National Corn Growers Association President Bob Dickey on Friday released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's newly released peer reviews on indirect land use change modeling and lifecycle greenhouse gas analysis:
 
"Today, the Environmental Protection Agency released two peer reviews on Indirect Land Use Change modeling and the Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Analysis, included as part of the Renewable Fuels Standard Proposed Rule.  After evaluating the peer review analysis and the designated peer reviewers, the National Corn Growers Association is disappointed that there is no objectivity and a complete lack of unbiased opinions in the process. ... 

 

With only one week left until the Aug. 14 signup deadline for the Average Crop Revenue Election Program, there is still time to determine if this new risk-management tool is right for your farming operation. The National Corn Growers Association recommends growers gather the materials needed for sign up and use the updated ACRE calculator to find out how this program works.

 

"With the recent decrease in corn prices, many farmers are revisiting the option of enrolling in ACRE," NCGA Chairman Ron Litterer said. "I enrolled my farm in July after deciding this program would be worthwhile for my operation. The process was easier than I had expected and the Farm Service Agency employees were helpful and knowledgeable. I recommend all growers take the time to make the calculations for their farms and if you still have questions, you can call our NCGA staff."

 

Corn, soybean and wheat producers traveled to Brazil last week for an up-close look at climate change and how deforestation is affecting the region. Among the group were National Corn Growers Association Past President Fred Yoder, who is a member of the Ag Carbon Working Group, former NCGA Board Member Bill Horan and NCGA Director of Public Policy Jessica Bennett.

 

During the week-long trip, group members were shown the on-ground challenges and opportunities related to climate change issues in the Amazon Mato Grosso region, learned about alliances and initiatives to protect land ownership rights, reducing emissions and de-forestation, and studied the impact of climate change on indigenous tribes and producer operations.

 

Farmers from across the Corn Belt took time off their schedules to travel to Greensboro, N.C., this week for an intensive three-day leadership academy. The NCGA program, hosted by Syngenta, prepares growers for being more effective spokespersons and leaders at the state and national level.

 

The conference will be followed in January in Washington with a second session that focuses on public policy, effective lobbying, and the legislative processes. Visits with key legislators on Capitol Hill will cap that three-day training session.

 

Donna Jeschke has been able to cut down on pesticide by 80 percent thanks to seeds that grow into corn resistant to bugs. "Since we have been using this genetically modified seed," Donna says, "we have never had to spray for corn borers on either GMO seed or on refuge," which is non-modified corn farmers grow so beneficial bugs can survive.