NCGA: Ethanol Good for Farmers
The Wall Street Journal ran a letter to the editor today from National Corn Growers Association President Bob Dickey, stressing how ethanol has worked to boost corn output and help family farmers. The letter was sent in response to an earlier letter that criticized ethanol production as harmful to farmers. Dickey's response outlined both why ethanol is good for family- run farms and how U.S. farmers continue to satisfy growing demands for food, feed and fuel.
"According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, corn yields continue to grow and farmers are expecting a record corn supply of 14.7 billion bushels this year, a bountiful harvest that will more than meet all needs," Dickey wrote. Further, evidence indicates that increased ethanol production does not drive up the price of corn. While ethanol production has continued to increase, "the corn price is significantly lower than it was just two years ago, down to $3.35 a bushel today from $4.20 a bushel in 2007."
NCGA Launches New Membership Benefit
The National Corn Growers Association announced the launch of a new membership benefit that provides access to market updates through mobile phone messages. The program, called NCGA Markets NOW!, will keep subscribing members informed of the information that growers need when deciding when to sell their crop.
"When we came across this opportunity, we felt that it was a perfect fit. NCGA Markets NOW! provides members with the information that they need to make the best possible choices for their operation," said Tim Dolan, Chairman of NCGA's Grower Services Action Team. "In doing so, it furthers the association's mission of promoting the best interests of the American corn producer."
NCGA Comments on Free Trade Agreements
The National Corn Growers Association on Tuesday submitted comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, supporting the Colombia and Korea Free Trade Agreements. These agreements, which would allow greater market access for U.S. corn and help keep demand strong, have been signed by the countries and are awaiting Congressional approval.
"In a year with corn prices shrinking and input costs increasing, additional markets would aide America's corn farmers," NCGA First Vice President Darrin Ihnen said. "Each bushel we can export helps strengthen the price of corn which, in turn, can help offset increased production costs."
NCGA Congratulates New Grains CEO
NCGA President Bob Dickey presents Dorr with an award for his outstanding service to the industry.
The National Corn Growers Association congratulates former U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Thomas C. Dorr on his selection as the new president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council. Earlier this year, Dorr received NCGA's meritorious service award for his support of farmers.
"We're excited about this appointment and look forward to working with Tom and his team," said NCGA President Bob Dickey, a Nebraska corn grower and former chairman of the U.S. Grains Council. "Tom has always been an exceptional professional and strong advocate of American agriculture, and will serve as a great leader as the organizations work together on a number of trade opportunities for corn farmers."
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Corn Growers Mourn Loss of Visionary
The National Corn Growers Association mourns the loss this weekend of Norman Borlaug, whose agricultural research helped boost crop yields and is credited with saving one billion people from starvation. Most recently, he was a professor at Texas A&M University and founder of the World Food Prize, while continuing his work as a vocal advocate and brilliant researcher committed to improving the world.
"Dr. Borlaug was a visionary who saw the great potential of agriculture to grow and feed the world while not consuming a proportionately larger amount of land," said NCGA President Bob Dickey. "His focus on production per acre and his strong support of technology as part of agronomy has done more to feed the hungry than any other single person. His voice may be silenced but his work will go on."
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PROFILES IN AG INNOVATION |
Adopt New Technology; Don't Forget Lobbying
Every Friday, NCGA features a profile of one of our country's corn farmers that provides a look at how growers are innovating to help feed and fuel the world.
 William "Sparky" Crossman no longer tills the soil of Laurel Springs Farms in Mount Holly, in northeastern Virginia, and hasn't for a decade.
Thanks to new technology, he doesn't need to. That means he saves money on fuel and fertilizer, since his combine makes fewer trips across his fields and always plants the seeds and fertilizer with an inch of where he wants them thanks to a global positioning system in the cab of the combine.
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