IN THIS ISSUE:

• NCGA Continues Streak of Success Through End of Fiscal Year
• NCGA Tops Membership Record
• NCGA Encourages President Bush to Reopen West Coast Ports
• NCGA Learns Corn Will Not Receive Counter-Cyclical Payments At This Time
• NCGA, Grains Council Show International Visitors Benefits of Biotech
• NCGA Applauds USDA on Revised Oilseed Calculation
• NCGA On the Move: On Schedule & Under Budget
• Space Still Available for NCGA's Texas Distillers' Grains Promotion
• NCGA, Grains Council Provide Science Facts on Biotech
• NCGA 1,3-Propanediol Project Provides Success Story for Checkoff Dollars
• NCGA President named to ACA Board of Directors
  

NCGA Continues Streak of Success Through End of Fiscal Year

Sept. 30 marked the end of the 2002 fiscal year for NCGA, and the year ended on a high note for the nation's corn grower organization, which has seen some of its most notable accomplishments over the past 12 months. With FY 03 beginning this week, NCGA CEO Rick Tolman took a look back at the previous 90 days and outlined some of the key accomplishments:

• NCGA organized 11 farm bill implementation meetings and released the farm bill calculator to further help growers understand the bill and determine how the farm bill affects their operations.
• NCGA closed the year by preparing for its upcoming move to a new facility in St. Louis County as an economic move to increase efficiency and return greater value to members and growers who invest checkoff dollars in the association.
• NCGA is also building equity in the area of research and development by continuing to develop commercial relationships with groups such as Cargill Dow, Shell, the Department of Energy and others.
• While the fourth quarter didn't see the completion of a national energy bill with a renewable fuels standard, the bill was passed to conference and NCGA growers not only continue to put pressure on their elected officials to get this issue finished, but to actively defend the bill both in their communities and on a national level.
• A continuing issue for NCGA and the nation's corn growers has been the national and international acceptance of biotechnology. Recent trips to Europe plus participation in the World Corn Congress in Pau, France, have been a step in the right direction.
• NCGA also established a crop disaster task force to address the plight of corn growers affected by adverse weather conditions nationwide. "We have been very successful this past year at building partnerships and coalitions and finding the common ground with groups for the benefit of the corn producers that we represent. This is an important principle - there is great strength in partnership and coalition," Tolman noted.

NCGA Tops Membership Record

NCGA continues to attract corn growers from all over the country as membership soared to 32,369 in August, an increase of 441 from July 2002 and a 1,165 member increase from July 2001. This record did not stand long as September was another record month with 32,379 members, a 10-member increase from August 2002. While most associations are experiencing significant declines in membership, NCGA membership grew 1.52 percent for the fiscal year 2001 - 2002, said NCGA Membership Services Manager Byron Keelin. "Several states also had significant increases in membership this year too," he said. "Ohio Corn Growers Association added 305 members to its roster a 15.8 percent increase, North Dakota added 206 members a 15.47 percent increase, Illinois added 191 members a 4.6 percent increase."

Other states include Missouri 169 members, Wisconsin 101 members, Minnesota added 215 members, Iowa added 81 members, Michigan added 28 members and Tennessee added 13 members.

NCGA Encourages President Bush to Reopen West Coast Ports

NCGA and U.S. Grains Council were among 34 other agriculture organizations urging President Bush to reopen U.S. West Coast ports and force a resumption of shipping. In a letter sent to the President, NCGA and the other agriculture groups expressed concern about the devastating impact the shutdown is having on U.S. exports. As the situation intensifies, the sustainability of American agriculture is put at risk. "American farmers heavily rely on exports for a major source of income," said NCGA Director of Public Policy Hayden Milberg. "Without the means to export farm commodities and products, perishable goods will be lost. Already grain is backing up in elevators and in warehouses in the Pacific Northwest. Just recently the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, a major rail carrier to and from West Coast ports, reportedly declared an embargo on new rail shipments from inland producers to Pacific Northwest export docks. "This could not come at a worse time as the 2002 harvest gets underway," continued Milberg. "This will place added pressure to an already stressed and congested grain transportation system." To read the full text of the letter, click here <http://www.ncga.com/public_policy/PDF/Trade_Dock_Workers_Strike.pdf>.

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What's New at the Leader Resource Center

NCGA Grower Leaders can receive weekly updates on the latest additions to the LRC! Visit www.insidencga.com <http://www.insidencga.com> for more information on this subscription service or e-mail corninfo@ncga.com<mailto:corninfo@ncga.com> for more!
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NCGA, Grains Council Show International Visitors Benefits of Biotech

NCGA and U.S. Grains Council provided information on biotechnology to a multi-national group during the Seventh Annual Corn Harvest and Industry Tour hosted by the Nebraska Corn Board last week. The 18 visitors, whose trip was sponsored by USGC, were from Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore ranged from grain buyers to journalists. As part of the tour, they visited cornfields, seed facilities, hog and cattle operations, food grade corn facilities and grain inspection offices.

"This is our effort on behalf of Nebraska corn producers to show our international customers that Nebraska corn meets or exceeds some of the highest quality characteristics in the world," said Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. "Nebraska farmers are using both biotech crops and conventional seed to provide quality, value and choice to the end user."

Participants also learned that the Nebraska crop quality is high despite the drought afflicting the state thanks to irrigation on 80 percent of the acreage there. The tour had a direct effect on grain sales as members of the Vietnamese delegation placed orders for dried distillers grains made from corn while they were in the state, Hutchens added.
--Submitted by U.S. Grains Council

NCGA Learns Corn Will Not Receive Counter-Cyclical Payments At This Time

NCGA has learned corn will not receive an advance counter-cyclical payment at this time for 2002 harvested program crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made the announcement late last week.

Currently, USDA estimates the marketing year average price for corn at $2.55, making it too high for corn growers to receive counter-cyclical payments in this installment. "USDA's decision not to advance provide counter-cyclical with this estimate is not surprising given current market prices," said NCGA Director of Public Policy Sam Willett. "But this estimate does not eliminate the possibility of counter-cyclical payments for corn later this year."

NCGA Applauds USDA on Revised Oilseed Calculation

NCGA applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on its announcement this week to modify oilseed calculations under the 2002 Farm Bill. NCGA policy directors have been involved in a series of discussions with Farm Service Agency (FSA) officials on changing the formulation of oilseed bases. During deliberations, NCGA played an important role in revising the oilseed bases acreage rules and the production records required for yields for the new counter-cyclical payment plan. Under the prior formulation, disparities occurred for farms that planted a corn/soybean rotation 100 percent of the year, in comparison to farms that planted in a 50/50 corn/soybean rotation. "NCGA made known early on its concerns about the disparities found in the prior oilseed bases calculation," said NCGA Director of Public Policy Sam Willett. "The FSA should be commended for listening to our growers and responding with a common sense solution."

NCGA On the Move: On Schedule & Under Budget

It's three weeks and counting as the St. Louis staff of NCGA prepares to move into its new facility in west St. Louis County, and, according to Dr. Richard Glass, NCGA vice president of research and development, everything's moving according to plan. "We (were at the building yesterday) and everything is progressing according to schedule," said Glass. "In fact, we're currently under-budget for the project, which is always positive." NCGA Director of Human Resources Judi Segalini said the construction has been fast-paced. "It's really moving along," she said. "All drywall is up, all the cubicles are completed and ready to be painted. Construction is moving on time, we're moving forward very nicely and we're very excited." In addition to providing more space than the building that currently houses the corn grower organization (8,400 sq. ft. as opposed to 6,800 sq. ft.), the new building will be owned outright by NCGA and that will provide a better investment. Visit the NCGA Leader Resource Center (LRC) at <http://www.insidencga.com/?p=19429> to see photo and video updates!
The new address is:
NCGA
632 Cepi Drive
Chesterfield, MO 63005
Ph: 636-733-9004
FAX: 636-733-9005

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Harvest 2002

NCGA Grower Leaders can access a Harvest 2002 discussion board by visiting the NCGA Leader Resource Center at www.insidencga.com <http://www.insidencga.com>.

The Harvest 2002 Discussion board is found on the LRC under "Other NCGA Issues" and then by clicking on Harvest 2002. Growers can post comments on their harvest and answer a short 3-question Harvest 2002 survey.
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Space Still Available for NCGA's Texas Distillers' Grains Promotion

There is still time to register for NCGA's third distillers dry grains solubles (DDGS) conference scheduled for Oct. 30-31 at the Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo, Texas. NCGA Livestock Programs and Information Manager Tracy Snider says the NCGA Southwest Distillers Grains Conference, sponsored by the Texas Corn Producers Board and the National Grain Sorghum Producers Board, is expected to be as successful as the previous two symposiums. "We've seen a lot of success with these meetings," said Snider, "because there is a need to get this information and education out there. As ethanol production increases, more people are going to be interested in co-products. NCGA is filling a necessary role and our customers see that." Rates for the conference are $150 per person or $100 per person in a group of two or more, but only before Oct. 11. For those paying after Oct. 11, individual cost is $200 and the group rate is $150. For those interested in the conference, contact Jennifer Mueller at 636-733-9004 ext. 118 or e-mail at mueller@ncga.com<mailto:mueller@ncga.com>.

For more information about the conference or to register online, visit the NCGA website at <http://www.ncga.com/research/ddg/index.htm>.

NCGA, Grains Council Provide Science Facts on Biotech

More than 4.1 million readers will learn about the safety of biotechnology thanks to a USGC-sponsored visit by three food writers from Japan to the Midwest Sept. 22-Oct. 4.

"I think decisions on biotechnology need to based on scientific facts," former Council Chairman and Nebraska Corn Board Director Bob Dickey told the journalists while visiting his farm during the Nebraska Corn Harvest Tour. "We plant sweet corn right next to the Bt corn. I believe it's a safe product that makes sense for my farm."

The team followed corn from planter to plate learning about the U.S. system through visits in Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Louisiana with Council members including: the Chicago Board of Trade; the Nebraska Corn Board; Pioneer, A DuPont Company; the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; Cargill, Inc.; and Monsanto Company.

"We visited the labs where this science is developed while also seeing the damage that a corn borer can do to a plant without that added protection," said Hiroko Sakashita, associate director of the Council's Tokyo office and team escort. "The journalists learned through hands-on experience why farmers choose to use biotech crops in their operation and viewed the potential benefits of this technology."
--Submitted by U.S. Grains Council

NCGA 1,3-Propanediol Project Provides Success Story for Checkoff Dollars

State checkoff monies provided to NCGA help the association in its research and development mission to find new uses for corn. The latest corn-based research project to leverage checkoff dollars takes a positive step forward for bioproducts.

Officially referred to as 1,3-propanediol (PDO) via fermentation derived from malonic acid, the program was a collaborative between NCGA, the Department of Energy (DOE), who provided a grant for half of the project's overall $1.7 million price tag; the Grain Processing Corporation; and DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory managed by the Battelle Memorial Institute (PNNL). Checkoff money was also used to assist in project funding. The purpose of the recently created project was to turn corn into 1,3-propanediol, a chemical that can be used to create a new synthetic fiber similar to polyester. "Research such as this project will help to develop a strong bioproducts industry. This new industry will provide a growing market for corn," said NCGA Director of Business Development Rene Shunk.

NCGA President named to ACA Board of Directors

NCGA President Fred Yoder was recently appointed to the board of directors of the Agriculture Council of America (ACA). The ACA's focus is promoting the food and agriculture industry and is a broad-based membership organization through which food and fiber-related interests work together using effective communication to promote and build support for decisions that will ensure agricultural profitability.

NCGA THIS WEEK

• Oct. 7 NCGA Vice President of Marketing Brian Stockman and Vice President of Research and Development Dr. Richard Glass will attend a management team meeting in Washington, D.C.
• Oct. 7-9 NCGA Director of Production and Economics Paul Bertels will conduct yield checks for the NCGA Corn Yield Contest in Amarillo, Texas
• Oct. 8 NCGA CEO Rick Tolman and Glass will attend a biobased products forum in Washington, D.C.
  

© 2002 National Corn Growers Association

ST. LOUIS OFFICE

WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE