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June
10, 2005 * Volume 12 * Number 22
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
•
House Agriculture Spending Bill Puts Some Programs Funding Below Farm
Bill Levels, Notes, NCGA
• NCGA Supports National Security and Bioenergy Bill
• NCGA-sponsored Biobased Products Event Showcases Agriculture-based
Products
• Data Indicate Ethanol Will Pass Exports as Number Two Corn
Use by 2008
• Illinois Next Stop on NCGA-sponsored AgriTalk Ethanol Pump
Tour
• NCGA Seeks Support from Senate Committee on Energy Bill Provisions
• As Senate Readies for Energy Bill Debate, NCGA Asks Members
to Send Gas Receipts to Senators
• McCauley Emphasizes Experience in Run to Renew Corn Board
Seat
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House
Agriculture Spending Bill Puts Some Programs Funding Below Farm Bill
Levels, Notes NCGA
The House
passed a $99.65 billion fiscal year (FY) 2006 agriculture spending bill
this week representing an increase of $93 million over President George
W. Bush’s request and the same as the FY 2005 enacted level. The
bill provides for $16.83 billion in discretionary spending and $82.822
billion in mandatory spending. However, the bill decreases funding for
a variety of farm bill authorized programs. The bill passed by a vote
of 408 - 18. (More
On This Story)
NCGA
Supports National Security and Bioenergy Bill
The NCGA President Leon Corzine expressed support Thursday for S. 1210
the National Security and Bioenergy Investment Act of 2005 which would
rapidly expand the growing market of biobased products and increase
the procurement of those products by the federal government and its
contractors. Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) introduced
the bill June 9. (More
On This Story)
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| Iowa
corn grower Dave Nelson (left) represented NCGA in
a panel discussion at the Biobased Products Showcase
in Washington Tuesday. Exhibitors, including Scott
Swanson (center) of the Midwest Grain Processors were
on hand with many office, home and industrial products
made from domestically produced, environmentally friendly
agricultural materials. NCGA officers, including First
Vice President Gerald Tumbleson (right) attended the
event. |
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NCGA-sponsored
Biobased Products Event Showcases Agriculture-based Products
Biobased
products made from renewable agriculture materials were in the
spotlight on Capitol Hill Tuesday at the Biobased Products Showcase.
The event, co-sponsored by the NCGA, illustrated the use of biobased
products as a replacement for conventional products derived from
petroleum. (More
On This Story)
Data
Indicate Ethanol Will Pass Exports as Number Two Corn Use by 2008
Data
from ProExporter Network and the United States Department of Agriculture
suggests ethanol will pass exports as the number two use of corn
by 2008. (More
On This Story)
Illinois
Next Stop on NCGA-sponsored AgriTalk Ethanol Pump Tour
As
gas prices continue to fluctuate across the country, residents
of Monmouth, Ill., should see some relief June 10 as the AgriTalk
Ethanol Pump Tour, sponsored by the National Growers Association,
rolls into town and offers discounted fuel with full service.
(More
On This Story)
NCGA
Seeks Support from Senate Committee on Energy Bill Provisions
In
anticipation of the Senate Finance Committee markup of the energy
bill tax title late next week, the NCGA asked the committee to
consider including four provisions important to the development
of the U.S. renewable fuels market and increasing domestic natural
gas resources. (More
On This Story)
As
Senate Readies for Energy Bill Debate, NCGA Asks Members to Send
Gas Receipts to Senators
The
need for comprehensive energy legislation with a Renewable Fuel
Standard has prompted NCGA President Leon Corzine to send a letter
to corn producers across the United States encouraging them to
flood their senators’ district offices with gas receipts
showing high pump prices. Growers are encouraged to write short
personal messages on the back of the receipts about the positive
impact of ethanol on gas prices. (More
On This Story)
McCauley
Emphasizes Experience in Run to Renew Corn Board Seat
Ken
manages a family farm in White Cloud, Kan., where he grows no-till
corn and soybeans. His involvement in one of Missouri’s
first ethanol plants, a food processing corn mill and local and
national corn organizations has provided him a broad base of knowledge
on issues affecting corn growers. (More
On This Story)
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AROUND
THE CORN BELT
News
from State Associations
Illinois:
Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) expressed his support for the Renewable
Fuel Standard in the energy bill in a visit to Morris, Ill.,
in his home district. Weller’s district may be home
to a new ethanol facility in the future. Illinois Valley Ethanol
is progressing with a business plan for an ethanol-producing
plant. Weller stressed the environmental, economic and energy
benefits of ethanol and asked motorists to test drive an E85
vehicle.
The Illinois
Corn Marketing Board held a China Symposium at their offices
this week. Speakers debated the topic of China as an importer
or exporter of commodities in the future. Todd Meyers, senior
director for the U.S. Grains Council’s China office,
said China may have to import feed because feed use is increasing
faster than feed production. James Simpson, an Ag economist
specializing in world livestock and a faculty member of Ryukoku
University in Japan, said that the introduction of high-quality
fertilizer could result in a large increase in corn production,
enabling China not to rely on U.S. imports. Currently, China
uses a low-quality fertilizer.
Missouri:
A new farmer-owned ethanol plant, Mid-Missouri Energy, opened
in Malta Bend, Mo. on June 6, the third one in the state.
Gov. Matt Blunt (R) attended the event and said that one of
his highest priorities in the next legislative session is
to pass a 10 percent ethanol standard. Missouri congressmen
Ike Skelton (D) and Kenny Hulshof (R) also attended the event.
More than 2000 people came out for the grand opening. The
plant has 729 members.
NCGA Photo Contest Under Way
Ready.
Aim. Shoot. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is
looking for the best photos of America's top crop in its "Gallery
of Corn" Photo Contest.
The contest
is open to all states organizations, its members and staff.
A grand prize of $500 will be awarded as well as cash prizes
to the top three entrants in each of the following categories:
•
Planting
• Growing
• Harvesting
• Livestock
• Families on the Farm
• Scenic
Contest
rules and entry forms are available at www.ncga.com.
Entries must be postmarked by Nov. 30, 2005. Winners will
be announced in December. All winning photographs will be
displayed at the 2006 Commodity Classic in Anaheim, Calif.
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Of
Special Interest:
Next
Week:
| June
6-8 |
NCGA Manager of Research and Business Development Nathan Fields
will attend the International Starch Conference in Urbana, Illinois. |
| June
6-10 |
NCGA
Joint Trade Policy A-Team Chair Bob Bowman, along with other members
of the team, will attend a USGC/NCGA Joint Trade A-Team Mission
to Geneva, Switzerland. |
More calendar information
is available on the NCGA Leader Resource Center, http://www.insidencga.com
© 2005 National
Corn Growers Association
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