The NCGA earlier this year joined a coalition of national farm and agricultural groups to oppose President Obama's proposal to phase out direct payments to farmers with gross sales over $500,000 and cuts in the federal crop insurance program. Even though the House and Senate rejected the funding reductions in the recently passed Budget Resolution, the Obama Administration's detailed budget, released late last week, still includes the proposed cuts.  

 

 

The slower pace of planting in corn states around the Great Lakes is expected to have an impact on the 2009 corn crop, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday. However, corn production is expected to be on par with last year's crop, even using fewer acres. 

 

Exports of U.S. distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a coproduct of U.S. ethanol production, continue to increase each year. U.S. DDGS exports for the first two months of 2009 were up 36,000 metric tons, or 6 percent above the same period in 2008 (634,000 tons versus 598,000 tons respectively).

 

 

A new white paper from NCGA provides a clear and concise summary of recent regulatory action related to corn ethanol. Two are at the federal level, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and one was a recent action by the state of California's Air Resources Board. This is part of an effort to ensure growers and others are aware of recent events, what NCGA's position is, and what action should be taken in support the growers' interests and the interests of the ethanol industry. 

 

 

 

Mark Degler, of Mattoon, Ill., is a director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, director of the Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative and member of the Coles County Board.

 

 

The definition of "sustainability" has become one of the most widely discussed topics in agriculture - and with consumers, too - during the past several years. Many definitions exist for sustainability; some are very good and some have created much confusion for consumers. NCGA CEO Rick Tolman takes a look at this issue in his newest "Our View" column.