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April
22, 2005 * Volume 12 * Number 15
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 Vice President Joins Ag Leaders in CAFTA-DR Event
•
NCGA Represented as Sen. Obama Introduces E85 Legislation
• NCGA Calls House Passage of Energy Bill with RFS a Major Step
Forward
• New Food Pyramid Emphasizes Need for More Individual Approach,
Notes NCGA
• NCGA: Consumers Will Pay for Failure to Modernize Locks and
Dams
• European Commission will Continue to Allow Biotech Traits
in Feed Products, NCGA Notes
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NCGA
Vice President Joins Ag Leaders in CAFTA-DR Event
NCGA
Vice President Gerald Tumbleson today joined the Secretary of Agriculture
and other key agriculture industry leaders at a roundtable discussion
on the benefits of the Central American Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR)
free trade agreement at the St. Paul, Minn., Chamber of Commerce.
(More
On This Story)
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| NCGA
President Leon Corzine speaks at a press event announcing
legislation introduced by Sen. Barrack Obama, right, that
would provide tax incentives for retailers and consumers of
E85. |
NCGA
Represented as Sen. Obama Introduces E85 Legislation
NCGA
was represented Monday at a press conference where Sen. Barrack
Obama (D-Ill.) announced legislation that would provide a 50 percent
tax credit to anyone who wants to build an E85 fuel station. The
bill would also provide a tax credit of 35 cents per gallon to
consumers who purchase E85, a fuel blended with 85 percent ethanol
that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Calls House Passage of Energy Bill with RFS a Major Step Forward
The
NCGA is calling Thursday’s 249-183 House passage of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 a major step forward in the legislative
process to get an energy bill to the president’s desk this
year. The comprehensive energy legislation includes a renewable
fuels standard (RFS) that calls for 5 billion gallons of renewable
fuels to be blended into the nation’s transportation fuel
supply by 2012. (More
On This Story)
New
Food Pyramid Emphasizes Need for More Individual Approach, Notes
NCGA
Agriculture
Secretary Mike Johanns this week unveiled MyPyramid, a new symbol
and interactive food guidance system, “Steps to a Healthier
You,” which the Bush administration hopes will promote longer,
better and healthier lives, notes the NCGA. (More
On This Story)
NCGA:
Consumers Will Pay for Failure to Modernize Locks and Dams
Failure
to modernize the locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois
Waterways in addition to lack of much needed funding will cost
all consumers in the long run, according to the NCGA Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) Rick Tolman, who is also chairman of the Midwest
Area River Coalition (MARC 2000). (More
On This Story)
European
Commission will Continue to Allow Biotech Traits in Feed Products,
NCGA Notes
The
NCGA welcomes the European Commission’s (EC) decision to
allow continued inclusion of specific biotech traits in processed
feed products that are imported by the European Union (EU). (More
On This Story) |
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AROUND
THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
NEBRASKA:
This week at the Minnesota Petroleum Marketers
Association annual meeting in Bloomington, MN E85 Team personnel
spoke with a steady stream of fuel retailers who were interested
in finding out how E85 might fit into their operation. The
strong interest in E85 seems to be a sign of the times, and
it doesn't look as though that interest will end anytime soon.
MISSOURI:
Missouri farmers say they will plant 1.3 million
corn acres this year, up five percent from 2004, according
to USDA. In Missouri, stocks as of March 1 were up 67 percent
from last year, the highest since 1987 at 193 million bushels.
With that level of stocks, Missouri Corn Growers CEO Gary
Marshall notes that corn prices could be as much as 25 cents
a bushel lower right now, if not for the fact that ethanol
plants use approximately 15 percent Missouri’s corn
production.
ILLINOIS:
The latest fueling site to begin offering E85
fuel in Illinois is the Lena Cenex, located at 201 Dodds St.,
in Lena. Thanks to owner Jim Noller for making the switch
to E85. If you live in the vicinity and have an E85 capable
vehicle, be sure to stop in and support this business. Another
big thanks to Illinois Corn Growers Association members who
came by the Qik-N-EZ in Lincoln last week to support the grand
opening of their new E85 pump. Thanks to local support, about
25 percent of that station’s business that day consisted
of corn-based E85.
KANSAS:
A U.S. Grains Council team that included Kansas Corn Commission
representatives Mike Brzon and Jere White recently returned
from a South Africa Biotech Assessment Mission. The purpose
of the project was to foster science-based discussions on
biotechnology; to advance regional acceptance of biotechnology;
to increase the potential for future food aid and commercial
shipment to the region; and to raise public awareness on these
issues.
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Of
Special Interest:
Next
Week:
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Apr. 27- 28 |
NCGA Director of Public Policy Samantha Slater attends Renewable
Fuels Association board meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. |
More calendar information
is available on the NCGA Leader Resource Center, http://www.insidencga.com
© 2005 National
Corn Growers Association
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