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April 6 , 2001 * Volume 8 * Number 9
NCGA
Mobilizes All Forces to Stop the California Oxygenate Waiver-Again
On Wednesday, NCGA
confirmed reports that the White House was in the process of making
a decision on California's request for a waiver from the oxygen content
requirement of the reformulated gasoline program. Immediately, NCGA
issued a "Call to Action" via a Government Relations Bulletin (GRB)
that was disseminated to key internal groups. The GRB stated, "We believe
that the major oil companies marketing gasoline in California are attempting
to convince the White House that there are insufficient quantities of
ethanol to supply the California market as they phase out MTBE by the
end of 2002. The agriculture community is not being consulted on this
decision. Low commodity prices and the nation's energy shortage are
the basis for our opposition to the compromise. We need to make our
voices heard. We are asking you to urge your members to contact the
White House Switchboard at 202-456-1414 and tell them that corn growers
will be irreparably harmed if the California waiver is granted." A conference
call was held with state executives on Thursday to review the activities
that the states had taken. NCGA strongly urges corn growers to keep
the pressure on the White House.
NCGA
Unveils Electronic Version of 2001 World of Corn
The NCGA has unveiled
the all new, electronic version of World of Corn, the annual almanac
of the corn industry, on its web
site. The World of Corn features comprehensive data from the 2000
crop year, including world corn production, U.S. corn production, U.S.
corn crop value, biotechnology in agriculture, U.S. corn consumption,
livestock, exports, ethanol and food and industrial uses.
Daschle,
Lugar Sponsor Pro-Ethanol Legislation
A bill that would
triple the domestic ethanol industry by 2010 has been introduced by
Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Richard Lugar (R-IN). The Renewable Fuels
Act of 2001 S. 670 contains provisions to maintain the environmental
benefits of the reformulated gasoline program (RFG) and simultaneously
retain the current RFG oxygen content requirement. This provision is
a significant improvement over last year's version of the legislation.
NCGA worked closely with Sens. Daschle and Lugar to preserve the oxygenate
requirement. This bill includes a strong environmental backsliding provision
that would require refiners to continue the production of clean conventional
gasoline even after low-sulfur gas is introduced in 2004. S. 670 also
bans MTBE within four years and empowers the EPA Administrator with
new authority to protect water resources from gasoline components. The
goals this bill sets-tripling the size of the ethanol industry, eliminating
MTBE and maintaining the oxygen requirement-all mesh with the concept
of a rational, sustainable national energy strategy that NCGA has endorsed.
Senate
Passes FY 2002 Budget
The Senate on Friday
afternoon passed H. Con. Res. 83 by a margin of 65-35. The Senate-passed
budget is notable for the support it provides to agriculture; for farmer
income supports, it directs $63 billion during the next 10 years to
the ag budget baseline. Here is the fiscal year-by-yearbreakdown: a
FY 2001 supplemental payment of $5 billion; FY 2002-05 ($7 billion);
FY 2006-07 ($6 billion); FY 2008 ($5 billion); FY 2009 ($4 billion);
FY 2010-11 ($3 billion). Also included is another $3.5 billion for conservation
efforts spread over 10 years ($350 million annually). Last week, the
House passed its budget proposal by a 222-205 party-line vote. The House-passed
package did not have specific dollar amounts for the next Farm Bill,
but instead directed the House Committee on Agriculture to write the
farm programs portion of the Farm Bill by July 11 and then the money
would be allocated from the contingency fund. The House and Senate actions,
while very different, clearly indicate that additional money has been
found to support the farm policies that will make up the next Farm Bill.
Moseley,
Hawks Nominated for USDA Posts
Earlier this week,
President Bush announced the nomination of James R. Moseley to be USDA
Deputy Secretary. Moseley will serve as the agency's number two official,
responsible for the day-to-day operations. From 1990-92, he served as
assistant secretary of agriculture for natural resources and the environment
and functioned as the agency's lead negotiator on wetlands, livestock
grazing and endangered species issues. Moseley served as EPA's agricultural
advisor from 1989-90. He is currently the president of a hog and farming
operation in Indiana. Other USDA announcements the White House has made
in the last month include: Bill Hawks, Undersecretary of Agriculture
for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; J.B. Penn, Undersecretary for
Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services; Tom Dorr, Undersecretary for
Rural Development; Joseph Jen has been chosen as Undersecretary of Agriculture
for Research, Education and Economics; and Eric Bost for Undersecretary
for Food and Consumer Services. Hawks was formerly a member of the Mississippi
Corn Growers Association.
Cargill
Dow Wraps Golf Balls in Corn
Cargill Dow LLC
has announced that packaging for Dunlop golf balls will be made from
PLA, the corn based polymer. Cargill Dow says this is the first full-scale,
mass market packaging film application for PLA. Launched in the Japanese
market by Mitsubishi Plastics, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., Dunlop
Japan Ltd. And Cargill Dow LLC, the polymer is being unveiled as a new,
environmentally responsible packaging option for Dunlop golf balls.
Fishable
Waters Act Introduced in Senate
Earlier this week,
Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) introduced S. 678 (Fishable Waters Act, or FWA).
In February, Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) introduced the bill (H.R. 325)
in the House. This legislation has been the work of a coalition of partners-led
by NCGA in the agriculture community and the American Sportfishing Association
in the fishing community-seeking common ground on water quality issues.
This legislation is important because while addressing the issues of
water quality, we retain our goals of locally led, voluntary, incentive-based
partnerships. Look for further developments on this legislation in the
coming months and throughout the development of the Conservation Title
of the next Farm Bill.
Tracy
Snider is NCGA's New Livestock Manager
Tracy Snider joined
the NCGA as livestock manager April 2. Tracy is originally from Southwest
Missouri and has a degree in animal science from Truman State University
in Kirksville, Mo. She has extensive experience in marketing and sales
of nutrition and feed products and is an equine specialist for her former
employer. Her family has a beef operation and Tracy has a great deal
of experience in that area as well. She has already relocated to St.
Louis from Cedar Rapids, Iowa with her horses.
Byron
Keelin is NCGA's New Membership Manager
Byron "Butch" Keelin
Joined the NCGA as membership manager April 2. Butch brings to the NCGA
more than eight years of experience in membership and association related
work. In his last position Byron worked to develop new ways to bring
new members to the American Optometric Association. He also was successful
in providing new services that were highly effective in retaining current
members. Byron also has experience in working with various action teams
and committees to create valued-dded services and products for members.
Butch is a resident of the St. Louis area.
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