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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Betsy Croker, NCGA,
202-257-2885
Mimi Ricketts,
NCGA, 636-733-9004
NCGA Asks Army Corps
For Lock and Dam Modernization Now
(ST. LOUIS) October
20, 2003 -- The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today announced
its support for Economic Alternative 6, which calls for seven new locks
and five lock extensions on the Upper Mississippi River system. The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will kick off a series of public meetings
later today on the economic and environmental alternatives for modernizing
the river’s locks and dams.
NCGA also announced
its support for a greater environmental investment in the river but
did not identify a specific alternative. The organization believes the
environmental alternatives need to be more fully vetted and studied,
something it has committed to do.
“NCGA supports
Economic Alternative 6 because it will help corn growers move their
product efficiently, safely and in an environmentally friendly manner,”
said NCGA President Dee Vaughan. “Corn growers need new locks
and dams in order to remain competitive and to meet the challenge presented
by our foreign competitors. ”
Vaughan also strongly
encouraged the Corps to remain on schedule to complete the Upper Mississippi/Illinois
Waterway Navigation Feasibility Study next year so that Congress can
act to authorize new locks and dams. Congress is waiting for the Corps
to complete work on this study before it approves construction plans.
Currently, serious
congestion delays at seven locks inhibit the free flow of bulk commodities.
Unless they are upgraded soon, barge delays will continue and the cost
of transporting U.S. commodities to the Gulf of Mexico will rise, hurting
the American farmer’s export potential.
“Growers face
multiple challenges, from intense competition to unfair trade practices
to a wide variety of regulations. They should not have to worry about
efficiently moving their product,” Vaughan concluded.
NCGA growers and
staff will be present at each of the Corps public meetings. For more
information on the meetings, visit the NCGA web site at www.ncga.com.
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The National Corn
Growers Association mission is to create and increase opportunities
for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance corn’s profitability
and usage. NCGA represents more than 33,000 members, 25 affiliated state
corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute
to state checkoff programs.
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