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NCGA to Farmers: Help Set Record Straight
In a special Memorial Day Weekend message to National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) members, corn checkoff contributors and other allies, NCGA President Bob Dickey called on all those interested in the future of U.S. corn to help the association set the record straight about false attacks on the corn and ethanol industry.
"We've seen big oil companies, grocery manufacturers and misguided environmentalists form strange new alliances to level attacks from all directions, and we've been spending countless hours setting the record straight with science-based, accurate information," Dickey said. "Now, more than ever, we need an team of 300,000 proud U.S. farmers who grow corn to defend our way of life and stand up to these false attacks now and always in order to win the debate."
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EPA Extends Higher Blend Comment Period
Farmers busy with planting season now have more time to submit comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency supporting higher ethanol blends, a move earlier sought by NCGA. The EPA has announced it will accept comments through July 20; the comment period had been set to expire Thursday.
According to the EPA, the statutory provision calls for the agency to make a decision by December 1. The comment period extension will not change this timeframe.
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Nebraska Farmers, Ranchers Unite in D.C.
This week, members of the Nebraska Corn Board and the Nebraska Cattlemen joined together for an issues trip to Washington. During their stay, participants will be meeting with various members of Congress and Obama Administration officials on mutual issues of interest.
Above, growers and livestock producers break bread at a Tuesday dinner meeting. At left is NCGA President Bob Dickey, who owns and operates a farm and livestock operation in Laurel, Neb.
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NCGA Concerned About Climate Bill
NCGA Monday sent a letter to Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, regarding landmark climate change legislation, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454).
NCGA expressed its concern with the current version, outlining the potential for negative economic impacts to the agriculture sector if a cap-and-trade system is not structured properly.
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Survey: Sustainable Farming Popular
A recent survey of farmers in the Midwest, South and West found that a large percentage are aware of sustainability and practicing it in many ways. These results are in line with what NCGA has seen with its members and in various sustainability efforts it has been involved in over the years.
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Quarterly Report Available Online
NCGA's quarterly report, covering the second quarter of its fiscal year (January through March), is now available for download. Click on the image above to read all about Commodity Classic and other activities of the organization. |
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VeraSun Claim Deadline Coming
Monday, May 25, is the "bar date," or deadline, for farmers and others who believe they have claims against VeraSun Energy Corp., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2008. NCGA Chairman Ron Litterer has been leading the Ad-Hoc Advisory Team of corn growers involved in working with the court in the bankruptcy process.
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Corn Veteran Mark Lambert Joins NCGA
 Mark Lambert, longtime spokesman for the Illinois Corn Growers Association and director of the Corn Farmers Coalition, has joined NCGA as a senior communications manager. Lambert has been actively engaged in agriculture and related issues for more than three decades, with 20 years of experience in the corn industry and 12 years covering agri-business as a journalist and columnist for the Peoria Journal Star and Illinois Agri-News.
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Meet Clark Gerstacker, Board Candidate
 Fourth in a series of profiles of candidates for the NCGA Corn Board. The election will be held at July's Corn Congress in Washington.
Clark Gerstacker, of Midland, Mich., is a member of the NCGA Corn Board, president of the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, board member and former president of the Michigan Corn Growers Association, and former chair of the NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team.
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