The National Corn Growers Association asks growers and others to contact their federal lawmakers about two important issues. Farmers and friends should ask their lawmakers to:

An expert on agriculture and trade policy told attendees at the U.S. Grains Council's 49th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting this week that the dynamics in Washington, D.C., pose challenges for trade, but stressed that it will soon become a priority in the nation's capital.

 

Jim Wiesemeyer, senior vice president of policy and trade issues for Informa Economics, told his San Diego, Calif., audience that "both political parties have turned protectionist." He cited many examples of protectionism such as the Mexican trucking issue. However, Wiesemeyer did offer his perspective on areas of optimism for U.S. agricultural trade.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released three public service announcements this week with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to remind producers that the sign-up deadline to elect the new Average Crop Revenue Election program is Aug. 14. NCGA was one of two organizations that spearheaded the inclusion of ACRE in the 2008 farm bill.

 

"I encourage all producers to visit their local FSA office and land-grant university representatives to evaluate and consider whether ACRE is right for your farm," Vilsack said. "ACRE provides producers an alternative to counter-cyclical payments and producers should make use of the opportunity to choose the option that better meets their needs."

 

 

With the ACRE program enrollment dealine approaching, three respected ag economists  explained why it may be a good deal for growers. Among them was Bruce Babcock of Iowa State University.

 

"Odds are good that in at least one year over the next four, Iowa farmers will receive more in ACRE payments than they will give up in direct payments over the life of the farm bill," Babcock said. "For corn, there is a 78 percent chance that Iowa farmers who sign up for ACRE will receive a payment."

 

The Online Learning Center at the NCGA Web site provides corn farmers a growing array of tools to help them succeed in what they do.

 

"Just as our mission is to create and expand opportunities for corn growers, a large part of what we do is aimed at helping them be better farmers in the field," said Tim Dolan, chairman of NCGA's Grower Services Action Team and a farmer from Winthrop, Minn. "The Online Learning Center is one way to provide up-to-date information on issues and programs about which our growers need to be aware."

 

Under Nebraska lies a vast ocean known as the Ogallala Aquifer. This underground sea has watered Nebraska crops for decades. And these days Nebraska farmers such as Mark Jagels are helping protect it from depletion and pollution.

 

Jagels provided research fields for testing new gauges from the University of Nebraska that monitor the amount of water each plant sucks up from the earth around it. That information makes for smarter farming and wiser use of water, and that protects the giant aquifer.

 

Online registration is now available for NCGA's upcoming conference on land use and climate impacts of corn-based ethanol. Scheduled for Aug. 25-26 in St. Louis, it will provide sessions on such topics as land use change, nitrous oxide, new technologies and their effect on greenhouse gas emissions, domestic and international yields, satellite data and land conversion greenhouse gas emission factors, defining renewable biomass and distillers grains.