washington,
D.C. |
More calendar information
is available on the NCGA Leader Resource Center, http://www.insidencga.com
© 2005 National
Corn Growers Association
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