NCGA News













FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2005

  CONTACTS: Mimi Ricketts, NCGA, 636-733-9004, Ext. 112
Cheri Johnson, USGC, 202-326-0625

NCGA and USGC Officers Report on EU Mission

WHAT:

Teleconference with leaders from the National Corn Growers Association and the U.S. Grains Council returned this week from a 10-day mission to Great Britain, Belgium, Spain and Switzerland where they met with government officials, agribusiness representatives and growers to discuss global trends in biofuels and trade barriers to biotechnology.

WHEN:

2:00 p.m. CDT, Thursday, July 7, 2005

WHO:

Paul Williams, Chairman, U.S. Grains Council
Ken Hobbie, President & CEO, U.S. Grains Council
Leon Corzine, President, National Corn Growers Association
Gerald Tumbleson, First Vice President, National Corn Growers Association
Darrin Ihnen, Chairman, NCGA Biotech Working Group
Rick Tolman, CEO, National Corn Growers Association

WHY:

With growing acceptance of biotechnology among growers and the scientific community, trade continues to be thwarted by governments in the European Union. Votes by the EU parliament have made it clear biotechnology is a political issue, not one of food safety. Also, decreasing dependence on foreign oil is a global concern and biofuels are a solution not only in the United States, but around the world.

HOW:

Domestic Callers: 800-391-2548
International Callers: 302-709-8328
Verbal Password: VJ326551

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The National Corn Growers Association’s mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents nearly 33,000 members, 45 affiliated state organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs. For more information, log on to www.ncga.com.



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