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Big
Victories for Big Rocks: NCGA's Year in Review (12-27-01)
What
a year for the nation and the nation's corn growers.
The
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is closing another successful
year. . Many of NCGA's "Big Rocks" (Ethanol, Trade, Research,
Transportation, Farm Bill, and Biotechnology) have seen big victories
over the last 12 months as corn growers around the country have joined
together to make their voices heard on these matters.
One
of the stories that just never seemed to go away was the claim that
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn harmed Monarch butterflies. A Cornell
report released more than two years ago stated the pollen of Bt corn
affected the larvae of the butterflies and those who opposed biotechnology
picked up the banner, using rumor and hearsay over the facts and sound
science.
Finally,
this summer, the EPA released a report saying what NCGA has said all
along-Bt corn does NOT have an adverse effect on Monarchs. The EPA report
said while there is a small chance that one in 100,000 monarch caterpillars
could be affected by toxic corn pollen, research suggests even those
larvae will mature into healthy butterflies. EPA`s conclusion that the
corn is relatively harmless to monarch populations is based in part
on field studies conducted last summer by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) in Maryland, Iowa and Minnesota.
On
the ethanol front, NCGA helped spearhead a movement to promote the several
positives the corn-derived fuel additive provides. The beginning of
ethanol's successful emergence this year actually began with a couple
of negatives. First, legislators who understood the need for clean air
stopped a last-minute push by California to achieve a waiver to the
Clean Air Act by the outgoing Clinton Administration. California continued
with its formal request for EPA to waive the oxygenate requirement in
their gasoline.Using sound science, based in part on studies supported
by NCGA, EPA denied the waiver and the fun continued with work in Congress
by California congressmen.
U.S.
Representatives Henry Waxman and Christopher Cox, both from California,
filed a motion to amend the Clean Air Act, which would allow a waiver
of the oxygenate requirement.
However,
corn growers took up the call and contacted their elected officials,
telling them in no uncertain terms, they did not want this amendment
made reality and they were heard. Waxman-Cox lost by 300 to 125. California
subsequently filed a lawsuit against the EPA. NCGA joined the suit as
an intervener. This means NCGA can participate in the court's proceedings.
Intervention provides two benefits. Interveners file a separate brief
to make up any shortcomings in the EPA's analysis or to expand on important
points and have a greater opportunity to discuss strategy with the EPA
and strengthen the case.
While
all of this was going on, NCGA helped continue the development of the
ethanol market by hosting two very successful "So You Want to Build
an Ethanol Plant" workshops in St. Louis and Lincoln, Neb., and
a workshop on using Distillers Dried Grain Solubles (DDGS), also in
Lincoln, Neb.
Another
huge victory for nation's corn growers was the passage of Trade Promotion
Authority (TPA). TPA helps corn growers and all farmers by allowing
them to market their product on the world market.
It
was a narrow victory, passing in the House of Representatives by a single
vote, but a victory nonetheless. It awaits a vote in the Senate.
Checkoff-funded
research continued through 2001, with projects such as 1,3-propanediol,
fiber utilization, extremophiles and AgVision 2020 moving along successfully.
These projects would not be possible if not for the checkoff programs
of 19 grower states. A 20th program also began this year when Indiana's
corn checkoff program went into effect on Sept. 1st.
The
rivers made news this year on two fronts: Updated the lock and dam system
on the Upper Mississippi and preventing a spring-rise situation on the
Missouri River. NCGA had strong allies on both fronts, with U.S. Representatives
Sonny Callahan (R-AL) and Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) leading the battle for
a modernized transportation system, while U.S. Senators Kit Bond (R-MO)
and Jean Carnahan (D-MO) took up the fight on behalf of corn growers
to prevent the Missouri River from being re-directed and adversely affecting
farmers by a spring-rise. Spring-rise would cause flooding of their
land during the spring months and a significant drop in water levels
during the summer months that would make the transportation of corn
growers' product impossible.
So,
NCGA closes the books on another year and looks forward to facing the
challenges in 2002, confident their 32,000 members and the 300,000 corn
growers they represent will be up to the task.
Last reviewed
December 27, 2001
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