Bush Energy Plan Provides Forum for Growing the U.S. Ethanol Market

NCGA views President Bush's Minneapolis speech - where he unveiled his energy policy proposal - as a forum to promote ethanol and other renewable fuels. Overall, the president called for increased production and distribution of all energy sources, and stated that renewable will play a role in providing energy security for the nation. (For the complete story)

Senators' Letter to VP Cheney Advocates a Key Role for Renewable Fuels in Energy Policy

NCGA supported efforts among key Senate allies on a letter endorsing ethanol's role in national energy policy that was sent to Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday. Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) led the effort to advance a prominent role for ethanol in U.S. energy policy. (For the complete story)

NCGA Set to Testify on Conservation, Waterways Issues Next Week

Next week will be a particularly busy one for NCGA's Washington, D.C., which will be participating in hearings before two congressional committees. A hearing on the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill will be held on May 23 before the House Ag Committee's Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research. Corn Board member Bill Horan of Rockwell City, Iowa, will represent NCGA as he delivers testimony on behalf of a coalition of commodity groups. That hearing will be held at 2:30 p.m. in 1300 Longworth. Also on May 23, Production & Stewardship Action Team member Tim Burrack of Arlington, Iowa, will testify before the House Transportation Committee's Water Resources Subcommittee. The hearing - set for 1 p.m. at 2165 Rayburn - will focus on waterway congestion.

NCGA Corn Board Positions Open

There's still time...to apply for a position on the NCGA Corn Board. You can make a difference for our nation's corn growers and strengthen the future of the NCGA through service on the NCGA Corn Board. Who can apply? Anyone who is a corn producer (owner, manager or operator), and is a member of NCGA, and a checkoff contributor, if applicable. Application materials have been mailed to all NCGA Corn Congress Delegates and Alternates, as well as all State Association and Checkoff Board offices. The deadline for receipt of applications is close-of-business on Friday, June 1, 2001. NCGA Nominating Committee members Lynn Jensen (Chairman), along with John Adams, Cal Dalton, Brian Peterson and Ray Schaub welcome your application, and look forward to hearing from you! If you would like a set of application materials mailed, faxed to emailed to you, please contact Kathy Baker at the NCGA St. Louis office, 636-733-9004, ext 111, or e-mail at baker@ncga.com.

NCGA Seeks Science-Based Environmental Solutions to CAFO Issues

NCGA is a signatory on a letter sent to the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee this week concerning EPA's proposed regulations on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). NCGA joined nearly 70 national and state agricultural organizations in voicing their concerns about the proposed regulations. It cites as an example a proposal that would call for a "requirement of a certification concerning hydrologic connections between surface and ground water just to determine if a federal permit is required. If enacted, this measure alone could cost family farms and ranches thousands of dollars. EPA's own estimates place the cost of compliance of this entire regulation package between $850 million to $940 million per year." The proposed CAFO regulations must be made final by December 2002. Send your comments by July 30, 2001, to: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Proposed Rule, EPA Office of Water, Division of Engineering and Analysis, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460.

NCGA Seeks Out Degermination's Economic Benefits to Ethanol Dry Mill Plants

The NCGA is continuing to leverage corn checkoff dollars through its various research programs, like its work on degermination in an ethanol dry mill. It is hoped this project will improve the profitability of dry grind ethanol plants. (For the complete story)

Research Supports NCGA's Claim that Animals Are Not Affected by Biotech Corn

Currently, in the United States, all biotech corn and soybeans that have reached the marketplace are approved for use in animal feed. But how do those biotech crops affect the animals that eat them? According to recent domestic and international research - nothing significant. (For the complete story)

Farm Groups Join Forces in Submitting Comments on Development of Nutrient Criteria

NCGA, the American Soybean Association (ASA) and nine other agricultural organizations submitted comments to the EPA recently concerning the Ecoregional Nutrient Criteria published in the Federal Register on Jan. 9, 2001. After stating that agriculture has achieved real success by increasing the efficiency of nutrient use and minimizing environmental impacts, the agricultural groups expressed that constructive solutions are based both on both scientific and practical issues. The comments raised concerns with the basic premise of setting criteria based on an arbitrary statistical approach and stressed it is essential that a cause-effect relationship be established between the concentrations and loads of specific nutrients and specific water use impairments. The groups supported the concept of EPA providing states additional guidance and maximum flexibility, but stressed the importance of opportunities for public involvement in the criteria development process.

USDA Appoints Trade Adviser; Agencies Announce Nominations

Ag Secretary Ann Veneman appointed David Hegwood as USDA's special trade adviser. Hegwood most recently served as an adviser on biotech and trade issue at CSC (corn, soybeans and cotton). He also is a former Foreign Agriculture Service officer, and was a top adviser at USDA during the Uruguay Round negotiations. And the White House nominated Bennett Raley and G. Tracy Mehan III to posts at Interior and EPA, respectively. Raley is nominated as assistant secretary for water and science at Interior. Mehan was tapped to direct EPA's implementation of the Clean Water Act (including wetlands regulations), issues such as CAFOs, AFOs and TMDL, and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Minnesota Legislature Joins NCGA in Support of Upper Mississippi Lock Improvements

The Minnesota State Senate, on May 8, overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging Congress to authorize and fund longer locks on the Mississippi River. Citing the competitve advantage, comparative efficiencies and fuel savings of barge traffic versus other modes, the State Senate and House put their support behind improving this vital link. The livelihood of Minnesota agriculture is reliant upon the Upper Mississippi System. Each year barges carry more than 10 million tons of agricultural products from Minnesota. "If American agriculture is going to remain competitive in global markets, we must make these improvements now" said Corn Board member Gerald Tumbleson of Minnesota. This effort was driven by the River Resources Alliance, a coalition of agriculture, transportation, commercial and public interest groups, and was spearheaded by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Soybean Association and Minnesota Farm Bureau.

NCGA This Week

• NCGA CEO Rick Tolman will be attending the World Ag Forum Monday, May 21, in St. Louis. Also that morning, he and other agricultural leaders will have a breakfast meeting with the European Union Agriculture Commissioner.
• NCGA Lee Klein is in Bangkok, Thailand,participating in a U.S. Department of State Speakers Program. (For the full story)

ST. LOUIS OFFICE

WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE