Results of Maize Genome Project Published

Dedicated and persistent efforts on the part of the National Corn Growers Association come to fruition as results of the Maize Genome Sequencing Project become available to the public. A longtime advocate of increasing access to agricultural data, the NCGA worked tirelessly for 12 years to obtain the funding necessary to complete this first comprehensive gene map of North American corn.

 

The data released Friday will expedite breeding programs and increase knowledge of corn's important agronomic traits. Information encoded in the corn genome can help scientists improve water and nitrogen use efficiencies, help plants cope with disease, pests and adverse weather and allow breeders to develop innovative products for specific end users. By decreasing the inputs needed and increasing yields, these traits will also allow corn to become and even more sustainable crop.

In 1997, NCGA spearheaded the effort on legislation that authorized major plant genome research, which resulted in the Plant Genome Research Initiative. The goal of the initiative was to understand the structure and function of plant genes in species of economic importance at all levels. The initiative led to an unprecedented increase in our understanding of the genomics and genetics of plants and changed the way research is conducted in plant biology and helped to attract a new generation of scientists to the plant sciences field at U.S. colleges and universities.

The corn genome data is freely available to the public at maizesequence.org.

 

Click here for the whole story. 

 

 

Online registration for the 2010 Commodity Classic opens at 9 a.m. CST Thursday, Nov. 19. Space is limited and hotel rooms are sure to go fast. In addition to booking a room, attendees need to register for Commodity Classic in order to attend the trade show and take advantage of the many education sessions, banquets and entertainment events. The 2010 Commodity Classic will be held March 4-6 in Anaheim, Calif.

To register and make hotel reservations, visit www.commodityclassic.com.

Commodity Classic is the premier convention and trade show of the U.S. corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat industries. Last year, more than 4,500 people attended Commodity Classic and we are expecting similar numbers again for 2010. Represented in the attendance are approximately 3.5 million American crop acres and more than 1,500 farming families.

 

Corn Yield Contest Deadline Approaches

 

Only two weeks remain for growers participating in the 2009 National Corn Yield Contest to complete the necessary harvest forms. The National Corn Growers Association reminds entrants that the online harvest form can help speed up their reporting of corn harvest information as the crucial Dec. 1 deadline approaches, and the deadline will not be extended because of the late harvest.

 

"While we understand that growers are busy trying to catch up on harvesting, it is still very important that they make the December 1 postmark deadline," said Steve Ebke, chairman of the NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team. "The Corn Yield Contest continues to be a significant effort event during these times, and we hope that growers continue to support it though their full participation."

 

Click here for more information on the National Corn Yield Contest. Entrants can click here to access the online form directly. It is a requirement that all Initial Harvest Report Forms and any corresponding Recheck Harvest Report Forms must be printed and saved when the user is prompted. There is no exception to the required mailing of all harvest report forms to NCGA with proper documentation attached. Forms and other required documentation must be sent by mail to NCGA, and postmarked no later than seven days after the final yield check, or by Dec. 1, whichever is earlier. See complete rules for details.
 
NCGA Seeks 2011 Corn Board Applicants

 

The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee reminds members that we are currently accepting applications for the 2011 Corn Board. Through the Corn Board, members can become an integral part of the organization's leadership. Click here for the application packet, which provides complete information on requirements, responsibilities and deadlines.

 

Applications are due Friday, Jan. 15. Nominated candidates will be introduced at the February 2010 Corn Congress meeting, held in conjunction with the Commodity Classic in Anaheim, Calif. Corn Board members will be elected at the July 2010 Corn Congress in Washington, D.C., and the new terms begin Oct. 1.

For more information, growers may contact Kathy Baker at NCGA's St. Louis office at (636) 733-9004.

Good Weather Helps Corn Harvest Progress

 Favorable harvest conditions across the Midwest over the past two weeks allowed growers to make considerable harvest progress - even at night - bringing in more than a quarter of the crop since the beginning of November. However, they are still well behind the normal pace, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports. 
Click here for harvest progress details. 

 

During the week ending November 15, the national corn harvest moved 23 percentage points closer to completion, a 12 percent increase from the previous week. Nationwide, the corn harvest is now roughly 54 percent complete. This lags well behind the 5-year average of 89 percent at this time and even behind 2008 when harvest was 77 percent complete by mid November.

 

Out of the top 13 corn-producing states, only Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri have surpassed or are near 75 percent complete. Iowa and Illinois showed the most progress as each completed an additional 25 and 22 percent, respectively. Iowa currently has 59 percent of its harvest complete, while Illinois is at 52 percent completed.

 

Progress in the Northern and Western states is falling further behind the five-year average. In these regions, only Nebraska is approaching the halfway point, with 48 percent complete. Minnesota is 43 percent completed, followed by Wisconsin at 38 percent and South Dakota at 27 percent. The North Dakota harvest has fallen dramatically behind at only 8 percent harvested. In North Dakota, harvest is normally 74 percent complete by this point.