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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Rhondalee Dean-Royce, NCGA, 703-980-9347
Gary Bradley, NCGA, 314-229-7573
Visit the NCGA website, http://www.ncga.com, or E-mail at corninfo@ncga.com
December 2, 2004
NCGA Corn Board Endorses Johanns as Secretary of Agriculture
ST. LOUIS (December 2, 2004) – The
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Board today endorsed
the confirmation of Nebraska Gov.
Mike Johanns as the new secretary of agriculture and looks forward
to working closely with him on issues important to corn growers.
“Governor Johanns’ appointment is great news for U.S.
corn producers. His roots in farming mean he not only understands the
big picture of agriculture, but also has personal experience in dealing
with the challenges farmers face every day,” said NCGA President
Leon Corzine. “Over the past five decades, NCGA has worked to
build a strong relationship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
We look forward to continuing our valuable alliance with USDA on issues
important to the nation’s farm families.”
NCGA Corn Board member Bob
Dickey, a Laurel, Neb., corn farmer and former state legislator,
said Governor Johanns’ leadership significantly
strengthened the viability of agriculture in Nebraska. Johanns has
led numerous delegations of Nebraska government, business and agriculture
leaders on trade missions to eight countries including Japan, Taiwan,
China, Hong Kong, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, and
Chile.
“In my personal experience with Governor Johanns, I have found
him to be a true advocate of U.S. farmers and a person who has an intimate
understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing farmers,” said
Dickey, who accompanied Johanns on a trade mission to Japan in 2003,
a mission to Hong Kong and China earlier this year, and a mission to
Mexico just last month.
During the Japan mission, Johanns spoke on behalf of Nebraska beef
producers on the BSE issue, asking Japanese officials to open the doors
to U.S. beef. Dickey, who was appointed by Johanns as a state senator
in 1999, said the governor has also been a strong advocate for Nebraska
agriculture producers during a period of depressed commodity prices
and severe drought.
During his tenure as Nebraska governor, Johanns established incentives
for business growth and job creation in rural areas of Nebraska, placing
an emphasis on value-added agriculture, especially ethanol.
“Governor Johanns has a direct influence on the Nebraska corn
industry through the appointments he’s made to the Nebraska Corn
Board,” Dickey said. “The Nebraska Corn Board has maintained
an excellent rapport with the governor and we look forward to building
on this relationship at the national level.”
# # #
The National Corn
Growers Association’s mission is to create and increase opportunities
for corn growers. NCGA represents nearly 33,000 members, 26 affiliated
state corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers
who contribute to state checkoff programs. For more information on NCGA,
log on to www.ncga.com
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