IN THIS ISSUE:

• NCGA Membership Soars to All-Time High
• NCGA Grower's Testimony Stresses Farmers' Commitment to Balancing Corn Rootworm Technology with Science-Based IRM Regulations
• NCGA's Corn Yield Contest Attracts Entrants Despite Adversity
• NCGA, Grains Council Travel to Geneva to Discuss WTO Status
• NCGA's Corzine Discusses Biotechnology in Iowa
• Grains Council to Promote U.S. Grains in Cuba
• Syngenta Trains NCGA Corn Leaders of Tomorrow
• NCGA Growers Review the Finer Points
• NCGA Welcomes New Communications Specialist in D.C.
  

NCGA Membership Soars to All-Time High
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Citing recent victories as a key factor, Byron Keelin, NCGA's membership services manager, proudly announced membership for the corn grower organization is at an all-time high, with a national enrollment of 32,300 and rising.

"Our legislative successes have been key in increasing membership this year," he said. "NCGA has been instrumental in trade promotion authority passing, the renewable fuels standard being included in the nation's energy bill which is now in conference, and the passage of the farm bill. Congress sees NCGA as an ally in creating fair and consistent farm programs and that gives us a high level of legitimacy and respectability by the growers."

Strong programs and support of the NCGA Corn Board benefit all and help attract new members. "I also attribute the growth in membership to focused leadership from our Corn Board," continued Keelin. "Strong programs like the recent farm bill implementation meetings, the 'So You Want To Build An Ethanol Plant' meetings, the trade school, our distillers grains conferences, the National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC)...all of those have been key in attracting new members."

Membership is up more than 760 members in comparison to this time last year and up 374 members just in the last 30 days.

"I think it's fantastic," said NCGA Grower Services Action Team Chairman and Yuma, Colo., corn grower Scott Wall. "The fact we've gained that kind of support is great and we're going to continue to work to gain even more members."

Keelin said the recent surge in membership should continue to snowball and showcases NCGA as an organization with growers' rights as a priority. "Having the number of members we have--an historic number for us--especially in this time of national economic struggle and also with the drought conditions we're seeing, shows farmers recognize what NCGA is doing to promote new opportunities for them," he said. "They see membership in their state and national organizations as an investment."

The hard work put in by grower states and their recruiters has paid off and is one of the reasons for the high number. "Minnesota has done well and Ohio has done extremely well, having the largest increase in membership of any state. Missouri's membership is also at an all-time high right now. Iowa has done a great job; and Michigan has done well, winning our third-quarter recruitment award."

Ohio Corn Growers Association Executive Director Mike Wagner agrees with Keelin, saying legislative victories have been key in attracting new members. "I believe with what we've done nationally as far as passage of the farm bill and TPA has played a big role in increasing membership," he said. "We have an excellent board of directors who have done great work on our call-a-thons and have spent a lot of time and money getting the word out and it's paying off.

"The strength and success of NCGA policy and NCGA leaders has helped make all this possible," Wagner continued. "Without excellent people, we have nothing and we do have excellent people."

Keelin said even some of the smaller grower states have had a great recruitment year. "Tennessee won our second-quarter award this year," said Keelin, "so it shows even our small states are doing well with recruitment."

NCGA Grower's Testimony Stresses Farmers' Commitment to Balancing Corn Rootworm Technology with Science-Based IRM Regulations
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Stressing farmers' commitment to preserving biotechnology for future generations of farmers, while at the same time producing abundant, healthy food and protecting the environment, Iowa farmer Helen Inman testified Aug. 28 in Washington on the need for consistent, farmer friendly, scientifically based insect resistance management (IRM) regulations with MON 863, the corn rootworm biotech event.

Inman, who operates a corn and soybean rotation operation near Bancroft, Iowa, testified on behalf of the NCGA before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP). She is vice chairman of the NCGA Biotech Working Group, a member of the Iowa Biotech Committee and past chairman of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

The NCGA was among several farm groups testifying to the SAP, which is gathering input on MON 863 corn rootworm IRM regulations.

Presenting a farmer's perspective on biotechnology, Inman said that, as a producer in an ever changing agricultural world, she has come to realize the potential of biotechnology to farmers and consumers.

"Currently on our farming operation, 100 percent of our soybeans are herbicide resistant and about 55 percent of our corn is Bt," she said. "We make all of our planting decisions based on safety, economics and marketability."

She assured SAP members that the farmers NCGA represents want to be sure that all decisions made are from sound science, not politics. "Our operations are built on flexibility in order to handle whatever Mother Nature decided to put our way," she noted. "However, we do not need any more variability in production requirements than are really necessary. IRM must be workable and consistent in order to be applied in the real world."

Thanks to biotechnology, the "footprint" farming is making on the environment has grown much lighter, she said, explaining that she has significantly reduced pesticide and herbicide applications on her farm. She added, though, that farmers still need to have access to basic chemistry to control some pests. "Farming is not like manufacturing, in that we control very few factors in producing a crop, so we must have the flexibility, she said."

Inman stressed that, like all U.S. regulatory decisions, IRM regulations for corn rootworm corn must be based on sound science. "Farmers will be more likely to comply if they are assured that regulations have a basis in scientific research and fact," she explained.

Stating the need for corn rootworm technology to control the costly pest, Inman concluded that she is committed to farming in an environmentally responsible manner. "To accomplish this goal, I feel that maintaining the technology is of utmost significance," she said. "Most important, the regulatory regime for biotechnology needs to be science based and farmer friendly, ensuring consistency and flexibility."

NCGA's Corn Yield Contest Attracts Entrants Despite Adversity
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This year's adverse weather conditions and expected lower corn yields have not kept growers from entering the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Yield Contest (CYC) in near-record numbers. Despite flooding in the spring, drought in the summer, and a sluggish economy, NCGA has received nearly 3,300 applications. Last year, more than 3,200 growers from 45 states entered the contest. The resulting top yields from farmers who placed first, second and third places nationally in the respective categories ranged from 408.2 to 224.8 bushels per acre.

Based on conditions up to August, national yields are expected to average 125.2 bushels per acre, down 13.0 bushels from last year, according to USDA. "Yields are mostly lower than 2001 because of several factors including a wet spring followed by a drought in the eastern Corn Belt and a persistent drought in the West," said NCGA Director of Production and Marketing Paul Bertels, "but the possibility of lower yields shouldn't have an effect on CYC entries. We've seen a pretty good response and part of that is a result of the discontinuation of the Iowa Masters yield contest, so we're expecting the final tally to have more entrants from Iowa."

NCGA expects to have the final tally the first week of September.

As in years past, the CYC winners will be honored during an awards banquet at the Commodity Classic, the combined convention and trade show hosted by NCGA and the American Soybean Association (ASA). This year, Classic will be held in Charlotte, N.C., Feb. 27-March 1. CYC winners will be announced Dec. 16. For more information about the CYC, visit the NCGA web site at <http://www.ncga.com/02profits/CYC/main/index.html>.

NCGA, Grains Council Travel to Geneva to Discuss WTO Status
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NCGA and the U.S. Grains Council will continue advocating its members' interests in the World Trade Organization's agricultural negotiations when representatives from the Trade Policy Advisory Team travel to Geneva Sept. 8-11. The group will discuss the status of the WTO negotiations with key WTO member delegations. "We will be arriving in Geneva just after the special session on market access, and right before the next WTO meetings on domestic support scheduled for late September," said Kevin Natz, USGC manager of trade relations and team escort. "In addition to the negotiations, the team will address specific feed grain trade issues such as the European Commission's proposed renegotiation of its market access commitments for grains, Venezuela's corn import ban and market access for corn and sorghum into India." Advisory team members who will travel to Geneva are: NCGA Corn Board member Dee Vaughan, Gayl Hopkins of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Dan Kidd of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee and Dan Pearson of Cargill, Inc.

--Submitted by U.S. Grains Council

NCGA's Corzine Discusses Biotechnology in Iowa
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NCGA Biotech Working Group Chairman Leon Corzine was in Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 22, discussing biotech at the Iowa Corn Growers Association/Iowa Corn Promotion Board Biotechnology Conference. The conference brought together key government officials from organizations such as USDA and EPA with farmers and corn industry representatives so both sides can better understand the science, regulation and logistics of growing, handling, storing and processing biotechnology products.

"I talked about NCGA and its role in biotech," said the Assumption, Ill., corn grower, "as well as what we see as biotechnology's role in the future and our goals, such as working with government agencies and other industries to develop uniform standards and being a watchdog for corn producers.

"I really pushed the farmer aspect of biotech," Corzine continued, "and described how NCGA's job is to promote the corn grower's role in that arena."

Corzine also discussed NCGA's promotions of insect resistance management (IRM) and "Know Before You Grow."

"I discussed how we work with government agencies and industry to develop IRM, and also went over our 'Know Before You Grow' program," he said. "I focused on our position as a watchdog on regulation for the commercialization of regulated corn and how, many times, NCGA is the facilitator between government and industry."

Corzine also discussed the work NCGA has done with the U.S. Grains Council and how it has helped corn growers. "We've worked with Grains Council when dealing with China and the European Union (EU) and their expertise in the area of international affairs has benefited us greatly," said Corzine.

"Part of my presentation was a 'State of the State,' where we looked at where we are today in reference to biotech and how most sectors support the technology," he said. "Consumer studies tend to be positive after they've been educated on the subject. I also congratulated the agencies present on their contributions with U.S. acceptance of biotech and the good work they've done on the regulatory processes."

Grains Council to Promote U.S. Grains in Cuba
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The Council will promote U.S. grains in Cuba at the first-ever U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition Sept. 26-30 in Havana. The activity is being funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and two Council leaders from Illinois - Vice Chairman Terry Wolf and Director Hugh David Scates - will attend. A Council exhibit and promotional materials will educate an expected 15,000-plus visitors and potential buyers about the uses and benefits of U.S. barley, corn and sorghum and their products. After traveling to Cuba in March on a USGC officers mission, Wolf noted, "The Cubans we met displayed sincerity about importing from the United States. Officials commented that the U.S. could supply 50 percent of Cuba's imports, valued at $600 million U.S. dollars per year, if trade sanctions were not in place."

Even with sanctions limiting Cuba's ability to buy U.S. products, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service estimates that purchases of U.S. agricultural products will top $165 million in 2002. This would rank Cuba 45th of 180 countries doing business with the United States, compared to 138th in 2001 and 180th in 2000. FAS projects that Cuba could rank 33rd in 2003, with purchases exceeding $250 million.

--Submitted by U.S. Grains Council

Syngenta Trains NCGA Corn Leaders of Tomorrow
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Successful leadership entails having the ability to lead a group that has similar interests and many differences and have it work together for a common cause. Developing such leadership skills brought nearly 40 corn and soybean growers together Aug. 22-24 in Greensboro, N.C.

Tomorrow's leaders for NCGA and the American Soybean Association were put through the paces sharpening their leadership skills at the Syngenta Crop Protection Leadership Development Program. Hosted by Syngenta, growers were given a taste of on-camera interviewing, presenting before an audience and developing useful social skills. They were taught how to recognize and communicate with various personality types and given the opportunity to work together throughout the three-day event. In January, the NCGA growers will visit Washington for part two of the training program, which includes visits to Capitol Hill and working with lobbyists.

Rick Tolman, chief executive officer for NCGA, was keynote speaker during the NCGA training session. He emphasized the impact association leaders have on corn's role in agriculture. "Taking an active role in the association is important. We will always need strong leaders," he told the group of 20 corn growers at the meeting. "Leaders in the National Corn Growers Association have an impact on national policy as well as new uses for corn."

Chuck Rumbarger, founder of Association Mangement Group, Inc., echoed the importance of strong direction in his session on association leadership. Rumbarger emphasized the importance of distinguishing between national and state roles. "When you are at a national meeting you are representing the national association, and you must take your state hat off," he said.

Throughout his session, Rumbarger answered questions from the group regarding their concerns and roles in a leadership position. One of the strengths an association leader must have is being able to "get a group of people going together in the same direction at the same time, especially, a group of individuals who are volunteering their time in the association. After all, you didn't hire them and you can't fire them, but you must make them march in the same direction. Now that takes leadership."

Other leadership trainers included Dan Schwalbe, president of the Schwalbe Group, who offer persuasion skills training; Steve Powell, public relations director for the Bouvier-Kelly Agency, who led in presentation skills training; and Ken Gordon, external communications manager for Syngenta, who instructed the group in media training.

NCGA Growers Review the Finer Points
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Picture this: You're seated at a formal dinner and your place is set with numerous glasses, two plates and at least three forks. It's time to start eating, but which fork is yours? Which glass do you pick up and on what plate do you put that roll?

NCGA and American Soybean Association growers tackled these social issues and more as they reviewed the finer points of etiquette during lunch at the Syngenta Crop Protection Developing Leadership Training Aug. 22-24 in Greensboro, N.C.

Jodie Vesey, etiquette specialist with the Etiquette Institute, addressed not just table etiquette, but also reviewed the proper way to greet and shake hands, what to wear when attending meetings in Washington and the finer points of social etiquette. "No one is born with etiquette, it is something that is learned," she said.

What does etiquette have to do with leadership? Simply put, Vesey said it's a matter of being able to bridge gaps and prepare tomorrow's agriculture leaders for formal dinners and other social occasions in locales such as Washington, D.C. Knowing proper etiquette helps put one at ease in social situations.

"If I showed up to work on your farm dressed in a business suit, pantyhose and wearing heels, what would you think?" she asked. "Now, would you go to Washington in your work clothes?"

NCGA Welcomes New Communications Specialist in D.C.
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NCGA would like to welcome aboard Tracy Taylor Grondine, who joined the NCGA staff Aug. 26 in the position of Senior Communications Specialist in the DC office. Tracy is from West Virginia and has a wealth of experience in policy and communications. She started her Washington career working for Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV). She has worked for several fundraising firms, the National Grange and, most recently for Golin/Harris International, a public relations firm where she worked on several major accounts. NCGA is pleased to have Tracy as a member of our corn growers' family.

NCGA THIS WEEK
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• Sept. 2 NCGA offices will be closed in observance of the Labor Day holiday
• Sept. 4 NCGA CEO Rick Tolman will be in New Orleans attending a meeting of the Midwest Area River Coalition 2000 (MARC 2000) board of directors
  

ST. LOUIS OFFICE

WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE