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Corn
Growers Send Letter to Santa (12-21-01)
Dear
Santa...
We
at the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) have been really, extra-special
good this year. We've promoted cleaner burning ethanol to protect the
environment and checkoff-funded research to use more of our abundant
corn crop to provide consumers with better goods. We've also worked
to share accessibility of biotechnology crops and to play nicely with
our international trading partners. Because we've been good, we have
a few things we'd like to have in our stockings on Christmas morning:
1.
More ethanol plants and a place for ethanol in the form of a renewable
fuels standard in the national energy policy. Ethanol represents opportunities
for U.S. energy independence, new jobs and new markets for corn growers,
as well as a cleaner-burning, renewable alternative fuel additive. Thanks
to the hard work of NCGA members and staff, ethanol has had a strong
voice this year and corn growers have another strong market for corn.
2.
We want the current lock and dam system on the Mississippi River updated.
With the current system, corn growers collectively could lose millions
every year because they will be unable to get their product to markets
that want and need them. (Sure, you're using old technology to deliver
presents worldwide, but unfortunately we need to make the locks and
dams compliant with 21st Century needs.)
3.
And while we're talking about the river, please give the environmentalists
who support a spring rise on the Missouri River the understanding that
what their doing is going to hurt real people, not statistics. Those
are real farmers who are going to be flooded and those are real farmers
who are going to be affected when the water level on the river is so
low, barges will be unable to carry those growers' corn to market.
4.
Continued support for corn-related research and market development.
Thanks to funds supplied by the grower checkoff boards of 20 corn grower
states, NCGA has remained a key player in the field of ag research.
Projects such as PLA, fiber fermentation, and AgVision 2020 will provide
consumers with better merchandise and will provide corn growers with
more new markets.
5.
More understanding of biotechnology. Let people make their decisions
on biotech based upon sound science and not propaganda from people who
don't know or misrepresent all the facts.
6.
And finally, Santa, please bring all of our troops home safely and give
our leaders the wisdom to make the right decisions during this tough
time in our history.
P.S.
As always, NCGA will leave a bowl of corn chips for you (plus a couple
of bags of chips for your staff at the office) and some nutritious DDGS
for the reindeer.
Love,
The staff, affiliated state association and checkoff offices and boards
and the 32,000 members of NCGA
Last reviewed
December 21, 2001
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